In supporting their students' learning in the classroom, noticing is an important professional skill for teachers, encompassing perceiving and interpreting relevant incidents, as well as ad hoc decision-making. While noticing is an established research topic in other domains, it remains largely neglected in relation to the geography teacher. The…

Perception of the environment varies from culture to culture. Since no one can understand environment objectively, it is important that geography teachers deal with perceived environment. Recognizing that it is subjective, it is, nevertheless, the basis for decision making. (NH)

Examines potential uses of mental maps in the classroom by reviewing research efforts, providing an example of the differences between mental maps of two student groups, and suggesting how to use mental maps in the geography curriculum. Mental mapping (or cognitive mapping) refers to individuals' processes of collecting, storing, and retrieving…

A distance perception survey was used to get college students enrolled in a human geography course involved and interested in the topic of perception. Students were asked to arrange 12 European capitals in sequence according to their distance from Amsterdam. Survey results are presented. (RM)

A humanistically oriented course of the geography of perception and behavior provides an understanding of people's perception and use of space as they interact with physical and cultural environments. A course rationale and outline are provided. A resource bibliography lists readings for each of the 14 topics in the course outline. (RM)

Discusses an instructional strategy for a college-level, geography course in which changes in student's attitudes about specific U.S. states are observed. Describes the process of collecting and analyzing data from students about desirable and undesirable states. Concludes that physical environment and perceived social factors are important…