GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION

Field Trips in a National Park can be an incredible experience in a outstanding learning environment.  The National Park Service has produced many lesson plans, videos, distant learning programs, and resources for teachers to give them opportunities to experience the National Parks online.  These resources are available for a wide range of subjects and grade levels.  Where is the nearest U.S. National Park to your community?     

California has had three consecutive years of below average rainfall and most reservoirs are far below their designed capacity; amid a drought this severe and wildfires, it is startling to hear of a project to restore some of the Colorado River Basin’s natural patterns and ecology.  

Tags: physical, remote sensing, California, water, environment, urban ecology.

This is an excellent podcast with many geographic strands running through it. 

This TED-ED lesson is a quick primer into the geographic context of linguistic change and variability that we find all around the world. 

Tags: language, TED, regions, folk cultures, toponyms, historical, culture, diffusion.

As announced earlier this week, ESRI will be donating ArcGIS organizational accounts to all K-12 schools in the United States, and here is a video of ESRI’s CEO Jack Dangermond explaining the importance of spatial thinking in STEM education.  President Obama referenced this donation during his speech at the White House’s Science Fair.  Currently many geography educators are planning new ways to use this to their advantage.  Explore what ArcGIS can do,  and consider how this might be a part of what you can do with your students (this article is a primer if you don’t know what ArcGIS is yet).  Click here to request an organizational account for your school.

Tags: mapping, GIS,  K12, ESRI, geospatial, edtech.

I normally don’t share items that are for sale, since I don’t endorse products.  However, even if no one buys this t-shirt, I think this audience would be able to appreciate the message. 

International trade agreements are usually discussed at the national level.  “NAFTA benefits Mexico” is a commonly heard saying because trade with the United States and Canada strengthens the manufacturing sector in Mexico.  Even if there is an overall benefit to a country, there are always winners and losers for different regions, economic sectors and many other demographic groups.   Farmers in southern Mexico were certainly a sector that struggled mightily under NAFTA.

Tags: Mexico, supranationalism, industry, place, agriculture, food production,

This is a big announcement from ESRI, home of ArcGIS online and other geospatial tools.  They are making ArcGIS online organizational accounts free for all K-12 schools in the United States.  As ESRI spokespeople have said, “this will open up ArcGIS Online far beyond just a public account, by permitting more control of sharing, access to more data, engaging much more powerful analyses, supporting apps like Collector or Explorer, integrating with ArcMap and Microsoft Office, enabling login to Community Analyst, and lots more, with still more on the way.”  Click here to request an organizational account for your school. 

Tags: mapping, GIS,  K12, ESRI, geospatial, edtech.