This article investigates efforts by a small regional university without a geography department to incorporate geography into its general education curriculum as part of a "quality enhancement" process mandated by its accreditor. Drawing on interviews and surveys of students and faculty, we highlight lessons learned that may be useful…

Working with an understanding of assemblage as the ad hoc groupings of vibrant materials and elements, this article argues that conceptualizing place as an assemblage opens possibilities for bridging the gap between subjects and objects that continue to structure pedagogy. Considering "place" as an assemblage of humans and their multiple…

The study of natural hazards, such as floods, hurricanes, and seismic disturbances, is most frequently relegated in American schools to middle school earth sciences courses or high school requirements in physical or environmental science. In those classes, the emphasis is on geophysical, "process-oriented" events or on what causes them…

Descriptions of global education tend to be either fragmented or nebulous. Consequently, the educator is left with little tangible basis for developing instructional programs. As a corrective measure, this paper advocates using fundamental ideas from the disciplines of geography and environmental sociology that collectively contribute to the…

An outline of fundamental definitions, relationships, and human responsibilities related to environment provides a basis from which a variety of materials, programs, and activities can be developed. The outline can be used in elementary, secondary, higher education, or adult education programs. The framework is based on principles of the science…

Based upon the notion that the study of the environment should include attempts to articulate concepts related to the natural, social and cultural dimensions of the human environment, this learning module was developed for Unesco's International Environmental Education Programme. It is intended for use at the secondary school level and contains…

Describes eight interdisciplinary lessons for use in second language and social studies courses to educate students for responsible membership in the world community. Goals include decreasing stereotypic and ethnocentric perceptions; increasing the ability to empathize; and developing constructive attitudes towards diversity, change, and conflict.…

The scientific community needs to reappraise its actions and become concerned with the real world problems that threaten existence in society. These include world poverty, starvation, and declining quality of life. Geographers need to develop greater concern resulting in evaluating their research, curricula, educational goals and course content in…

The U.S. Global Change Research Program was established in 1990 to develop scientific projections of anticipated impacts of the changing biosphere on humans and social systems. As part of this program, the National Science Foundation created the Arctic System Science Program (ARCSS). This document describes the ARCSS Human Dimensions of the Arctic…

An interdisciplinary focus on the teaching of African geography is presented in this module, arranged by three major topics. Topic I stresses the African view that water is the sustainer of life, presents a case study of the Nile River, and discusses the significance of rivers as natural boundaries that delineate political units. Topic II gives…

Presents a conceptual framework that embeds ideas from world-systems theory within the larger context known as the theory of dissipative structures. This perspective reflects the interconnectedness of individual and separate places into a larger global system that is a single functioning spatial entity. (MJP)

In 1973 an innovative, interdisciplinary global studies course was instituted at a secondary school in Ontario. Designed for advanced students at the grade 13 level, the course emphasized science, language arts, and mathematics issues in terms of the world's environmental and social problems. Rationale for the course included an awareness of the…

Three environmental education units relating environmental concerns to elementary school students' own experiences are described in this materials packet. Emphasis is on helping students become more sensitive to human and personal dimensions of environmental upset. Designed to teach children about themselves and their air, water, and land…