Map Literacy Skill in Social Sciences Curriculum of Turkey: The Gap between Theory and Practice

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the attainments of map literacy skills in the 2018 Social Studies course curriculum according to the learning areas and examine the applicability of the program. The research sought answers to the following questions: 1. How is the distribution of attainments related to map literacy skills in the 2018 Social Studies course curriculum by class levels and learning areas? 2. What is the level attainments associated with map literacy in the 2018 Social Studies course curriculum related to the lower dimensions of map skills in the high school geography curriculum? 3. What is the applicability level of map literacy skills in the 2018 Social Studies course curriculum for student-centered learning activities? Looking at the results of the study, it was found that at fourth-grade level, there was an improvement in the global connections learning area, where four skills were included with map writing in People and Places and Environments. At fifth-grade level, it was found there were two attainments linked to map literacy in People Places and Environments, while there was one attainment in Global Connections. According to the results of the research, it was found that at sixth-grade level, there were four achievements in People, Places and Environments, one achievement in Production, Distribution and Consumption, and three achievements related to map literacy skills in Global Connections. Finally, at the seventh-grade level, it was found there were two achievements related to map literacy skills in the field of learning People Places and Environments. When Social Studies textbooks were examined, it was observed that map literacy skills and application activities were at a limited level. In Social Studies course learning areas, the level of applicability in terms of map literacy skills is quite high. The recommendations to be developed on this issue are to teach both teachers and students about Geographic Information Systems, where students can find application areas, support map literacy skills.