Presentation given at Brown University for the Choice Program's workshop on understanding contemporary China through a geographic lens.

1. Geography Education in the Era
of Globalization:
Answering the Questions that Matter

2. The truth…if you always lived in San Diego

3. What is this item called?

4. Truths can be spatially contingent

6. GEOGRAPHICAL CLASSIFICATION
World
Realms
Regions
Neighborhoods

7. Globalization has made the world ‘flat’
• Geography has been conquered
• Place is increasingly less relevant

8. Place still matters
Distance and Time

9. Regions are increasingly interconnected

10. Global News Demands Geographic Context

11. Diverse cultural understanding needed
• Army training

12. Geography Education in the Era
of Globalization:
Answering the Questions that Matter

13. Geography education is not…

14. How can competent teachers help
students understand a complex
interconnected world?
Provide geographic information
Teach geographic concepts
Use data, maps, and geospatial technology
Ask questions which encourage spatial thinking.
Geographic Literacy

15. 1. Provide geographic information

16. Environmental changes require
holistic, systemic thinking

17. 2. Teach geographic concepts

20. 3. Use data, maps, and geospatial technology

21. Geography integrates Social Studies

24. 4. Ask questions which encourage spatial thinking.

29. A spatial perspective is not just for geographers
spatial mapping map projections

30. The Global becomes Local

32. Understanding
Conflicts

33. How can competent teachers help
students understand a complex
interconnected world?
Provide geographic information
Teach geographic concepts
Use data, maps, and geospatial technology
Ask questions which encourage spatial thinking.
Geographic Literacy