Spatial Citizenship

Where does Geography stand?

Education for Spatial Citizenship

Karl Donert, President, EUROGEO National Teaching Fellow

Liverpool Hope University, UK

Three questions (and bylines)

1.  What is citizenship about? (How do we become citizens?)

2.  Spatial citizenship, responsible citizens? (Citizenship and learning)

3.  What is spatial about Citizenship? (Where does Geography stand?)


How do we become citizens?

Education for Spatial Citizenship: where does

Geography stand?

What is citizenship about?

Citizenship: meanings (EC, 2003) Citizenship is said to consist of two aspects: 1. “Until recently, the concept of citizenship has been

more commonly understood in rather static and institutionally dominated terms: being a citizen was primarily a question of the legalities of entitlements and their political expression in democratic policies.”

European Commission (2003), Learning for Active Citizenship, http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/citizen/citiz-en.html, accessed 3/12/2008

2. “…. learning to live positively with difference and diversity is becoming a core dimension of the practice of citizenship in Europe. It equally means that the concept of citizenship itself is shifting to a broader based notion, in which legal and social rights and entitlements continue to furnish an essential element, but in which negotiated and culturally-based understandings of citizenship are becoming more prominent.”

European Commission (2003), Learning for Active Citizenship, http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/citizen/citiz-en.html, accessed 3/12/2008

Citizenship: meanings (EC, 2003)

http://www.teachingcitizenship.org.uk

empowerment engagement

participation

http://www.teachingcitizenship.org.uk

Social constructionism •  SC is an approach that emphasises the

creative activity of individuals and groups •  Cultural citizenship and identity, stress

the process of spreading certain values and constructing more suitable institutions

•  Constructing our citizenship

Juan M. Delgado-Moreira, 1997, Social constructionism, Electronic Journal of Sociology, 2 (3), http://www.sociology.org/vol002.003/delgado-moreira.article.1997.html, accessed 3/12/2008

Some social constructionist values •  "Unity in diversity" ….. tolerance ... •  Promote the idea of identity BUT ALSO •  Richness of cultural diversity •  Belonging to (being part of) a wider whole (Fatih,

Istanbul, Turkish, Asian / European) •  Developed through cultural actions i.e. activities

demonstrating aspects of culture •  Selection of identity through our sense of place •  … through our history and our geography

Juan M. Delgado-Moreira, 1997 Electronic Journal of Sociology, 2 (3), http://www.sociology.org/vol002.003/delgado-moreira.article.1997.html, accessed 3/12/2008

Becoming a citizen More questions than answers •  Acquired or are we born with it? •  Is there a process to becoming a citizen? •  Is it active or passive? •  What are the stages involved? •  We should be asking what role(s) does /

can geographical education play?

Citizenship and Learning

Spatial citizenship and responsible citizens?


Geography stand?

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Spatial Citizenship (Gryl, Jekel and Donert, 2010) Derives from the need for: •  improved spatial thinking and acquisition of

spatial competences (Paasi, 1986) Our concerns for: •  the social appropriation of space (Werlen 1995)

•  representations of space (Lefebvre, 1993)

•  media-rich society (Schlottmann & Miggelbrink 2009)

Donert K, Gryl I and Jekel T (2010), GI & Spatial Citizenship, In Jekel T, Donert K, Koller A and Vogler R, Learning with GeoInformation V, Berlin, Wichman Verlag

Spatial Citizenship

Spatial Citizenship •  Concerned with appropriation (ownership) of

space (Werlen 1993, Paasi 1986)

•  Importance of spatial representations in the social production of space

•  Attaching meaning to space -  either acceptance of existing meaning -  or changing / re-interpreting meaning

Paasi, A. (1996) Territories, Boundaries and Consciousness. The Changing Geographies of the Finnish Russian Border. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons. Werlen, B. (1993), Society, Action, Space, An Alternative Human Geography, London, Routledge

reflected or mutual appropriation

of space

Spatial Citizenship

Negotiation process: •  Communication of alternative meanings –

counter maps (Turnbull, 1998; Crampton, 2009) •  Deconstruction of meaning in geomedia

