What is geography?What is geography?

1. Definitions

2. Parts of geography

3. Parts of geography in 5 themes and 6 essential elements

4. Jobs of geographers

5. Do you think like a geographer?

6. Misconceptions of geography

1. Definition1. Definition

Patricia Gober, Past-President of Association of American Geographers: Geography is more than a repository of place facts. It encompasses the dynamic interactions that give character to places, the spatial organization of human activity and natural processes on the surface of the Earth, and the influence that places have on a wide range of natural and human events.

Royal Geographical SocietyRoyal Geographical Society

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/freethinking2006/pip/hcb0rhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/freethinking2006/pip/hcb0r -- 1 hour lecture why geography is essential in the future -- 1 hour lecture why geography is essential in the future of our worldof our world

2. Parts of geography2. Parts of geographyCommon organization: Jeff Lee, Texas Tech

University

2. Parts of geography (cont’d)2. Parts of geography (cont’d)

Many geography

departments have this

organization

2. Parts of geography (cont’d)2. Parts of geography (cont’d)

2. Parts of geography (cont’d)2. Parts of geography (cont’d)

2. Parts of geography (cont’d)2. Parts of geography (cont’d)

3. Parts of geography in the K-12 3. Parts of geography in the K-12 World: 5 themesWorld: 5 themes

Five Themes of Geography (thinking like a geographer)

Location: Where is it located? Absolute and Relative

Place: What is it like there? Human Environment Interaction: How do

people relate to their environment? Movement: How are people, goods, and

ideas moved? Regions: How are areas linked together?

Relative LocationRelative Location

Absolute LocationAbsolute LocationClear Placement on Geographic Grid

Five Themes of Geography: This will be covered in detail in several lessons for your students that help them learn to think geographically.

Location: Where is it located? Absolute and Relative

Place: What is it like there? Human Environment Interaction: How do

people relate to their environment? Movement: How are people, goods, and

ideas moved? Regions: How are areas linked together?

3. Parts of geography in the K-12 3. Parts of geography in the K-12 World: content of geographyWorld: content of geography

Six Essential Elements (16 national standards of geography) http://www.ncge.org/publications/tutorial/standards/

THE WORLD IN SPATIAL TERMS

PLACES AND REGIONS

PHYSICAL SYSTEMS

HUMAN SYSTEMS

ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY

THE USES OF GEOGRAPHY

STANDARD 1: How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information.STANDARD 2: How to use mental maps to organize information about people, places, and environments.STANDARD 3: How to analyze the spatial organization of people, places, and environments on Earth's surface.

In Arizona, this is

Concept 1

STANDARD 4: The physical and human characteristics of places.STANDARD 5: That people create regions to interpret Earth's complexity.STANDARD 6: How culture and experience influence people's perception of places and regions.

In Arizona, this

Is concept 2

STANDARD 7: The physical processes that shape the patterns of Earth's surface.STANDARD 8: The characteristics and spatial distribution of ecosystems on Earth's surface.

In Arizona, thisis concept 3 andis linked to science

STANDARD 9: The characteristics, distribution, and migration of human populations on Earth's surface.STANDARD 10: The characteristics, distributions, and complexity of Earth's cultural mosaics.STANDARD 11: The patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth's surface.STANDARD 12: The process, patterns, and functions of human settlement.STANDARD 13: How forces of cooperation and conflict among people influence the division and control of Earth's surface.

In Arizona, this is concept 4

STANDARD 14: How human actions modify the physical environment.STANDARD 15: How physical systems affect human systems.STANDARD 16: The changes that occur in the meaning, use, distribution, and importance of resources.

in Arizona, this is concept 5

STANDARD 17: How to apply geography to interpret the past.STANDARD 18: To apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future.

in Arizona

this is

concept 6

Great Review Online (free with Great Review Online (free with registration)registration)

What is geography?What is geography?

1. Definitions

2. Parts of geography

3. Parts of geography in 5 themes and 6 elements

Now: real examples …4. Jobs of geographers

5. Do you think like a geographer?

6. Misconceptions of geography

4. Jobs of Geographers4. Jobs of Geographers The U.S. Bureau of Labor latest

report:

http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/2005/ spring/art01.pdf

One of the hottest job opportunities rest in geography, and this website is a great portal:

http://www.geospatialcareers.net/

The concept of GIS is very old – The concept of GIS is very old – Snow’s Study of LondonSnow’s Study of London

Importance to CitiesImportance to Cities

From the BLM to the NIHFrom the BLM to the NIH

Hundreds of Hundreds of Job Titles Job Titles

Involve Involve GeographyGeography

4. Jobs of Geographers – 1/104. Jobs of Geographers – 1/10thth of the list of job titlesof the list of job titles

Aerial Photo Interpreter Air Pollution Specialist for a regional air quality district Airline Cargo Marketing Executive Appraiser for a real estate corporation Avalanche Specialist in a U.S. National Forest Business Analyst in a corporation Cartographer Climatologist Colonel in the U.S. Army Community Development Analyst Computer Mapping Specialist Demographer Demographic Analyst for a county Director of Planning and Zoning for a township Economic Development Analyst

