Marine Simon: Comparisons as a Method in Geography Textbooks: Results from an International Comparative Analysis

by Marine Simon,
University of Cologne

Although comparing tasks are widely used in geography classes, there is neither a framework for their implementation nor a scientific study of their precise use. This presentation aims to present the theoretical framework, the methods and the first results of an international study of 20 textbooks form Germany, France and England. 

In this study, we develop a reliable typology and a framework for the categorisation of comparison tasks’ objectives that can contribute to transform comparison tasks into meaningful tasks aiming at enhancing pupils’ autonomous and critical thinking as well as geographical skills and methods.