The introduction conveys some data on learning in India and on designing Geography textbooks in this country. The present paper is reliant on four Geography textbooks, ranging from the 9th to the 12th grade. As regards each textbook, the study considers their learning units, then analyses their structure, the unitary way of designing them, the…

After fifteen years of geographic education efforts, a baseline geography skills test was repeated in Indiana. In 2002, 2,278 students in college freshman geography courses were tested with a revision of the National Council for Geographic Education Competency-Based Geography Test, Secondary Level Form II. The test measured geographic ability in…

This generalized appraisal is based on two studies, one of related literature and of General Certificate of Education examination regulations and papers on geography. The other, an investigation carried out in the schools in 1968, included sending a part one questionnaire to each geography department head and a part two questionnaire to each…

Instructors at all levels can draw on a large number of geography software programs for use on microcomputers. This annotated listing describes some of these software programs. (RM)

A geography skills test was administered to over 3,000 Indiana college students enrolled in introductory geography courses in 1987. The National Council for Geographic Education Competency-Based Geography Test, Secondary Level, Form D, was used to measure geographic ability in the area of map skills, place name location, physical geography, and…

The concept of shape often enters introductory cultural geography textbooks through the subject of political geography. This paper focuses on a quantitative way to introduce the concept of shape to students of cultural geography. The measure used in this approach was to compare the perimeter of the sovereign state with the perimeter of a circle…

Designed for students in grades 7 through 10, this teaching unit presents illustrative resource materials depicting the multi-factor nature of a geographic region. The unit focuses not only on climatic factors, but also on introducing other regional factors in an informal way. A blackboard summary of a class discussion of the different regions is…

Ten professional geography research papers presented at the Geography Section of the 1974 annual meeting of the Ohio Academy of Science are provided. Six of the papers may be considered to fall under the broad classification of human geography, two others are about physical geography, while the remaining two seek to improve the craft of modern…

Three hands-on activities that will actively involve secondary students in learning map skills and acquiring a global perspective are presented. Students make their own maps, use 16-inch diameter globes to investigate many topics, and devise a sequence for a randomly shuffled pack of slides. (RM)

This text is a combination of a student training manual and a teacher's guide. The student manual gives background information, activities, and student worksheets for map work. Chapter titles include: (1) "Our Country"; (2) "World Regions"; (3) "United States Regions"; (4) "Continental Topics"; (5) "Urban Topics"; (6) "Rural Cultures"; (7) "World…

Primarily a collection of lesson plans covering various topics in geography, this document is divided into seven sections. The first section includes three short papers on geography and its place in the curriculum. The second section deals with teaching map skills, evaluating computer software to be used in teaching geography, and ideas for field…

Using South Africa as its focus, outlines a middle school lesson plan for teaching geographic themes and location and place. Provides students practice using geographic skills. Includes instruction about major cultural and ethnic groups living in South Africa along with three maps for classroom use. (NL)

The geographic knowledge, skills, and understandings of fourth, fifth, and sixth graders can be assessed through this test which was developed by the National Council for Geographic Education. The test consists of 27 questions on geography skills, 25 questions on physical geography, and 23 questions on human geography. Students are directed to…

The paper describes a study of the scope of geography achievement tests and the social studies components of national achievement tests. The research examined whether the tests' items were (1) directed primarily toward testing knowledge at the recall/memory level, and (2) comprehensive in their treatment of the discipline. Ten tests were analyzed,…

Prepared as a basic reference for in-service programs designed to improve geography instruction at the elementary and secondary levels, the Handbook gives one concise summary of the discipline for curriculum directors, social studies supervisors, and education faculty members in colleges and universities. The stated basic need in geography…