U.S. National Geography Standards for GeoVidyaa

18 standards mapped over six “essential elements” … applicable worldwide and … can be … adapted … with local examples and case studies.

Background:

The U.S. National Geography Standards were published in 1994. [1] A result of painstaking and systematic work by professional geographers in various arenas of work including teachers, professors, etc., this publication has strengthened the teaching of geography in the U.S. since its implementation. It continues to empower teachers and pupils by providing a robust framework within which Geography learning takes place. The publication describes “what a geographically informed person” of any grade level should know and be able to accomplish. It has set 18 standards mapped over six “essential elements” (see Table 1). These elements and standards are applicable worldwide and can be easily adapted for, and populated with, local examples and case studies.

The Geographic Education National Implementation Project (GENIP) [2] has conducted a study which has found that, in the U.S.A., geography teachers and those who train teachers have responded very favourably to the National Geography Standards. The Standards have been adopted very widely and are in use in teacher training programs, teacher enhancement programs, and geography curricula across the U.S.A. [3]

These standards map well to State, Central (ICSE, CBSE), and international (CIE, IGCSE, IB, etc.) curricula. Therefore, TIIGS has adopted these Standards for its GeoVidyaa Program [4] and adapted them for use in the local contexts of India. These standards will be used to help:

1. Students, teachers, and schools seamlessly integrate Geography into other subjects (“horizontal integration”) and
2. Students’ progression from grade-to-grade in Geography/Environmental Studies/Social Studies (vertical integration) in the curricula.

All TIIGS activities for students, teachers, and parents (guardians/care-givers) use the U.S. National Geography Standards implicitly and explicitly (Figure 1). Each activity usually links with multiple standards and elements.

A systematic and well-planned process is being crafted at this time and will be mplemented beginning in late 2008. Already, several of these ideas have been discussed with tudents, teachers, parents, and education-support organizations (funders, corporate entities, etc.) as value-addition activities that complement and supplement the curricula. They also go beyond the confines of curricula. Enthusiasm for these ideas is very encouraging.

Read the U.S. National Geography Standards matrix showing a summary of the 6 Essential Elements and 18 Standards. [5]

References:

1. Geography for life : National geography standards 1994 / Geography Education Standards Project. (1994). Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Research & Exploration.
2. http://genip.tamu.edu/ [accessed 24 July 2008]
3. Marran, J. (2003). “Assessing Geography for Life:National Geography Standards” (1994).Analysis of a Survey Conducted by the Geography Education National Implementation Project (GENIP).
4. Geo (“Earth”) Vidyaa (Sanskrit, “knowledge, learning”); GeoVidyaa is the name of TIIGS’s Geography education program.
5. [Source: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/standards/matrix.html]