thinking with geotools
DESCRIPTION
Presentation to teachers in the CyberBridge program.TRANSCRIPT
Thinking with GeoTools
Bernie Dodge, PhDSan Diego State University
http://webquest.org/workshops/geo1
Summarize
Design
Decide
Create
Predict
Analyze
Summarize
Design
Decide
Create
Predict
Analyze
DesignSolving a problem or creating a
change to achieve a pre-determined end result while working within
realistic constraints
Idea #1: Small World
Choose a number of existing places to create a theme park
Decide on a scale to use and calculate the dimensions
Choose a site for your park that can accommodate it
Organize the attractions to meet specific goals
Idea #2: Walking Tour
Design a walking tour of a specific place for a specific audience with specific interests
Create the tour in Google Maps and annotate it with relevant information
Examples:
Architectural styles in our neighborhood
Nature walks with specific trees, rocks, etc.
Cultural tours introducing outsiders to the unique qualities of your hood
Bonthe, Sherbro Island
http://tinyurl.com/bonthemap
Google Lit Trips
http://www.googlelittrips.com/GoogleLit/Home.html
Idea #3: DIY Lit Trips
Identify a book or story with identifiable locations mentioned.
Find those locations on the map and explore their surroundings.
Add placemarks with information that will enhance understanding of the book.
AnalyzeTake things apart in a useful way.
Identify patterns in data.
Idea #4: Critter Count
Choose one or more living creatures to study
Provide a protocol for recording sightings
Record sightings on Google Maps
Analyze findings and look for patterns
Idea #5: Latitudology
Choose two latitudes
Gather data from a sample of places along each parallel
Analyze for what’s the same and what’s different
Identify anomalies and investigate them
Idea #6: World Cities
Choose a number of cities to study
Count and categorize what’s the same and different about them
Develop theories to account for those differences
http://www.360cities.net/image/sanaa-sunset
360 Cities
CreateOpen ended thinking with many possible end points. Encourages
surprisingness, originality while still working within the confines of a
genre.
Idea #7: X from the Air
Create a cinematic view of places you select using Google Earth
Select the places and views for some artistic effect
Capture the tour and add music and titles using iMovie, MovieMaker, etc.
Idea #8: Travel Chronicles
Write an account of a trip you haven’t actually taken.
Use Google Maps to identify things you would see and describe them colorfully
Provide an annotated map to accompany your story
Travel Bugs
http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?id=493853
JarJar Bernie’s Journey
Decide
Make an informed choice from among several alternatives while
taking competing ideas into account
Idea #9: Site Selection
Pick a site for something new while working within given criteria.
Consider location, size, surroundings, aesthetics, costs and benefits
Nine Geo WebQuests
Small World
Walking Tour
Critter Count
DIY Lit Trips
Latitudology
World Cities
X from the Air
Travel Chronicles
Site Selection
One More Thing: WonderPlot
Identify a plot of ground
Go out as a class and capture voice notes, geotagged photos
Propose interesting questions
Post them, rate them for interestingness, and then find answers
What used to be here?
What kind of tree is
that?
When were these
houses built?
What does this
sign mean?
What does that thing on the roof
do?
Motivational Elements
Points for coming up with good questions
Points for finding answers using research after the visit
Ratings voted by students
Borrows from Digg, Facebook “likes”, etc.
Encourages curiosity, looking at ordinary surroundings with a beginner’s mind.
Different classes can explore the same plot from the perspectives of math, history, English, science, etc.
WonderPlot @ SDSU
Thinking with GeoTools
Bernie Dodge, PhDSan Diego State University
http://webquest.org/workshops/geo1