Reviews the book, "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" (Jared Diamond). Examines the strengths of the book, focusing on its distinctive aspects, while also offering criticism. States that the final chapter is the most problematic part of Diamond's work. (CMK)

Analyzes the Internet-based teaching practices of college-level geography instructors. Relates these practices to their research specialty, place of employment, teaching experiences, and academic rank. Focuses on full-time geography faculty listed in the "1997-98 Association of American Geographers Guide to Programs in the United States and…

Explores key issues related to raising funds for doing overseas fieldwork and addresses where to locate money for fieldwork, such as grant-giving organizations, charitable trusts, the general public, and personal contributions. Includes a list of resources and addresses. (CMK)

Five elementary level language classroom games for teaching vocabulary, question-asking, and facts about Canada are described. They include 2 games of concentration, a game of discovery, a review of facts about Canada, and a game of 20 questions. Most are specifically designed for French language usage. (MSE)

Provides a lesson plan designed to increase student map skills. Objectives are to (1) trace a route on a street map; (2) use symbols for locating skills; and (3) employ mileage scales to determine distance. Includes the procedures and an answer key. (RW)

Discussed are beach replenishment, and hard structures in relation to the sand transportation system. Failures of current engineering practices and the resulting costs to the taxpayer are stressed. Equations and parameters used to make predictions of beach durability are criticized. (CW)

Responses of three global educators to "Global Education: Towards a World that Works for All" (P. Pradervand). Nan Gallagher suggests using films in geography courses to overcome the indifference Pradervand refers to. Doug Burchill questions the teacher's ability to break through students' encultured prejudices. Greig Whitehead describes…

Proposes a practical approach for implementing the seventh grade curriculum of California's History-Social Science Framework (1988). States that the emphasis placed on each of the 11 units can be framed in the context of the individual classroom. Advocates building a context (including content and thinking processes) which makes information…

Explains the theory of noosphere developed by Soviet academician Vladimir Ivanovich Vernadsky and Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. States that this theory is based on a new morality concerning the unity of humanity and its responsibility for the fate of the planet. (GG)

Refutes Joel Rudinow's critique of the Whittle Educational Network, specifically his remarks concerning Channel One's availability, teacher viewing discretion, and commercials. Claims that Channel One has no hidden agenda, but is intended to help teachers dispel teenagers' woeful ignorance of current events, geography, and related subjects. (MLH)

Geographic education requires specific knowledge about the earth and the skills to recognize, describe, and explain the interaction of people with their environments. A recent Geographic Education National Implementation Project (GENIP) document presents a framework for developing a geography study course for grades 7-12. (MLH)

Students who enjoy the advantage of a good world geography course in high school are receiving a firm basis for subsequent learning as college students and future citizens. Geography builds on a world image that furthers understanding of a totally integrated community by reaching beyond country and region. Includes two references. (MLH)

Reviews research on how geographic maps influence the recall of associated text and describes a theoretical model of map-text learning based on dual-coding theory and working memory operations. Instructional implications are explained, and recommendations for instructional applications are given. (Contains 84 references.) (LRW)

Examines how teachers can capitalize on interest in the age of the discoveries as the five-hundredth anniversary of Columbus' first voyage approaches. Indicates that a series of articles on the discoveries is intended to offer teachers a framework of themes that can inform their conceptions of world history as a high school course. (SG)

Discusses efforts by the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA) to develop introductory college level courses in geographic information systems (GIS). Explores a year-long evaluation of the curriculum development project. Describes the objectives, components, and results of the evaluation. (SG)