Marcela DANKOVA, University of Ostrava, Czechia
Mental maps were used to examine the idea of ??students of Geography about the composition of regions in the Czech Republic. Firstly, they drew their idea of ??the course of the border between the historical lands of Bohemia and Moravia in the outline maps. They also drew the Vyso?ina Region. This region is specific because it was newly established in 2000 as a part of the institutionalization of a new regional system, which was being prepared after the end of the communist regime in 1989. Its further specificity lies in the fact that it does not respect the borders of historical lands. Thus, mental maps were used to examine whether students are aware that one half of it lies in Moravia, the second half in Bohemia and the administrative center, the Jihlava town, lies almost on the border of historical lands. In the last step, the students drew the Pelh?imov region. This small area is also connected with the creation of new regions in 2000. During the communist regime, it belonged to the South Bohemian Region, but with the creation of new regions in 2000, it was transferred to the new Vyso?ina Region. Research using mental maps tells not only about the spatial imagination of students, but also about their knowledge of administrative developments in the Czech Republic. Especially about developments in the last few decades. The results may also speak about students' identities. The fact of permanent residence may be reflected in their drawing on outline maps. In other words, how they drew the border and the sub-regions also depends on whether they live in Bohemia or Moravia.
Mots clés : mental map|perception|administrative development|identity
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