Discusses software that educators can use to teach about distortions associated with alternative map projections. Examines the Projection, MicroCAM, World, and Atlas-GIS software programs. Suggests using the software in either introductory or more advanced courses dealing with map design or thematic cartography. Explains how to obtain the…

Discusses the proper use of themes in teaching. Examines the five themes of geography: location, place, interaction, movement, and region. Presents counterpoints demonstrating the value of analogies as a less direct way of introducing a theme. Argues that teaching is an art and a craft requiring diplomacy and creativity. (DK)

Discusses ways in which planetary comparisons can be used to help give students a new perspective on earth's natural environment. Describes tectonism, volcanism, gradation, cratering, wind, and temperature as they are affected by different planetary conditions. Includes a chart comparing average surface temperatures and greenhouse warming of three…

Introductory courses in Geographic Information Systems and cartography cover the fundamentals of map design. Students are given guidelines for producing a good map, but visual demonstrations are much more impressive. ArcView was used to produce illustrations of bad mapping practices and placed in a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation to demonstrate…

Describes the development by the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA) of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) teaching materials. Explains that the demand for GIS professionals and the need to distinguish between the practical and theoretical aspects of GIS motivated the project. Examines the results of and prospects for…

Discusses problems that students have in appreciating the relevance of the philosophy underlying geography instruction. Presents an activity that requires students to apply geographic concepts to decisions concerning the location of urban retail outlets. Includes details on implementation, rationale and background, and procedures. (SG)

Discusses the strengths and weaknesses of geographers' temporal strategies for research. Suggests diagrammatic interpretations and examples of the strategies. Presents classroom activities for increasing student understanding of the organization of time in the study of geography. (SG)

This pamphlet explains the importance of geography in the curriculum of primary, middle, and secondary schools. The pamphlet is intended for education decision-makers and advocates the importance of supporting geography education. The article explains what geography is, relates how U.S. students compare to students in other nations in geographic…

Crime is a sufficiently constant and significant problem to warrant treatment in human geography courses at the high school and college levels. Issues in crime and justice are explored from a geographical perspective, a model of geographical elements in criminal justice systems is outlined and instructional applications are discussed. (RM)

This collection of Fulbright seminar projects focuses on Morocco and Tunisia. The first project (Ruth Brent) gives a descriptive analysis of images from the perspective of an interior design educator. The second project (Eileen Burchell) explores the theme of continuity and change as it is reflected in the contemporary French literature of the…

Explores the use of the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) computer program by undergraduate geography students. Argues that, through place name mapping, students can integrate geographic concepts and explore geographic themes in an atmosphere of self-discovery. Offers as an example a GNIS exploration of Wisconsin's valleys. (SG)

Discusses the difficulty of teaching computer-based remote sensing to students of varying levels of computer literacy. Suggests an instructional method that accommodates all levels of technical expertise through the use of microcomputers. Presents a curriculum that includes an introduction to remote sensing, digital image processing, and…

This bibliography is intended to offer research paths for geography educators interested in geography learning. It includes research on all three general modes of geographic learning: spatial learning, map learning, and formal geography learning. Chapter 1, "Introduction," contains the following: (1) "What is geography and what is geography…

Discusses how instructors can design a local field trip for undergraduate students enrolled in an economic geography class. The purpose of the field trip is to help students observe and interpret familiar scenes in terms of geographical concepts such as central place theory, changing land use, and spatial competition. (RM)

Intended as a teacher handbook, this volume takes a comparative look at the development of geography, both as a science in its own right and as an educational area of study, in Europe and the United States. The book is a description of the development of educational systems in very different political arenas. Reaching from early Greek educational…