Tools for Developing Short-Term Study Abroad Classes for Geography Studies

Abstract

Short-term international field study is an attractive alternative for many students to traditional, longer-term study abroad programs. We present a discussion of critical planning, administrative, and curricular elements related to the development and implementation of such courses. In doing so, we share a number of checklists and planning tools that other instructors may find helpful in the context of developing their own international field studies courses. In addition, we provide representative examples and experiences from two short-term international courses taught by the authors in the Geography Department at Shippensburg University.     

海外中国城市地理研究进展

本文综述海外学者对中国城市地理研究的主要进展。中国城市的急速变化为城市地理研究学者提供许多理论研究与经验研究的机会。大部分海外关于中国城市地理的研究集中探讨中央和地方政府、国际资本和经济改革在城市化、城市发展以及城市空间重构中的作用。至今城市地理学与城市研究的大多数理论研究是在中国以外的实际背景下进行的。因此有必要加强在中国的实际背景下城市地理学的理论研究。各种过程与空间关系动态的研究具有很大的潜力。这包括地方化、城市主义、区域主义、城市竞争与合作过程、城市管治过程、地方、区域与全球过程的动态关系、空间与尺度的关系等。     

Field Trips as Valuable Learning Experiences in Geography Courses

Abstract

Field trips have been acknowledged as valuable learning experiences in geography. This article uses Kolb’s (1984) experiential learning model to discuss how students learn and how field trips can help enhance learning. Using Kolb’s experiential learning theory as a guide in the design of field trips helps ensure that field trips contribute to internalizing relevant geographical theory and concepts. Three types of field trips are presented: an informal survey of a neighborhood, a more formal scavenger hunt, and a virtual field trip using Google Earth.

Learning is the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience.

—Kolb (1984)     

Cities and Urban Land Use in Advanced Placement Human Geography

Abstract

This article examines key topics and concepts in the cities and urban land use section of the Advanced Placement human geography course. Among the topics discussed are definitions of urbanism, the origin and evolution of cities, functional character of contemporary cities, the built environment and social space, and responses to urban growth.     

Internet-Based GIS in an Inductive Learning Environment: A Case Study of Ninth-Grade Geography Students

Abstract

This article reports the results of a qualitative case study that explored the use of Internet-based geographic information systems (IGIS) with ninth-grade geography students. The students worked in teams to examine the geography of Africa using IGIS resources with the instructional goal of developing a presentation on a significant issue facing one region or country. The purpose of this study was to explore the use of IGIS as a tool for integrating geospatial technologies into ninth-grade geography curriculum and instruction within an inductive learning environment. The findings for this study indicate that IGIS can be a successful tool for geography education in an inductive learning environment. Based on qualitative data collected through classroom observations, focus group interviews with students, student work samples, and a teacher journal, two assertions are offered: students perceived expanded freedom as a positive aspect of this IGIS project and IGIS projects such as this can lead to gains in students' cultural awareness and empathy for distant others.     

The Use of Maps in the Teaching of Geography

Abstract

Coyote teaching emphasizes learning community, long term mentoring, a need for learning, ownership of learning, heightened sensory awareness, storytelling, purposefully designed tricks, and the Socratic method to promote lifelong learning and a new generation of coyote teachers. Many of these methods are found in other educational philosophies but seem to be fully integrated in the coyote teaching method. Because geography is integrative, it seems a logical discipline in which to apply this method. Each of the characteristics of coyote teaching has its unique place in geography education. This article demonstrates how each of these components of coyote teaching can be readily employed, enhanced, and, more importantly, integrated into geographic education and inculcated into multiple generations of geography educators.     

关于我国城市统计区重建的地理学研究

本文从我国现行的城市统计区的地域特征分析入手,通过对国内外有关城市统计区建立的理论与方法的比较研究,指出了我国现行城市统计区划中存在的问题及其重新建立的必要性,从实质性和可比性的角度,提出基于“日常生活圈”的我国城市统计区重建的理念,并对基于“日常生活圈”的我国城市统计区的基本构造、建立方法和可行性进行了讨论。     

