Analysis of cartographic literacy development in Slovenian and English primary schools

Namen kartografskega opismenjevanja je usposabljanje posameznika za uporabo zemljevidov. Glede na to, da se zemljevidi množično pojavljajo na številnih področjih našega življenja, sta njihovo ustrezno branje in interpretacija pomembna za razvoj osebne prostorske predstave, večjo informiranost, posledično pa tudi za samostojno učenje in splošno razgledanost. Ker je kartografska pismenost učencev iz večine evropskih držav na nizki ravni, nas je zanimalo, kako se kartografsko opismenjevanje pojavlja in nadgrajuje v domačih in tujih učnih načrtih. V prispevku smo prikazali izsledke primerjave izbranih kriterijev iz slovenskih in angleških učnih načrtov za primarno stopnjo. Primerjalni izsledki potrjujejo, da so kartografskemu opismenjevanju največjo pozornost namenili v prenovljenem slovenskem učnem načrtu za družbo, vendar z eno pomanjkljivostjo - kartografija se uvaja (pre)pozno. V angleškem učnem načrtu se nekateri vidiki kartografskega opismenjevanja resda pojavijo prej, vendar so zaradi splošne definicije ciljev in pomanjkanja priporočil odvisni od učiteljev in njihovega kartografskega (ne)znanja. Kombinacija odprtega kurikula in učiteljevega kartografskega (ne)znanja pa potiska kartografsko opismenjevanje korak ali dva za preostalimi vsebinami, zato sta izobraževanje učiteljev in posvečanje pozornosti tej temi bodisi v učnih načrtih bodisi v učbeniških kompletih izrednega pomena.The purpose of cartographic literacy development is training individuals for proper use of maps. Maps are present in many aspects of our lives, therefore, their proper reading and interpretation is very important for the development of one\u27s space perception and consequently also for self-study, and general knowledge. Cartographic literacy of primary school pupils from most European countries is at a relatively low level. Therefore, we carried out a study were we tried to established how cartographic literacy development appears and upgrades within Slovenian and foreign curricula. The article presents the results of a comparison of selected criteria in Slovenian and English curricula for primary level. Comparative results confirmed that cartographic literacy development received a maximum attention in the revised Slovenian social studies curriculum, but with one deficiency, namely, cartography is introduced (too) late. Some aspects of cartographic literacy development in the English geography curriculum indeed occur sooner than in the Slovenian curriculum, but because of the general definition of attainment targets and lack of recommendations for cartographic education in the English curriculum, the cartographic literacy development depends primarily on teachers and their cartographic knowledge. A combination of an open curriculum and the teacher\u27s poor cartographic knowledge pushes cartographic literacy development in the background, which is why paying attention to this subject in the curricula or textbooks is of paramount importance