Geographia Polonica (2023) vol. 96, iss. 2

The use of mental maps in the assessment of geographic knowledge: Form and content of map sketches drawn by last year Primary Education students in the Balearic Islands (Spain)

Jaume Binimelis Sebastián, Carla Pla-Sanchís, Julián Serrano-Varón, Marta Sánchez Casado

Geographia Polonica (2023) vol. 96, iss. 2, pp. 279-297 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/GPol.0256

Abstract

This work pursues the study of mental maps as a tool to assess the geographic knowledge of the BalearicIslands among school students from 17 primary education schools. The study reveals an interrelationship between the formal aspects of the cartographic sketches and the level of geographic knowledge expressed (content) through the mentioned places. This finding adds value to the power of cartographic sketching asa tool for the study of geographic knowledge, disproving those who question it.

Keywords: geographic literacy, mental maps, Balearic Islands, location, profile

Jaume Binimelis Sebastián [jaume.binimelis@uib.es], Department of Geography The University of the Balearic Islands Palma de Mallorca: Spain
Carla Pla-Sanchís, Primary Education Degree student The University of the Balearic Islands Palma de Mallorca: Spain
Julián Serrano-Varón, Teacher in Primary Education. C.C. La Puríssima Calle Sevilla 19, 07013 Palma de Mallorca: Spain
Marta Sánchez Casado, Teacher in Primary Education