Provides examples of distorted maps drawn by people from various times and countries. Argues that maps can be culturally confining and can reinforce ethnocentricity. States that exposure to many cartographic perspectives can help a person overcome ethnocentric cultural conditioning. Includes activities and questions for promoting cartographic…

Used to satisfy the communications requirement of an undergraduate core curriculum, this article provides a curricular rationale, course outline, behavioral objectives, teaching strategies, and modes of evaluation for a course on the language of maps. (JDH)

Tips to help geography educators successfully use slides with their lectures are provided. They include such suggestions as know your equipment, change slides often, consider the psychophysics of the viewer, don't take pictures from a moving car, show only one thing at a time, and never be arty. (RM)

Defines cognitive mapping and describes an exercise that adapts methods applied by geographers conducting advanced research in environmental cognition in order to help students think about their perceptions of the spatial organization of a well-known environment. Instructor's and students' tasks are identified and sample handouts are included.…

Television is an important source of geographic perceptions held by college students. How the television series M*A*S*H can be used to help students learn regional geography is discussed. M*A*S*H uses regional imagery, place-name stereotyping, and regional personality characterization. (RM)

The globalization of society and of the economy has lead to the globalization of geographical space, infusing it with new significance. Historical conditions are now ripe for establishing a geography that is both global and theoretically based. (RM)

In recent years, oil refining in Western Europe has experienced a period of intense contraction. Discussed are the nature of the crisis, defensive strategies that have been adopted, the spatial consequences of the strategies, and how effective they have been in combatting the root causes of crises. (RM)

Examines appropriate map learning experiences for elementary school children based on inferences derived from Piaget's research on cognitive development. Addresses the eight skills developed in most map learning programs: 1) interpreting symbols, 2) envisioning perspective, 3) locating places, 4) determining direction, 5) computing distance, 6)…

Explains the relationship between important citizenship goals and recognized map skills. Demonstrates, grade by grade, how to conduct map learning activities that foster active involvement and problem solving skills needed for democratic citizenship. (JDH)

Presents fifteen activities designed to lead children from the enactive, iconic, and symbolic levels of understanding map symbols, perspective, direction, distance, location, scale, relief and elevation. (JDH)

Benefits of conferences to geography educators are discussed. The author describes what may be learned from attending a geography conference in Great Britian. (RM)

Provides a detailed description of nine ERIC resources designed to aid instruction about China. Included are teaching units, collections of activities, and teacher background material developed between 1981 and 1984 for use in elementary and secondary school settings. (JDH)

Attitudes with negative consequences abound in geography--e.g., prejudice of theoretical geographers against applied geographers, quantitative geographers against qualitative geographers. All geographers have something important to contribute and should work together to achieve mutual success. (RM)

Offering maps and geographic routes for 28 books, this guide illustrates how to teach students in grades 9-12 with literary maps, taking them on a journey through real and imaginary terrains. Entries span a range of genres and literary formats, including novels, dramas, and diaries. Each follows a book's protagonist through space and time,…

This curriculum unit, intended to be used with elementary school students, provides information about a North African, Moslem, Arab, country: Morocco. The unit presents objectives, strategies, materials needed, background notes, evaluation methods, and assignments that fulfill National Social Studies Standards and National Geography standards. It…