Many college teachers have a required textbook(s) for their courses, yet textbooks often misrepresent facts both directly and indirectly -- through both the perspective and possible bias of the author(s) and/or the omission of information and events. As textbooks are primary sources of knowledge, and students believe the information to be true, it…

World regional geography is one of the most popular and most heavily subscribed geography courses in the United States at both the undergraduate and K-12 levels (Rutherford 2001; Mueller 2003; Bednarz 2004). Yet little consensus exists about the content that the course should include or the approach that should be used to teach it. Debate exists…

This study attempts to illuminate the recognition, reflection, development, and effects of geography teachers' attitudes toward regions around the world (ATRAWs) using Straussian grounded theory. A total of 194 concepts were categorized into 18 categories, and three types were identified. The findings of this study show that geography teachers…

The benefits of a regional or thematic approach to the study and presentation of world geography have long been debated. The goal to not reimagine these debates or to promote one approach over another; the aim is to explore how world geography courses are currently being taught in American universities. By polling and sharing information about…

Using a stakeholder debate based on a real-world case of regional construction--that of Turkey's application to join the European Union--improved students' critical thinking in an introductory world regional geography course. Such courses are a staple offering among US geography departments, and often the only exposure of non-majors to geographic…

World regional geography textbooks rarely focus on the process of region formation, despite frequent calls to reincorporate a regional approach to teaching global geography. An instructional strategy using problem-based learning in a small honors section of a large world regional geography course is described. Using a hypothetical scenario…

The dependency concept, historical approach, contemporary problems and illustrations, and West Indians abroad are discussed to show how the Commonwealth Caribbean can serve as an effective area for a teaching approach that stresses an integrating, extraregional view of geography. (Author/ND)

Latin America is a popularly accepted world region. A systematic review of geographic interpretations of Latin America reveals that the origin of the term goes back to the mid-nineteenth century and that the region's boundaries have shifted over time. This article argues that four basic principles operate in the formation of world regions such as…

One of the demands imposed on geography instruction is to inform about the world, but there is some disagreement on how this is to be achieved. Criticism is most frequently directed at the regional geography approach of subdividing the world into culture regions. This paper addresses the question of whether global subdivision by culture regions…

This book integrates geography elements, national academic standards, and the five geography themes with activities that provide a foundation for geographic learning. Organized around geographic realms (with background information and maps for each realm), the book is suitable for use with grades K-6, with indications for K-2, 2-4, and 4-6, plus…

A traditional world regional geography course inescapably entails a flow of information that many community college students find overwhelming. This paper delineates five strategies developed over 30 years of teaching to help students cope with this fundamental problem: (1) using study guides or a manual to help students understand assigned…

This Digest explores the nature of geographic literacy. Part 1 discusses fundamental themes of geography, including absolute and relative location, the natural and cultural characteristics of place, the development of human-environment relationships and their consequences, human movement and interaction, and the formation and change of regions.…

This paper is part of a larger study entitled "A Comparative Geography of Three Ecologically Similar Regions," which compares the Chesapeake Bay region of Maryland with the Murray River region of South Australia and the Rio de la Plata region of Uruguay. Readings with accompanying questions are intended for classroom use. Teachers are…

Designed to supplement and complement the Louisiana "World Geography Curriculum Guide: Bulletin 1727," this document contains 72 maps that can be used for instructing high school students. Two world maps are provided, along with regional map sets of: (1) Anglo-America; (2) Asia; (3) Africa and the Middle East; (4) Europe; (5) Latin…

This activity book for teachers contains lessons designed to motivate students to master world geography. Questions on geographic concepts are formulated as mysteries for students to solve. The materials are written with seventh-grade students in mind, but could be adapted for use with other grade levels. Some of the lessons are more challenging…