The article presents technology projects that provide real-life reasons for students to learn geography. A variety of online networks take students on online field trips, linking them with scientists, zoologists, archaeologists, and explorers. Other interactive software is available to simulate trips to various locations around the world. (SM)

Explores the issues involved in teaching a regional U.S. political science course, specifically referring to a course taught on midwestern politics. Covers topics such as defining the region to be studied, course organization, and assignments. Considers using the regional approach in an interdisciplinary course and other options. (CMK)

Case study of how a 10th-grade New York State global-history teacher attempts to understand one of several messages broadcast by the new state curriculum and assessment policies, namely that state policies promote ambitious teaching and learning. Finds that while the teacher altered her teaching, she did so in ways that did not comport with the…

Compares student reactions to traditional teaching methods and an approach where computer-based tools (GEODe CD-ROM and GIS-based exercises) were either integrated with or replaced the traditional methods. Reveals that the students found both of these tools valuable forms of instruction when used in combination with the traditional methods. (CMK)

Compares the perceptions of first year British college students, third year students, and staff on the teaching, practice, and assessment of personal transferable skills within a geography program. Reveals that the staff and students agree that personal transferable skills should be taught but finds a variety of discrepancies among the three…

Focuses on using the World Wide Web as a means for creating large-scale collaborations that cut across institutional boundaries. Examines different strategies for employing these collaborations; in particular, centralized publishing using common guidelines and format, distributed publishing using common interfaces and protocols, and…

Presents a lesson for high school students in which they collect and analyze data using questions from the actual Census 2000 long form and then participate in a simulation of a local planning council meeting to consider the short- and long-term community needs. Includes the Census 2000 long form. (CMK)

Presents a lesson about frontier life in Texas and is based on the National Register of Historic Places registration file "Castolon Historic District" and other source materials about Castolon and ranching in the Big Bend region. States that the lesson could be incorporated into units on westward expansion or U.S. geography. (CMK)

Discusses aspects of cultural understanding, particularly intercultural understanding, and addresses the development of cultural understanding through geography. Argues that textbooks and other secondary sources should present information about places and communities as changing and contested. Examines five primary geography textbook series and…

Discusses how teachers can facilitate greater cultural understanding and acceptance among their students. Describes activities for primary school students that are useful in promoting cultural understanding and acceptance, such as a unit on comparing folk tales and exploring cultures through art. Includes a bibliography of resources. (CMK)

Explores Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, related to geography skills (mapping, locational distribution, directional skills, locational change, decision making), on topics such as geographic place names, location of indigenous language speaking groups, traditional stories as navigational tools, shifts in population, and mining.…

The Bermuda Triangle is famous for the unexplained disappearances of ships and aircraft, and for strange meteorological phenomena that allegedly have occurred within its boundaries. This article presents an activity wherein students are asked to create their own geographical triangles to research, but instead of focusing on the unexplainable,…

Research into the research-teaching "nexus" has undergone significant changes in focus and methodology. From an initial quantitative concern with correlating measurements of research productivity and teaching effectiveness, the empirical emphasis has shifted in favour of exploring the "experiences" of participants (academics…

Because assessment reflects course pedagogy, aims, objectives but also broader institutional and cultural expectations, traditional examination still has a role in the new media of asynchronous, distance learning. This paper recounts experiences of incorporating such examination within an Internet-delivered, GIScience programme, outlining some…

This article explores issues of scalability and sustainability in distance learning. The authors kept detailed records of time they spent teaching a course in geographic information science via the World Wide Web over a six-month period, during which class sizes averaged 49 students. The authors also surveyed students' satisfaction with the…