The Geographic The Geographic PerspectivePerspective

A smarter way to see the A smarter way to see the worldworld

Spatial PerspectiveSpatial Perspective

►ConnectionsConnections►ComplexityComplexity►DiversityDiversity►Change across space (vs change over Change across space (vs change over

time)time)

““The The Why Why of Where”of Where”

►Why and how do things come together Why and how do things come together in certain places to produce particular in certain places to produce particular outcomes?outcomes?

►Why are some things found in certain Why are some things found in certain places but not in others?places but not in others?

►To what extent do things in one place To what extent do things in one place influence those in other places?influence those in other places?

These and MANY other important These and MANY other important questions equals GEOGRAPHY questions equals GEOGRAPHY

Renewed interest in Renewed interest in GeographyGeography

►Geography Education National Geography Education National Implementation Project (GENIP) early ’80sImplementation Project (GENIP) early ’80s

►National Geographic Society: “Maps, the National Geographic Society: “Maps, the Landscape, and Fundamental Themes of Landscape, and Fundamental Themes of Geography” = “5 Themes” of GeographyGeography” = “5 Themes” of Geography

These organizations led the push to revive These organizations led the push to revive this very important study… one of the this very important study… one of the oldestoldest

The 5 Themes: The 5 Themes:

1. Location1. Location The actual position of a place or The actual position of a place or

thing, or point in a given space. thing, or point in a given space.

-Absolute Location: an exact point as -Absolute Location: an exact point as defined by a system of coordinates defined by a system of coordinates

-Relative Location: the position of a -Relative Location: the position of a point as it relates to another point. point as it relates to another point.

2: Human-Environment 2: Human-Environment InteractionInteraction

►How do different culture groups How do different culture groups understand, use, and transform their understand, use, and transform their environments? And how does environments? And how does environment influence human activity?environment influence human activity?

3: Region3: Region

The defining of features The defining of features concentrated in particular areas to aid concentrated in particular areas to aid human understanding of spatial human understanding of spatial distribution of things like political, distribution of things like political, economic, and social activity.economic, and social activity.

►Formal, Functional, Formal, Functional, Perceptual/VernacularPerceptual/Vernacular

►HierarchyHierarchy

Formal RegionFormal Region

Functional RegionFunctional Region

Perceptual/Vernacular RegionPerceptual/Vernacular Region

4: Place4: Place

►Have distinguishing human and Have distinguishing human and physical characteristics.physical characteristics.

►Each have a special character and Each have a special character and meaning. meaning.

►Spaces with no human awareness or Spaces with no human awareness or understanding are just that; spaces… understanding are just that; spaces… they have no “place”. they have no “place”.

5: Movement5: Movement

►Referring to the mobility of people, Referring to the mobility of people, goods, and ideas across the surface of goods, and ideas across the surface of the planet. the planet.