An evaluation of changes to the secondary school geography curriculum in Turkey in 2005

This study aims at introducing, explaining and evaluating the revised secondary school (high school) geography lesson curriculum in Turkey. Preliminary studies on the new curriculum started in 2002, and it was implemented in 2005. In this context, the article will focus on the programme development process and approaches, principle components of the programme, and its learning and assessment areas. The new geography teaching programme is based on the constructivist approach. It is dependent on active learning and enquiry and is student-centred. In this respect, the new programme is aimed at educating students towards critical thinking and constructed knowledge as well as equipping them with geographical and spatial analysis skills.