中国中部地区城市影响范围划分方法的比较

随着城市化、区域一体化的不断推进,各种类型的城市与区域规划陆续推出。其中,识别城市的腹地范围、促进城市与腹地的协同发展是其关键内容。因此,城市影响范围的划分具有重要的现实意义。已有的研究成果多以单一年份的静态研究及单一方法的应用研究为主,缺乏时间序列上的动态演变分析,更无多种方法综合集成分析。正是基于以上考虑,在详细梳理与比较不同理论的差异性基础上,采用引力模型和改进场模型两种方法对中国中部地区的城市影响范围进行测度和比较研究,细致比较这两种基于不同视角的模型方法在识别城市影响范围的优势与劣势,进而提出综合集成研究的基本框架,分析中国中部地区城市影响范围及其动态变化特征。希望能为合理选择和运用城市影响范围的分析方法,有效制定区域等级体系规划、城市空间组织方案提供科学参考。     

中国城市地理学研究的统计分析

以<地理学报>、<地理科学>、<地理研究>自创刊至2009年底所刊载的城市地理学相关论文共523篇为数据源,对中国城市地理学的研究动态进行了统计分析.从论文数量、研究类型、研究方法、研究主题、作者单位等方面归纳了城市地理学研究的动态特征,并利用文献计量学方法估算了核心作者群及其论文情况.研究结果表明,自1980年以来中...     

地理学理论研究和科学分析的一般方法探讨

根据近年来地理学家和物理学家对城市发展和演化分析的有关成果,总结出地理理论研究方法的一般模式:第一步,根据观测数据建立经验模型;第二步,构造假设、建立理论方程并且求解,求解的结果要与经验模型及其参数一致;第三步,基于第二步的假设条件进行计算机模拟实验,模拟结果要与观测的结果一致。第一步用到的方法从地理学"计量运动"时期开始发展,至今已经比较成熟;第二步用到的方法发展多年,但进展较慢;第三步用到的方法目前正在快速发展,但没有与第二步的方法有机结合。强调的方法在于,将地理学的经验建模、理论解析和模拟实验有机结合起来,形成一个完整的、不同步骤相辅相成的研究程序。这一套方法在一定条件下可以推广到地理应用研究领域,推广之后的第二步可以大为简化,但第三步则会更加复杂。     

地理学的十四大原理

已有的地理学原理可以概括成十四大要义。其中的"区位选择与放弃、区位选择是一种空间优化"这两条是关于区位选择的基本要义。关于地球表面差异性的要点包括:"差异性的度量和解释受到尺度和规模的影响;热力差异是地表差异的基础;外驱动力对地理环境的形成与演变具有重要影响;风化、侵蚀、搬运和堆积是形成地表特性的一种基本自然过程;两地间的相互作用随其距离的增加而减小;地方的创造和发展建构了地球表层上差异化的关于人的世界;人口迁移、产品贸易与地表上的差异性互为因果。"关于人地关系的原理包括:"人的个体或群体对空间上利益的竞争是人地关系的第一要义;地球表面的绝大多数要素的相互作用不能为人的个体或群体在其占据的空间内所掌控"。"空间临界点"是地理分析的基本方法性原理。"地球表面不同尺度上人类活动的外部性是分析环境问题产生的起点;个人之间观念的差异,地区之间、国家之间利益的差异是人们在对地球资源、环境的利用与保护方面发生分歧或对立的基本因素"是关涉地球表面开发保护政策的要义。     

中国重大科技计划中人文-经济地理学研究进展

为跟踪世界科技的最新进展,解决中国快速发展过程中所面临的关键性和突出性重大问题,中国政府开展了一系列重大科技专项计划,如科技支撑计划等。气候变化、地表过程、土地利用、自然灾害是近年来人文一经济地理学者参与最广、研究最深的领域,在地表过程的人文驱动机制、资源环境承载能力评价等方面取得了重大进展和突破,为政府编制规划、开展环境外交等提供了科学依据。本文分析了上述研究计划的基本概貌,以及人文一经济地理学者在其中承担的主要任务。从个人终端消费导向的碳足迹研究、人文地理过程的系统动力学研究、土地利用重点问题咨询与决策、灾区资源环境承载能力评价等方面总结了人文一经济地理学在其中做出的主要贡献和社会影响。     

行为地理学研究的方法论问题

行为地理学研究正成为人文地理学的一大热点。时代呼唤具有中国特色的行为地理学研究理论与方法。文章探讨行为地理学研究中的方法论问题,强调微观个体行为与整体社会的结合、短期行为与长期行为的结合、主观能动性与客观制约的结合、定量研究与质性分析的结合等,并试图提出一个行为研究的整体性框架。     

Overcoming Geographic Innocence in Geography Education

Abstract

This article deals with the issue of providing geographic training to prospective teachers from the perspective of a secondary school teacher who also teaches a social studies methods course. Research in educational journals provided a background for describing the lack of geographic training among social studies teachers. While the National Geographic Society's alliance network is addressing this issue among practicing teachers, there is still a need to include some geography training for preservice teachers. Suggestions are offered for including geography within the context of the social studies methods course. A plea is also made for geography professors to include the new National Geography Standards in their courses, especially in introductory courses.     

