To know a place, one must observe more than just the "conditions" there. It is also important to know about "connections" with other places, near and far. This article looks at research about geographic connections, with a specific focus on describing the area of influence (the aura) around a geographic feature like a lake,…

This article outlines a faculty-led, interdisciplinary study abroad program to Dakar, Senegal, in 2014 and 2016 sponsored by South Dakota State University (SDSU) and hosted by the West African Research Center (WARC). This article highlights in particular the contributions of Geography, Global Studies, and Francophone Studies to program design and…

This lesson plan describes the application of a photo essay technique for landscape interpretation in an interdisciplinary instructor-led international field course. This lesson is, in practice, a field-based exercise or learning activity that asks students to engage in three foundational approaches to place-based landscape reading:…

Place-based learning of a community develops from the collective, experiential learning of many generations and is referred to as Indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) (Stevenson 1996; Ajibade 2003). Africa is rich in indigenous knowledge of edible insects and plants which have bolstered communities in times of food shortage (Hunter et al. 2007).…

According to the author, this innovative lesson plan incorporates virtual reality (VR) technology to foster environmental awareness and care in late primary-age students. Drawing on the place-based education approach and social constructivism in the lesson design, students participate in collaborative project-based learning. The students' task…

Nature place-based learning (NPBL) is one way to sustain people and places at risk of environmental degradation while engaging students in authentic learning experiences, connecting their work to global efforts and inviting students to realize their collective impact. NPBL offers an opportunity for students to apply interdisciplinary literacies…

Creativity is a valued trait across many disciplines, including business, education, math, and the arts, and has been positively associated with intelligence, self-esteem, and an increase in behavioral and emotional flexibility. However, creativity has proven difficult to precisely define, as is evidenced by its varying definitions between…

The authors have had numerous opportunities to work with elementary teachers and students, but few of those experiences have been as rewarding as the We Are Wyoming project. During the 2014-2015 school year, they traveled to thirty-six fourth-grade classrooms all over the state teaching the We Are Wyoming project. The unit was a two-day integrated…

Many geography and technology educators have been attracted to geospatial technologies because of the potential to help students develop and demonstrate spatial and higher order thinking skills, only to be frustrated with implementation at the school level. Even when teachers have overcome the technical hurdles of hardware, software, and data,…