Current Trends in Geography Eductaion

Geography Institute for High School Teachers

Fall 2010

Maggie Legates, Delaware Geographic Alliance

Emerging Brain Research informs new curricula and teaching materials

Spatial thinking is key to success in science, technology, enginnering and mathematics (STEM)

What common teaching tools enhance or reinforce content learning with spatial tools?

Spatial learning Content learning

is enhanced when linked with verbal descriptions and terminology for patterns, relationships, etc.

(especially historical, temporal learning) is enhanced with models, diagrams, and graphics.

Symbolic Representation of concepts, patterns, and relationships

Use timelines and diagrams

Use graphic organizers that match the concept

Teach photo interpretation

Teach mapping and map analysis

Use of gesture is more important than we thought!

Service-Learning Projects andCommunity-Based Learning

Students make a difference

Geography skill-related

Topical or service

Gathering, organizing, publishing data

Teaching geography to others

Advocating for others

Social justice

Increased connection, awareness

UD geographer April Veness

At UD, students gathered and organized photos and artifacts, interviewed residents of Newark. Results were published on the web as a clickable map.

UD undergrads worked with Engineers Without Borders and Rotarians to construct a water project in Guatemala.

Other examples of service learning projects

In Minnesota students helped reduce fire danger in rural areas◦Screened rural neighborhoods with aerial photos◦Conducted follow-up walking surveys◦Public information distributed

In Felton, DE students identified a hazardous intersection, devised a solution, contacted policymakers

In Pennsylvania, students helped homeless people advocate for change in food stamp regulations.

Interactive, Collaborative, Web-Based Learning

Problem-Based Learning

Teachers identify a real world problem with multiple perspectives.

Teachers provide starter information, guidelines for work plan and products.

Students play roles, conduct research, share information with others.

Students collaborate to solve problems.

Projects and Progress in Geographic Learning Research