Didáctica Geográfica

Didáctica Geográfica is an open-access academic journal dedicated to the teaching and learning of geography. It is edited by the Grupo de Didáctica de la Geografía (Geography Didactics Group) of the Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles (A.G.E.), the Spanish Association of Geographers, and is published annually. The journal serves as a platform for research, reflection, and innovation in geography education, addressing both theoretical and classroom-based approaches. The journal was founded in 1977 by Pedro Plans, a professor of geography at the University of Murcia, who was motivated by a desire to improve and enrich the teaching of geography. He was supported by colleagues from his department and secondary school teachers who shared this concern, notably José Luis González Ortiz and José Sánchez Sánchez. The first period of the journal ran until 1987, when it ceased publication due to financial difficulties after 14 issues. It was revived in 1996 by the Geography Didactics Group, with the support of the aforementioned professors. The University of Murcia transferred the journal's title and publishing rights, initiating a second period. Since then, the journal has continued to publish annually, with 12 issues produced up to the time of the source. Throughout its history, the journal has been guided by several key figures. Pedro Plans served as director during the first period and was honorary director until his death in 2008. In the second period, Juan Carlos Rodríguez Santillana was secretary for the first two issues, followed by María Jesús Marrón Gaite from issue 3 to 10, and María Luisa de Lázaro y Torres from issue 11. Marrón Gaite also served as director. The current secretary is Emilia María Tonda Monlor. The journal is indexed in Latindex, DICE, Dialnet, and e-Revistas, and is in the process of being indexed in other databases. Recent issues are available in full text on the Group's website through the Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform, with plans to digitize earlier issues. Didáctica Geográfica aims to promote quality and innovation in geography education. Its objectives include reducing the gap between university teaching and the needs of teachers, advocating for geography teaching in secondary education to be led by geography graduates, fostering international exchanges and networks, promoting innovation in teaching methodologies and tools (including ICT), encouraging fieldwork, improving the visibility of geography, and working towards consensus on minimum content for geography education at various levels. The journal continues to be a vital resource for geography educators and researchers.

Didáctica Geográfica was founded in 1977 by Pedro Plans, a professor of geography at the University of Murcia. Plans, who had extensive experience as a secondary school teacher, was driven by a desire to improve and enrich the teaching of geography. He founded the journal with the collaboration of professors from his own department and secondary school teachers who shared his concern, notably José Luis González Ortiz and José Sánchez Sánchez. González Ortiz served as the journal's secretary for most of its first period, while Plans was the director. The journal ceased publication in 1987 due to financial problems, after having published a total of 14 issues. It was revived in 1996 by the Geography Didactics Group of the Spanish Association of Geographers (A.G.E.), with the support of the aforementioned professors. The University of Murcia ceded the journal's title and publishing rights, marking the beginning of its second period. Up to the time of the source, 12 issues had been published in this second period. In the second period, Juan Carlos Rodríguez Santillana served as secretary for the first two issues. From issue 3 to issue 10, María Jesús Marrón Gaite held the secretary position, and from issue 11, María Luisa de Lázaro y Torres took over. Marrón Gaite also served as director. Throughout the second period and until his death in 2008, Pedro Plans was the honorary director of the journal. Currently, the Group continues to drive and promote the journal with an annual issue. It is indexed in Latindex, meeting all its evaluation criteria, as well as in DICE and Dialnet. It is part of the e-Revistas database and is in the process of being indexed in other databases. The last three issues are available in full text on the Group's website through the Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform, which offers high visibility online. There are plans to upload earlier issues starting from issue 1 of the second period (1996). Many prominent authors in the field of geography didactics have written for the journal and continue to do so. In issue 11 (2010), the journal's secretary, María Luisa de Lázaro y Torres, indirectly stated some of the journal's objectives: "our journal shows that it has always been attentive to the vicissitudes of geographical science and its teaching, its renewal, the need for innovation, the incorporation of ICT in geography teaching, the need for scientific deepening in the science and the problems that teachers must face in their daily classroom work." The current secretary of the journal is Emilia María Tonda Monlor. Looking ahead, the journal faces new horizons and challenges. The entry into the European Higher Education Area invites reflection on what aspects can be improved in geography teaching. The Group intends to continue working on both theoretical and classroom research to enhance quality and innovation in geography education. Specific objectives include reducing the gap between university teaching and teachers' needs, advocating that geography teaching in secondary education (at least in the second cycle) be taught by geography graduates, promoting international exchanges and networks, fostering innovation in geography didactics (not only in tools like ICT but also in methodologies), encouraging fieldwork as a laboratory and basis for geography, improving the visibility of geography through websites and competitions, and working in a coordinated way to agree on minimum standards for geography teaching at each educational level, as well as an agreement on content for university entrance exams (PAUs) within the curriculum framework. The Group considers it important to continue the work it has been doing since its creation, which is fundamental for keeping geography didactics up to date. The most specific challenge of this discipline is to improve students' training in spatial competence so that they can participate actively and responsibly in decisions affecting their interaction with the territory, and be able to value the need to respect and enhance natural balance and social equity. This includes students acquiring conceptual rigor, proper spelling and basic vocabulary; using different sources (images, maps with scales, graphs, sketches, statistical tables, texts, viewers, WebGIS, IDEE, etc.); developing concern for sustainable development and the environment; and understanding the environment and the physical and human features of the Earth. The journal aims to continue disseminating geographical science not only through its own activities such as publications and congresses, but also through participation in projects and research groups dedicated to geography didactics, as well as competitions and Science Weeks held in various locations.

• 2010

  Issue 11 published; María Luisa de Lázaro y Torres becomes secretary.

• 2008

  Death of Pedro Plans, honorary director.

• 1996

  Journal revived by the Geography Didactics Group of the A.G.E.; second period begins.

• 1987

  Journal ceased publication due to financial problems after 14 issues.

• 1977

  Journal founded by Pedro Plans at the University of Murcia.

Open-access academic journal for geography education, published by the Spanish Association of Geographers' Geography Didactics Group.

• Didáctica Geográfica journal

  Annual open-access academic journal on geography education.

1. 1Didáctica Geográfica - Wikipedia (Spanish)es.wikipedia.org
2. 2Didáctica Geográfica - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Journal archiveage.ieg.csic.es