Geography of Education

Geography of Education sets out the scope of this emergent, interdisciplinary field. It illustrates the essential affinity of geographical and educational studies, by emphasising the geographical factors influencing formal education systems and other forms of knowledge transfer. Colin Brock begins by arguing the theoretical synergy that exists between the nature of both geography and educational studies as disciplines. This is then exemplified by an analysis of the emergence of systems of schooling under the influence of religious, political and economic forces. The author also considers informal and non-formal modes of education, and argues that the huge diversity of such provision creates a rich resource for research into geographies of education. In the final chapters the author turns his attention to the role of cyberspace, which has its own geography, in learning, and considers education as a form of humanitarian response to issues of environmental sustainability. By bringing together a wide range of themes and topics relating to both education and geography, Colin Brock argues that the geographical approach should inform the evolution of all types of educational provision around the world.

Geography of Education is an important book … [Brock] is the first to draw together the considerable range of geographical dimensions of and insights into education … It is a key source to promote future research in geographies of education., The book draws from a wide range of interesting examples taken from around the world ... [and] provides a range of insights and references., A well written and very readable academic text … The theme of the book is not one that has been hugely explored by others, which makes this contribution all the more valuable. The author achieves a comprehensive overview of the literature available and succeeds in making links to relevant material across the field of education and the discipline of geography. Study of the geography of education (as opposed to geography, or geography education) is important and neglected – this book helps to bridge a gap and will hopefully spur others to research this area., Geography of education is an important, but under-recognised, field of study and perspective. This innovative book makes a seminal contribution to the literature by drawing international attention to the potential of insights derived from the application of space, scale and location to the broad field of education. The text is written in a lively and accessible way, covers all levels and dimensions of education and draws out realistic implications for research, policy and practice worldwide., Colin Brock has deployed his long experience and widely acknowledged expertise in two areas of personal study in order to explore their common aspects and to inform geographers and educationalists about the intellectual territories that each field occupies and which they share. The book, however, goes beyond description of commonalities and associations of philosophies and methodologies, for it skilfully engages with the fundamental principles and practical features of the two realms, illuminating the issues that teachers and researchers, at all levels, are certain to find stimulating in setting their agenda for future exploration. This will make a real contribution to the developing interdisciplinary field.

Colin Brock is Honorary Professor of Education at the University of Durham, UK, and Visiting Professor of Geography at the University of Loughborough, UK. He was formerly UNESCO Chair of Education as a Humanitarian Response at the University of Oxford, UK. He is the editor of two series: Education Around the World and Education as a Humanitarian Response, both published by Bloomsbury.