The geography literacy and education according to social science teachers

The purpose of our research is to determine the definition of geography literacy in the perceptions of our Social Science teachers who are the major factors that make our students good geography literate and to pay attention to teachers about what should be done in order to make our students be geography literate and, with the consequences, to offer suggestions to our researchers making studies on this issue and to gain date to literature on this issue. When the literature is examined, most of the studies on geographical literacy are concerned with measuring the level of knowledge or perception of individuals in this respect. This study is the rare study in our country where there is no similarity to previous researches on geographical literacy and the opinions of the teachers about the topic are taken into consideration. In this regard, the study is thought to contribute significantly to the literature because it is the first in its field. In our this studies, a qualitative research method and a case study model of qualitative research methods were used. The interview form was used as data collection tool. Our interview form consists of 5 questions in total and each of the questions was prepared to obtain different data. The sample of the research, in the academic year 2016-2017, by considering the socio-economic level data, consists of the teachers of Social Sciences who are working in secondary schools attached to MoNE in the districts of Keçiören, Kızılcahamam,Kahramankazan, Çamlıdere and Güdül, easy-to-use sampling method from purposeful sampling methods, in the settlements with different socio-economic levels of Ankara, The data obtained from the teachers were first written in computer environment, and then using descriptive analysis from qualitative research techniques. According to the most expressions of the answers given by the teachers of Social Studies to the questions we ask, the definition of geographical literacy; it is the recognition of our country, our world, the living and non-living environment and the ability to be introduced. According to the interviews, the features that a geography literate person should have are to know the basic concepts and concepts of geography, to be able to use maps and to be sensitive to the environment, to give value to the environment. According to our Social Studies Teachers, since the students recognize the environment, the country and the world they live in, their understandings and together with the place and the importance in the Social Studies Course, the importance of having geographical literacy skills is great. According to the opinions obtained, in the Social Studies Course, the purpose in terms of geographical literacy should be to introduce the living country and environment. Content should be general and basic geographic concepts and terms. In terms of acquiring skills, plenty of maps should be used. The method and technique should be based on trip, observation and examination methods. Materials to be used should be mostly map and sphere. Measurement and evaluation should be in the form of practical, practical, examinations that measure skill level. To the question being asked as "What needs to be done to increase the literacy level of the students in our country?", the answer given by most of the teachers is "the number of trips and opportunities should be increased".