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Why Map Projections Matter

This is a clip from the TV show West Wing (Season 2-Episode 16) where cartography plays a key role in the plot.  In this episode the fictitious (but still on Facebook) group named “the Organization of Cartographers for Social Justice” is campaigning to have the President officially endorse the Gall-Peters Projection in schools and denounce the Mercator projection.  The argument being that children will grow up thinking some places are not as important because they are minimized by the map projection.  While a bit comical, the cartographic debate is quite informative even if it was designed to appear as though the issue was trivial.

Questions to Ponder:  Why do map projections matter?  Is one global map projection inherently better than the rest?

Tags: Mapping, geospatial, video, visualization.

See on www.youtube.com

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The global debt clock

Authoritative weekly newspaper focusing on international politics and business news and opinion.

Tags: Economic, currency, visualization.

See on www.economist.com

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Mapping Language: Limited English Proficiency in America

Although English is America’s common tongue, immigrants’ efforts to learn it present challenges to institutions and individuals alike. These graphics compare regions, schools, and communities where newcomers have settled to learn and integrate.

The interactive map feature of language and the accompanying spatial patterns reveal much about the major migrational patterns in the United States.

Tags: Migration, USA, statistics, language, immigration, unit 2 population.

See on nationaljournal.com

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The Scale of the Universe

Zoom from the edge of the universe to the quantum foam of spacetime and learn about everything in between.

Click “Start,” and then use the slider across the bottom, or the wheel on your mouse, to zoom in — and in and in and in… or out and out and out… It will take you from the very smallest features postulated by scientists (the strings in string theory) to the very largest (the observable universe). This really is a fabulous visual demonstration of scale at micro and macro levels. This is an excellent way to bring spatial thinking into the math curriculum as well.

Tags: Scale, perspective, space, spatial, Unit 1 GeoPrinciples.

See on htwins.net

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McDonald’s Goes Vegetarian — In India

McDonald’s plans to open the first in a series of all-vegetarian restaurants in India next year. But rest assured, in most locations around the world, meat will stay on the menu.

Many of the most successful global companies or brands use highly regional variations that are attuned to local cultural norms and customs.  The McAloo Tikki burger— which uses a spicy, fried potato-based patty — is the Indian McDonald’s top seller.

Tags: Globalization, food, culture, unit 3 culture and SouthAsia.

See on www.npr.org

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What is GIS?


This is a brief introduction to what geographic information systems are.  This is not a tutorial on how to use it, but a conceptual overview on the potential uses and applications for GIS.

Tags: GIS, video, Unit 1 GeoPrinciples, geospatial, mapping and location.

See on www.youtube.com

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Un-Fair Campaign

The University of Wisconsin-Superior is in one of the least ethnically diverse regions of the United States and the university is partnering with other local organizations across that region aimed at highlighting structural advantages within society for Caucasians.  This campaign to make ‘white privilege’ visible has not surprisingly generated controversy and has made race and its impact of society an issue quite visible, to the discomfort of many.   The author of the book, “Colorblind,” speaks about this issue on PBS as he argues that the United States is not in a post-racial society.

Questions to Ponder:  In what tangible ways can you see ‘white privilege’ in our society?  Is this ad campaign a good idea?  What does the term normativity mean and how does it relate to this topic?

Tags: race, racism, culture, unit 3 culture, book review and ethnicity.

See on unfaircampaign.org

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William Pattison – 4 Traditions of Geography

This article is a classic; one of the most well-cited articles from the Journal of Geography.

Tags: Geography Education, Geography, Unit 1 GeoPrinciples

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Mapping the Nation

This link is a companion site to the book, “Mapping the Nation: History & Cartography in 19th Century America” by Susan Schulten.  The author and publisher have made all of the images available digitally, and they are organized by chapter as well as chronologically.  This a great resource to find some of the important maps that shaped America and help mold the manner in which we conceptualize America.  Geography and history teachers alike will be able to draw on these materials.  The chapters include:

  1. The Graphic Foundations of American History
  2. Capturing the Past Through Maps
  3. Disease, Expansion and the Rise of Environmental Mapping
  4. Slavery and the Origin of Statistical Cartography
  5. The Cartographic Consolidating of America

See on www.mappingthenation.com

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