Geography

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Geography

• Working Towards a Sustainable Future

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The entire history of automobiles, airplanes,
antibiotics, oral contraceptives, nuclear energy,
computers, plastics, satellites and xerography is
encompassed by the span of a single human life.
- David Suzuki
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The world in which we live is likely to change
more in the next 50 years than it has ever done
before. Geography explains why this is and
helps to prepare you for these changes.
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Daily Questions Geographic Answers

• How do we respond to the challenges of global
  warming?
• Where should we place retail power centres?
• What is the impact of a new sports facility?
• How do we address the problem of the homeless?
• How can we combat the spread of AIDS in Africa?

Where will new international markets emerge for
Canadian exports? How can the infrastructure of
Afghanistan be rebuilt? Where should new schools
be built and others consolidated? What areas of
Canada have the greatest potential for wind
energy? How can a political party increase its
share of the vote in the next election? Adapt
ed with Revisions and Additions from Ryerson
University
What is the best balance between public transit
and automobile use? How should we dispose of
toxic waste? Can we predict the incidence of
urban crime? Are municipal parks fairly
distributed? What are the impacts of hospital
restructuring?
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What is geography?

• Geographers distinguish themselves in creating a
  holistic view of the planet in which human-Earth
  relationships are identified and explained.
• Studying how humans interact with each other and
  the environment helps us understand how we shape
  the world and how our world shapes us.
  Adapted from Trent
  University Geography Department

• Geography encompasses the Earth as our home
  planet in all its human and physical complexity.

• The study of geography is diverse and broad. It
  extends beyond the memorization of countries and
  capital cities.

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What is geography?
Geography is not a collection of arcane
information. Rather, it is the study of spatial
aspects of human existence.
Geography has much more to do with asking
questions and solving problems than it does with
rote memorization of isolated facts.
People everywhere need to know about the nature
of their world and their place in it.
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What is geography?
Its subject matter is Earth's surface and the
processes that shape it, the relationships
between people and environments, and the
connections between people and places.

(Geography For Life, 1994, 18)
Geography is an integrative discipline that
brings together the physical and human dimensions
of the world in the study of people, places and
environments.
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Geographic Intelligence

• PLACE What are different places and people
  like?
• SPACE Why are certain things located where they
  are?
• ENVIRONMENT How do people and their environment
  interact? How are they interdependent and how do
  they influence each other?
  Adapted Massachusetts Geographic Alliance

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Geography Leading the Charge

• It seems that, as geographers, we are once again
  leading the way.

• As climate change and water issues become
  mainstream in the community and the media, we can
  be proud of the fact that Geography students have
  been learning about and discussing these topics
  for some time now.

• It is heartening to hear our students articulate
  their knowledge in such topics and be able to
  take part in meaningful debate about future
  outcomes of these issues.
  Adapted from
  Geography Teachers Association of Victoria
  (Australia)

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The Environment A Geographic Approach

• Geography is concerned about the environment, but
  from a geographic approach.

• We think geographically we consider the
  environment from both the physical and
  cultural/human/social perspectives.

• Human existence and the state of our environment
  are a blend of cultural /social and physical
  factors at work in a particular place.
  Adapted Massachusetts
  Geographic Alliance

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Geography and the Environment

• Geographers were among the first to sound the
  alarm that human-induced changes to the
  environment were beginning to threaten the
  balance of life itself.

• They are active in the study of global
  warming/climate change, desertification,
  deforestation, loss of biodiversity, groundwater
  pollution, flooding, and urban sprawl.
• Adapted from Association of American Geographers

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Geo-Green
Natural Human Systems Sustainability Climate
Change Resource Management Stewardship
Citizenship
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Geo-Skills
Geography develops valuable the skills to support
a variety of post-secondary pathways, future
career choices and lifes adventures.

