Teaching Economics with GIS Part 2

Teaching Economics with GIS Part 2

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• GIS
• Economics
• APEE
• Contest

[faysal416]

your a cool teacher!

easy to understand!

[beccasa]

Thanks!

[AiLiFa]

Very nice lecturer.... can I contact you furthur because I will study economic planning at LSE this year?... tx

[beccasa]

All this said, I won't be developing my own maps anymore anyway, so will take the ranges others have chosen (in most cases). I got sidetracked for a few years, and in the meantime the number of internet-based interactive maps has mushroomed so my new lessons will be designed around maps already created. For my online classes I already have a link to a "map for (almost) every chapter" - showing unemployment rates, mortgage default rates, etc.

Am hopeful you haven't truly had an aneurysm.

[beccasa]

As I mentioned above, the real value will come in developing economic assignments to go with the maps that foster critical thinking (such as when looking at a map of unemployment rates around the world, then doing research on another country to see how unemployment rates are calculated in that country compared to the US, thus reinforcing both the definition of unemployment and having students discuss the pro's and con's of different ways of calculation).

[beccasa]

But when developing maps just for discussion, one has to also consider that the more ranges you use, the less a viewer can "easily" tell what is going on. So there is a trade off there.

[beccasa]

Just saw this post. I rarely look at this video anymore! Yes, I agree with you. Statistics can mislead, and so can maps.  It's a problem but mostly a problem when a teacher is just showing the map without discussion. When students have access to the maps directly and can "click around" and drill down to actual numbers - and are given assignments to do so, they will see the different values.

[Aneurysm42]

I like the idea of incorporating GIS into economic classes and I think it is awesome that you are enthusiastic and are trying real hard.

This is two years old now. I would like to know if more teachers have followed your path, and the response from students. I would also like to hear any comments on what I have said above.

[Aneurysm42]

You may think that I am over reacting. It's just that the maps that you have shown, could have been a lot better if you had someone sit down and show you some pointers. Books and tutorials can only teach you so much.

[Aneurysm42]

I think that the notion of installing GIS software on teacher's computers and letting them make maps without any instruction at all is both irresponsible and borderline absurd. Just the thought of having a person, make a map, unaware of all the misconceptions they might be displaying; and THEN using it to teach students! It absolutely blows my mind!

[Aneurysm42]

An example of this can be in selecting your classes. In your display the GDP of Asian countries, you only had 3 classes. The result of this was an overwhelming number of countries in one class. By just glancing at your map, I get the impression that the GDP of South Korea and North Korea are similar, when I know that isn't the case.  Having 5 or maybe even 6 classes would help a lot. Try it and see for yourself.

[Aneurysm42]

As a Geography student specializing in GIS, it warms my heart to see it used in other disciplines.

However, with GIS becoming more mainstream, it raises some concern. Not to sound cliche, but using GIS brings about often overlooked responsibility.

Maps are easy to manipulate. The same data can create several different maps, sometimes telling a slightly different story.