Two samples (n=435 and 456) were drawn to represent changes between 1968 and 1986 in cartographic and cognitive map skills in college freshmen. Subjects from the second sample ranked the 48 contiguous states by residential preference. Results are discussed. (Author/MT)

Undergraduate science majors need practice in critical thinking, quantitative analysis, and judging whether their calculated answers are physically reasonable. Develops exercises using handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. Reinforces students' abilities to think quantitatively, make realistic "back of the envelope"…

This paper reports on 30 years of data collected concerning the level of knowledge about Africa University of Minnesota junior- and senior-level students had. The data show the dominance of the Middle East in Western media and the level of confusion and lack of knowledge shown by most students. Concludes with recommendations concerning geography…

Finds that undergraduate students' understanding of the geographical context of a foreign news event can be increased either by building geographical information into the text or by including a map, but the most effective technique is the redundant one of providing geographical information both in the text and via a map. (RS)

Urges increased geographic and meteorologic training for television weather reporters. Suggests using television weather reports to promote knowledge of place names and physical geography. Discusses a survey of television news departments in 48 states. Reports findings on the lengths of weather reports and the training of weather reporters. (DK)

Maintains that teacher education courses in geography must be improved before teachers can realistically be expected to help elementary and secondary students understand geographic concepts. Provides three examples of exams given to prospective elementary school teachers in Vermont in 1907 and suggests that the exams can serve as guidelines for…

Describes a cartographic exercise to help students in an introductory geography course on the college level understand the geography of world affairs. The activity involved students in creating a diagrammatic map commensurate with amount of news magazine coverage of various foreign countries. (Author/DB)

The ecological validity of three spatial ability tests was studied: The Embedded Figures Test, the Shepard/Metzler Mental Rotations Test, and the Differential Aptitude Spatial Relations subtest. The Building Memory Test was also examined in an attempt to replicate a previous study which supported its validity. These four tests were administered to…

Discusses the advantages of lecturing directly from the pages of the school atlas (a compendium of maps) in order to integrate it into introductory world regional geography courses. The approach includes a self-study atlas exercise and classroom lectures based on the school atlas. (Author)

Reports results of a two-year survey of the place-location knowledge of 879 college students beginning introductory classes in World Regional Geography and Cultural Geography at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Results showed, among other things, that attending to news media had a positive impact on ability to locate the countries while…

Coupling location theory with problem solving in introductory economic geography provides the opportunity to explore the economic alternatives open to society based on the welfare of society. (JH)

A geographical exercise becomes more meaningful and more fun if we feel we can contribute to it in some way. Three map exercises that get college students to participate in a beginning human geography course are presented. (SR)

Presents a classroom exercise for an introductory physical geography course on the college level which explores some aspects of vegetation mapping and the relationship between climate and vegetation type. (Author/DB)

A classification of remote sensing courses throughout the world, the world-wide need for sensing instruction, and alternative instructional methods for meeting those needs are discussed. Remote sensing involves aerial photointerpretation or the use of satellite and other non-photographic imagery; its focus is to interpret what is in the photograph…

Four map skill lessons for use with intermediate grade students are presented. They deal with map evaluation, orientation, making a photomap, and making a community resource map. (RM)