Current status of geography education in Albania

Ervis Molla; Mehmet Ünlü

Article Details

Current status of geography education in Albania

Authors:

Ervis Molla | Mehmet Ünlü

Publisher:

Marmara University

Main Topics:

Coğrafya Eğitimi

Journal:

International Journal of Geography and Geography Education Issue 53, pp.19-38

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001328401

pISSN:

2630-6336

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Geography is the science of place, space, and the environment, providing a distinct contribution to preparing students for life and their engagement in a global society. Beyond educational aspects, geography instills in students values and attitudes towards their responsibilities to other people and countries, fostering inclusivity, interaction, and reciprocal cooperation among nations. The study emphasizes the significance of geography in molding a well-educated generation, equipped to confront contemporary challenges. This study investigates the current state of geography education in Albania, aiming to identify challenges, strengths, and opportunities for improvement. The study employs a multi-faceted approach, incorporating educational theories, curriculum analysis, teaching methods, teacher perspectives, and international benchmarks to provide a comprehensive assessment. Through the competencies developed by the study of geography, students gain the ability to recognize, accept, appreciate, and respect the diversity of countries, regions, cultures, and people worldwide. Geography also assists them in uncovering the cause-and-effect relationships of phenomena and processes occurring in the natural systems of our planet. The research aims to inform policymakers, educators, and stakeholders, contributing to the ongoing efforts to improve geography education in Albania and foster a generation of informed and globally engaged citizens. In this research, the document analysis method was used. The documents examined are Albanian curriculum and textbooks. Geography education in the secondary school is designed with a competency-based approach in which students learn geographical concepts in depth and focus on natural and social processes and concepts such as people, countries, regions, and environments. In geography education at the high school level, students especially in the 11th and 12th grades focus on more complex geographical events and global analyses. This process is carried out in geography education to provide students with the ability to evaluate global events from a critical perspective. Geography Departments of 6 universities in Albania offer an interdisciplinary education at undergraduate and graduate levels, focusing on providing students with both theoretical and applied geography knowledge, while graduate programs offer geography based on teaching students the effective use of geographical information in education by increasing pedagogical skills.

 Geography is the science of place, space, and the environment, providing a distinct contribution to preparing students for life and their engagement in a global society. Beyond educational aspects, geography instills in students values and attitudes towards their responsibilities to other people and countries, fostering inclusivity, interaction, and reciprocal cooperation among nations. The study emphasizes the significance of geography in molding a well-educated generation, equipped to confront contemporary challenges. This study investigates the current state of geography education in Albania, aiming to identify challenges, strengths, and opportunities for improvement. The study employs a multi-faceted approach, incorporating educational theories, curriculum analysis, teaching methods, teacher perspectives, and international benchmarks to provide a comprehensive assessment. Through the competencies developed by the study of geography, students gain the ability to recognize, accept, appreciate, and respect the diversity of countries, regions, cultures, and people worldwide. Geography also assists them in uncovering the cause-and-effect relationships of phenomena and processes occurring in the natural systems of our planet. The research aims to inform policymakers, educators, and stakeholders, contributing to the ongoing efforts to improve geography education in Albania and foster a generation of informed and globally engaged citizens. In this research, the document analysis method was used. The documents examined are Albanian curriculum and textbooks. Geography education in the secondary school is designed with a competency-based approach in which students learn geographical concepts in depth and focus on natural and social processes and concepts such as people, countries, regions, and environments. In geography education at the high school level, students especially in the 11th and 12th grades focus on more complex geographical events and global analyses. This process is carried out in geography education to provide students with the ability to evaluate global events from a critical perspective. Geography Departments of 6 universities in Albania offer an interdisciplinary education at undergraduate and graduate levels, focusing on providing students with both theoretical and applied geography knowledge, while graduate programs offer geography based on teaching students the effective use of geographical information in education by increasing pedagogical skills.

 Geography is the science of place, space, and the environment, providing a distinct contribution to preparing students for life and their engagement in a global society. Beyond educational aspects, geography instills in students values and attitudes towards their responsibilities to other people and countries, fostering inclusivity, interaction, and reciprocal cooperation among nations. The study emphasizes the significance of geography in molding a well-educated generation, equipped to confront contemporary challenges. This study investigates the current state of geography education in Albania, aiming to identify challenges, strengths, and opportunities for improvement. The study employs a multi-faceted approach, incorporating educational theories, curriculum analysis, teaching methods, teacher perspectives, and international benchmarks to provide a comprehensive assessment. Through the competencies developed by the study of geography, students gain the ability to recognize, accept, appreciate, and respect the diversity of countries, regions, cultures, and people worldwide. Geography also assists them in uncovering the cause-and-effect relationships of phenomena and processes occurring in the natural systems of our planet. The research aims to inform policymakers, educators, and stakeholders, contributing to the ongoing efforts to improve geography education in Albania and foster a generation of informed and globally engaged citizens. In this research, the document analysis method was used. The documents examined are Albanian curriculum and textbooks. Geography education in the secondary school is designed with a competency-based approach in which students learn geographical concepts in depth and focus on natural and social processes and concepts such as people, countries, regions, and environments. In geography education at the high school level, students especially in the 11th and 12th grades focus on more complex geographical events and global analyses. This process is carried out in geography education to provide students with the ability to evaluate global events from a critical perspective. Geography Departments of 6 universities in Albania offer an interdisciplinary education at undergraduate and graduate levels, focusing on providing students with both theoretical and applied geography knowledge, while graduate programs offer geography based on teaching students the effective use of geographical information in education by increasing pedagogical skills.

