Curricula and Education Methods of Geography as STEM Subject in Finland

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K01231
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Geography
• Research Institution: Fukuoka Women's University
• Principal Investigator: YUDA Minori 福岡女子大学, 国際文理学部, 准教授 (60625531)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 地理教育 / STEM教育 / 教育カリキュラム / フィンランド

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Geography is considered a natural science subject in Finland. In primary schools, geography is taught in the 'environment' subject which integrates natural science subjects and in the 'geography' subject in junior and senior high schools. In the content and practice of geography education, elements of STEM learning and skills are observed. In addition, the knowledge and skills of geography are also used to teach in the "biology" classes. Combining geography and STEM disciplines is made possible by the collaboration of national core curriculum, educational materials, and teacher training education.

Free Research Field

地理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

フィンランドの地理教育について、カリキュラムの内容や学校で行われている実際の授業、教員養成制度と大学での教育についての新しい情報を共有し、地理教育でSTEM要素を取り入れた事例や、地理教育が児童・生徒にもたらす知識やスキルを他のSTEM分野で取り入れた教育実践した事例を伝えることで、地理のみならず様々な分野の教育関係者に、地理の教科としての重要性と汎用性を示す機会となる点において、社会的意義があると言えよう。