Teaching Africa's Cities Through Meja Mwangi's Novels
2009; National Council for Geographic Education; Volume: 108; Issue: 4-5 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/00221340903344870
ISSN1752-6868
Autores Tópico(s)Postcolonial and Cultural Literary Studies
ResumoAbstract Abstract This article presents a lesson plan used to teach about African urbanization using Kenyan novels. Specifically, three urban novels written by Meja Mwangi are used. Based on a qualitative survey of student preference and learning, this lesson plan uses these novels alongside more traditional academic texts to achieve effective student learning. Understanding that students prefer to read novels but learn best from textbooks, this mixture of texts generates emotional discussions that are substantiated with factual research. Key Words: geographic educationurban geographyAfricaliterature Acknowledgments Sarah L. Smiley is an assistant professor in the Department of History and Geography at Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Her research interests include urbanism, urban segregation, and colonial urban planning in East Africa. She uses a variety of popular culture materials to teach these concepts including films, television shows, and novels. Notes 1. All qualitative surveys were conducted in February 2005 in Lawrence, Kansas. Students are identified by their initials to protect their privacy. 2. All group discussions were conducted in October 2007 in Baltimore, Maryland. Students are identified by their initials to protect their privacy.
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