Geografiämnet i förändring - lärares anpassning till nya riktlinjer

Sammanfattning

Geography as a subject has during its lifetime been a part of the Swedish school system. More implemented during some time periods than others. New approaches and different types of traditions have emerged and taken its place over time. During the early 1950´s the subject was divided into two different faculties at the universities all over Sweden: cultural geography and physical geography. Some time after the partition the subject lost its popularity, and geography in Swedish schools were now subjected to a lower status. Previous research also shows how other countries has experienced similar problems with a decreased status. The subject has also undergone many changes while new school curricula reforms have been implemented. Geography is a subject that in many ways can be connected to its contemporaries, what is happening in the world is in constant change and thus is the subject of geography as well. Through interviews with several geography teachers who shared their own experiences of working with different curricula, an understanding of what teaching looks like in practice has been formed. This essay aims to examine how the subject of geography in Swedish schools has changed in steps with various curricula reforms and how it has affected teachers and their teaching. This essay also aims to examine how other changes, apart from curricula reforms, have affected the content of the geography subject and why. The results have shown that both curricula and other external factors has influenced the educational subject of geography.