A key responsibility of academic scholarship is to further develop the field under investigation and to critically evaluate how it is responding to challenges from both inside and outside of the field of enquiry. This article offers an overview of whether the scholarship published in geography education (GE) from the perspective of the Commission…

Describes Middle America (Central America) in terms of two geographical building blocks: location and place. Tables, maps, films, video resources, and a suggested instructional activity demonstrate the concepts of location, physical characteristics, and cultural characteristics in geographic education. (DH)

Describes the development of applied geography programs and restructuring of curricula with an emphasis on new technique and methodology courses, though retaining the liberal arts role. Educational geographers can help the programs to succeed through curriculum analysis, auditing, advising students, and liaison with other geography sources. (CK)

Argues that teaching about gender relations as a means of structuring social institutions and the division of space and behavior remains marginal in geographical teaching. Describes the role of gender in (1) urban geography; (2) locality studies; (3) development studies; (4) theory and method; (5) culture and environment; and (6) political…

Discusses research suggesting that geography is no longer important in primary schools, links work of John Dewey with possibilities for using geography, and makes recommendations for curriculum reform at this level. For journal availability, see SO 507 291. (CK)

Suggests and annotates educational materials for use by instructors of college-level courses on regional geography of Europe. (Author/DB)

Maintains that the use of geographic information systems (GIS) to analyze spatial dimensions of health care and disease ecology is becoming a realistic prospect for investigators in the social sciences. Contends that enough information is available to provide instructors with materials for classroom units. (CFR)

This literature review discusses the epistemology of geography and the rationale for including it in the curriculum. It then reviews research about geography learning and teaching. Efforts to reform the geography curriculum require understanding the core epistemological themes and concepts of geography. (SLD)

This book compares the teaching methods of Europe with the United States as related to the development of geography education and the problems of geography education in U.S. schools. The book comprehensively discusses and evaluates the history of geography instruction, tracing that history from the time of the Greeks and examining influences up to…

Reviews and evaluates a selection of influential geography textbooks on East Asia and China. The 11 textbooks are ranked in 20 categories for the purpose of facilitating textbook selection and helping instructors evaluate the texts they are currently using. Specific strengths and weaknesses of each text are identified. (Author/DB)

Reviews the 10-part video series, "Geography in U.S. History," designed to integrate geographic concepts into secondary U.S. history instruction. Contends that several of the programs are excellent whereas others have major limitations. Provides an overview and evaluation of each video. (CFR)

Discusses problems in Canadian environmental education, stressing the scarcity of geographical concepts in course content at all levels. Research indicates the lack of a coherent policy toward environmental education and a shortage of skilled teachers. The author recommends that geographers actively assist educators in applying geographic…

Recent political and economic developments in Slovenia, especially its accession to the European Union in 2004, have led to a significant reappraisal of the geography curriculum in higher education, and particularly those elements dealing with the teaching of soils. Physical geography, and especially soils geography, has long been an important…

Describes various projects that are part of a movement to return geography to a central place in the curriculum of America's schools. Focuses on the Geographic Education National Implementation Program (GENIP), sponsored by the National Geographic Society and other geography interest groups. (IW)

This annual review discusses works relevant to geographical education published in Europe, North America, Australia, Japan, and Africa. The journal is available from Edward Arnold (publishers) Ltd., 41 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3DQ England. (RM)