Table 1. An overview of the conceptual objectives of The Geographer's Craft. In this hierarchy of
interrelated goals each research topic is set within its broader intellectual context and related to appropriate
research techniques. Technical issues are introduced and resolved as they arise. Students are challenged to
develop their communicational skills through the use of oral presentations and written reports.
1. TOPIC: Objectives
- A. Select interesting issues to capture attention of students but also to broaden their intellectual
horizons
- B. Mix local, regional, national, international, and global issues
- C. Intersperse contemporary case studies with historical problems
2. GEOGRAPHICAL THEMES AND
CONCEPTS: Objectives
- A. Relate each topic to one or more fundamental research theme in geography. At the broadest
level the connection should be made to Pattison's Four Traditions or the AAG-NCGE
Fundamental Themes of Geography.
- B. Position the topic within a more specific intellectual or scientific context at the subdisciplinary or
thematic level
- C. Design materials to show the range of approaches geographers have applied to the given topic
- D. Introduce key concepts and terms
3. APPROPRIATE TECHNIQUES:
Objectives
- A. Relate each topic to one or more research techniques, beginning with cartography and
cartographic communication and continuing with those skills listed in table
3
- B. Build students' repertoire of skills through year
- C. Place students in the position of having to judge which techniques are appropriate and feasible
for a given topic
- D. Expose students to a wide range of data sources, both primary and secondary, of varying quality
4. TECHNICAL ISSUES:
Objectives
- A. Relate each topic to one or more software system that the students must master
- B. Build technical problems and errors into the exercises so thatstudents must confront these issues
directly
- C. Encourage flexibility and adaptability on the part of students by designing problems that can be
solved in several ways
5. COMMUNICATIONAL SKILLS:
Objectives
- A. Vary the ways in which students report their results
- B. Stress the effective presentation of results in both oral and written form
- C. Draw attention to the special demands of cartographic and graphical communication