GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION

See on Scoop.it – Geography Education

The official Web site of the High Line and Friends of the High Line…

What do you do with an outdated elevated train line running through a crowded neighborhood in New York City?  In the 1980s, residents called for the demolition of the line as the eyesore since it was blamed for economic struggles of the community and increased criminal activity.  Recently, this has been converted into an elevated green space that has economically revitalized the local real estate.  Find out more about this innovated park and project.      

See on www.thehighline.org

This interactive Google Earth file (KML download available) surveys the important places in the life and works of Shakespeare to add depth and context for an English class.  Produced by an Arizona State University ESL professor Shane Dixon (who happens to also be my awesome older brother), this learning module infuses geographic thought into the study of literature.  Many geography teachers bemoan the state of geography in education and I understand that frustration for more explicitly ‘geography’ courses; I also see this type of interdisciplinary activity as way to create a geography that is a part of all classrooms.  So talk to an English teacher about a collaborative project–it just might get you somewhere.

This evening I had the great pleasure of listening to one of my mentors from my days at Penn State, Roger Downs.  He spoke brilliantly about the importance of understanding expertise within the field of geography to the readers of the AP Human Geography test at the annual reading in Cincinnati, Ohio.  It was intellectually comforting seeing his favorite image, The Geographer by Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer, as the opening slide.

Seeing that this could be immensely helpful to other geography educators, I’m posting the full powerpoint slide of the presentation, which Roger was so gracious enough to share, as well as a PDF version of the slides.

Roger Downs AP Presentation (Powerpoint)

Roger Downs AP Presentation (PDF)

See on Scoop.it – Geography Education

Information about the endangered Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus and what you can do to save it.

So many of our student passively accept what they read on the internet as truth, especially if the website looks professional.  Since we are trying to help foster critical-thinking skills, we can present this website as though it were factual and encourage our students to analyze, critique and evaluate the ‘information’ presented.  Personally, I wish I lived in a world where the Tree Octopus was safe to freely climb in the old-growth forests.    

See on zapatopi.net

See on Scoop.it – Geography Education

Revisiting an Austrian academic’s call for smaller borders.

This New York Times article, entitled “Kohr Principles” has excellent material for students to think about the spatial organization of political interactions.  Leopold Kohr argued that size matters–and unlike most that argue for the same, he argued that political entities must not be too large.  In the map above, Kohr envisioned a Europe without countries large enough to dream of world domination.  So, how does a country’s size shape its politics?  Is there an ideal size for internal unity and external security?

See on opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com

See on Scoop.it – Geography Education

Would you be interested in a geography education wiki project?  Daniel Whalen has set up an AP Human Geography Wiki with great resources to use, but also a platform your you to collaboratively produce.  Check it out!

See on gphscrossroads.wetpaint.com

See on Scoop.it – Geography Education

On June 4, 2012 there was a series of geography education professional development workshops in Cincinnati, Ohio.  One of these workshops focused on how to use educational technologies more effectively in the classroom.  The resources at this workshop are all archived on this site managed by one of Canada’s finest, David Joiner.  

See on kilby.sac.on.ca

See on Scoop.it – Geography Education

ESRI is the world leader in GIS (geographic information system) technology. This site features free GIS software, online mapping, online training, demos, data, software and service information, user scripts, and more. 

This learning module includes activities that analyze water (oceans, rivers, watersheds, wetlands, etc.) within an explicitly spatial context.  As the author of the module, Joseph Kerski states: “Water is a spatial subject: It easily moves among its solid, liquid, or gas phases on our planet. It flows through oceans, rivers, wetlands, glaciers, and through the hydrologic cycle at different rates.  Thus, the geographic perspective and GIS are useful to understanding water from local to global scales.  These activity use ArcGIS Online, a Web-based Geographic Information System (GIS).  No previous experience with GIS is necessary.”

See on edcommunity.esri.com

See on Scoop.it – Geography Education

Mrs. Watson’s Class, online resource for Lawton Chiles High School, AP Human Geography, World History, and History Fair.

This is an excellent teacher website that systematically explains course goals and provides auxiliary resources. 

See on www.mrswatsonsclass.com