Text oder Karte? : Ergebnisse einer empirischen Untersuchung zur Effektivität der Kartenarbeit im Geographieunterricht

The OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) reveals short-ages in literacy of German students. The PISA results raise the question, whether this shortage also applies to the students ́ capacities of map reading. Using maps or cartographic visualizations is very common to qualify students to a differenti-ated perception of the living conditions on earth. Maps are very important to gain qualified literacy (“graphicacy”) and to understand spatiotemporal processes. Map reading requires capacities, which – similar to the term “literacy” of the PISA – are organized in several steps. An experimental analysis in grammar schools shows that maps are not necessarily suitable for pupils` understanding of complex spatial structures. The advantages and disadvantages of using maps or texts in geography lessons should always be weighed up against each other.