In 2018, the National Committee for Geographical Sciences released "Geography: Shaping Australia's Future: a strategic plan for the discipline of geography." Throughout the strategic plan, the contribution of geographical understanding and research to Australia's environmental, economic, and social wellbeing is made clear, and a series…

The article offers a critique of the Knowledge and Understanding sub-strand of the revised Australian Curriculum: Geography for Years F-6, due to be implemented in Australian schools in 2024. As a foundation for this critique, the article first discusses what should be the aims of geography in primary schools, in order to provide some criteria for…

Australian secondary school students' entitlement to a comprehensive geography education is vulnerable. This study investigates the extent to which Geography is being delivered across Australia by analysing survey data from 270 schools on geography teaching hours, mode of delivery, fieldwork, and senior provision. Nationally, Geography averages 54…

The idea for this paper emerged from a recent qualitative investigation which examined the ways in which six Australian primary teachers conceptualised geography and geography teaching (Preston, 2014b). A finding of this research was a strong correlation between the breadth of geographical understandings and the years of experience and age of…

The Australian Geography Teachers Association (AGTA) represents the views of Australian geography teachers on educational matters. AGTA also seeks to improve the capacity of geography teachers to respond to a changing teaching and learning landscape. The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) is an independent authority…

The High School Geography Project was used and evaluated by 15-year old students in New Zealand. The program, highly innovative in approaches in teaching Geography, is found to be highly adapted to Australian needs in Geography instruction. (JR)

Presents a review of the National Geographic Society's campaign to upgrade the teaching of geography in U.S. schools. The campaign includes the development and dissemination of exemplary curriculum materials and a broad range of teacher training activities. Concludes that the U.S. is breaking new ground in facing the reality of geographic…

This article describes the development and content of the National Conservation Strategy for Australia (NCSA). The Australian Department of Arts, Heritage, and Environment has produced a teacher's guide designed to help teachers bring the content of the NCSA to their classroom. A description of the guide and ordering information are provided. (JDH)

Defines environmental education and articulates its aims and characteristics. Describes how environmental education is implemented in Australian schools. Concludes with a list of eight requirements for "environmental citizenship." (JDH)

The Man and the Environment semester course is one of the new geography courses being trialled in Australia. The curriculum process which led to the setting up of the course is outlined. An evaluation of the course is presented, based on the trail conducted at one Brisbane high school. (Author/JR)

Describes the concept of environmental citizenship and shows how to apply it to the "African crisis" and Australia. Claims geography can link a concern for a better world to the realities of world economic and political order thereby revealing the inadequacies of the accounts of crises offered by governments and the media. (JDH)

Provides a brief history of the relationship between environmental education and geography. Describes the Geography 16-19 Project developed at the University of London Institute of Education, which stresses environmental issues and the quality of life instead of the kind of "academic" geography typically covered in courses at this level.…

This statement, prapared by the Council of the Australian Geography Teachers Association to assist geography teachers, curriculum planners, and educational administrators, describes geography as a field of study focusing on the environment through the use of spatial concepts and establishes the usefulness and importance of geography in school…

This paper presents a summary of curriculum guidelines in geography. The three elements of curriculum development -- objectives, learning experiences, and evaluation -- are sumarized, and a large number of questions on each element are listed as a checklist for teachers and curriculum developers. (Author/JR)

This paper describes the background of British geographical education. The nature of the crisis through which geography in schools is currently passing is ascribed to changes in academic geography, to developments in education theory, and to secondary school reorganization. It is argued that the crisis offers opportunities for the further…