GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION

Just a reminder that the Earth beneath our feet (and roads and buildings) are a part of a dynamic system that changes. 

In so many countries this would be one of the worst rated TV shows of all time, and yet in Norway, where a rustic, outdoorsman connection to the forest is ingrained in the culture, it’s a hit and one that sparks debates and discussion.  Isn’t it good, Norwegian Wood?  

Some food for thought about changing educational paradigms and technology.  As one commentator stated seeing this article, “MOOC coverage swings back and forth.”   

Make your own conclusions…

Many of the geopolitical conflicts in the East Pacific have their roots in the territorial disputes over islands that at first glance seem as if they wouldn’t be worth the trouble.  However, since the the UNCLOS agreement gives countries 200 nautical miles off their coasts to be an Exclusive Economic Zone, that greatly enhanced the strategic value of controlling these islands. 

So many articles about organic or genetically engineered foods are written with someone with a very defined position on the subject (abortion, gun control or other controversial topics).  This article is an attempt to separate out the good the bad and the ugly regarding genetically engineered foods.   

Our thoughts shape the words we speak, but the language we speak (and ways we communicate) help shape the way we think.  In this TED talk, an economist looks at how the grammatical structure that languages use to speak about the future impacts how the speakers of the language are able to save money for future events.  For 5 other examples of how language can impact how we think and perceive the world, see this attached article.

This comic strip would be funnier if it weren’t so true.  Studies have shown that children who are driven everywhere do not have as fully developed mental maps as children who walk through their neighborhoods or ride their bikes.  For some lesson plans on mental maps, click here.