Comparative Research Based On The PEP Edition And Sanmin Edition Of Senior Geography Textbooks

As the basic carrier of geography curriculum,Geography textbook serves for the geography classroom teaching.It is the main tool and important basis for teaching and learning activities to achieve the goal of nurturing that plays an irreplaceable role in geography teaching.Geography curriculum reform becomes increasingly the focus of the National Curriculum Reform.Under this situation,geographical educators make a broad exploration into the geography curriculum and teaching field.Based on excellent research achievements,researches in aspects of the reform and the analysis of geographical curriculum has been constantly enriched.This paper chooses the comparative approach of geography textbooks in Taiwan of China with similar cultural background in mainland of China,through the comparative analysis of the textbooks in contrastive backgrounds,serves for the aim that similarities and differences between the two geography materials and the merits of the preparation of geography textbooks will be obtained,and provides valuable reference for the reform and development of China’s geography teaching materials.This paper,corroborated with documentary method and comparative approach and guided by theories of education and psychology,makes a comparison between the PEP edition and SanMin edition in designment of construction,content,image,linguistic description,and class activities.Finally,it identifies the similarity and difference between the two versions of textbook and draws a concusion from six points as follow:First,in the format design,the two versions of geography textbooks complete with text and illustrated graphics,choose the colorful printing,both paying much attention to the design of the cover page.Relatively speaking,the SanMin Edition providing some proper blank parts is convenient for students to take notes and summary for the knowledge in the book.Second,on the structure design,the PEP edition has a well-organized and logical construction,which covers key points from far and near,and assures that students can establish reasonable knowledge structure;The SanMin Edition has a perceptual design in its knowledge constructure,which is more in line with students’ physical and mental characteristics and accept ability.Third,in the aspect of content selection and organization,the two editions are based on their curriculum targets to write.Chapters in the PEP Edition share a close relation with each other and incoporate the three dimensional teaching target,emphasizing the importance of theories closely related to practice;The counterpart,SanMin Edition,emphasize the importance of cultivation in students’ basic knowledge learning of geography and guide them to get a rational thinking modes,which reflects the prospective development of traditional geographics.Fourth,on the text writing,language description in PEP Edition are more concise and laconic,whereas,in San Min Edition,it is more detailed helpful for students to understand the geographical concept.Proverbs and sayings in the leading-in part of to Senior high school geography textbook are more conducive to stimulate students’ interest in reading.Fifth,on the image setting,various types of images of the two version of geography textbooks are closely integrated with the text,and can be illustrated.The PEP Edition does better in application schematic diagram,while SanMin Edition,better in illustrated images with landscape diagram,enhancing the fun of reading.Sixth,on the activity setting,two editions add open-ended questions to their activities design,which fully embodies the requirements of the level three.The San Min Edition add the network part of geographic information search in the activities section,which helps to cultivate students’ ability to use information technology to learn geography.Based on the above research conclusion,textbook compilation or revised reprint in China should draw lessons from the following aspects: format design should be enhanced with the visual effect and expression.Content selection should be increased with materials closely related to student life and the development of modern society and science and technology;Leave thinking space for students to follow the learning regulation and promote their expression ability;Further enhance the quality and quantity of the textbook illustrations;Cultivate students’ abstract thinking ability;Optimize activities design in textbooks;Promote students’ ability to use modern tools such as network,strengthen the effect of classroom teaching.