(Harley, 2001; Gregory, 1994)

•  Taking control – gaining power

•  Transformative – participative – making a difference Crampton, J. W. (2009). Cartography: maps 2.0. In: Progress in Human Geography, 33, 2, pp. 99-100. Gregory, D. (1994), Geographical Imaginations. Cambridge: Blackwell Harley, J. B. (2001), Deconstructing the Map. In: Harley, J. B. und Laxton, P. (Hrsg., 2001): The New Nature of Maps. Essays in the History of Cartography. Baltimore:John Hopkins University Press, S. 422-443 Turnbull, D. 1998. Mapping Encounters and (En)Countering Maps: A Critical Examination of Cartographic Resistance. Knowledge and Society 11:15-44

reflected or mutual appropriation

of space

Spatial Citizenship

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The Spatial Citizen

(based on Strobl 2008:134)

Strobl, J. (04.07.2008) Geospatial Qualifications: Schools, Citizens and Professionals. Vortrag: GI-Forum 2008 (Salzburg University, Z_GIS Centre for Geoinformatics), Salzburg/AUSTRIA.

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•  “A Spatial Citizen ….. should be able to interpret and critically reflect on spatial representations, communicate with the aid of maps and other spatial representations, and … express location-specific opinions using geo-media.

•  Spatial Communication …. should therefore be a main target for primary and secondary education.”

Spatial citizenship (Gryl, Jekel and Donert, 2010)

Spatial Citizenship


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Spatial citizenship “connects …. citizenship education with a mature appreciation of space and critical geoinformation …..

Specific strategies need to be developed …. that go beyond technical competences widely reproduced in many curricula.”


Spatial Citizenship


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Learners •  “….. need to deconstruct meanings of space in

their chosen geomedia …... •  ….. re-construct and communicate their own

world views…..”


Spatial Citizenship


Community perspectives

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Activity spaces

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1. Constructivist –  learners actively construct their citizenship –  stresses active participation and interaction

2. Intercultural –  diversity – in ideas, values and behaviours

3. Built on dialogue –  negotiation - the appropriation of space –  empowerment - participate in the debate about the kind of future

society we need to create

4. Technological – geoinformation and the citizen

Four SC features (Donert, 2008)

Donert K (2008), Examining the relationship between Citizenship and Geography Education, 73-92, in Lambrinos N and Reliou M (Eds.), European Geography Education: the challenges of a new era, Arlington, W Virginia, National Council for Geographic Education

Spatial Citizenship

Where does Geography stand?

What is Spatial about Citizenship?


Integrating Citizenship in the learning process (Matache and Donert, 2002)

•  gather, sort and sift information •  share and collaborate •  reflection in appropriate learning situations •  search for knowledge and understanding •  critical opinions and ideas develop •  communicate to express views with others •  promote actions of responsible citizens

Matache M and Donert K (2002), Environmental Education in Europe, Proc. 3rd European Conference E-COMM-LINE 2002, Bucharest, September 26-27, 2002

DEGREE of Active Spatial

Citizenship

Enquiry Skills

ICT and Citizenship

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Competences and spatial citizenship


Spatial Citizenship

Deconstruct imagery, media and maps

Spatial Citizenship




SC competences •  to KNOW about the construction of geomedia •  to RECOGNISE the construction of certain geomedia •  to COMPARE the perspective of certain geomedia with

external information and previous knowledge •  to IDENTIFY the intentionality of the use of geomedia in

discourses, by reflection from multiple perspectives with the help of DECONSTRUCTION

29 Donert K, Gryl I and Jekel T (2010), GI & Spatial Citizenship, In Jekel T, Donert K and Koller A, Learning with GeoInformation V, Berlin, Wichman Verlag

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Donert K, Gryl I and Jekel T (2010), GI & Spatial Citizenship, In Jekel T, Donert K and Koller A, Learning with GeoInformation V, Berlin, Wichman Verlag

