Thinking geographical : a review of David Waugh ‘Geography: an integrated approach’ textbook

Abstract

The study looks at the core geography matriculation level textbook by Waugh, (2009) ‘Geography: An Integrated Approach’ utilized in Malta. Moreover, the study aims to evaluate the textbook according to a set of criteria: space and place, scale and global dimension, relational thinking, and chapter structure, and evaluate if the textbook leads the students to ‘geographical thinking’. Additionally, the study gives fundamental insight on how geography textbooks can achieve ‘geographical thinking’ through an array of contrasting case studies, maps and photos which complement the listed content and help students learn. This research was also supplemented with questionnaires specifically designed for students who underwent Advanced or Intermediate courses in geography and made use of the Waugh, (2004) textbook to express their opinion regarding the use of the said textbook. The results achieved support the research and analysis underwent of the textbooks’ content, whereby findings may acts as indicators on ways how to improve future revisions of the textbook and give an insight on what students value as most important when learning geography.