In the 21st century, the idea that students should have opportunities to develop powerful knowledge has been influential in educational research. Social realism as an educational philosophy, and a focus on knowledge derived from academic disciplines, have been advanced as an alternative to social constructivism and traditionalism as a basis for…

Constructing the syllabus of a school subject could be a highly contested exercise given the fact that it must cater for the concerns of competing stakeholders and pressures to incorporate all possible aspects of that discipline. For geography, whose field of study is extremely vast, and its nature is not clearly defined, developing its syllabus…

This paper discusses the development of and provides examples of exercises from a student workbook for a college-level course about natural hazards. The course is offered once a year to undergraduates at Western Illinois University. Students are introduced to 10 hazards (eight meteorological plus earthquakes and volcanoes) through slides, movies,…

The study of viticulture (the growing of grapes) can illustrate the practical applications of geography: spatial orientation, focus on natural environment, human-land interaction, and concern with the properties and characteristics of regions. A suggested course outline is given, as well as a listing of resources about viticulture. (IS)

Speculates on the role of geography education and its relationship to the women's movement. Describes innovative classroom strategies to generate more meaningful involvement by women students and to stimulate graduate students to develop research topics on the subject of women. (Author)

The articles in this report describe how field work, which is highly relevant to modern research and theory, can be used to improve geographic instruction at several instructional levels. Chapter one places the role of field work in geographic instruction in the broader context of contemporary theories of learning. The second chapter describes an…

Discusses the development and use of a workbook for teaching spatial data analysis at Canberra College of Advanced Education in Australia. The article addresses itself to the pedagogic questions of what statistical methods to teach, how these methods should be taught, and why data analysis should be taught. (AM)

Many observers have commented on disparities between the theoretical understandings of environmental education portrayed in academic literature and the environmental education that takes place in schools. In much of the literature and in curriculum documents there has been an increasing emphasis on promoting positive attitudes towards the…

Ponders whether the Form 5-7 geography syllabus in New Zealand should be changed by discussing the positive and negative aspects of the current syllabus. Addresses the benefits a new syllabus would offer the subject of geography and students and offers topics for inclusion in a new syllabus. (CMK)

Asserts that the New Zealand Form 5-7 geography syllabus does not need to be changed explaining that change for political purposes and individual whims are neither in the interest of the geography teaching community or students. Believes that what is needed is the development of strategies to make geography relevant and appealing to students. (CMK)

Proposes content changes for a revised geography syllabus in New Zealand discussing each strand: (1) social organization; (2) culture and heritage; (3) place and environment; (4) time, continuity, and change; (5) resources and economic activities; and (6) making sense of planet earth and beyond. Addresses current trends in geography and syllabus…

In the face of widespread geographic ignorance, the article applauds the improved status of geography in the schools, describing it as the science best able to meet the challenge of ensuring that students' mental maps of the world are filled in with great and accurate detail. The field is defined through a multiple definition as both a physical…

Describes the development, objectives, and content of a self-paced physical geography course which involves students at Southampton University (Great Britain) in field and laboratory work. A tape-slide program is used as the core of each of 12 units. Instructions and exercises are provided in workbooks. Course assessment is also discussed. (AM)

Contends that the current syllabus for geography education in New Zealand is outdated and lacks relevance for students. Offers a case for syllabus revision and the reexamination of the geography discipline. Provides suggestions for the case of reform in relation to new syllabus content. (CMK)

As part of a program to improve college and university training geography, this book contains four course outlines developed by members of the Commission on College Geography of the Association of American Geographers. "A Proposal for a New Geography Course for Liberal Education: Introduction to Geographic Behavior" is an introductory course to…