Pupils' knowledge and awareness of geography when starting upper secondary school in Norway

Abstract

The author, an upper secondary teacher in geography, has conducted various surveys and questionnaires among pupils every year, for 30 years. The article examines his pupils' knowledge of geography when they start upper secondary school. During their first lesson in geography they are presented with a questionnaire designed to test their knowledge of concepts, places, and causal relationships. In addition, they are asked about their perceptions of geography and expectations when they start to study a new subject. The author finds it valuable and important as a teacher to know what his pupils have learned during their lower secondary education because such information could be used to adapt upper secondary education in geography to the pupils' abilities. Further, it is important to motivate, create expectations, and develop awareness of geography. In addition to discussing pupils' knowledge of geography, the article shows briefly how school curricula and geography teaching have changed in Norwegian lower secondary schools since the early 1970s.

Keywords:

• geographical education
• geography in lower secondary school
• social studies