Recommends the use of concealed images as tools for teaching geography. Suggests that images be used as examples of geographers' search for spatial regularities, metaphors for the quasi-religious quest for scientific truth, and fallibility of scientific citation. Argues that the purpose of geography becomes palpable to students when the concealed…

Asserts that writing a critical atlas review is often a requirement for cartography courses because it forces students to think analytically about cartographic presentation and theory. Presents a choropleth map review exercise that can be used as an alternative to the atlas review or as an independent instructional activity. (CFR)

Believes that the current geography curriculum in New Zealand needs to be reevaluated in order to maintain geography's relevance in the school curriculum. Discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the current curriculum and considers possible content for a new curriculum, such as field inquiry and global patterns and processes. (CMK)

This report examines the outcomes of a workshop held at the National Science Foundation on August 15-16, 2005. Forty-six participants, representing academia, industry, government agencies, professional associations, and special projects met to: (1) discuss how geospatial technology training at two-year colleges can address workforce needs; and…

This guide seeks to provide a closer look at the diversity found within central Texas and the borderlands and offers a good general background to understanding some of the challenges facing the region. The book is divided into two parts with articles and lesson plans written by several authors. Part 1, "Views and Viewpoints," includes:…

Presents a model for structuring writing in the geography class with a focus on using maps to prompt writing that will promote student interaction with geographic concepts. Delineates four components of successful writing as fluency, flexibility, frequency, and formality. Includes suggestions for geographic writing activities. (MJP)

Summarizes methods from a high school geography class that used examples from local geography to teach basic geographic concepts. Maintains that these illustrative examples can be used even in courses where the content is not local geography. Provides examples of local landscapes illustrating concepts applicable to the Brazilian rain forest. (MJP)

Outlines the essential elements of a textbook. Analyzes geography textbooks in terms of their commitment to global interdependence, and treatment of a wide range of geographic concepts. Identifies components of a well-integrated textbook program. (RW)

Presents group activities for learning geographic terminology. Includes (1) learning basic terminology and definitions; (2) evaluating and selecting by consensus; (3) creating models to illustrate terms; (4) challenging classmates to identify terms; (5) grouping models into categories; and (6) explaining the meaning of terms in writing. Discusses…

Presents lessons on the geography of the desert designed to teach that different subjects are interrelated and dependant on each other. Explains that the goal was to help students understand that geography is a way of looking at the world not just a study of maps. Includes activities in reading, mathematics, art, and science. (DK)

Maintains that the concept of scale is fundamental to geography, yet the definitions for scale and other spatial terms are confusing to researchers in other spatial science disciplines. Provides a terminology of scale that can be used for a multidisciplinary lexicon of accepted scaling terms. (CFR)

Discusses the utility of web-based materials in the curriculum and describes the goals, content, and outcomes of the Bosnian Virtual Fieldtrip. Explains how the field trip relates to general issues of Web usage by situating geographic principles into a real-life situation. Addresses the implications of using web-based materials. (CMK)

Introduces the articles in this edition of "Journal of Geography" that address the conceptual, cognitive, and pedagogic issues in the age of the Internet. Discusses the transformation of media from print to electronic communication and the implications for geography and geographic education in a broader context. (CMK)

Describes a learning activity that focuses on geographic profiles. Students are divided into five groups and are responsible for creating a profile of one geographic data set. The five data sets are based on thematic maps of the United States found in "Goode's World Atlas, 19th edition." (CMK)

Examples of computer programs illustrate how instructors can introduce students to geographic concepts and models while creating a thinking environment in the classroom. The programs are designed to assist students in computational tasks and to provide both graphic and numeric output which will be stimulating. A population pyramid program…