What role does geography play in student learning?
Geography is a synthetic subject that draws on the skills of a number of different disciplines. As such, geography is a good tool for integrating science and cultural studies (Shearer 2004, p. 34). In the past, students were often required to memorize the names of capitals, but few students had any idea what a capital was or what happened there (Levstik and Barton 2001, p. 10). Today, we know that geographic literacy provides students with the ability to understand and celebrate cultural differences, conduct practical and exciting research projects and build up the skills needed to make tough environmental decisions based on scientific knowledge. The study of geography enables students to identify and define cultural regions and emphasizes the uniqueness of place (Stevens 2001, p. 91; Trifonoff 1998). How does the research impact Geography instruction? By integrating geography into social studies, English language arts, foreign language and science, educators can promote geographic awa
