Teachers and students from Russia’s regions share what the Geography Teachers Forum at the National Centre RUSSIA meant to them
Delegations from different regions of the country travelled to the National Centre RUSSIA for the Forum of Geography Teachers and Students of Specialised Universities. For some, it was an opportunity to discuss the strategic development of geographical education; for others, it was their first major professional experience and a chance to meet like-minded people from across Russia. They all shared one thing: an interest in their country, its territory and the people who live there.
Olga Guryevskikh, a geography teacher from Yekaterinburg, travelled to Moscow with the Sverdlovsk Region delegation. According to her, even a short visit to the National Centre RUSSIA allows participants to experience a special atmosphere of professional interaction.
"We are always delighted when the geography teaching community receives attention at such a high level. Geography is a strategic subject; it surrounds us everywhere. When we talk about patriotism and worldview sovereignty, it is knowledge of our territory, our regions and our country that fosters love and care for our land," Olga Guryevskikh said.
She emphasised that such events help identify specific solutions to support teachers in the regions. According to Olga Guryevskikh, forums, congresses and gatherings of geographers provide an opportunity to discuss issues that concern teachers across the country, from the content of the subject to motivating schoolchildren. The teacher also noted the role of the National Centre RUSSIA as a new point of attraction for the teaching community: it is a space where knowledge about different regions is brought together in one place, while the exposition format makes geography more accessible and easier for schoolchildren to understand.
Alexandra Kononova, a student at a pedagogical institute in Stavropol who comes from the town of Ipatovo in the Ipatovo District, also spoke about the importance of this format for future teachers. She studies geography and ecology and already plans to return to her home town to teach.
"My choice of profession began with a school project about teaching dynasties at our school. I did not win first place at the time, but after exploring the subject in greater depth, I decided that I would become a teacher. Geography had always been the closest subject to me: I was interested in the peoples of our country, their cultures, different countries and travel. I came to the forum to speak with colleagues, learn about new ways of working with children and see how teaching is organised in other regions. I really like the fact that people from every constituent entity of the Russian Federation have gathered here: everyone brings their own experience, culture and traditions," Alexandra Kononova said.
She added that it was particularly important for her to hear how teachers in different parts of the country combine geography with history, biology and culture, and how the local environment influences this. According to Alexandra Kononova, a teacher is a "conduit": everything they absorb from their surroundings is later passed on to children, who then carry it further. This is why, she believes, the exchange of regional experience at the forum helps schoolchildren develop a more comprehensive understanding of Russia, its diversity and the connections between its territories.
The student also shared her impressions of the "Geography Lessons" exposition, which she visited as part of the forum. Alexandra Kononova was particularly impressed by the section devoted to historical maps: encountering the earliest examples of cartography makes it possible to view the development of science from a new perspective and see how people’s understanding of the world changed. According to her, such expositions help schoolchildren and students realise that geography is not merely a textbook subject, but also a fascinating story about how territories were explored, regions were discovered, cities were formed and people’s lives changed. She is convinced that visits to such expositions should become an important part of school education: in her view, geography cannot be truly understood if it is studied only at a desk, without tours and observations.
The Forum of Geography Teachers and Students of Specialised Universities was held at the National Centre RUSSIA on 25 June as one of the key events of the "Geography Lessons" exposition. It brought together more than 800 participants from all federal districts of the country, including schoolteachers, university lecturers, students, teaching methodology specialists, school heads and representatives of education authorities.
The forum was organised by the National Centre RUSSIA with the support of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the Russian Geographical Society, the V. S. Lednev Institute for the Content and Methods of Education and HSE University.
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