Session 1B: Geography

[Anonymous]

I found the map showing the nights lights and the difference in North and South Korean extremely interesting. I had no idea North Korea was so poor. I am excited about getting the CD to share with my students.

[Anonymous]

I went to this Web page, but I didn't see how to get to more pictures. Help please!

[Anonymous]

We have several Asians in our family and respect for elders seems to be alive and well today even with Amer-Asians. I really like the fact that teachers are so highly respected in China. After all teachers educate everyone else, without us there wouldn't be Dr.s and Lawyers.

[Anonymous]

I think dumbing down of American students has to do with testing as well. Who has time to teach geography anymore when all we do is test or test prep? I find 6th graders don't even know the continents, or the difference in cities, states, and counties. It makes my job more difficult, but I can understand the pressures on elementary teachers to focus on langage arts and math.

[Anonymous]

Instant communication. Is it, really? If so, it is now possible that we may be creating a Global Brain in which, eventually, all thoughts, everywhere will be accessible to everyone. Taiwan used images of the U.S.'s Lady Liberty to get the attention of the U.S. Pictures are more effective than slogans, but slogans in English and pictures that convey, "All we want is the freedom that you enjoy" may be deceptive. Nothing new in deception in politics. However, we all need to be aware that images and slogans may actually hide the true intentions and the truth itself. It's not good perhaps to allow images to result in instant beliefs and opinions, but that's the nature of this optical dominance over the thought porcesses. To find the truth takes time, effort and a lot of understanding of multiple perspectives. Maybe we need to slow down.

[Anonymous]

I really liked the handout we got on the "Shares of world manufacturing output, 1750-1900." It is an awesome chart to show in class. It will be helpful in a discussion about the impact of the Industrial Revolution, Colonialism and as well as in a discussion about the current economic growth of of India and China. I will try to work on a lesson that incorporates this.

[Anonymous]

When I was a university student, my human geography professor told a story about how he had once polled a class on the location of Japan on a world map. The majority of the class actually labeled Taiwan as Japan. These students were some of the "brightest" in the country. Ever since hearing that story, I've sworn to make geography- physical and human- a major focus of my language class.
A PoliSci professor once challenged my opinion, arguing that the reason geography was not often taught in school was that it was a "dead" field of study.
Could a statement be further from the truth? As illustrated by yesterday's lecture, an understanding of geography is crucial as a foundation for the study of history, literature, political science, and world language.

[Anonymous]

Go to Google Images and type: Big German Bunnies

You should see three or four different pictures pop up... It is amazing how huge these bunnies became through diet and breeding! Other articles I have read talked about how China has worked with this man to begin raising them for food as well. In regards to North Korea, I appreciate his honesty in stating why he is willing to help out North Korea; he was raised during Nazi Germany and he too experienced the effects of a dictatorship. He is not endorsing Pyongyang but instead wants to help the people. However, the last I read was that aerial views of the farm where the bunnies are supposed to be raised show no bunnies. It is rumored that kim Jong-il ate them all at his last birthday celebration...

[Anonymous]

I agree with the fact that students need to be instructed on what's beyond California. Many of the students that I taught this year thought that California was a country in itself. I had to go over the basics of what is a city, state, country, and continent to make sure that they got a gist of geography.

Don't Know Much About Geography.
Check this website out: http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news_events/ed/2007/winter/features/geography.html

[Anonymous]

I read a couple months ago that the effect of the 1 child per family limit has been that there are several men coming of marriageable age, and not enough women. They are not sure what they are going to do about this. It was an article in the LA Times, and at the time, I didn't bother to validate the source, but I had read earlier than that of concerns among government officials in France, because they seem to be missing a whole generation of people. Again, not validated. Interestingly, they weren't able to point to any definitive reason for this, other than people deciding not to have children, however, the main concern was there would be insufficient taxes coming in during those years to support government officials. (Maybe they're on to something....)

[Anonymous]

I agree, the similarities between Chinese progress and American progress are striking. We would do well to follow the savings thing, though.
I just wonder, in the rush to become more modernized, buildings, roads, etc. What attention is given to conservation. There is such a strong representation for that among Americans, but I wonder who's minding that for the Chinese. Who is their John Muir? That might be an interesting computer research project for my 10th graders. Compare efforts at conservation between the two countries.
I admit, on the one hand, seeing the satellite pix of no/so Korea were interesting, albeit a little chilling. I want to research the dam item more also. I remember reading about that in the paper too. Manifest destiny is a big issue in Sacramento right now, so I think that would be a good read, reflect and write subject as well.

[Anonymous]

If AARP (Amer. Assn. of Retired Persons) is to be believed, they just printed an article in their newsletter that even though the culture is still very much intact, that many parents in urban areas of China do not expect their children to care for them. They indicated that many of the parents reaching retirement age are looking to the government to take care of the medical, etc. If I can find the article, I'll bring it in Monday.

[Anonymous]

I have definitely noticed a 'dumbing down' with regard to Geography. It seems to me the emphasis is placed so much on reading and writing and remedial reading programs, that things like Geography seemed to be going the way of the dinosaur. I ordered a globe for my classroom, and I teach English, but it is too difficult to try and frontload info for a story or a novel, and get the blank looks when I start talking about locations.

A student asked where New York was (9th grade) last year and I asked the class, where IS New York? Someone said, Northern California? I am looking forward to raising their awareness of the globe around us.

[Anonymous]

That night shot of N Korea was baffling to me. So many people in the dark literally and metaphorically! Considering how multimedia the rest of the world is, it seems nearly impossible that anywhere on Earth could be so disconnected.
I have several S. Korean students who may or may not have seen that satellite picture of East Asia before. It'll be interesting to see what kind of discussion we can get going after viewing it. Does anybody know where I can locate satellite night shots of other countries in the world? I would like to do a comparison with my students about our similarities based on how many lights are on. I feel that images like that will give students a concrete perspective of what is going on in the world.

[Anonymous]

One of the warm-up activity we do in my Chinese class is asking students (in Chinese) to "Walk to the map, and point out where is 'Si Chuan'." "请你走到地图那里，指一指四川在哪里。“ Students will be able to be trained in their listening comprehension, as well as being able to point to a particular location in China. I switch the location only once a week. So for five days, we will point to the same location, but I will call on different students to point to the same location for a whole week.

Some teachers like to do calendar at the beginning of the class. I do the calendar, and the map. It only take about one to two minutes out of the class time, and yet the map-pointing can be built as one of the daily routine.

[Author]

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