Geo-literacy is a relatively new term that hopes to redefine peoples misunderstandings of geography. Traditionally, geography has been known for and taught with a very narrow scope. Most people think of geography as colouring maps and remembering the names countries and capitals. With this narrow scope, geography is nothing more than a language to describe a setting for other topics. But geography offers much more than language of descriptors. When we go in depth with our geo-literacy, we can make inferences on understanding how our world works. Using geo-literacy skills, we can make sense of past histories, current issues, and global events. It transcends across time and cultures. All living things on this earth live off of the land in order to survive. There is seemingly obvious interconnections between how the world’s physical and human geography systems. By investigating the geography one can make strong inferences on what lived (lives) and how they lived (live) in the local area of study.
This emphasis on geo-literacy serves of a greater purpose when studying geography. It is a comprehensive understanding of the five themes of geography – location, place, human environment interactions, movement, regions – and the application of this understanding within the Social Studies curriculum through concepts of interactions, interconnections and implications. I foresee a growing interest from students. I hope to use my recently acquired knowledge of geo-literacy to engage my students from being passive learners into active learners. The new curriculum that is soon to come to all grades shows a greater interest in using geo-literacy. For example, one of the “Big Ideas” it states in the curriculum draft for Social Studies 9, that students need to grasp is the way[s] in which “The physical environment influences the nature of political, social, and cultural development.”
My background is Economics and it used to frustrate me to hear others reduce economics down to analysis of the stock market. Too me, economics is the study of human behaviour. When one is literate in economics, we can make accurate predictions for individual behaviours, events and reason for past histories and decision making. To be able to interpret the world with this deeper understanding is incredibly powerful and enlightening. I imagine that geographers share similar feelings when their perceived field of interest is reduced down to maps and cities and feel that excitement when they make inferences on outcomes based on their geo-literacy skills. To me, Geo-literacy is another tool that allows us to better understand human behaviour, but beyond to all aspects of the world. I am very excited to see parallels between these literacies and am excited promote this knowledge to students.
Check out National Geographic’s video on What is Geoliteracy?
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