 Coğrafya, öğrencileri hayata ve küresel topluma katılmaya hazırlayan ve bu süreçte belirgin bir katkı sağlayan yer, mekân ve çevre bilimidir. Coğrafya eğitimi ile geliştirilen yeterlilikler sayesinde öğrenciler dünya çapındaki ülkelerin, bölgelerin, kültürlerin ve insanların çeşitliliğini tanıma, kabul etme, takdir etme ve saygı duyma becerisi kazanırlar. Coğrafya aynı zamanda gezegenimizin doğal sistemlerinde meydana gelen olay ve süreçlerin neden-sonuç ilişkilerini ortaya çıkarmalarına da yardımcı olur. Coğrafya, eğitimsel yönlerinin ötesinde, öğrencilere insanlara ve ülkelere karşı sorumluluk değerleri kazandırarak uluslararası kapsayıcılığı, etkileşimi ve iş birliğini teşvik eder. Bu araştırma, politika yapıcıları, eğitimcileri ve paydaşları bilgilendirmeyi, Arnavutlukta coğrafya eğitimini iyileştirmeye yönelik devam eden çabalara; bilgili ve küresel olarak katılımcı vatandaşlardan oluşan bir nesil yetiştirmeye katkıda bulunmayı amaçlamaktadır. Arnavutluktaki coğrafya eğitiminin mevcut durumunu inceleyerek zorlukları, güçlü yönleri ve iyileştirme fırsatlarını tespit etmek bir diğer amacımızdır. Çalışma; kapsamlı bir değerlendirme sağlamak için eğitim teorilerini, müfredat analizini, öğretim yöntemlerini, öğretmen bakış açılarını ve uluslararası kriterleri birleştiren çok yönlü bir yaklaşım kullanmaktadır. Çalışma kapsamında incelenen dokümanlar Arnavutluk müfredatı ve ders kitaplarıdır. Arnavutlukta ortaokuldan itibaren coğrafya eğitimi, öğrencilerin coğrafi kavramları derinlemesine öğrenmeleri ve yeterlilik temelli yaklaşımla tasarlanmış olup, doğal ve sosyal süreçler ile insanlar, ülkeler, bölgeler ve çevreler gibi kavramlara odaklanılmıştır. Lise düzeyinde ise öğrenciler, özellikle 11. ve 12. sınıflarda, daha karmaşık coğrafi olaylar ve küresel analizler üzerine yoğunlaşmaktadır. Bu süreç, öğrencilere küresel olayları eleştirel bir bakış açısıyla değerlendirme yeteneği kazandırmaya yöneliktir. Arnavutlukta var olan 6 üniversitenin coğrafya bölümleri, lisans ve yüksek lisans düzeylerinde disiplinler arası bir eğitim sunarak, öğrencilere hem teorik hem de uygulamalı coğrafya bilgisi kazandırma eksenli olup, yüksek lisans programları ise pedagojik becerileri artırarak, öğrencilere coğrafi bilginin eğitimde etkin kullanımını öğretme temelli coğrafya eğitimi gerçekleştirmektedir.

Article Details

Current status of geography education in Albania

Authors:

Ervis Molla | Mehmet Ünlü

Publisher:

Marmara University

Main Topics:

Coğrafya Eğitimi

Journal:

International Journal of Geography and Geography Education Issue 53, pp.19-38

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001328401

pISSN:

2630-6336

Geography Education

Methods and Techniques

Curriculum

Materials

AlbaniaCoğrafya Eğitimi

Öğretim Yöntem ve Teknikleri

Müfredat

Materyal

Arnavutluk

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Ervis Molla | Mehmet Ünlü

Publisher: Marmara University

Main Topics: Coğrafya Eğitimi

Journal: International Journal of Geography and Geography Education Issue 53, pp.19-38

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 9/2024

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001328401

pISSN: 2630-6336

Issues

Authors:

Ervis Molla | Mehmet Ünlü

Publisher:

Marmara University

Main Topics:

Coğrafya Eğitimi

Journal:

International Journal of Geography and Geography Education Issue 53, pp.19-38

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001328401

pISSN:

2630-6336