The document discusses perspectives on geography education in Europe. It notes that central support for education is shrinking due to less funding and resources. Schools are struggling with curriculum overload and a lack of time for relevant geography topics like fieldwork. Several European countries are considering cutting or removing geography from school curriculums. However, some national campaigns and teacher associations are working to promote and support geography education. The document also describes two European initiatives - EUROGEO, an association of European geography teachers, and Geo-Cube, an online geography education toolkit.

1. European Perspectives in Geography Education Karl Donert [email_address] President EUROGEO, National Teaching Fellow, Liverpool Hope University

2. European Education Perspectives (1) Background: Central support (for education) is shrinking (less money, fewer resources, more work) Education administration focuses on standards-referenced evaluation Education appears to be disconnected from the needs of students Schools struggle to provide meaningful uses of information technologies

3. European Education Perspectives (2) Background: Schools lost touch with universities Universities also lost touch with schools Non-specialist Geography teachers Curriculum overload – too much to do, not enough time No space for ‘relevant Geography’ – i.e. fieldwork , projects, use of GeoInformation Geography pushed to the margins …

4. European Geography Perspectives Recently – 2008-9 School curriculum reforms in many countries Countries planning to cut down (or remove) Geography – SK, MT, BG, CY, FI A few success (growth) stories – NL, PL, SI Many others including UK (??)

5. European Geography Perspectives National Campaigns NL – Strength through KNAG working with Ministry PL – Major developments led by a publisher/NGO UK – Geography had problems – Action Plan for Geography (GA) - supported by Government 9 countries in Europe currently do not have active national or regional teacher associations

6. European Geography Perspectives Who fights for Geography? - ??? … at regional level? … at national level? … in Europe? Who informs the public about Geography? the Media Who supports teachers of Geography? Professional Geographical Associations Centres like digitalearth:at

7. Two European Initiatives Linking geographers across Europe – EUROGEO is the Association of European Geographers ….. www.eurogeography.eu Geocube – a toolkit to promote Geography …… www.geo-cube.eu

8. EUROGEO Founded in 1979 (for national Geography associations) Since July 2009 individual membership Members from 21 countries Online community Newsletter and books European Journal of Geography (coming soon – in 2010) Making the case for Geography in Europe participatory status at the Council of Europe formed with support of the EC Meetings – Prague 8 May 2010 Annual Conference – Turkey 2010, Greece 2011 Contact: eurogeomail@yahoo.com

9. Geo-cube: an international toolkit promoting Geography for all www.geo-cube.eu 6 themes 9 topics 54 subjects

10. Earth from All Angles

11. Exploring Our World

12. Fascinating Earth

13. Living Together

14. Shrinking Planet

15. Useful Geographies

16. Geocube …… an accessible way to read, see and watch Geography at work. 54 windows on ‘ what Geography is’ and ‘ what geographers do’

17. GeoCube is a European initiative developed by HERODOT www.herodot.net, the European Network for Geography in Higher Education and is available to anyone who is interested in Geography This project was funded with support from the European Commission. The Web site reflects the views only of the network, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

18. Conclusions Digital:earth:at - very important initiative Centres of Excellence raise profile – to the public and decision makers Vision: connect to other geographers across Europe Invitation to join this vision – to create digitalearth:eu Contact me: [email_address]