About Department of Geography Education

History

Gazi University was founded in 1926 under the leadership of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, under the name of the Middle School of Education, to train modern teachers. In 1929, it was moved to the current Gazi University Rectorate building with Ankara Male Primary Teacher Training School and named "Gazi Secondary School of Education and Training Institute." Between 1929 and 1948, departments of Painting and Drawing, Physical Education, Music, Education (Pedagogy), French, English and German were established. In 1947, the Gazi Teachers' School and Institute of Education was transformed into the Gazi Institute of Education. In 1980, with the decision of the Ministry of National Education, it became "Gazi Higher Teachers' School" offering 4-year education. In 1982, as a result of the establishment of Gazi University, it continued education within Gazi University under the name of "Gazi Faculty of Education."

Geography Education, which provides four (4) years of education as a separate department, and the History, Turkish Language, Literature, and Philosophy departments, was transformed into a department in 1998. The education period was increased to five (5) years and gathered under the name of Secondary Education Social Fields Education Department. The department in question is recognized as a department in the Institute of Educational Sciences, and the departments affiliated with the department are recognized as branches of science. As of 2014, the education period of our department was reduced to 4 years, and the student quota was reduced to 20. The name of the department to which our department is affiliated was changed first to Social Sciences and Turkish and then to Turkish and Social Sciences Education, and the departments of Turkish and Social Studies teaching were added to the same department.

Introduction

Students are placed in the Department of Geography Education with a quota of 20 people according to the verbal exam score conducted by ÖSYM. The education period of the Department of Geography Education is 4 years; the language of instruction is Turkish. In addition to the theoretical courses, practical courses are supported by geographical information systems courses in the geography classroom, which have all kinds of technological facilities. There are master's and doctoral programs in the department. Since 2009, 6-10 students from the department have gone abroad every year within the scope of Erasmus Intensive Programs. Geography teacher candidate students organize exhibitions within the scope of various courses they take during the semester and actively participate in these exhibitions. Various social and scientific activities such as acquaintance dinners, tea meetings, and scientific and technical field studies are organized among the students in the department. In the 4th year, undergraduate graduation theses within the scope of the seminar course are important for the students to comprehend the courses given in the department and to carry out field studies. Our graduates who have completed their undergraduate education can work as geography teachers in the public and private sectors. There are five professors, one associate professor, one assistant professor, and two research assistants in the department.

Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals of the Department of Geography Education

Mission

The mission of the Department of Geography Education is to train teachers, experts, and academicians who are committed to the fundamental values of the Republic, who renew and develop themselves based on learning, teaching, and human development, who can think critically, who are open to innovations, who can guide the society, who are at peace with themselves, who are free from future anxiety; to provide educational services that advance educational theories and practices through high-quality scientific research/development activities and educational theories and practices through collaborations established at national and global level.

- The mission of the Department of Geography Education is to educate individuals who comprehend the basic principles and functioning of geography and learn to learn.

- To increase the scientific production potential of the geography discipline,

- Providing an education that is open to contemporary developments and changes

- To create a participatory academic environment where ideas are openly discussed and shared.

Vision

Our department has adopted the vision of being a department that is committed to Atatürk's Principles and Revolutions and the contemporary values of the Republic of Turkey, producing and applying scientific knowledge through research at a universal level, dynamic, contemporary, democratic, sensitive to ethical values, contributing to society with the people it educates and the knowledge it produces, and proud to be a member and student.

Aims and Objectives

1. Teacher Training:

The Department of Geography Education primarily aims to train teachers who are committed to the fundamental values of the Republic of Turkey and its philosophy depending on the Turkish National Education System, who have knowledge of the field and general culture, who know the methods and techniques related to education and teaching very well, who have ethical and aesthetic values, who are respectful to social values, who are inquisitive, investigative, and have strong communication skills, It aims to train responsible, productive, effective and future-oriented prospective teachers who use Turkish correctly and widely, follow domestic and international publications and transfer these skills to the students they will train, and to improve the quality of teacher training within Gazi Faculty of Education.

2.Researcher/Academician Training:

In parallel with the increasing capacity requirement in higher education, the Department of Geography Education aims to train teaching staff for the relevant university departments and provide the necessary support to the teaching staff.

3. Knowledge Generation and Dissemination:

The Department of Geography Education aims to conduct research and development studies that will guide policies and practices in line with national interests and values in the development of Turkish education in general and to develop cooperation and relations with stakeholders to ensure that the knowledge produced will guide policies and practices. The Department also aims to be in constant communication and cooperation with universities, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, other departments of the university, and graduates in Turkey and abroad and to carry out joint projects with them. In particular, the Department of Geography Education aims to prepare students for the future and life. It aims to give teacher candidates a responsible, sensitive, positive, and conscious personality. With geography education, students develop their spatial skills, analyze the spatial characteristics of economic and social events, and gain environmental awareness. It encourages students to research, identify and solve problems, and plan for the future. The program adopts the principle of raising individuals sensitive to nature and human interaction, aiming for a life in harmony with nature, and has content that encourages the sustainable use of natural, cultural, and economic resources. Throughout the education life, the student internalizes the information learned; as a result, the experiences and information provided during geography education change them.

Values

To protect and develop social and national values within the framework of the universality of science,

To glorify scientific freedom, creativity, and original thought,

To be committed to ethical values,

To lead social and individual development through education,

To train competent teachers and academicians in the field,

To cooperate with national and international institutions and organizations,

To include all the possibilities of current technology in the education/training process,

To adopt academic consistency and honesty as a duty.