SC competences •  to FORMULATE alternative spatial scenarios •  to NEGOTIATE alternative scenarios (with

respect to different interests in democratic decision making processes)

•  to COMMUNICATE alternative meanings with geomedia

31 Donert K, Gryl I and Jekel T (2010), GI & Spatial Citizenship, In Jekel T, Donert K and Koller A, Learning with GeoInformation V, Berlin, Wichman Verlag

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Spatial Citizenship

•  ICT offers valuable geo-tools for spatial citizens –  technology provides potent tools, solutions to

complex problems, global communication –  empowerment in learning to excite and fascinate us

•  teachers act as gatekeepers •  In education

–  need sound pedagogy and good classroom practice –  must be used to enhance learning processes

ICT and Spatial Citizenship?

ICT and Citizenship

ICT and Citizenship ICT and Spatial Citizenship

What do young people identify with?

  how to get more active engagement in society?

•  Graffiti – gangs - tribes •  Computer games – simulations

Citizenship and Youth Culture

•  music, skateboards and mobile phones •  WWW, television and ….. ?

Citizenship and Youth Culture

Image of being a citizen •  research suggests most young people develop their

images through three main channels: –  public opinion and mass culture –  the individual from his/her direct experiences –  information presented by education, scientific

institutions and teachers

Who has the responsibility? Where does the burden lie?

Learning and Spatial Citizenship •  teacher provides tools for learning and

approaches for knowledge creation •  spatial communication provides opportunities

to express and share ideas with others •  students in control of their own approach to

SC •  students relate ideas to their own experiences

and establish their own needs

Glacial Retreat Project (2008-9)

Formal and informal presentation modes

Participative GIS

Participative framework

Participative user interfaces

•  “….. is about enriching lives by considering the wonders of our world, its environments and its peoples …..

•  with an emphasis on transformative learning …….

•  to establish a more holistic personal view.”

Donert K (2008), Examining the relationship between Citizenship and Geography Education, 73-92, in Lambrinos N and Reliou M (Eds.), European Geography Education: the challenges of a new era, Arlington, W Virginia, National Council for Geographic Education



Conclusions


Geography stand?

Citizenship: a reality check for Geography •  Council of Europe – Education for Democratic

Citizenship Project •  History Unit – Social Studies •  Where was/is Geography? •  Same in most other contexts/agencies •  Need to promote Education for Spatial Citizenship

for all

Conclusions (Spatial Citizenship conference track-Salzburg 2010)

•  The present (future) is ‘spatial’ – geographic information is all around us

•  Technology is (almost) ubiquitous – changing at an ever-increasing rate

•  Spatial citizenship is happening (case studies) •  Change in Education is blocked - teachers, teacher

education, curriculum etc.

Conclusions (Spatial Citizenship conference track-Salzburg 2010)

Everyone needs to be a spatial citizen •  Q. How? A. Need to develop contexts for change •  Q. Whose task? A. An important role for Geography/geographers •  Q. Who? Which organisations? In Europe – EUROGEO - challenge to the IGU(-CGE)

and other organisations

Conclusions (Vallega, 2008) Three global processes concerning Geography 1.  expanding interaction between local and

global systems…… a geography-relevant ontological dimension

of global change

Vallega A (2008), Ten Theses on IGU, Strategy and Actions, International Geographical Union Report 2004-2006, IGU, http://www.igu-net.org/uk/documents_download/INFORME%20UGI%2004-08.pdf

Conclusions (Vallega, 2008) 2. global networks in research and education -

global visions and representations of the Earth and the world - disseminating those visions and representations throughout the human community

…… a cultural dimension of global change


Conclusions (Vallega, 2008) 3. global information and communications

technologies have improved markedly - global village - tracing a plurality of dividing lines within it……..

the technical dimension of global change


Conclusions (Vallega, 2008) Geographers need to: •  be much more effective in today’s globalised

scientific world •  increase their willingness and flexibility to

communicate externally •  expand dialogue and host discussions and

initiatives from the entire geographic community.



offers us a vehicle to do this

Conclusion

Documents

Spatial Citizenship