The definition of geography as the study of man and the realities of his socio-economic milieu is the thesis on which this course in urban geography is based. The functions of the university are observed to be: 1) to ensure economic and cultural continuance; and 2) to advance knowledge and ways of knowing. The first of these functions appears to…

This subunit, consisting of an introduction and geography of the USSR, is part of a unit on the USSR, one of four resource units for an eleventh grade course on area studies. The introduction contains suggested teaching procedures for each part of the USSR unit and objectives for the introduction. The section on geography focuses on developing an…

This study describes and evaluates an intermediate grade self-instructional unit in population geography organized according to the Forced Inferential Response Mode (FIRM) method of presentation. This mode of presentation is compared with a conventional narrative mode supplemented with graphics. The study indicates no statistically significant…

Major changes in European and Russian geography instruction primarily at the secondary level are reviewed and implications of these changes for American geographic education are suggested. The information on European and Russian education, taken from papers presented at the 1976 International Geographical Union meetings in the Soviet Union,…

Discusses the use of a shortwave radio in the geography classroom as a means of making instruction more meaningful to students. Presents a lesson plan, for use in elementary and secondary schools, which is designed to introduce students to various cultures, ideas, and information while activating interest in current events. (GEA)

Geographers were studied as they made the transition from graduate student to full-time academic appointments. Information is presented about factors that affected their performance and personal satisfaction: type of contract, status of dissertation, size of initial teaching load, identification with the institution, companionship with colleagues,…

The concept of location is a first step in spatial thinking, one of the multiple intelligences and an historical and social science analysis skill listed in the California Academic Content Standards for History-Social Science. Based on what they learned in kindergarten and first grade about mapping their classroom and the playground, students…

The Mekong e-Sim involved more than 140 students across Australia and overseas participating in an online roleplay-simulation over a four-week period. Set in the Mekong region of South East Asia, it allowed for debates over development issues arising from clear-cut differences and conflicts in values and interests. The geography and engineering…

This packet contains five lessons related to the five themes of geography: location; place; human-environment interaction; movement; and region. The lessons are designed to support the teaching of courses in world geography, U.S. government/civics, and economics from a comparative U.S./German perspective. Lessons include: (1) "Location of…

Language for success in curricular and extracurricular contexts shows a range and complexity beyond the scope of most secondary school ESL programs in Canadian schools. The subject-specific language structure, rhetoric, and vocabulary for secondary level geography, history, and science are used as examples. (MSE)

Describes the West German Curriculum Research Project for the Spatial Sciences, its chronology, organization, content, evaluation, and dissemination. Also discusses influences and implications of the project. For journal availability, see SO 507 291. (Author/CK)

Maintains that cooperative learning produces higher achievement, more positive relationships among students, and healthier psychological adjustment than do competitive or individualistic experiences. Describes a cooperative learning core module complete with course content and assessment strategies. Discusses advantages, disadvantages, and student…

Reports on a survey of geographers who graduated 1, 5, and 10 years ago from different British universities. The students identified the features of their geography training that had been of greatest value to them in their career and pinpointed aspects that could have been better developed. (MJP)

Compares formal education to a cart with the following focus wheels: preservice training, in-service training, curricular position, and teaching materials. Claims that productive and innovative effort in one area often is stifled by focusing on the lack of effort in other areas. (MJP)

Recommends employing problem-based learning (PBL) in the preparation of geography students for field classes. Utilizing PBL students work on problems drawn from professional practice with the assistance of tutors. Briefly reviews the characteristics, contributions, and issues of PBL and provides an undergraduate geography case study. (MJP)