State Geography Standards in 2004

Abstract

National Geography Standards for the middle school years generally stress the teaching of latitude and longitude. There are many creative ways to explain the great grid that encircles our planet, but the author has found that students in his college-level geography courses especially enjoy human-interest stories associated with lines of latitude and longitude. In particular, certain nautical “rites of passage” and GPS-enabled adventure show how some people identify with these imaginary lines as places to celebrate and explore. The author contends that humanizing this global geometry enhances student understanding and appreciation at any grade level.     

The Challenges and Rewards of Introducing Field Trips Into a Large Introductory Geography Class

Fieldwork is an essential component of undergraduate geographic education, but with growing enrollment and limited resources few first-year instructors incorporate this activity in their courses. This article reports on the challenges of incorporating fieldwork into a large first-year course and the strategies adopted to respond to these challenges and the achieved learning benefits. Field trips were created to cater to approximately 120 students directly engaged in field activities, with each student submitting an individual written report. Through the field activities, students developed a better understanding of geography, a stronger class community, and a more positive relationship with instructional staff.     

西方城市社会地理学研究进展及对中国研究的意义

本文首先回顾了西方城市社会地理学发展的历程,然后评述了现代城市社会地理学研究的转变、特点和主要学派。依据对相关文献的考察,把西方现代城市社会地理学的研究领域分为四大部分:(1)城市空间结构的社会意义(2)城市社会空间分异模式(3)城市空间与制度框架(4)城市场景中的特殊行为,并对此进行了综述概括。最后就城市社会地理学在中国发展的意义和研究领域提出了建议。     

Early Instruction in Geography: An Exploration in the Ecology of Kindergarten and First-Grade Geography Education

Abstract

Student drawn maps have been relatively neglected as an evaluation tool, despite their potential utility for assessing geographic knowledge. Comparison of students' sketch maps at the beginning and end of the year can inform the teacher about how students' representations of the world change over the course of instruction. Used as a pretest, they can be used to diagnose areas of strength and weakness within a class; as a posttest they can be used to assess students' achievement and the effectiveness of instruction. In this paper we provide an easy method for sorting and summarizing sketch map data, which is illustrated using maps collected from two sixth grade classes. We also outline a framework to guide teachers in generating questions to ask about their own students' maps.     

Bulletin Boards in Geography

Abstract

Teaching geography within a field-based, environmental-problem-solving framework integrates geographic knowledge and practice and introduces high school students to skills required to undertake geographic research. A five-day field investigation on coastal geography was designed for juniors at a science high school in New Jersey. The goal of the field investigation was to allow students to engage in problem-solving, gather field data, apply geographic concepts and tools, and foster the ability to think critically. The purpose of the investigation was to identify the spatial distribution of litter on a beach and interpret the distribution based on physical and human processes. The field site is a 400-m-long shoreline reach in Raritan Bay, New Jersey. Students defined the term “litter” for purposes of the investigation, developed a classification system, and mapped the location and type of litter on the beach. Three sampling grids were established across the beach from the dune crest to the waterline. Students conducted topographic surveys of the sampling grids, collected litter in each grid cell, and counted, classified, and weighed the litter. Data gathered were reduced, analyzed, and interpreted based on the published literature. Findings were presented at a formal presentation on the last day of the investigation. Students submitted a written report and presented the results of the investigation at a student conference two months later. Field investigations can expose students to different methods of data sampling and measurement. Collaboration between secondary schools and universities can result in successful learning initiatives that allow students the opportunity to experience the role of a practicing professional.     

The conception framework of Asian urban development in transition

IntroductionImper'tant academic results concerning urballhation worldwide, especially the ongoing urban tranSihon ofdeVeloping world of Asia haVe been achieved in the past tWo decades. The theoretical frameWork ofurbaniZation discourse itSelf has been evolving by stages in accordance with the major historical advancesof social sciences. The attempt to explain the relationship between urbalhaation and economic growth ofindividual countries dominated the literatUre in the 1960s and the 1970s…