OVERVIEW

Geography educated to place itself in a relational space where each route is part of interactions between natural , socio-cultural, economic and political systems. The spatial dimension should be interpreted as a cultural mediator capable of directing the development of relationships with the environment, the territory and the society. In fact, between the educational values of geography there is confer the sense of space, based on the need to structure and extend their mental maps.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims at fostering knowledge of the founding cores of Geography Teaching Methodology, with a view to the introduction of this discipline in primary and nursery school, along with the acquisition of general abilities, such as reading and interpreting both thematic maps and territorial ‘signs’.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Participation in the proposed teaching activities and individual study will enable the student to:

• understand the meaning of basic geographical concepts (space, territory, landscape, environment);
• interpret the meaning of the educational goals and objectives proposed by the National Indications for the Curriculum relating to the teaching of geography in the first cycle of education;
• interpreting the meaning of the National Indications for the Curriculum in the section dedicated to pre-school, from the point of view of geography;
• analysing the main problems relating to the action of human beings in terrestrial spaces;
• to project effective teaching activities consistent with the set teaching objectives and educational curricula capable of achieving the goals for the development of competences indicated at ministerial level.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching activities will be organised in order to encourage active learning on the part of the students, and for this reason there will be alternating moments of frontal, participatory and laboratory teaching.
Frontal and participatory teaching will be aimed at fostering the understanding of basic geographical concepts and their meaning in relation to the educational goals and objectives proposed by the National Curriculum Directions. Laboratory teaching will be based on problem-based methodologies, working in small groups with the aim of analysing some geographical issues and project didactics activity in primary and/or preschool.

For students with DSA certifications or specific disabilities, compensatory or dispensatory measures are ensured, while taking care of the acquisition of the skills and knowledge required for teaching.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The teaching has two main aims: to stimulate the acquisition of geographical skills for the interpretation of spatial processes at various scales; to apply the acquired geographical skills in the field of typing. In particular, the teaching focuses on the following themes:

• critical reflection on the goals and objectives indicated by the National Indications for the Curriculum for the teaching of Geography; 
• presentation of basic geographical concepts (space, territory, landscape, environment) and their application in teaching;
• reflections on spatial orientation and its importance in kindergarten and primary school teaching;
• analysis of problems relating to the relationship between human beings and planet Earth;
• analysis of problems relating to the use of cartography and images.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

- Attending students

• Teaching materials uploaded on AulaWeb by the teacher.

Non-attending students

• Giorda C. (2014). Il mio spazio nel mondo. Geografia per la scuola dell'infanzia e primaria. Roma: Carocci.

Students with DSA certification or specific disabilities are invited to contact the lecturer before the exam.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GIACOMO ZANOLIN (President)

RENATA ALLEGRI (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

18 february 2026

Class schedule

DIDACTICS OF GEOGRAPHY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam will be oral, in the form of an interview aimed at assessing the acquisition of the skills and knowledge required by the course.

As a partial replacement for the oral exam, attending students will be asked to develop teaching plans individually and in groups. Attending students will also be asked to keep a diary in which they creatively rework the main contents of the course and their possible educational applications in infant and primary schools (more details will be provided during the lessons).

For students with DSA certifications or specific disabilities, compensatory or dispensatory measures are ensured, while taking care of the acquisition of the skills and knowledge required for teaching.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral exam:
- will assess the knowledge of the topics covered in class and contained in the study texts;
- will test the ability to think critically about spatial, landscape and environmental processes;
- will assess the ability to apply acquired knowledge and skills in teaching activities.
The evaluation will take into account:
- appropriate knowledge of disciplinary vocabulary;
- ability to reason critically;
- ability to make connections between the different topics covered.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

It is possible to take the exam only after having acquired the laboratory credit in Didactics of Geography.

All students are invited to periodically consult the page of this course on the e-learning portal AulaWeb (accessible from the University website or at www.aulaweb.unige.it). All information and materials relating to this course are published exclusively on this site.