Digitalization in Geographical Education

Geography course is seen as a rote-based course from the point of view of students. However, the geography course is patterned with geographical skills that students can use in daily life. It is obvious that not all geographical skills can be acquired in classroom learning environments. There is often a need for an out-of-class learning environment, land and field work. On the other hand, the pandemic conditions we are in and the distance education process let alone going to field work, it has created obstacles even in front of classroom learning environments. The student has the ability to think at a higher level with out-of-class learning environments. For this reason, it is important to use the games defined as GeoGames in the right learning environment during the epidemic period we are in in order to turn the disadvantage into an advantage. A useful perspective on the process that is developing under pandemic conditions as stated in this study, geographical games can be used to acquire and develop geographical skills. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of interactive games, known as geographical games, on geographical skills. In the research process, it was investigated to what extent the games defined as geographical games can acquire geographical skills. The data collected by document analysis, which is one of the qualitative research methods, will be analyzed in depth within the framework of both the social studies course curriculum and Geographical games in the context of Turkey. The game is not only a means of entertainment, but also has the capacity to create a learning environment for geographical education in schools. When the right game is combined with the right learning environment, an optimal learning environment can be created in which children learn while having fun. Extracurricular activities in geography education are a teaching method that should be used intensively. Today's pandemic conditions have brought students closer to the interactive educational model. In this process, with the motto of learning while having fun, it can contribute to the acquisition of geographical skills by turning the disadvantaged conditions of the pandemic into an advantage.