May 2009 Archives

Steve McCarville teaches computer technology and junior high geography in Omaha NE--41 N, 96 W. He has led grassroots geo-advocacy efforts in Nebraska for three years as a Public Engagement Coordinator for My Wonderful World.
 
**Last month we took a field trip to the Jewish Community Center to see a production of Hana's Suitcase. The book tells the story of how a Japanese museum curator used an artifact from Auschwitz to discover the identity of a young Holocaust victim from Czechoslovakia. We used Google Earth and the Holocaust Museum Web site to look at her hometown of Nove Mesto, the camp at Terezin, and the infamous Auschwitz.

**We are finishing up Asia right now and will move on to Africa, which will be interesting as we have students and faculty from Sudan and Ghana. We will use the National Geographic lesson on God Grew Tired of Us! (for grades 6-8 and 9-12).


**Geography is always timely! In Nebraska we have five seasons: spring, summer, fall, winter, and construction. Our state tree is an orange road construction barrel and the nice thing about construction is, when it starts, you have to practice your geographic orienteering skills. You have to learn a new way to the ballpark, a new way to the grocery store or a new way to work.

Hi guys,

My name's Kirsten and I'm the new public engagement intern here at My Wonderful World for the summer!  I can't wait to experience all that the National Geographic Society has to offer. In particular, I'm ready to play my role advocating geography and its importance in education and in understanding the world around us!

Last summer I worked with the American Chemical Society's Education Program, where I promoted chemistry in both undergraduate programs and K-12 programs.  I am thrilled to yet again be involved expanding learning in another fundamental area of study--geography! I have a lot to learn and am eager for what's in store. So, I hope you are all as excited as I am and will follow me on my journey, both on the MWW blog and on Twitter!

 

 

 

This morning, the finals of the National Geographic Bee were held at NG headquarters here in Washington, D.C., as once again, the capital city became the site of a middle school brain drain. So, am I smarter than a 10-yr-old (the youngest age of the Bee finalists)? Well, let's find out. The final question was: Timiş County shares its name with a tributary of the Danube and is located in the western part of which European country? My answer: No clue! Well okay, I could make an educated guess. Hungary? The correct response: Romania. Looks like this college grad's knowledge of world geography pales in comparison to the arsenal those whiz kids are packin'!

 

The Bee was entertaining and enlightening, as any event hosted by quiz show legend Alex Trebek is destined to be. For instance, when questioned as to why he failed to qualify for the 2008 finals following a berth in 2007, Kennen Sparks of Utah matter-of-factly replied to Trebek--whose greatest accomplishment of the morning was pronouncing the contestants' names correctly, mind you--"I got nervous." Good answer!

 

You may recall our Environmental Education Week Guest Blogger series this past March/April, during which we featured three educators engaging their students in environmental field work and inquiry: Tasha Kiemel of Sammamish, WA told us about a 4th grade wetlands restoration project; Dave Wood of Washington, DC chronicled an 8th grade investigation into local water resources; and Debra Weitzel of Middleton, WI shared details of high schoolers' participation in a citizen science water testing initiative.


Do YOU have a positive story of how you and your students are bringing environmental education to students? EE Week would like to hear about it! Enter the 2009 Photo Blog Contest and upload your photos and stories on the EE Week Blog.

Kerry Jones is a homeschooling mom of two teenagers and a freelance writer who writes chiefly about educational and assistive technology--particularly for homeschoolers. You can read more of her articles and check out her blog by visiting her website.


I stink at geography.  That's not an exaggeration.  I never laugh at those derisive news stories about children (or adults) who are unable to tell you the capital of Nebraska or figure out whether Slovakia is in Europe or Asia.  For some reason, the geography I was taught in school simply never "took."  Most likely because I never took a personal interest in the subject, but also because it was always taught with so little creativity.  My geography education basically consisted of filling in blank map outlines and memorizing mnemonic devices that would help me remember that People Attack Irritating Stinging Ants (those are the five oceans, by the way: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, Arctic). 

When I began homeschooling, I was determined that my children would never come near a blank map outline or memorize a single acronym.

