Geography by Rail®: a new twist on a romantic concept. Issue 4 (1st October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Allen, Casey D.; Barbour, Jon M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of geography in higher education. Volume 40:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 479
• Page End: 508
• Publication Date: 2016-10-01
• Subjects: Fieldwork -- regional geography -- study abroad -- romantic geography -- experiential education -- concept map; Geography -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Periodicals; 910.711
• DOI: 10.1080/03098265.2016.1201801
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0309-8265

Abstract

Abstract: Based on William Morris Davis' great Transcontinental Excursion of 1912, this article assesses and reviews the Geography by Rail® program (GbR) – a unique, short-term, field-based study abroad experience that takes an uncommon-in-the-US approach to international exploration and fieldwork, incorporating on-the-ground, regional geography-based learning experiences. Though it could be used as such, this is not intended as a "how-to" article, but instead, an examination of how the program's alternative approach to short-term, field-based learning increases student engagement, enlivens the discipline of geography by championing the regional geography approach, and bridges the physical-human divide in geography. Examples are given of assessment techniques, relevant skills gained by student participants, student feedback received, and potential limitations of such a program. Our main goal rests in demonstrating that by being in the landscape, practicing in it, students often gain a perspective not achievable in the traditional classroom setting. In the regional and romantic geography sense, favoring breadth of learning over depth, we further argue that GbR represents a novel way to accomplish this important-yet-not-often-fostered and, oddly and unfortunately, difficult-to-find-in-geography concept.