Characteristics of Regional Geography Education and Ideas for the Next National Curriculum Standards

Abstract

An approach of dynamic regional geography was introduced on the regional geography study of the current National Curriculum Standards. On this type of regional geography study, the acquisition of geographical knowledge was emphasized as well as the acquisition of methods for understanding regional characteristics. While the emphasis on geographical competencies in addition to knowledge is commendable, there are many issues to be addressed regarding the specific content of regional geography study. For example, it is necessary to reexamine the division of region and the arrangement of study regions from the viewpoint of the degree of difficulty in acquiring regional characteristics.