I'd like to highlight this comment from one of our readers,"Brian":


Hello, I'm a father of two and a high school history and geography teacher. You may be interested to know that there are a fair number of educational games out there for the iPhone that do a good job of making it fun for students and people of all ages to improve their knowledge of world geography. My kids are too young to have their own iphones but I let them play with mine. I can recommend a game called Geotap which is for the iPhone (and allegedly also works on the iPod Touch). Great fun game that teaches you where cities and famous landmarks are. It's good to know that there are some games being created nowadays that are not just about pure entertainment or blowing up things.

Best, Brian







Brian's suggestion for geographic learning is a great segue into a guest blog post from Kerry Jones, a homeschooler who answered our request for submissions. Come back tomorrow to hear about "Geography Envy" from Kerry, and send your stories of geographic learning at home, outdoors, and on-the-go to scaban@ngs.org.

Image courtesy ConcentricSky.com
 

Read the May 2009 Newsletter: "'Doing' Geography on Your Vacation This Summer."

Inside
GeoFeature: The New Geotourism Movement
Geography in the News: Demystifying the Swine Flu Pandemic
Blog: Summer Travelpalooza

Associate Director Ann Nygard learned of the geotourism concept, defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place--its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents; when working in partnership with National Geographic in her native Vermont's Northeast Kingdom on a Geotourism MapGuide. Now part of the Center for Sustainable Destinations at NG headquarters in Washington, D.C., she works with destinations to help tell the story of their place.

Northeast Kingdom, Vermont --The seasons shape how folks experience this tri-county region of Vermont.  Winding dirt roads pocked by potholes from the winter freeze were filled with spring mud when the local Geotourism Stewardship Council began community forums. Maneuvering around these craters was a welcome change from avoiding snowdrifts blown across the roads; potholes don't move.  Hopes were high that mild weather would encourage Kingdom residents to nominate sites for the Geotourism MapGuide at town hall style meetings, through emailed nomination forms, and in special kiosks set up in individual rural communities.

All winter, the Geotourism Stewardship Council workgroup got together every other Tuesday at the Hardwick Village Restaurant to plan the three-month outreach sessions. We had added incentive to brave the wintry conditions: arrive early and French toast from homemade bread was still available on the slate chalkboard menu. Maple syrup from a local sugarhouse, however, was always available. Unlike in the rest of the country, syrup goes beyond breakfast: Maple-glazed salmon, Maple cream pie, Maple smoked ham, Maple buttered baby carrots, Maple pumpkin bread. You get the idea.

Citizens around the world are concerned about the swine flu (H1N1) virus, which has been most insidious in Mexico but is also affecting travelers in the U.S., Canada, Europe, New Zealand, and a growing number of nations. As of May 11, 3 U.S. deaths and upwards of 4,700 cases had been confirmed, with hundreds more suspected; as shown on Google

and Rhiza Lab's Swine Flu incidence map.

Amid all the hype, assessing the real risks posed by the global spread of the disease can be daunting. Terms like "outbreak," "epidemic," and "pandemic" are often used liberally and interchangeably, infecting listeners with fear and confusion. Luckily, My Wonderful World is here to the rescue! The distinctions among these terms, and their implications, are--you guessed it--geographic.

Here's a quick primer: An outbreak occurs when the reported cases of a disease are greater than the levels predicted for a given area or period of time. That means that if one person is predicted to get the flu in your town, and two become ill, it's an outbreak! Outbreaks are usually, but not always, limited in geographic scale. The current swine influenza was considered to have reached outbreak status in April as a result of growing numbers of cases in Mexico.

Technically, the term epidemic can be used synonymously with outbreak, but it typically refers to a larger-scale incident affecting greater numbers of people in a more expansive geographic area. Confirmed reports of swine flu in the United States and Canada signaled an epidemic. 

A pandemic is an epidemic that has reached global proportions. The World Health Organization recognizes six stages or "phases" in the development of pandemic flu (these stages largely replace use of the terms outbreak and epidemic). The phases are categorized according to several factors including (1) virus presence in animals and/or humans, (2) rate of transmission, (3) geographic extent of the disease and (4) response recommendations.

