科普活動：2011年高中與國中小地理競賽

The 10th Geography Olympiad (tGeo) and the 7th Taiwan National Geographical Championship (TNGC) were completed successfully in 2011 and numbers of student candidates for both national competitions was increasing. Winners from the 2010 events attended two international events in 2011. Students won two bronze medals in the 3rd Asia-Pacific Regional Geography Olympiad and obtained the 3rd place in the 10th National Geographical World Championship, which is the best result Taiwanese team has had. These national and international geographic competitions had also drawn public attention through wide media coverage, including TV news, at least 7 major newspapers and dozens of internet news. These competitions aim not just provide a platform for students to perform their excellent in geographical knowledge or skills but to promote multiple assessment in general and more diverse test questions in specific. Despite its focus on human and environment interaction, the scientific nature of geography is usually neglected, as a school subject, by general public. From the results of both competitions, it is found the insufficient training of thematic mapping for all levels of students. Moreover, students are not used to answering the open questions and it is probably due to the little chance of practice in the school It implies the necessity of the teacher training on these skill. So, the teacher training courses or workshops will be suggested or arranged accordingly.