• Decision making
• Problem solving
• Critical thinking
• Creative thinking
• Research Analysis
• Systems Thinking

• Data Collection Manipulation
• Teamwork Cooperation
• Fieldwork
• Literacy
• Numeracy
• Environmental Understanding

Map, graph, chart, diagram table
analysis Understanding application of
technology
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Geo-Technology Geomatics
Geographic Information Systems (G.I.S.) Global
Positioning System (G.P.S.) Remote Sensing
Earth Imaging Surveying Cartography
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Geo-Technology Geomatics
Geomatics is one of the fastest-growing
technology sectors and Canada is a global leader.
Utilizing geotechnologies, Canada is addressing
challenges and opportunities related to areas
such as

• the environment
• land management and reform
• economic development
• urban planning
• infrastructure management
• natural resource monitoring
• sustainable development
• coastal zone management and mapping

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Geo-Careers
real estate seismologist surveyor
technician/technologist transit
manager transportation management transportation
services travel agent/clerk travel
accommodations travel and tourism urban
planner viticulturalist water resource
engineer zoologist
adventure filmmaker aerial photoanalyst aerial
photographer agriculture anthropologist archaeolog
ist astronomer cartographer climatologist conserva
tion officer demographer economic
geographer environmentalist food
technician/technologist
forest engineer forest management forest
officer forest research forest technician/technolo
gist forester geodetic surveyor geographer geograp
hic information systems geologic
engineer geologic technician/technologist geologis
t geomagnetician geomorphologist
geophysical technician/technologist geophysicist g
lobe maker housing analyst hydrographic
surveyor hydrologist hydrology technician land
use planner land surveyor landscape
architect logging engineer marketing marine
engineer marine geologist
meteorological technician meteorologist mine
surveyor mineralogist mining engineer oceanographe
r paleontologist park ranger petroleum
engineer petroleum geologist petrologist pilot/nav
igator public relations planner
Urban Planning Economic Development Tourism
Recreation Management Geographic Information
Systems Environmental Impact Assessment Cultural
Heritage Preservation Educational Social
Services
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Geography in Ontarios Schools

• Geography is one of the 5 cores disciplines
  
  
  (designated by the Ministry of
  Education)
• It is included in two curriculum policy
  documents
• Social Studies / History Geography (grades 1-8)
• Canadian and World Studies (Grades 9-12)
• Grade 9 Geography is a compulsory course for an
  Ontario Secondary School Diploma (O.S.S.D.)

• Environment is one of the 6 fundamental
  concepts identified in each these provincial
  policy documents
• Environmental themes are covered in over 500
  provincial learning expectations within Geography
  from grades 1-12

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Canadian and World Studies Geography Courses

• Geography of Canada (Grade 9 Academic and
  Applied)
• The Americas Geographic Patterns Issues (Grade
  11, University/College)
• Physical Geography Patterns, Processes,
  Interactions (Gr.11, University/College)
• Travel and Tourism A Regional Geographic
  Perspective (Grade 11, Open)
• Geographics The Geographers Toolkit (Grade 11,
  Workplace)
• Canadian World Issues A Geographic Analysis
  (Grade 12, University)
• World Geography Human Patterns Interactions
  (Grade 12, University)
• The Environment Resource Management (Grade 12,
  University/College)
• The Environment Resource Management (Grade 12,
  Workplace)
• Geomatics Geotechnologies in Action (Grade 12,
  University/College)
• World Geography Urban Patterns Interactions
  (Grade 12, College)

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Canadian and World Studies Geography Strands

• Geography courses are organized by the following
  strands
• Geographic Foundations Space and Systems
• Human-Environment Interactions
• Global Connections
• Understanding and Managing Change
• Methods of Geographic Inquiry and Communication

• All five strands are essential to any
  understanding of environmental issues that face
  us now and in the future!

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Canadian and World Studies Geography Overview
As the worlds economies become increasingly
interdependent, as pressures on the worlds
resources mount, and as concerns about issues
such as global warming, urbanization, and
population growth escalate, people need to become
geographically literate and be able to make
informed judgements about environmental and
social issues.
Geography is an integrative subject that brings a
variety of perspectives, both social and
physical, to the study of people, places, and
environments around the world Understanding
the processes that shape the earth and knowing
how life forms interact with the environment
allow them to view events from an ecological
perspective
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O.A.G.E.E.
We are O.A.G.E.E. the Ontario Association for
Geographic and Environmental Education.
O.A.G.E.E. strives to be a strong geography
subject association that is working to support
geography teachers and students and maintain a
strong geography presence in the Ontario
curriculum.
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Purpose of O.A.G.E.E.