During Earth Week, I described steps National Geographic is taking to green its facilities, corporate practices, and all-round image. It's one thing for a mammoth organization (pun on May mag cover story intended) with man and purchasing power, and the benefits of things like "strategic subcommittees" to tackle such an endeavor, but it can be downright overwhelming for an individual. At nearly every go-green event I attend, participants ask for advice on HOW to sort through the seemingly limitless abundance of information and demands on their time and attention--much of it conflicting--to identify green action steps that make sense for THEM.

Start small! Just like training for a marathon, going green is a lifestyle change that requires both physical and mental commitment, and it is most easily accomplished gradually. Once you start making minor adjustments, I bet you'll be surprised by how far you can go, and the impact you can have over a time frame as modest as a year.

Of course "small" is a relative term, so I thought I'd share five steps I've taken to green my own life by way of example:

1. Shop local. I visit my local farmer's market once weekly, where I buy the majority of my produce. When shopping at the grocery store, I try to buy local when it's offered. I also make an effort to patronize locally-owned restaurants, clothing stores, and other retail outlets. This significantly reduces my share of the fuel used to transports goods, and I value developing a rapport with people who have a vested interest in the community they serve.

2. Minimize meat consumption. I like to think of myself as not so much of a vegetarian as a "meat minimalist." I eat meat sparingly, a couple times a week, and try to get the majority of my protein from plant sources and dairy. When I do eat meat, I opt for organic, ethically produced varieties. We can all reduce our meat consumption, saving food, water, and oil resources (Did you know that it takes 2.5 - 5+ pounds of grain and 435 gallons of water to produce a pound of beef? Check out the new film Food, Inc to learn more about food choices and the food industry).

3. Travel sustainably. When traveling home from D.C. to Boston, I take the train instead of flying. It takes a bit longer, but it's a significant carbon savings and a pleasant, scenic ride through coastal New England. I walk and bike around D.C. and take Metro as a last resort.

During Earth Week, I described steps National Geographic is taking to green its facilities, corporate practices, and all-round image. It's one thing for a mammoth organization (pun on May mag cover story intended) with man and purchasing power, and the benefits of things like "strategic subcommittees" to tackle such an endeavor, but it can be downright overwhelming for an individual. At nearly every go-green event I attend, participants ask for advice on HOW to sort through the seemingly limitless abundance of information and demands on their time and attention--much of it conflicting--to identify green action steps that make sense for THEM.

Start small! Just like training for a marathon, going green is a lifestyle change that requires both physical and mental commitment, and it is most easily accomplished gradually. Once you start making minor adjustments, I bet you'll be surprised by how far you can go, and the impact you can have over a timeframe as modest as a year.

Of course "small" is a relative term, so I thought I'd share five steps I've taken to green my own life by way of example:

Shop local: I visit my local farmer's market once weekly, where I buy the majority of my produce. When shopping at the grocery store, I try to buy local when it's offered. I also make an effort to patronize locally-owned restaurants, clothing stores, and other retail outlets. This significantly reduces my share of the fuel used to transports goods, and I value developing a rapport with people who have a vested interest in the community they serve.
 
Reuse! In my opinion, most Americans focus far too much attention on the third arrow of the green triangle--recycling--and not nearly enough on the "reduce" and "reuse" portions. I try to avoid disposable products whenever possible--cups, packaging, etc. I bring my water bottle and hot beverage mug everywhere and ask food service providers to fill them for me--many times I even get a discount for doing this. When asked for a cone or a cup with my ice cream, I always choose the cone! I also reuse food packaging including plastic bags, aluminum foil, and boxes.

Seek out sustainable travel options. When traveling home from D.C. to Boston, I take the train instead of flying. It takes a bit longer, but it's a significant carbon savings and a pleasant ride. I walk and bike around Washington and take Metro as a last resort.

