Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 13
The Association of Japanese Geographers'
Social Action Program and Geography
Education
Takahisa Izumi and Hiromi Iwamoto
Abstract
The Association of Japanese Geographers (AJG) sponsors and supports
activities for members as well as non-members. In this article, activities for non-
members are referred to as the “social action program”. It comprises two categories:
(1) activities for the general public and (2) geography education for school teachers,
and students. The former, which typically takes the form of public symposia, are
designed to promote the value of geography in society and the public arena, whereas
the latter category includes public fora for teachers, Geography Olympiad for high
school students, and Children's Environmental Map Contest for elementary and junior
high school students. Together, these outreach efforts aim to revitalize geography edu-
cation in Japan. The AJG Commission on Geographical Education (AJG-CGE),
established in 1998, plans many of these social action programs in collaboration with
other academic societies and research groups.
Keywords
Children's Environmental Map Contest Commission on Geographical
Education Teacher education The Geography Olympiad
Note: This paper was divided among the authors as follows: Section 1: Iwamoto; Section 2:
Iwamoto; Section 3: Izumi; Section 4.1: Izumi; 2: Iwamoto; Section 5: Izumi; Abstract: Iwamoto.
In Sections 1 and 2, Izumi added parts based on his experience as a member of the AJG-CGE.
