During academic year 1999-2000, the Geography Department at Michigan State University (MSU) launched a program of online geography courses. Since then, four undergraduate online geography courses have been collectively developed and delivered to over 4,500 domestic and international students in association with MSU's Virtual University Design and…

Findings related to the background knowledge, writing, and reading of disadvantaged students in a South African university geography department are discussed. The notion "academic discourse community" is used as an analytical framework. Findings indicate that students and instructors alike face several extreme challenges. (Contains 6…

This paper presents findings from research about pupils' experiences of environmental education in UK secondary schools. The study focused on six pupils aged 13- to 14-years-old and nearing the end of their compulsory geography education. Geography provided a relevant a curricular context for exploring pupils' experiences of environmental…

Blended learning, the combination of traditional face-to-face teaching methods with authentic online learning activities, has the potential to transform student-learning experiences and outcomes. In spite of this advantage, university teachers often find it difficult to adopt new online techniques, in part because institutional practices are still…

This research examines the effectiveness of problem-based learning (PBL) in an online geographic information systems (GIS) course for adult learners. Adults expect to take greater control of their learning and tend to be self-directed. Students are encouraged to take an active role as problem-solvers in PBL courses. The effectiveness of PBL in…

Statistical analyses of pre-test and post-test results, as well as qualitative insight obtained by essays, compared introductory physical geography college students who learned desert geomorphology only virtually, in the field and both ways. With the exception of establishing geographic context, the virtual field trip was statistically…

This study investigated the environmental learning of a group of senior geography students through a problem-based learning (PBL) field programme to see if the goals of education "for" the environment could be accomplished. In the PBL field programme, the students were given a problem statement concerning a real-life scenario of an old…

Explores the origins of many geographic place names. Suggests that using toponyms (place names) to study geographic conditions of an area offers rich diversity for the teaching of map skills and regional geography. (DH)

This paper explores the uses of true landform miniatures and small-scale analogues and suggests ways to teach geomorphological concepts using small-scale relief features as illustrative examples. (JDH)

Provides 2 examples of walking tours developed for primary grade children. The first example is map-based and the second is a verbal treasure hunt exercise where students follow a series of instructions to move about their school. (JDH)

Defines the study of geography and the four traditions of the discipline: (1) earth science, (2) man-land relationships, (3) area studies, and (4) spatial orientation. Proposes some appropriate questions and problems for students to investigate and provides basic guidelines for carrying out a geography project. (JDH)

Three software programs which encourage children to learn geography and have fun are reviewed. Complementary activities are suggested. (MT)

Ways geography teachers may relate childhood experiences of students to geographical concepts by applying William Pattison's four traditions of geography in the examination of a children's snow fort building project are discussed. Pattison's four themes are spatial organization, area studies, human-environmental links, and earth science. (RM)

Third-grade children were able to interpret "Band 5" black-and-white Landsat images (those produced nearest the visible light portion of the spectrum) with little difficulty. (RM)

First part of a continued article. (DS)