The importance of teachers' perception of space in education

• Published in: Acta geographica Slovenica : Geografski zbornik Vol. 49; no. 2; pp. 365 - 392
• Main Authors: FRIDL, J, URBANC, M, PIPAN, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: ZRC SAZU, Založba ZRC 01.01.2009
• Subjects: Bgi / Prodig; education; geography; slovenia; space; spatial perception; sustainable spatial development; Teaching and pedagogy of geography; The practice of geography; Space; Perception; Environmental perception; Teaching
• ISSN: 1581-6613; 1854-5106; 1581-8314
• DOI: 10.3986/AGS49205

In addition to environmental problems, spatial pressures are also being exacerbated by increasing economic development, the prosperity of the European population, and the increasing needs of various activities. These can only be mitigated through carefully planned use of space, which demands more active inclusion of the public in addition to relevant services. For successful public inclusion it is important for both individuals and social communities to be aware that space is a limited commodity exposed to increasing social and economic pressure. This kind of awareness demands an informed and educated population that will not only build its attitude towards space based on conceptual knowledge, but also supplement this through perceptual knowledge obtained in education. Active, responsible, and critical citizens can only be cultivated by properly educated, informed, and motivated teachers. These teachers can use new methods to address many existing topics and include new topics to considerably broaden their students’ minds. This is also what this paper seeks to demonstrate. It focuses on the comprehension of space through spatial perception, further development of routine conceptual knowledge through fieldwork, and the possibility of applying selected methods to learning processes. The goal of these efforts will be achieved when individuals and society understand that space is a limited commodity and that the attitude towards it must change as soon as possible if space is to be preserved for future generations in the spirit of sustainable development.