Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
education as taught in Social Studies and Geography at the junior high to senior high
levels, respectively. For example, the new National Curriculum Standards mandate
that junior high level Social Studies must encourage the application of geographic
information to develop basic geographic skills. “Geographic skills” are defi ned as
“skills necessary to apply geographic information” and “skills in using maps,” and
these are the basis of GIS use (Tatsuoka
2002
). GIS education is built on the
principle that GIS and geographic information sciences can effectively teach
research-based activities, especially in Social Studies education (Sawamura and
Nagase
2005
). Given these arguments, GIS should not be limited to geography in
senior high school, where it is currently stipulated, but it should also be systemati-
cally and progressively included within related subjects to further develop students'
geographic skills.
According to the Geography Annex of the National Curriculum Guidelines, it is
imperative that GIS lessons are designed in conjunction with geography and related
subjects, particularly Information courses, for the most effective use of GIS equip-
ment and hardware (MEXT
2010
). Thus, appropriate facilities and equipment as well
as teacher training are important for implementing GIS-based education.
14.3.2
GIS-Related Subjects in High School
Other Than Geography
In addition to Geography A and B, GIS is taught in other closely related subjects,
such as the compulsory high school subject Information. As previously mentioned,
the new national curriculum envisions GIS as a means to foster strong links between
Geography A and B with Information. Synergy between these two subjects can be
easily seen within the software and hardware elements of GIS, in addition to its
analytical capabilities (Akimoto
2003b
).
In most senior high schools, Information is a compulsory subject in the fi rst year
whereas Geography A and B are offered as elective courses from the second year
onward. It is possible that students who take information studies classes and learn
GIS will go on to choose geography the following year. Thus, including GIS within
Information is a possible way to increase the number of students who take geogra-
phy as an elective subject.
GIS is mandated in various courses at vocational schools, such as the technology
school subject of “Surveying”, the agricultural school subject “Management of
agricultural information”, and in marketing courses in commercial schools. In these
cases, students learn to apply GIS to their profession. In contrast to the academic
stream of senior high school, students learn GIS theory and technological functions.
GIS is not recommended to be taught throughout Geography A and B courses.
Although GIS instruction should be actively encouraged in these courses, only
one teaching unit is credited to include the principles and methods of these core
subject, unlike Geography A and B courses that introduce GIS education.
