THE NEW GEOGRAPHY

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Since 2004, this author has tried to improve the methodology of P.B.L. (Project Based Learning) for seminars on geography education. The “Sake Project”, which was concerned with Japanese sake consumption and production, consisted of creative activities, data analyses, fieldwork, literature reading and presentation of the tasks. Students chose their own subject area for independent research. The reports written by students were assembled every semester. 　The activities of dialogue making, which helped students develop a positive feeling for the area, were useful to keep their motivation high. The geographical basis of Japanese sake consumption and production were understood by the analyses of population, industry, climate in each area. The fieldwork conducted at sake breweries and a liquor store helped the students not only to see their actual conditions, but also to find geographical factors around the Japanese sake industry through their field research. The assembled reports were of great value for sharing the results with outsiders who had cooperated with the seminar. 　As a result, this author discovered that most students were able to acquire the ability to explore regional characteristics through the P.B.L. method.

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