More ExamplesMore Examples Environment Planner for a state department of transportation Environmental Scientist Geographer at the Smithsonian Institution Geographer at the U.S. Bureau of the Census Geographer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Geographer for the U.S. Forest Service Geographer, Consulting Geographer in a corporation Geographic Specialist at the U.S. Department of State GIS Analyst in a corporation GIS Program Manager for a county dept of information and

administrative services Land Use Planner for a city

Yet More ExamplesYet More Examples Map Librarian Meteorologist at the U.S. National Weather Service or on

Television Meteorologist, Television Planner, County – City – Urban – Transportation - Region Planning Information Director for a county Ranger in a U.S. National Park Real Estate Research Analyst for a corporation Resources Planner for as state Teacher Transportation Planner for City – County - State Transportation Planner for a county transit district Water Resource Specialist for a state environment department Zoning Administrator

5. Do you think like a geographer?5. Do you think like a geographer?

Yes, if you want your students to be aware of a growing field that is founded on a basic need: to understand Earth and its changes.

5. Do you think like a geographer?5. Do you think like a geographer?

Yes, if you enjoy being outside and thinking about how nature and people connect.

Mt. Everest region: avoiding building homes where landslides occur

Coastal California: building homes where landslides occur and re-occur

Yes, if you are interested in solving real problems, that move from place to place.

5. Do you think like a geographer?5. Do you think like a geographer?

School in

Sudan

Macedonia: Woman’s March

5. Do you think like a geographer?5. Do you think like a geographer?Yes, if you are interested in solving real

problems, that spread across Earth.

Cyber Café, Benin

5. Do you think like a geographer?5. Do you think like a geographer?Yes, if you are interested in solving real

problems, that connect people and environment.

Preserves, Phoenix Understand changes in attitudes

You are interested in "big" questions about Earth: Why is this city here and why does it grow, fail, decay the way it does?

5. Do you think like a geographer?5. Do you think like a geographer?

5. Do you think like a geographer?5. Do you think like a geographer?You are interested in "big" questions:

Why does it landslide here and why do Californians ignore these risks. Laguna Beach 1978 and again in 2005

5. Do you think like a geographer?5. Do you think like a geographer?You are interested in "big" questions about

Earth: Worries over global warming, and yet people keep coming to Phoenix?

Yes, if you share the view that knowledge should connect together, rather than be isolated pieces.

5. Do you think like a geographer?5. Do you think like a geographer?

Geography is to place like history is to time. Geography focuses on connections of topics that make places special.

5. Do you think 5. Do you think like a like a geographer?geographer?

5. Do you think like a geographer?5. Do you think like a geographer?

Number 1 misconception. That geography focuses on country names and capitals... and that the geography bee will follow you through life....  Place names are to geography like...- memorizing birthdays are to historians,

- the alphabet is to interpreting Shakespeare,

- a phoneme is to reading comprehension

- picking the right color is to art

6. Misconceptions about 6. Misconceptions about GeographyGeography

go to go to www.youtube.comwww.youtube.com& search for these titles& search for these titles

Knowing states, countries, capitals are important:•but geography is more than memorizing facts

•Not many geographers can name all the countries or capitals off the top of their head…

•Maps: A common tool used by geographers to organize, display, and analyze their findings or other data

•Where things are is an important question in geography, but leads to deeper questions of “why” and “so what?”

Geography combats notions like this!Geography combats notions like this!

2. That geography has nothing to do with key life choices such as:

long commutes

urban trends

Misconceptions about GeographyMisconceptions about Geography

Misconceptions about GeographyMisconceptions about Geography2. That geography has nothing to do with

key life choices such as buying condos houses in places known to flood and crack

3. That geography has nothing to do with enriching the vacations you take…

Misconceptions about GeographyMisconceptions about Geography

Hawaii Trip: Do you stay at the cheap hotel facing the trade winds or the more expensive condo on the rainshadow side?

Does global politics affect where you feel safe when you save up to travel internationally?

4. That other academic standards focus on environmental issues...

No! Geography is the central subject that explores and connects on how people affect the environment and how the environment affects people.

Misconceptions about GeographyMisconceptions about Geography

5. Geographers only make maps... Yes we do. Computers can make mistakes!

Misconceptions about GeographyMisconceptions about Geography

5. Geographers only make maps... yes... We do, but... not only. The ways we portray spatial data can get exciting

Misconceptions about GeographyMisconceptions about Geography

http://www.geography.wisc.edu/~harrower/history_animation.html

Example of new cartographer: Rob Edsall at ASU and Mark Example of new cartographer: Rob Edsall at ASU and Mark Harrower at Univ of WisconsinHarrower at Univ of Wisconsin

Internet is idealInternet is ideal

6. Some well intentioned folks think that geography can be taught within history by just showing maps...

[can a geography

class teach

History just by

showing a

timeline?]

Misconceptions about GeographyMisconceptions about Geography

7. Geography only teaches boring stuff and not why the great masses in America (and those avoiding geography) maintain silly notions about our world...

for evidence…

Google video

‘American

Geography’

Misconceptions about GeographyMisconceptions about Geography

8. Learning about cool places in cool movies, about the places you drive on near to home, and far away, how our land changes, has nothing to do NCLB and annual yearly progress.

Misconceptions about GeographyMisconceptions about Geography

Geography focuses on the themes of space and place, of how to think spatially

College geography is exploding with student opportunities in employment

Geographers think in terms of the core classes you will take (physical, human, techniques), but still with a focus on regions (world, North America)

ConclusionsConclusions