Presents the current and preeminent policy statement of the Commission on Geographical Education of the International Geographical Union. Reiterates the vital importance of geographic education and outlines general standards for curriculum planning. Addresses a broad range of issues including fundamental concepts, research and educational…

Discusses how educating children to use maps for navigation may enhance wayfinding skills as well as general representation and spatial skills. Documents need for innovative educational curricula to meet challenges of teaching map navigation. Describes development and evaluation of "Where Are We?" curriculum to simulate real-world…

Evaluates the use of the Internet by exploring seven principles of good practice in undergraduate education: (1) student-faculty contact; (2) cooperation among students; (3) active learning; (4) prompt feedback; (5) time on task; (6) high expectations; and (7) respects diverse talent and learning styles. Includes results from a student survey.…

Addresses the population section of the Advanced Placement course outline for human geography, focusing on four themes: (1) geographical analysis of population; (2) population distribution and composition; (3) population growth and decline over time and space; and (4) population movement. Identifies strategies for instructional activities.…

Discusses the design development, and use of a multimedia classroom for the instruction of undergraduate courses in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at the University of Waterloo (Ontario, Canada). Addresses issues involved in using multimedia technologies for GIS instruction, outlining how the room is used for live computer-based…

Discusses the differences between subject matter and content within the realm of social studies. Asserts the importance of making connections within the social studies and allowing students more choices in subject matter. Explores how teacher education should change to help future teachers learn more about subject matter in the social studies.…

Presents an annotated bibliography of Web sites that can be useful for geography classroom teachers and of interest to students. Includes Web sites for the United States Geological Survey, the Central Intelligence Agency, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and GlobeXplorer. (CMK)

Provides annotated reference materials from the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) database designed to help middle and high school social studies teachers incorporate the five major themes of geography into their classrooms. Includes materials on the United Nations, lesson plans on place geography, as well as interdisciplinary themes…

Provides a lesson plan on the geographic and civic aspects of municipal wastes. Offers action activities for students. Maintains that students will become familiar with the geographic, moral, and political features of municipal waste disposal. (RW)

Describes two mini-units, a primary grade activity and upper grade activity, to teach elementary students location skills by becoming map-makers, rather than merely interpreting maps made by others. Students learn to locate areas of a grid, to use a compass rose, to use scale and plot distances, to solve proportion problems, and to enlarge…

Various authors present their opinions on the changes occurring in British postgraduate education in geography. Professors and students concur that the objective of postgraduate coursework should be to contribute directly to the production of the Ph.D. thesis. A dissenting opinion argued that programs should concentrate on training for future…

Cites reports pointing to a lack of geographical literacy in the United States. Provides a lesson plan on the identification of countries in the Middle East, utilizing repetitive drill and mnemonic devices. Describes this activity as one way of helping students remember place-name geography facts. (RW)

Addresses the problem of geographic literacy with respect to the Caribbean Basin. Provides a lesson plan, including maps and charts, that encourages and challenges students to learn the geography of the Caribbean Basin, and to think about the problems that develop when large numbers of legal and illegal immigrants enter the United States. (RW)

Outlines the essential elements of a textbook. Analyzes geography textbooks in terms of their commitment to global interdependence, and treatment of a wide range of geographic concepts. Identifies components of a well-integrated textbook program. (RW)

Considers how the fields of world studies or global education may provide insight and contribute to enhance student understanding in geography courses. Provides a series of checklists which a geography department may use to evaluate the global dimensions in their programs, goals and objectives, resources, and teaching strategies. (LS)