Reports on an attempt to relate academic models of urban communities to actual housing and community development for a student population of mixed graduate/advanced undergraduate levels and anthropology/urban studies majors. (CJM)

A City Building Education System uses the process of city planning to teach basic reading, writing, and math skills to children from kindergarten through junior high school and to stimulate creative thinking and problem solving abilities. (JMF)

For 27 years the Florida Atlantic University Florida International University Joint Center for Environmental and Urban Problems has made major contributions to issues associated with rapid urbanization in southern Florida. Maintaining political support, both in the community and within the two universities, has been crucial to sustaining…

This report describes a project designed to develop geography based activities that could be used to supplement an ongoing social studies program. The purpose was to help secondary social studies teachers in the Memphis, Tennessee area develop geography based activities dealing with concepts of urban spatiality. The project staff organized and…

Brief descriptions of course offerings in the social studies for grades 9-12, Montgomery County Public Schools, Rockville, Maryland, are presented. Courses are listed according to required or elective. Required courses are United States History I and II; National, State, and Local Government, and Contemporary Issues. In addition, over 45 courses…

Social studies in the 1980s must shift from a focus on citizenship and career education to an emphasis on conceptual knowledge, skills, and active learning. Student investigations of the urban environment would be an effective means of achieving this transition. (DC)

The origins, function, and projects of the Executive Advisory Board on Higher Education (EAB) in Baltimore County (Maryland) are described. The board brings together local government leaders, business executives, and higher education administrators to address issues of mutual concern. Lessons learned in this experiment in regional cooperation are…

Examines the history of Japanese and Chinese Americans through urban histories. Argues that the urban experiences of Asian immigrants are not that different form those of European immigrants but that significant differences exist among the experiences of different Asian immigrant groups. Describes differences of origin, structure, and history…

This research paper presents an analysis of the computer simulation, SimCity, used for an urban city planning class. The data were gathered by actual use of the simulation and an electronic mail network was employed to secure impressions from users of the simulation. SimCity (developed by Maxis) provides the player with rules of human factors,…

This paper analyzes an instructional approach based on a student-designed and constructed model of a city and describes how this approach was used in a college-level sociology class on ethnic relations in the city. The approach is called 'City Building.' The major objective of this approach is to bring social life into the classroom. Students…

How is the next generation going to live within and use the city? This study of the urban environment provided students with opportunities to learn about the function of architecture and planning, to identify their beliefs and opinions, to consider a range of views, and ultimately to make informed and responsible choices concerning the built…

American University sponsored two summer institutes in urban affairs to expose college educators to major developments in the area and to give them training for developing or upgrading their own programs. The program's effectiveness is evaluated and institutes as a means of continuing education for educators are discussed. (JMD)

Describes the structure and organization of a research and training program focusing on urban poverty and social welfare policy. Explains that the program trains undergraduates in the theory and empirical analysis of issues in poverty research. Notes that students must develop and present a plan of service to a local social service agency in an…

Describes the five main urban studies centers in London (England). Recommends that more urban studies centers should be established with secure funding, that urban study centers should act as school and community resources, and that different agencies should join forces to provide funds for a network of urban studies centers. (TW)

Discusses the needs for urban anthropology teachers dealing with students of architecture and urban planning to understand and incorporate the assumptions, clients, preferred roles, and data needs of those disciplines into the curriculum content of urban anthropology courses. Urges a practical, applied, project-oriented course. (CJM)