Ethnic music is a strong indicator of cultural identity. Central and Eastern European ethnic groups have historically been associated with folk music traditions, such as polka, and radio broadcasting patterns in the United States reflect continued demand for and support of this music. Data from the 2000 Census was used to generate maps of the…

Teaching GIS is relatively simple, a matter of helping students develop familiarity with the software. Mapping as an aid to thinking is harder to instruct. This article presents a laboratory and lecture package developed to teach the utility of mapping in a course on spatial data analysis. Following a historical review of the use of surface…

Defines and describes the use of choropleth maps in geography instruction. Identifies the six basic steps for constructing choropleth maps and recommends their use in secondary classrooms. Includes five maps and two tables applying choropleth maps to Central American and Caribbean nations. (CFR)

Describes a college class project in geographical survey research comparing the population characteristics in North and South New Jersey. Students made up their own questionnaires and decided on sampling procedures. Surveys revealed facts about population numbers, historical boundaries, employment, and residents' perceptions of regional…

Discusses how applied economic development has been integrated into the economic geography curriculum at Oregon State University (Corvallis). States that coursework in applied economic development should lead to greater understanding of the causes of economic change, the problems associated with growth or decline, and methods for achieving…

Presents a secondary teaching lesson that uses statistical information about colleges and universities offering a degree in geography. Provides a sequenced lesson plan that asks students to develop a map showing the frequency and distribution of geography programs and interpret the findings. (CFR)

Explores four selected facets of the geography of Midwest population related to movement of people: (1) spread of occupancy across the land; (2) growth of county populations once they had been occupied; (3) distribution of the foreign-born population; and (4) distribution of retirees who have migrated after retirement. Concludes movements are…

Traces the settlement and demographic patterns of Hispanic Americans in the United States from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. Although originally concentrated in the southwest, Hispanics began migrating northward into some northeastern areas after World War II. Includes maps and tables detailing these demographics. (MJP)

Reviews two software programs, "PhoneDisc Business95" and "BusinessMAP LTF," that offer user-friendly, low-cost, and quick methods of identifying and mapping patterns of the names of U.S. businesses. This software can be used to help students understand how populations see and define themselves regionally and visualize the demographic spread of…

Reintroduces and updates the geographic profile as a visualization technique for representing and analyzing the structure of geographical information. A computer software-generated profile focuses on specific information (persons per square mile in selected cities) and represents that information spatially on a graph. (MJP)