Recoge diversas conferencias que, sobre este tema y en el Curso de Formación para el profesorado de Enseñanza Primaria, se presentaron en en la Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo en el verano de 2000.

El diccionario de la RAE define medio ambiente como el conjunto de circunstancias exteriores a un ser vivo. Esta definición sencilla y genérica encierra una extremada complejidad. De hecho, medio ambiente se puede definir como el sistema de elementos abióticos que sirven, a través de complejas interrelaciones, como soporte a la biosfera, es decir, al conjunto de la vida del planeta. Esta definición nos lleva rápidamente a una asociación con la ecología y el término ecosistema, pues el objeto de estudio de esta ciencia es las relaciones que se establecen entre los seres vivos (biocenosis) entre sí y con su entorno (biotopo), dando lugar a un ecosistema de distintas escalas. En este libro se analiza el medio ambiente desde el punto de vista geográfico y no ecológico. La Geografía es una disciplina que se adapta perfectamente al estudio ambiental, puesto que, desde su origen ha tenido al medio natural como objeto prioritario de su estudio.

In this book geography educators from around the globe discuss their research into the power of geographical thinking and consider successful strategies to implement, improve and advance geography education in research and practice. It addresses key topics in geography education, such as multicultural competence, the role of teachers, the geography curriculum, spatial thinking, geographic information systems, geocapabilities, and climate change. At a global level the contributors and editors bring together the most advanced collection of research and discussion surrounding issues in geography education. The book will be of interest to geography education researchers worldwide, including academics at university and teachers in schools, as well as professional geographers with an interest in education.

This book informs an international audience of teachers, scholars and policymakers about the development of learning progressions for primary and secondary geography education in various countries and regions of the world. The book represents an important contribution to learning progressions research and practice. The different chapters explore how curriculum standards and frameworks in different countries portray progress and sophistication in the learning of geography. The book compares educational systems and how teachers and curriculum developers use the concept of “learning progression” to guide educational practices. As an approach to educational research, learning progressions offer considerable potential for understanding how children develop understanding of geographic concepts and practices across grade bands and in relation to national geography standards. The book analyzes the general conditions of learning progressions within the context of a globalized world. Important themes are addressed such as: knowledge acquisition in formal education; measuring learning progressions in informal settings; learning progressions for one curriculum standard or several standards; conditions to assess progression in the learning of facts, concepts, and skills; and multiple pathways for understanding or learning geography. The contributing authors are experienced scientists in the field from all around the world giving specific insights into the practices of their countries. The book appeals to K-12 teachers, school administrators, policymakers, researchers in geography education, professors and lecturers at universities around the world.