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Published in:
2012 | OriginalPaper | Chapter
19. The World in Their Minds: A Multi-scale Approach of Children’s Representations of Geographical Space
Author : Veerle Vandelacluze
Published in: Maps for the Future
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
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Abstract
A number of studies have explored primary school children’s spatial representations at one particular scale. Little is known however on children’s mental constructs of the geographical space as a whole. The omnipresence of digital mapping tools in everyday life has made such an understanding increasingly important. Elaborating effective teaching strategies e.g. for Google Earth or GPS, requires a basic understanding of children’s mental maps at different scales. In this study 94 Flemish children aged 9–12 represented their world at three scale levels: the local neighbourhood (test 1), the continents (test 2) and the Sun-Earth-Moon system (test 3). The results demonstrate that a majority of the children show an incomplete geographical world view. Only between test 2 and 3 a significant correlation was found. This supports previous psychological research pointing out at least a partial dissociation between large-scale and small-scale spatial abilities. Consequences for primary school map education are discussed.