GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION

Where is Coca Cola produced?  Some products are bulk losing some are bulk gaining in the manufacturing process.  Coca Cola and their containers represent bulk gaining products.  Although not the focus of this video, what is the geography behind where these factories are located?  How would this geographic pattern change if this were are bulk losing industry?  What are examples of bulk gaining and bulk losing industries?  Why are glass bottles not manufactured in the United States?

Tags: urban, economic, industry, location.

Industrial farming, human-introduced species, GMOs, outsourcing and environmental impacts are but some of the relevant themes from this video.  How are global taste buds reshaping the geographic landscape?

Tags: GMOs, industry, food, agriculture, agribusiness,

The same area can be mapped in so many ways to tell such distinct stories.  This article is a great example of mapping being used to tell your own story.

This is my favorite place-based guessing game since GeoGuessr (displays 5 locations in GoogleMaps “StreetView” and you have to guess where the images are located).  This isn’t about knowing Starbucks locations, but urban economic patterns and real estate analysis (just as this article showing the locational logic where McDonald’s and Burger King will place stores also relies of understanding urban economic patterns).  In this Starbucks game you have to recognized the shape of the city, major street patterns and the economic patterns just to name a few.  This is one way to make the urban model more relevant.       

Tags: urban, models, economic, trivia.

Written by Phil Gersmehl, the author of Teaching Geography, this article shows how teachers can read maps to gather contextual information about places in a way that fosters deeper learning.  The Common Core ELA standards emphasize a “close reading,” but the examples of reading of maps and charts are often rather superficial.  The National Geographic has recently produced Interconnections to be a guide for teachers of both geography and English to see how the two are interrelated and to promote geo-literacy for a more profound appreciation for spatial analysis and place-based knowledge.    

Tags: English, National Geographic, geography education, spatial, teacher training, mapping.

Just today I mentioned in class that South Sudan had some serious issues in establishing effective governance over their territory and building a legitimate government…then I read this.  Starting a new country is difficult, especially with the hand South Sudan has been dealt–stay tuned. 

Tags: South Sudan, political, Africa, states.

Questions to Ponder: Why does place matter for creating opportunities for social mobility?  What geographic obstacles to  economic improvement do you see for the poorest America

Tags: class, poverty, place,  USA.

Earlier this week when Detoit filed for bankruptcy I posted that Detroit has failed as a major U.S. city.  While Detroit’s days of being the 4th largest city in the U.S. and a prominent industrial center are over, that doesn’t equate with the total economic ruin of the region.  Some are seeing this as an opportunity for for their businesses build a new Detroit out of Motown’s ashes, foster regional collaboration and restructure the economic base of the city.  The region is still rich with resources.  

Tags: urban, economic, industry, Detroit.