Essential geography skills are a set of competencies that enable individuals to understand and analyze the world around them from a spatial perspective. These skills are essential for anyone who wants to understand the complex interplay between human and physical systems on Earth.
According to the New Zealand Ministry of Education, geography skills can be broadly categorized into several categories:
– Geographic resource interpretation skills: These skills involve using various resources such as maps, photographs, diagrams, and statistics to interpret geographic information.
– Geographic resource construction skills: These skills involve presenting spatial and statistical data in a variety of formats such as maps, graphs, and tables.
– Communication skills: These skills involve presenting geographic information in a variety of forms such as essays, paragraphs, visuals, models, films, PowerPoint presentations, speeches, games, puzzles, blogs, and graphic organizers.
– Social skills: These skills involve working in groups, being empathetic, appreciating different values, perspectives, and viewpoints on different aspects of geography, establishing and justifying personal value positions, contributing and participating in the community.
– Fieldwork skills: These skills involve gathering information from the field using a variety of techniques such as surveying, questionnaires, field sketching, measuring, photographing, interviewing, and observing.
In addition to these skills, Geography Realm identifies five main categories of skills that geographers need to be successful:
– Analytical skills: Geographers analyze the world to find patterns. In order to make sense of spatial patterns, analytical skills are a must.
– Computer skills: Geographers must be skilled in the technology-driven aspects of their field.
– Critical-thinking skills: Critical analysis is a key skill for geographers.
– Data Visualization skills: For geographers, one of the most common ways to report their findings is by creating a map.
– Communication skills: Geographers must be able to communicate their findings effectively.
Finally, National Council for the Social Studies identifies three essential learning and innovative skills that can help students with geography for confronting the challenges of tomorrow:
– Creativity and innovation
– Creative thinking and problem-solving
– Communication and collaboration skills