THE VALUE OF GEOGRAPHICAL EDUCATION : PERCEIVED DEFINITIONS AND MEASUREMENT OF USEFULNESS

Abstract

This study investigates the value of geographical education in the university using two interacting lines of analysis. Firstly, the perceived key themes and concerns of geography are studied through an examination of formal and informal definitions. Secondly, a measurement of usefulness is undertaken through the analysis of critical thinking skills. These skills are divided into those which pertain to general reasoning and those which are more specific to geography. These analyses indicate the value of geographical education by making clear the geography that is being marketed as well as the kind of skills this discipline offers. The Department of Geography in the National University of Singapore was taken as the case-study. Students, graduates and lecturers were given questionnaires as the main research element and informal discussions were held to substantiate the survey results. The findings were generally positive, with relatively high mean scores of emphasis in geography, importance in working experience and level of achievement by graduates in all the issues, perspectives and skills examined. Perceived definitions of geography were also reflective of current trends in the discipline. The discrepancy between groups in the emphasis of the "spatial" element in defining geography was notable. It is imperative that the definition of geography be made clear in what it emphasises and represents. In terms of critical thinking skills, geographers are good at weighing out the pros and cons of problems but there is also a need to have the astuteness to make sharp and accurate decisions. There is a great need for lectures to help students understand the grading criteria they use, as students are especially weak in this skill. Also keen observation skills were found to be highly emphasised in geography with a corresponding high level of importance in working experience. However, more is needed to hone these observation skills through a refinement of teaching techniques. The value of geographical education is evident in that the foundations of perceived definitions and usefulness of the subject have been well laid. The challenge at hand is to make known to society the value of the geographers it has bred.