Title: Valedictory GEOG101 Lectures, Evaluation, Essays, Examinations and Futures
1Valedictory GEOG101Lectures, Evaluation,
Essays, Examinationsand Futures
2What are we doing today?
- We review the delivery of the course philosophy
and design - We carry out an assessment of the effectiveness
of the course - We provide feedback on the essays
- We look towards the chance you get to show what
you have learned - We suggest what might happen in 2005
31. Remember these slides ... ?
- This introductory lecture is about the major
disciplinary patterns of geography as they exist
and as they have changed in recent times. - We will look primarily at Geography in
Aotearoa/New Zealand, exploring the patterns of
secondary and tertiary work in the subject. - The purpose is to establish a platform on which
the rest of the course can build. You do not
need to take notes, but the Powerpoint is on the
server for reference.
4Prior knowledge in course GEOG101
- We assume a fair number of you will have done
GEOG103-03A, and that you will have seen the mix
of theory/concept and the case materials we
present in Geography in this Department. - The Resources and Environment paper replicates
many taught in other departments, and covers
familiar ground, while opening up some new lines
of thought.
5The first lecture made points like
- We assume that most people will have had some
contact with Geography as taught in secondary
geography. The secondary syllabus is more formal
than a university programme, but the links to
what we do in a course like GEOG101 are
significant. - In the modern era (1945 -) Geography is
significantly positivist, and geographic models
(such as central place theory) are widely used.
The critics of positivism advocated other ways of
looking at the world (perspectives), and now
Geography is much more pluralistic.
6Robyns lectures made some important points about
perspectives
- Geography is a created body of knowledge.
- It is not neutral it is not objective it is
constantly changing. It is a CONSTRUCT. - It is being created and recreated by geographers
who are individuals who occupy particular class,
ethnic, gender and institutional positions. - What was orthodoxy in geography one hundred years
ago, is no longer orthodox now. What is orthodox
now will also date and be replaced.
7Examples of perspectives
- Robyn nominated at least five perspectives
feminist, postmodern, post-structural,
postcolonial and Maori, but made the point that
there are many more. - She illustrated this with the question what is
Marxism? and offered a beginners guide to the
terminology.
8- This was followed by three more perspectives
- postmodern and post-structural geographies power
and place - new cultural geographies placing gender,
sexuality and race - Maori geographies Pania, Kataraina and Wiki
9 and then there was Russell
- Russells lectures used his cartographic
expertise to explore the ways space is
represented, and the political drivers of such
representations. - Russell used national and international examples
to support his lectures.
10Finally, we spent some time looking at our
place in rural Waikato
- Science does not forget about people, but the
detailed and remotely sensed views of rural
Waikato need to be related to communities on the
ground and integrated into planning processes
with due care. Lecture 10 used the rural base of
the Waikato as a gateway to explore a different
geographical perspective, and one that is
probably more familiar to you than the post
colonial or postmodern. We talked about remote
sensing and GIS. - Lecture 11 looked at population, changing
geographies and the lives of the rural elderly
in Waikato. We discovered that research often
uses a range of perspectives demography to
qualitative work for social policy.
112. Course evaluation
- We would like some feedback on the effectiveness
of our efforts to deliver the course we planned. - We have kept the evaluation simple, but (in line
with our philosophy) we value whatever you might
have to offer on the Please comment sections.
Qualitative data are really important. - Naturally, the forms are confidential
123. The essay assignment
- There are lots of comments on your essays, some
critical, some amplifications and some just plain
admiration for originality and attempting to
boldly go (in the classic split infinitive of
Startrek.) In general, the essays were good and I
thought that you understood what we were trying
to say. - There grades reported on most essays if you
dont have a grade yet, we would like to talk to
you at 100 pm today in I2.22.
13If I was going to make some general comments they
would include
- 1. The definition of perspectives was good,
although if you did not use the Johnston
dictionary you may have struggled with
definitions not related to closely enough to
their application in geography humanism was a
bit of a problem. Robyns three perspectives
didnt always help.
14- 2. The examples you choose where generally
excellent in some cases taking large of complex
places lead to problems about the
generalisations they were too vague. - 3. There was some outstanding field work and
research on some places.
15- 4. The selection of citations from literature was
also very well done I found some excellent
quotes interpreted in new ways. - 5. The down side was the failure to acknowledge
I have not penalised these as heavily as I
should.
16- 6. The listing of references in the bibliography
was uneven there were awfully casual and poor
efforts here. Most people did adequately.
17- 7. Your writing style was generally good. The
best essays were beautifully prepared and
wonderfully written. - 8. I have used marginal notation like ð,
expr or or even / to suggest you should
look at your wording, and I have been quick to
suggest alternative wording in some places.
18- 9. A few favorites (not!) 1970s, their not
there, comas and possessives. - I recommend Margaret McLarens Check it Out if
you are getting similar comments on a lot of your
submissions.
194. Where to from here the examinationAfternoon
, 26 Octoberin MSB and PWC Lecture Theatres
20This is the front page of last years final
paper. Make sure you understand the
opportunities you have .
21Here is a sample from the 2002 GEOG101
paper. The short answer questions will be
different this year.
22These are the paragraph style questions. They
are different, too.
23 and finally some essay topics.
24- 5. Where to from here?
- Celebrate your success, have a good summer break
and come back prepared for a new range of second
year courses in Geography. - The six second year courses on offer (three in
semester a in 2005, three in semester B) are as
follows
25A Semester, 2005
26GEOG206A Principles of Environmental Planning
- Dr Mairi Jay 6040
- A core paper in the REP Programme. It relates to
GEOG103 and introduces environmental planning
under the RMA and provides valuable links to
programmes in environmental science, management
and tourism.
27GEOG210A Regional Geography Pacific Islands
Region
- Associate Professor John Campbell 6040
- Notes the links to the small island nations of
Oceania focusing on social, economic and
environmental change exploring the principles of
sustainability. Paper links to both 101 and 103
and qualifies for TRIP major.
28GEOG219A Maori Land and Communities
- Angeline Greensill 6040
- Examines geographical perspectives on
colonisation, raupatu, planning in iwi and hapu
frameworks, treaty claims and community
development. Paper is one of two in the
undergraduate programme exploring Maori
geographies
29B Semester 2005
30GEOG209B Contemporary Cultural Geographies
- Associate Professor Robyn Longhurst 7030
- Examines developments in contemporary cultural
geography, exploring critical theory in areas of
feminism, postmodernism, and post colonialism
among others. The geographies of places are
explored. Direct links to GEOG101.
31GEOG224B Tourism Environments - Marine
- Dr Hamish Rennie 7030
- Notes the importance of the marine environment in
tourism and the way it is managed as a resource.
It notes competing uses and the competition for
marine space. The paper is required for the BTour
32GEOG228B Information Technology and Cartography
- Associate Professor Lex Chalmers 1000
- Focuses on the production and understanding of
maps using computer technology. The paper has an
extensive computer laboratory program, starting
from scratch and leading to the use of digital
mapping in planning and environmental mapping.
Links to GEOG103.
33An aerial view of campus, with GIS layers
superimposed GPS points, roads and campus
features from second year laboratory.
34Summer a long way from Te Whare Whananga o
Waikato