Geography Education
Geography Education
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Global news with a spatial perspective: Interesting, current supplemental materials for geography students and teachers. http://geographyeducation.org
Curated by Seth Dixon
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Old-School Library

Old-School Library | Geography Education | Scoop.it

This would be the perfect place to study.  Next time I'm at L'Istituto delle Scienze, Palazzo Poggi, Bologna, I will definitely find this spot.  

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Smartphones as geospatial tools

The disastrous earthquake in Haiti taught humanitarian groups an unexpected lesson: the power of mobile devices to coordinate, inform, and guide relief efforts.


Tags: technology, disasters, Haiti, TED.

Seth Dixon's insight:

We are only beginning to see the applications of smart phones to improve peoples lives.  In this TED talk, Paul Conneally explores some of the possibilities (citizen mapping, crowd-sourced disaster recovery, etc.) that is just sitting in the palm of our collective hands. 

Tony Hall's curator insight, February 18, 6:43 AM

This is why ICT is important. No. Vital! Our students need to see things like this so that they understand the positive aspects of technology. They need to see that SMS, Facebook & Twitter are so much more than just a way sharing silly photos of themselves. This technology has the power to affect real, positive change. 

techsavvygirl's curator insight, February 18, 8:21 AM

Augmenting human potential with smartphones

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Haitian 'invasion' in rural America

Haitian 'invasion' in rural America | Geography Education | Scoop.it
Over the past 18 months thousands of Haitians have flocked to a small town in rural North Carolina.

 

This video is filled with geographic content.  How does immigration change the cultural and economic profile?  While large cities are typically the destinations for migrants why are these Haitians coming to this small town? 

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Haiti: After the Quake

Haiti: After the Quake | Geography Education | Scoop.it
Al Jazeera's Sebastian Walker asks why a system that was designed to help Haitians ended up exacerbating their misery.

 

Why isn't more money the answer to the 'poverty problem?' What geographic factors make Haitian development such a difficult issue? 

sspivey's comment, January 30, 2012 2:14 PM
During our spring break this March, I will be in Haiti on a week long medical mission trip.
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Protest over Haiti slum eviction

Protest over Haiti slum eviction | Geography Education | Scoop.it
Residents of hillside shanties above the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince protest against plans to clear their homes for a flood-protection project.

 

Even before the earthquake, Port-au-Prince was a city filled with slums.  The earthquake exacerbated so many of the urban, economic and environmental issues.  This eviction of the flood plains has class implications as the poor feel that they are being unfairly targeted in plans to improve the city. 

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Haiti: Legacy of Disaster

Haiti: Legacy of Disaster | Geography Education | Scoop.it

"Even before the earthquake Haiti's environment teetered on the brink of disaster. Brent and Craig Renaud report on the country's deforestation problems."

 

What about a disaster is 'natural' and what about the disaster is attributable to how people live on the land?  This video highlights the poverty, architectural and environmental factors that exacerbated the problems in the Haitian Earthquake of 2010.  This is a merging of both the physical geography and human geography.  

Matt Mallinson's comment, September 19, 2012 3:38 PM
Haiti was never in good shape as it was, the last thing they needed was an earthquake to make things worse. Because their homes aren't built as stable as the homes are in the U.S., the earthquake did much more damage to their lands than it would our own lands. Some nations just can't catch a break.
Sean Rooney's comment, September 20, 2012 5:43 PM
This is a perfect example portraying the crucial role of natural disasters. Here in New England, we are not subject to earthquakes. It is crazy to think that an earthquake can destroy a community. The climate and environment make earthquakes "natural" while people control where they build homes.
Derek Ethier's comment, September 20, 2012 10:28 PM
As we discussed in class, natural disasters cannot be completely attributed to the act of nature. In this case, the earthquake was not terribly severe, but Haiti's conditions allowed it to be. The poor structures of the shanties that many people lived in crumbled under the power of the quake. The lack of trees due to deforestation allows for mud slides to do serious damage in the island nation as well. Haiti is in serious danger and needs some serious help, soon.
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Why reconstructing Haiti has been so slow

Why reconstructing Haiti has been so slow | Geography Education | Scoop.it
Experts and aid officials discuss ongoing challenges and lessons learnt on the ground in Haiti...

 

Development and humanitarian aid projects must always take local geographic factors into consideration when devising any plan for the future.  Political uncertainty, poor transportation infrastructure, disease and not enough locally based programs are but a few of the issues that continue to plague the communities in Haiti. 

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