Teaching economic geography is not a matter of replicating textbook models. It requires engagement with the ever-changing global economy, which often puts the lie to existing theory. It demands that the teacher break down the economy into its major parts, in a way that students can grasp. This does not mean abandoning theory; on the contrary, it…

Teaching economic geography outside Anglo-American countries presents a particular pedagogical challenge, as theories and concepts developed in these countries might not be directly applicable outside their intellectual and national contexts. In this paper, the authors show how the peculiar institutional and development environments in China and…

The authors share a successful Fulbright Group Projects Abroad grant award. The purpose of the grant was to enhance American educators' experience and knowledge of South Africa, in particular, and sub-Saharan Africa more generally. Toward that end, participants experienced a multifaceted view of South Africa's geographical diversity, both physical…

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…

Descriptions of global education tend to be either fragmented or nebulous. Consequently, the educator is left with little tangible basis for developing instructional programs. As a corrective measure, this paper advocates using fundamental ideas from the disciplines of geography and environmental sociology that collectively contribute to the…

The degree to which perception and behavior are incorporated in geography instruction and the attitudes of geographers towards perception and behavior in contemporary research are examined. In 1981, a survey was mailed to 332 undergraduate and graduate departments of geography in the United States. The 174 respondents provided data as follows,…

Two exercises are presented to show that changes in the size of urban populations invove the demographic processes of migration and natural change. Discussion of these exercises and the result provides a useful introduction to various aspects of urban growth and to the role and nature of models in studying urban processes. (JR)

Population projections are "what if" computational exercises. Given selected assumptions about future trends in fertility, mortality, and migration, population trends can be projected. Government and business planners need this information, and they also require enough time to put facilities in place to meet future needs. Everyone benefits from a…

Television is one of the most pervasive forms of communication and one of the most influential and visible forms of popular culture. Some researchers believe that the mass communication capability of television has increased cultural homogeneity in all but a very few places. This paper contends that the American, National, and Columbia…

The purpose of this unit is to increase student comprehension of the economic forces at work in regions, states, nations, and the world. Although the unit is intended for North Carolina teachers, it is appropriate for all economic programs. The unit encourages students to examine how geography, available resources, capital investment, and economic…

This paper suggests guidelines for elementary school field trips which would combine a traditional approach to exploring a home community with emphasis on social awareness. Reference is made to techniques for recording the trip on film and to the advantages of the field trip technique. (JH)

An analogy in the form of an analogue to our culture is useful as a tool for selection of pertinent content and skills, and it is appropriate as a curriculum tool when complemented by the axioms of education. (Author/ND)

Ten teaching strategies to develop elementary students' affective skills are presented as a change from teaching values in a prescriptive manner. (ND)

A rural land use project originated in the early 1970s when a landowner approached the University of Montana's Department of Geography asking for assistance in planning the use of more than 10,000 acres. The planning process evolved into four phases; the first three phases (biophysical assessment, capability analysis, and master planning) have…

This paper addresses three questions related to cultural geography--(1) do cultural geographers have a serious interest in culture theory? (2) is there some indication in the ways in which cultural geographers have traditionally approached their subject which has given rise to an apparent lack of concern with the implications of culture theory?…