A comparison of content in syllabus-based senior geography textbooks and standards-based senior geography textbooks in mainland China

Abstract

As a result of China's geography education reform, the Geography Standards for Senior Secondary Schools was released in 2003. Being the first kind over the past seven decades, the Standards put forward some changes for senior geography education. For the textbooks’ crucial role in Chinese educational system, the changes in geographical education are often assumed and reflected explicitly and implicitly by the textbooks. This descriptive study primarily centres on the general picture of content changes and the implications of these changes from the old syllabus-based geography textbooks to the new standards-based ones by comparing the typical examples relating to the learning areas in physical, human and regional geography, activities and geographical enquiries.

Keywords:

• comparison
• content
• geography
• textbooks
• China

Acknowledgements

Special thanks is directed to Zhenzhen Deng for her valuable material. Many thanks are channelled to the editor and the three anonymous referees for their constructive suggestions. This paper is written as part of the Project entitled Research on Senior School Geography Fieldwork and Practice Instruction, supported by Anhui Provincial Education Planning Program (JG10187).