Geographica 48/1-2 (2019)

Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucensis Facultas Rerum Naturalium December 2019 Geographica 48 | 1-2
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The topic of quality of life and key competencies development: a case study about supporting the geographical thinking of pupils

Petra Karvánková, Dagmar Popjaková, Markéta Slepičková

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Received: 17 July, 2018
Accepted: 10 December, 2018

Abstract
The concept of quality of life (QOL) is a multi-disciplinary theme that has the potential to fulfi l the main goals of geography education as used in tasks of modern school geography. It can develop pupils’ geographical thinking, bring education in schools closer to everyday life, emphasize practical activities and develop pupils’ key competencies. The topic of QOL does not constitute a separate thematic area within geography. It is included in many thematic areas of this subject. This paper presents an example of using key competencies as a tool for the development of a modern approach in geography teaching. The pilot study research aimed to verify the problem-solving competencies of pupils and used the QOL topic with 28 children in the 9th grade of the Czech lower secondary school in Svatá Hora in Příbram. The results showed that most of the pupils have acquired competencies on a level that is appropriate for their age. More than a fi fth of the pupils accomplished the tasks in an imaginative way; less than a fi fth did not fulfi l them. Pupils are able to critically assess the QOL based on their own views and experiences, on the subjective assessments of other people, and on the basis of statistical data.

Key words
geography teaching, quality of life, key competencies, cross-curricular links, lower secondary education