Research

What do we do?

In view of the pressing challenges of social change, an understanding of the term transformation at the interface between social theory and pedagogy is emerging in current geography didactic discourses. The transfer to concrete spatial educational questions, however, is still a desideratum and forms the starting point for the research interests of the working group.

„Unearthing Atlanta's Past: Learning Urban History with Collaborative Digital Projects"

Project funding: Collaborative Research Grant
Cooperation partners: Christina Crawford, Alexander Cors, Bailey Betik (Emory University | Atlanta)

Project idea: The urban development of North American metropolises and the associated social (spatial) processes have been the focus of geographical research for decades - and are firmly anchored in German curricula. Funded by the "Collaborative Research Grant" from the University of Bonn, the "Didactics of Geography" working group is working together with an interdisciplinary research team from Emory University Atlanta on the "Open World Atlanta" web tool, which can be used to digitally explore the history of the city of Atlanta as well as the socio-spatial structures and their changes over time. Historical maps that have been processed using GIS form the starting point for journeys of discovery through a city whose development has been shaped by industrialization and suburbanization, but also by processes of segregation and marginalization due to racist discrimination. While the development of the website initially focused on technical issues, the information available there is now to be prepared for didactic purposes and made available in the form of teaching materials for a wide range of teaching contexts

Further information on the project is available from Julia Klumparendt, Tobit Nauheim or Eva Nöthen.

"Earth System Science & Transformative Geographical Education. Linking Theories - Experimenting in Practice"

Project funding: German-Israeli Society Bonn, Bonn Center for Teacher Education
Cooperation partners: Nir Orion (Weizmann Institute of Science), Ariel Meroz (Dead Sea and Arava Science Center/Hebrew University)

Project idea:  Against the backdrop of complex global challenges, the approaches of Transformative Geographical Education and Earth System Education design different strategies to enable learners to engage in responsible and self-reflective civil society practice and thus close the gap between knowledge and action. While the scientifically oriented Earth System Education aims to promote the ability of students to act by promoting systemic thinking, Transformative Geographical Education pursues a future-oriented approach that encourages critical reflection on social structures and to work for sustainability and social justice through transformative measures. The potential of theoretical contact will be discussed in lectures; Workshops provide the opportunity to try out the different approaches in didactic settings.

Further information about the project is available from Julia Klumparendt, Tobit Nauheim or Eva Nöthen.