This paper collates some of the systematic ways that different cultural groups refer to space. In some cases, space is more strongly identified in terms of place than in school Indo-European mathematics approaches. The affinity to place does not reduce the efficient, abstract, mathematical system behind the reference but it does strengthen its…

The aim of this paper is to consider some issues in the historical international development of science education making comparisons between the educational systems of Britain and the United States of America. The author's particular interest relates to the role of the textbook in science education, so this is area on which this study will…

Knowing place names is not the essence of geography, but some knowledge of names of geographical locations is widely considered to be basic information. Whether used in general cultural literacy, lighthearted Trivial Pursuit, educational sixth grade social studies, or serious debates on world events, place names and their locations are assumed to…

In an effort to improve understanding and to provide better solutions to the world's political problems, this paper examines national territory or states in terms of their functional processes and their spatial structures. Examples from Third World states are provided. The author first presents a model of political territory. It has a boundary…

Introductory college level geography textbooks can be enhanced by using scatter diagrams and double criteria classifications, both of which reveal generalizations and specific facts about location. Scatter diagrams, a series of dots on a graph, illustrate relationships among phenomena that covary, e.g., national birth and infant mortality rates.…

Describes a series of exploratory experiments that investigated information professionals' and geographers' use of geographic materials. Mental models used in the manipulation of geographic data are discussed; the improvement of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is addressed; and Spotlight, a new interactive tool for exploring maps, is…

Fifth grade students can become familiar with images of earth generated by space sensor Landsat satellites which sense nearly all surfaces of the earth once every 18 days. Two false color composites in which different colors represent various geographic formations were obtained for the northern Ohio region where the students live. The class had no…

This paper provides examples of how music can be used in geography instruction at the elementary, secondary, or college levels. The occasional use of music can foster imagination and promote greater aesthetic awareness with regard to landscapes and human situations. Many concepts and terms in physical geography can be lined with music. A good…

This study focuses on student response to computer-assisted instruction (CAI) after it was introduced into a college level physical geography course, "Introduction to Weather and Climate." PLATO, a University of Illinois mainframe network developed in the 1960s, was selected for its user friendliness, its large supply of courseware, its…

This meeting site guide for Lexington, Kentucky and the Bluegrass region around Lexington illustrates why the state of Kentucky and this region are excellent examples of how geography plays out on the land, how regions emerge, and how human events and processes, in the context of the physical environment, lead to differentiation and distinction,…

A new field of study within the discipline of geography is proposed: the geography of the Bible. In a general sense, this new field can be justified by recognizing the relationships between religion and environment. Specifically in terms of the Bible, there are evidences of geographic factors affecting the writing of the Bible. Also, there are…

In the fall of 2000, the educator/author of this paper volunteered to teach the first completely online geography course at California State University Long Beach (CSULB), an introductory physical geography section. In spring 2001, she offered one section of the class online and another in the traditional lecture/lab format and decided to do a…

This paper is part of a larger study, conducted as part of a Christa McAuliffe Fellowship research project, "A Comparative Geography of Three Ecologically Similar Regions." The study compared the Chesapeake Bay region of Maryland with the Murray River region of South Australia and the Rio de la Plata region of Uruguay. The project was…

This paper shows comparisons among the Chesapeake Bay region of Maryland, the Murray River region of South Australia, and the Rio de la Plata region of Uruguay. Through comparative geography, students are to draw their own conclusions about the similarities and differences of the three regions. Teachers are encouraged to use other resources to aid…

A geography skills test was administered to over 3,000 Indiana college students enrolled in introductory geography courses in 1987. The National Council for Geographic Education Competency-Based Geography Test, Secondary Level, Form D, was used to measure geographic ability in the area of map skills, place name location, physical geography, and…