Functional Literaiy in the Context of the Geographical Education and new Educational Paradigm

Authors:

Pages: -

Abstract:

A number of factors again put the focus of public attention to literacy, as a fundamental human right and as a guarantee of personal and public prosperity. The adopted National strategy to promote and improve literacy (2014–2020), defines it as a base to mark the economic growth and prosperity and to improve socio-economic conditions. In our educational reality the concept of “literacy” varies in its range and scope, and if traditionally we associate linguistic knowledge and skill with literacy, it is increasingly used in a broader sense as a set of “literacies” or even as a synonym for competences. Communicative oriented training, placing the student at the center of the educational process and turning it into an active part in this process make the topic of functional literacy especially important. Correlated to state educational standards and curriculum, elements of functional literacy appear on as expected learning outcomes at the end stages of education. School geography holds huge potential for construction and development of key competencies that underlie functional literacy. These competences defined as knowledge, skills and attitudes lead to connectivity of the individual abilities and social objectives, and can contribute to a successful personal, professional and social realization. Geographical education, by nature of geography as a bridge between the natural and the social sciences block can realize in the utmost the educational paradigm – the discarding of the “knowing” and the imposition of the “educated” man. Step in this direction is the formation of natural science literacy, preparing students for active citizenship, how to cope in the labor market and in society based on knowledge.

Keywords:

literacy, functional literacy, natural science literacy, geographical education

Download

NA / Bulgaria / China / Cote D'Ivoire / Europe / France / Germany / Portugal / Russian Federation / Sweden / Turkey / Ukraine / United Kingdom / United States