Image above: The statsilk interactive thematic map.
Related links to Spatialworlds
GeogSplace (a teaching blog for Year 12 geography)
Geogaction (geography professional learning blog)
Spatialworlds website
GeogSpace
Australian Geography Teachers' Association website
manning@chariot.net.au
http://www.statsilk.com/software/statplanet
Visual interaction with data - thematic maps galore
Following on from recent posting about data visualisation, it is worth having a look at the Statsilk site. The site offers a download of the StatPlanet software, a free application for creating fully customisable interactive maps.
StatPlanet can be used to visualize location-based statistical data,
such as life expectancy by country or demographic statistics and voting
patterns by US state. In addition to maps, StatPlanet also has the
option of including interactive graphs and charts to create feature-rich
interactive infographics. StatPlanet can be downloaded as a desktop application and used as free educational software. The free download comes with up-to-date world statistics in a wide range of categories and includes a
world map (country level) and a US map (state level) - with a
limit of 5 indicators.
If interested, you can pay to upgrade to StatPlanet Plus, an advanced version of StatPlanet which supports map importing (such as shapefile maps), has no data limit, and includes many more powerful features and customisation options. This purchased program will enable you to build your own interactive world, country or regional maps
Check out Statworld on Statsilk
Most useful for the geography classroom is the free Statworld platform on the site that uses open data to create interactive thematic maps. This section of the website provides hundreds of free interactive thematic maps. For example, the map below shows car theft across the world in map an graph form.
Click here to view the categorized list of all interactive maps in StatWorld
Statsilk also has a range of customised maps for free use.
Video support
Very useful YouTube videos on using the Statsilk site are to be found at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZO01or2Lcw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjP4yW_tuDQ
The EduTube on Statsilk is also worth a look to help you make up your mind on its application and potential in the classroom.
Related links to Spatialworlds
GeogSplace (a teaching blog for Year 12 geography)
Geogaction
Spatialworlds website
GeogSpace
Australian Geography Teachers' Association website
manning@chariot.net.au
Where am I??
Adelaide, Australia: S: 34º 55' E: 138º 36'
“I’m a geographer, frankly, I’m proud of
that fact even if I have to explain
when I meet someone exactly what it is a
geographer does.”
As frequently mentioned on this blog, there is a disconnect between what geographers think geography is and what the community and non-geographer educators think geography is. In fact, there is even arguments on the matter between geographers i.e. the physical geography versus human geography debate. Whilst the perception of geography varies enormously, one of the good things coming out of the implementation of the Australian Curriculum: Geography is that geographers are working with teachers and parents to enunciate what they see geography as. I was amused by the following example of a typical discussion geographers tend to have with those trying to get a grasp of what geography is in the 21st Century - an exhausting, but necessary role for us geographers as the curriculum is implemented!
Imagine the poor geographer trying to explain to someone exactly what it is he or she studies.
“Geography is Greek for ‘writing about the earth.’ We study the Earth.”
“Right, like geologists.”
“Well, yes, but we’re interested in the whole world, not just the rocky
bits. Geographers also study oceans, lakes, the water cycle…”
“So, it’s like oceanography or hydrology.”
“And the atmosphere.”
“Meteorology, climatology…”
“It’s broader than just physical geography. We’re also interested in how humans relate to their planet.”
“How is that different from ecology or environmental science?”
“Well, it encompasses them. Aspects of them. But we also study the
social and economic and cultural and geopolitical sides of–
“Sociology, economics, cultural studies, political science.”
“Some geographers specialise in different world regions.”
“Ah, right, we have Asian and African and Latin American studies
programs here. But I didn’t know they were part of the geography
department.”
“They’re not.”
(Long pause.)
“So, uh, what is it that you do study then?”
― Ken Jennings
Just to emphasise the difficulty for many to get a purchase on what is geography, I thought it would be fun in this posting to pick a mixed-bag of sites, from the stimulating to exhilarating to show the diversity of topics studied under the banner of geography. As Judy Martz is quoted as saying in the image at the top of the posting, everything can be studied in geography, as long as it is studied geographically! What does that mean? With the Australian Curriculum: Geography it means to look at what we study through the lens of the seven key concepts of place, space, environment, scale, environment, sustainability, interconnection and change - to think geographically on a topic/area of study is what makes geography geography. Now just enjoy these amazing examples of geography and geographical thinking!
The stimulating!
* A Meandering stream
* Visualising global urban growth
An interactive data visual covering all cities with
500,000-plus inhabitants – illustrates the scale and speed of urban
transformation that research by the International Institute of
Environment and Development (IIED) has sought to document and describe. A
guide to its use can be found underneath the visual.
People
of many different countries are now living in Europe, with the
continent's residents coming everywhere from Jamaica to Tuvalu. Using
data from 2011 censuses this interactive maps the prevalence of different
nationalities across the European continent. Pick a country and the map will tell
you how many people from that country live in each* European state
* Women's rights: country by country
Which countries have laws preventing violence? Which legislate for
gender equality? And which countries allow abortion? Using World Bank
and UN data this interactive offers a snapshot of women's rights across the globe
* Instant thematic maps on demographics
A great resource to make demographic geography interactive. Index Mundi is home of the Internet's most complete country profiles. The site also contains detailed country statistics, charts, and maps compiled from multiple sources.
* The geography of stolen cars: why the difference from place to place must be the geographical question?
* Worldometer
Live world statistics on population, government and economics, society and media, environment, food, water, energy and health.
* Mapping children's chances
Excellent maps displaying the standard of living available to children
around the world. These maps help us to understand the quality of life
present in different countries around the world. This is the biggest ever global picture of children’s well-being, education and
family life has been assembled into a series of maps by the University
of California, Los Angeles. "When you look at a map, everyone's eyes go
straight to where they live," says Dr Jody Heymann, director of the
university's World Policy Analysis Centre.
... and the exhilarating!
* Norway, a time lapse adventure
* Climbing Mount Everest in 3D
