MAPPING THE PLACE KNOWLEDGE OF TEACHERS IN-TRAINING

The professional knowledge base of student teachers is currently the s ubject of much debate. Map recall is used in this study as an exemplar of what is at issue in characterising students' professional knowledg e in geography. A sample of 363 postgraduate student teachers were ask ed to draw a freehand sketch map of the British Isles. The maps were s cored in terms of the number and definition of coastal features drawn and the relative area of each of the constituent political units. Sign ificant differences in the map scores were found for gender, undergrad uate degree subject and students' home region. Some of the implication s for geography in higher education and teacher training are discussed .