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Volume 15, Number 1

Opinion

Geographic Challenges in the 21st Century
Doug MacLeod
Volume 15 (2013), Number 1, Pages 5-9


A Critique of the Standardization of Geography Education in Germany
Mirka Dickel

Volume 15 (2013), Number 1, Pages 10-27

The preparation and adoption of national standards among many countries has been a common practice the past three decades. This paper presents a critical analysis of the Standards for German Geography Education published in 2006 as well as a broader critique of standardization in education. The discussion is set within the context of the educational reform movement in Germany over the past decade. The analysis presents critiques from both philosophical as well as practical perspectives, and cites instances where standardization and its effects on education fail to address meaningful content in geography for students, teachers, and society. The article delves into the important questions that address the meaning of education. While attention is devoted to Germany education, the articles raises thoughtful questions and discussion that can be asked about the process of educational standardization in other countries.  (Abstract prepared by the editor.)


Locating Tile Drains Using Historic Air Photos
Jerry Green, Jeff Pierce & Jana Farrell Sanders
Volume 15 (2013), Number 1, Pages 28-42

Land is one of the most important natural resources. Water, minerals, and biological elements are often taught explicitly as resources, with little reference to the land itself.  Land use and modifying the land for greater advantages for human use has been underway for millenniums.  Changing the hydrology and water content of soil has been an important part of land resource modification and land use since the early 1800s in the U.S.  During subsequent times land owners, land managers and land developers have used drainage systems to change land surface moisture conditions in order to alter land use practices. Poor documentation on drain location and development activities on such drained lands often lead to disrupted subsurface drainage systems and consequent surface land use problems. Land use planners and land developers need to know alternatives to identifying where these subsurface drains are located to avoid such problems. This research presents a method of locating subsurface drain tile using historical air photos. Using this approach, problem areas can be identified and potential land use issues averted.

Keywords: Historic air photos, drain tile, land-use, tile patterns


The Status of Geographic Education in U.S. Institutions of Higher Education: A Comparative Analysis of Programmatic Data from 2004-05 and 2009-10
Zachary A. Moore
Volume 15 (2013), Number 1, Pages 43-60

This research presents an assessment of the status of geography education in U.S. institutions of higher education over a five-year academic period. To accomplish this goal, a comparative analysis of the status of geography education in geography programs throughout academic institutions in the United States was conducted for 2004-05 and 2009-10 and to note changes.  The research also identified which geography programs offered bachelor and/or graduate degrees/concentrations and instruction in geography education, and determined if these degrees/concentrations and/or courses are teacher-centered or research-based. The trends discussed in this research indicate that geography education experienced positive growth in relation to course offerings and in the number of institutions offering degrees or program concentrations. This baseline study provides geography educators and the professional organizations (i.e., Association of American Geographers; National Council for Geographic Education; and, the National Geographic Society) with data that highlight the overall health and generally positive growth that geography education experienced during the period under review.   

Keywords: geography education, geography degrees


Book Review

Lambert, D., & Jones, M.  (Eds.). (2013). Debates in geography education. Abington, Oxon: Routledge. ISBN-13: 9780415687782. 336 pages.

  • Margaret Roberts
  • Volume 15 (2013), Number 1, Pages 61-63