ATLAS FOR SCHOOLS PROJECT
LINK to TABLE OF CONTENTS of the ATLAS … the table will evolve through the course.
LINK to SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS … to link to assignments associated with the Atlas
LINK to SCHOOLS of
LINK to info about elinks for histories of each of Utah's counties.
REMINDER: The purpose of GEOG3600 – Geography of Utah is for you to become more empowered as a human being and as a citizen. “Know where you are … Know who you are.”
The purpose of your Atlas of a School project is four fold:
1) UNDERSTAND concepts of the course by applying them.
2) DEVELOP skills of a geographer including analysis of maps and digital imagery
3) DO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL in the process.
4) BECOME hooked on maps and think geography is really nifty. Have fun.
Concepts / Philosophy:
USGS vs FEMA approach to earthquake preparedness.
STEPS TOWARD EMPOWERMENT:
Before change one’s ways (become more empowered) must
(a) Hear the message
(b) Understand the message before
(c) Believing it
(d) Personalize it
(e) … then empowered to act
The ATLAS FOR SCHOOLS PROJECT is the “personalize it” step…
the applications of principles given in lectures to an actual place in
Develop SKILLS of a geographer.
GOOGLE EARTH and USGS and other sites take some energy to master… and they are life learning skills
DO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL
I don’t want your assignments to be busy work. The Atlas for Schools project is a service project. The principal of the school of your atlas will receive your digital atlas.
HAVE FUN and be challenging.
Geography is far from boring… My idea of fun may not be your idea of fun … but these assignments are meant to (a) avoid drudgery.
Potential pitfalls – BRAINSTORM.
Too local.
Too focused.
Misinformation.
The GENERAL PLAN
Where we’re heading.
An atlas for a school in
An ATLAS is … LINK to Wikipedia …
Some atlases have more text and interpretive materials than others LINK to examples.
Your atlas at minimum will follow a set TABLE OF CONTENTS… and, you can add to this minimum.
Your atlas will be digital. I’ll give you a memory stick just for your assignments.
NOTE!!! THIS IS A CHANGE FROM THE SYLLABUS. Do not submit your assignments via WebCT/Blackboard. It can’t handle the volume of digital files… and it won’t result in a digital atlas for your school’s principal or librarian.
NOTE: KEEP YOUR ATLAS AND ASSIGNMENTS ON YOUR COMPUTER / YOUR MEMORY STICK AS WELL. The memory stick I give you for the course may get lost or crash or whatever. For example, you’ll give me the memory stick so I can grade your work. During that week, you won’t have the memory stick, but you can forge ahead on the next assignment. It’s what I’ll deliver to the principal of the school you’ve chosen. Repeat: do assignments and download them to “your” files.
NOTE: You can upgrade past assignments, meaning you can substitute maps etc on your memory stick.
NOTE: how does that work for grading? The assignment is graded on what you initially turn in on the memory stick.
NOTE: you don't have to link the files. On the cover page of the section, make it clear which files go where, but you don't have to link them.
Your atlas is the major part of your grade. … almost 60% of your grade. It is the on-going project of the course. If you keep up with the assignments, there’s no way you’ll fail the course. The content of the atlas also is important for your success on the midterm and final. LINK to assignments page. Dates for assignments may change, but the dates will slip, not come early.
NOTE: All submissions must have no copyright, meaning (a) they are your own work or (b) they are non-copyrighted materials with their source acknowledged. Your atlas will be public information, posted on the web as well as used by the school you studied.
REMEMBER… OFFICE HOURS ARE FOR YOU.
And… email me with comments and concerns (but on many days I only check my email two times… so don’t expect immediate feedback, but I will get back to you).
LINK to syllabus for information on how to reach me.