Reform of Teacher Education: An Opportunity for Geographers

Abstract

This paper focuses on the context and major efforts designed to reform teacher education in the nation's universities. An overview of systems governing and impacting teacher education is provided, with focus on the issues and conflicting forces that form the context within which teacher education-and geography education—find themselves. The paper concludes with a discussion of general trends in education reform and renewal and leadership opportunities open to geographers.     

Lens on Climate Change: Making Climate Meaningful Through Student-Produced Videos

Learning about climate change is tangible when it addresses impacts that can be observed close to home. In this program, sixty-four diverse middle and high school students produced videos about locally relevant climate change topics. Graduate and undergraduate students provided mentorship. The program engaged students in research and learning about climate change, and sparked their interest in science careers. Evaluation results showed that students were highly motivated by the experience, developed a genuine interest in their science topic, learned about the scientific process, and developed twenty-first century skills. The program provided a unique and authentic approach to science learning and communication.     

Demographic Transition: Threat to Developing Nations

Abstract

As computers become commonplace in the nation's schools, interactive maps are finding their way into the geography classroom. Students can use electronic atlases to access information as well as use authoring software to produce their own interactive maps. Does this change in media correspond to better geography education for our children? This article addresses whether using interactive maps for gathering and presenting information can have a positive influence on learning geography content. A two-week experiment was conducted in five 7th grade classrooms. Students in four of the classes researched and produced map products using both traditional and computer-assisted techniques. The fifth class was a control group. A pretest and two post-tests were given to quantitatively assess student learning after each project. Also, students were given a qualitative questionnaire to determine their attitude towards the different techniques. Quantitative results of the study indicate that there was no significant difference in student post-test performance after using each of the techniques, but qualitative results suggest that students prefer using the computer techniques over the traditional methods for gathering and presenting information.     

面向GIS专业本科生的经济地理学教学研究

GIS专业是一门新兴的综合性交叉学科,《经济地理学》为G1S提供了重要的理论基础和应用基础。本文从GIS专业的学科专业性质、人才培养目标出发,对《经济地理学》课程的定位与目标、教学内容与方法进行了探讨,以期提高GIS专业学生应用《经济地理学》基本理论、基本方法和解决现实问题的能力。     

GIS专业本科教学探讨--北京大学教学实例

随着社会对于地理信息系统专业人才的需求,在全世界范围内地理信息科学的教学和培训工作得到了越来越广泛的重视．作为较早开始设立地理信息系统专业的综合性大学——北京大学,在地理信息科学教学实践中积累了丰富的经验,并形成了自己的特色：重视基础,淡化专业;重视地学基础课程的学习和应用;注重理论和实践的结合,向工科倾斜;及时反映GIS的最新进展。     

按摩疗法加健康教育结合乳果糖口服液治疗便秘30 例疗效观察

目的：观察按摩疗法加健康教育结合乳果糖口服液治疗便秘的临床疗效。方法：将60 例便秘患者随机分为治疗组和对照组,每组各30 例。对照组给予乳果糖口服液治疗,治疗组在对照组基础上采用按摩疗法并结合健康教育。2组均以14 d为1个疗程,共治疗2个疗程。治疗结束后随访1个月,观察2组综合疗效、生活质量（PAC-QOL）评分及症状积分。结果：总有效率治疗组为93.33%（28/30）,高于对照组的76.67%（23/30）,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。2组治疗后PAC-QOL评分比较,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。治疗2周后,治疗组排便时间积分、症状总积分低于对照组（均P<0.05）;治疗4周后,治疗组排便困难、排便时间、排便感（下坠、不尽、胀感）、排便频度积分及症状总积分低于对照组（均P<0.05）;治疗结束后1个月,治疗组粪便性状、排便困难、排便时间、排便感（下坠、不尽、胀感）、排便频度积分及症状总积分低于对照组（均P<0.05）。结论：按摩疗法加健康教育结合乳果糖口服液治疗便秘效果优于单纯乳果糖口服液治疗,值得临床推广应用。     

Applying Geography Course Projects to Issues in City Resilience and Global Connectivity

Globalization would appear to be a subject that easily could be addressed in geography classrooms, yet this is not always the case. In terms of pedagogy, many geographers are concerned whether the field has been adequately engaging various components of this topic (e.g., connectivity, core-periphery), especially in terms of making the subject matter relevant to students. This article presents the results of a recent course project situated at the intersection of city-level resilience to hazards and connectivity with the global economy, utilizing SWOT analysis. The student projects demonstrated that this comparatively simple analytical tool was a useful means for exploring and integrating key topics in globalization and urban-economic geography, while also facilitating a problem-based learning environment.     

Computer Science and Programming Courses in Geography Departments in the United States

Geographic information systems (GIS) are fundamental information technologies. The capabilities and applications of GIS continue to rapidly expand, requiring practitioners to have new skills and competencies, especially in computer science. There is little research, however, about how best to prepare the next generation of GIScientists with adequate computer science skills. This article explores how U.S. geography departments are introducing and developing computer science and programming skills in their geography and GIS degree programs. We review the degree requirements in fifty-five geography departments and discover that forty-four of them offer some kind of GIS programming course. Of the 210 separate degree options identified, however, only 22 require one of these courses for a degree. There is little consistency or emphasis on computer science and programming skills in geography or GIS degrees, despite the immense importance of these components in geography and GIS careers. We propose future research along distinct investigative tracks to build a research-based understanding of the educational interactions among GIS, computer science, programming, and geography.     

Preparing Geographers for Interdisciplinary Research: Graduate Training at the Interface of the Natural and Social Sciences

Recent debates about the state of geography raise valuable questions about how the discipline can and should change in response to shifting institutional realities. Focusing on the breadth and interdisciplinarity of geography, these discussions often overlook the role of pedagogy—particularly graduate training—in adapting the discipline to new institutional landscapes. Drawing on experiences as current and recent geography doctoral students, we identify institutional seedlings of opportunity that can be cultivated toward a spectrum of alternative doctoral training models. These alternatives offer significant opportunities to better prepare early-career geographers for success and to solidify geography's position as a leader in interdisciplinary research.     

Should Geography Educators Adopt Electronic Textbooks?

Significant changes in textbook publishing are at college instructors' door. Textbook representatives are directed to mesmerize potential clients with eye-catching displays and statements about digital literacy of the next generation of college students. Based on a one-year pilot study, in 2014–2015, of an electronic textbook, this commentary shares real experiences with the digital tools, contextualizes the shift in textbook publishing and research on student outcomes, and provides insight in navigating through the Brave New World of digital texts and adaptive learning tools.