The World in Their Minds: A Multi-scale Approach of Children’s Representations of Geographical Space - Maps for the Future Children Education and Internet - page 229

Chapter 19
The World in Their Minds: A Multi-scale
Approach of Children's Representations
of Geographical Space

Veerle Vandelacluze

Abstract A number of studies have explored primary school children's spatial
representations at one particular scale. Little is known however on children's
mental constructs of the geographical space as a whole. The omnipresence of
digital mapping tools in everyday life has made such an understanding increasingly
important. Elaborating effective teaching strategies e.g. for Google Earth or GPS,
requires a basic understanding of children's mental maps at different scales. In this
study 94 Flemish children aged 9-12 represented their world at three scale levels:
the local neighbourhood (test 1), the continents (test 2) and the Sun-Earth-Moon
system (test 3). The results demonstrate that a majority of the children show an
incomplete geographical world view. Only between test 2 and 3 a significant
correlation was found. This supports previous psychological research pointing out
at least a partial dissociation between large-scale and small-scale spatial abilities.
Consequences for primary school map education are discussed.

19.1 Introduction

The omnipresence of digital mapping tools in everyday life asks for an introduction
of visualization tools like Google Earth or GPS into the primary school classroom.
The elaboration of effective teaching strategies to do so requires a profound
understanding of children's mental maps and spatial abilities at different scales.
During the last decades a number of studies have explored primary school
children's spatial representations at one particular scale e.g. earth's land masses
or the familiar home-school area. Little is known however on children's mental
constructs of the geographical space as a whole.