Assessing geography knowledge in primary education with mental map analysis: a Balearic Islands case study

ABSTRACT

The article underscores that the cartographic language used in social science textbooks for primary education in Spain is unsuitable and does not meet the demands of the official syllabus. Consequently, pupil literacy in geography with regard to regional geography is markedly ethnocentric.

To demonstrate this, the cartographic content of textbooks is compared to the knowledge pupils have acquired on regional realities towards the end of this education stage. Specifically, certain aspects of mental maps of the Balearic Islands produced by year six primary pupils at twelve Majorcan schools are analysed. Based on this school cartography, a diagnostic exercise is performed on island pupils’ literacy in geography in their last year of basic education. The use of spatial analysis tools enables us to conclude that there is low-level intersectionality between academic knowledge (insufficient) and ethnocentric knowledge (majority) – symbolic proof that the educational philosophy at most Spanish schools provides significantly poor learning.

KEYWORDS:

• Primary education
• mental maps
• textbooks
• spatial analysis
• Balearic Islands (Spain)

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. The schools were: CEIP Bartomeu Ordines in Consell (School A), CEIP Es Putxet in Selva (School B), CEIP Escola Nova in Porreres (School C), CEIP Jaume Vidal i Alcover in Manacor (School D), CEIP Montaura in Mancor de la Vall (School E), CEIP Na Penyal in Cala Millor (School F), CEIP Son Basca in Sa Pobla (School G), Colegio Concertado Nuestra Sra. de la Consolación in Palma (School H), Colegio Concertado Pedro Poveda in Palma (School J), Colegio Concertado Sant Bonaventura in Llucmajor (School K), Colegio Concertado Sant Francesc d’Asís in Manacor (School L), Colegio Concertado Sant Vicenç de Paül in Sóller (School M).

2. Given their scant importance and in line with later analysis, the cited toponyms from Minorca and Ibiza/Formentera have not been mapped.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jaume Binimelis Sebastián

Jaume Binimelis Sebastián, PhD in Geography, he is Senior Lecturer at the Geography Department of the University of Balearic Islands. Their lines of research are Rural Geography, Geography of wine and Cognitive Geography (mental maps, Geographic literacy). He has more than 70 scientific publications in these fields. He is currently the Head of the Research Group in Education and Behavioural Geography (GIEGP)(https://blocs.uib.cat/educacioipercepcio/) and deputy Head of Geography Department at the UIB.

Antoni Ordinas Garau

Antoni Ordinas Garau, PhD in Geography, he is Senior Lecturer at the Geography Department of the University of Balearic Islands. Their lines of research are rural society, Cultural Geography, Toponimy and Cartography and Geography Didactics. He has 170 scientific publications in these fields and he has participated in 65 conferences. He directed the Master’s degree in Teaching Training, was the deputy Head and the Head of the Geography Department, at the UIB.

Maurici Ruiz Pérez

Maurici Ruizis Senior Lecturer at the Geography Department and Director of the GIS and Remote Sensing Service of the University of the Balearic Islands. His line of research is the integrated analysis of territorial components (i.e. environmental, social and economic) and their dynamics through the application of geographic information technologies. He has participated in national (30), international (10) and applied research projects (50). He has more than 100 scientific publications in these fields. He has directed several postgraduate degrees at the UIB specializing in GIS, Remote Sensing, Territorial Risks and Landscape. He is currently part of the MEDHyCON research group (http://medhycon.uib.cat/) and collaborates with other groups (http://gitmot.uib.es/es/presentacion/), smartdestination (https://smartcity.uib.cat/),