Minimize meat consumption: I like to think of myself as not so much of a vegetarian as a "meat minimalist." I eat meat sparingly, a couple times a week, and try to get the majority of my protein from plant sources and dairy. When I do eat meat, I opt for organic, ethically produced varieties. We can all reduce our meat consumption, saving food, water, and oil resources (Did you know that it takes 2.5 - 5+ pounds of grain and 435 gallons of water to produce a pound of beef? Check out the new film Food, Inc to learn more about food choices and the food industry).

Use all-natural beauty and cleaning products. I LOVE using all natural beauty and cleaning products. They're better for the environment and my health--no toxic chemicals to make my eyes water or skin bristle. I find them to be very effective and enjoyable to use, often with mild, yummy scents more reminiscent of a trip to the garden than a lab. I buy household items from a local store called Greater Goods, but you can find them at many grocery stores. And my favorite all-natural beauty products boutique is Lush fresh handmade cosmetics.

Of course, this is just a small sampling of choices I've made; there are limitless avenues toward greener living. Adventurous types might opt for sleek, innovative modes of transportation like the "Go-One trike" favored by National Geographic employee Fabio Amador. Activists might prefer more aggressive tactics: today, I'm writing to my local National Public Radio to ask them to forego sponsorship from agribusiness giant Monsanto, a genetic engineering specialist that has been charged with numerous abuses.

What are you doing to be cool by going green?

My Wonderful World is seeking homeschool, after school, and informal educators to share their experiences of geographic learning with kids. We're looking for stories, best practices, tips, photos, and any other relevant information to post on the blog.

Here are a couple examples of past entries from homeschoolers:
Family on Bikes
SoulTravelers3 Explore World Culture through World Travel

So tell us: How do you teach geography at home and through field trips? What makes geographic learning fun? What resources (online and otherwise) do you recommend?

If you or someone you know would like to be a guest blogger, please contact Sarah Jane Caban at scaban@ngs.org.

Thank you!

Image courtesy Richland School District, WI.

When people tell me that no one cares about geography (preposterous, I know), I show them things like this.



This short clip, which was sent to me by a former Macalester College professor and current My Wonderful World campaign member, has been "making the blogging" rounds, meaning that it has achieved some degree of viral popularity. It's a visualization of international flights in a single 24 hour period, produced by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) in Switzerland. While some initially assume that the yellow flight paths depict real GPS traces, they're actually computer-generated interpolations calculated from flight data. When overlaid on what appears to be a composite of time-elapsed satellite images (can the remote imaging geeks help me verify?), a relatively accurate picture of daily flight trends emerges.

Well, as all good things must come to an end, my internship here at National Geographic will be over in approximately 1 hour. I've had a great time here, learned a LOT about blogging and met a TON of great people. Before moving on to other adventures, I'd like to share with you the next five things I plan on doing with my life now that I won't be writing this blog.

1. Driving back to Oklahoma to eat my favorite food

Yes, I am from Oklahoma, where the wind goes sweeping down the plains. I'm heading back to the 'breadbasket' of America tomorrow morning, but since it is a 20 hour drive, I probably won't arrive until Saturday afternoon. My favorite things about Oklahoma:

    Great Mexican food
    Wide open spaces
    Dirt roads
    BBQs at the lake

I'm not going to lie; I've missed those things immensely ever since I arrived here in D.C. As always, it's great to go home every now and then.

2. Going to learn to scuba dive in Honduras

Before I learned about this internship, I enrolled in a study abroad class to Honduras. My professor required that I buy my plane ticket to Honduras when I signed up for the class. But, as things happen, I was offered this amazing opportunity here at National Geographic and I had to respectfully withdraw from the trip. Luckily, I was able to reschedule my tickets, and now I am taking a personal vacation to learn how to scuba dive in the world-class reefs off the coast of Honduras. I'm hoping I get to see some whale sharks; wish me luck!


3. Ride my bicycle from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine

Yep, that's right. Two of my pals and I are going to be riding our bikes from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. The name of our trip: BroQuest. On June 1st, we will arrive in Portland, OR, assemble our bicycles, sleep a little bit, and then set off on the journey of a lifetime. I encourage you to follow the progress of our "gigantic traveling dork circus."