• To improve the teaching of geographic and
  environmental education in the Province of
  Ontario
• To promote the planning and development of a
  variety of geographic and environmental studies
  for all levels of the education system of
  Ontario
• To facilitate communication among its members and
  other organizations concerned with geographic and
  environmental education
• To create a better understanding of the nature
  and importance of geographic and environmental
  education and,
• In general, to strive for the betterment of
  education.

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O.A.G.E.E. Stance on Environmental Education
Through this understanding of processes and
interactions students will be able to make
predictions and to develop practical and
realistic solutions to support actions for
current and future problems.
Students should have a significant environment
education with a focus on sustainability and
stewardship. Students should learn about their
environment from highly skilled and qualified
Geography teachers who have specialized training
and long-stand experience teaching environmental
and other complex geographic issues.

• Geography brings several perspectives to help
  students understand environmental processes and
  issues including
• Economic, social and political implications
• Human-environmental interactions and connections
• Systems and Interdependence
• Local, regional and global scales

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Membership Information

• Membership follows the calendar year, January to
  December
• Conference paid memberships begin in January of
  the following year
• First Monograph of the membership arrives in the
  Spring

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What does O.A.G.E.E. do for you?
As a member of O.A.G.E.E. you are part of a large
network of teachers across the province who
together can have influence on geographic
education in Ontario. You also gain access to
membership benefits such as.
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The Monograph

• 4 issues per year
• Your 1 source for
• Lesson Plans
• Activities
• Resources
• Geography news
• And So Much More
• Written for geography teachers
  by geography teachers

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www.oagee.org

• Resources and P.D. links
• Conference Information
• Executive Regional Councillor Contacts
• Membership Renewal Information
• Provincial Highlights Regional Newsletters

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Posters

• Careers
• Topical Discussions
• Geo-Green Environment
• International Polar Year
• Lesson Activities

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Conferences Workshops

• Fall Conference (October)
• Spring Conference (April/May)
• Summer Institutes

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Merchandise

• T-shirts
• Mugs
• Hats
• Rulers
• Golf Shirts

• Stress balls
• Vests Jackets
• Long Sleeve Shirts
• Resources

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Regional Connections

• 14 Regions and Regional Councillors
• Southwestern Ontario
• South-Central
• Georgian Bay-Wellington
• Waterloo-Grand Erie
• Niagara-Hamilton
• Dufferin-Peel-Halton
• Metro Toronto Catholic
• Metro Toronto Public
• York-Durham
• Central Ontario
• Kingston-Rideau
• Ottawa-Carleton-Renfrew
• Northeastern Ontario
• Northwestern Ontario

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Partnerships
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Resources
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Provincial Advocacy

• Political Lobbying maintain Geography as a core
  discipline and the integrity of Geography courses
• Ministry Curriculum Revision and Writing Teams
• Course Profile Writing Teams
• Exemplar Development
• OTF Summer Institutes
• CCGE Summer Institutes

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O.A.G.E.E.

• Our strength is in our membership.
• Thank you for investing in the future of
  geographic education in Ontario.
• Thank you for taking the time and making the
  commitment to lead, and striving to show others
  the strengths and benefits of Geography with your
  O.A.G.E.E. membership!

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Geography embraces every fact on earth every
aspect of the composition, occupation and history
of the planet. It is the monitor of our abuse of
our environment and our guide to its
preservation. As such, Geography knows no
intellectual boundaries. It deserves to sit at
the centre of any liberal education. Geography
should be encouraged to seize the central
fortress, rejecting both pure science and that
grossly over-promoted intellectual exercise
called mathematics. Geography should stand alone
on the scientific pedestal, joined only with its
one educational equal, the study of the human
spirit in English language and literature.
Geography is the queen of sciences, parent to
chemistry, geology, physics and biology, parent
also to history and economics. - London
Times
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O.A.G.E.E.
Stay Informed Remain Updated Explore Great
Resources Become/Remain a Member www.oagee.org