|
|
| GeoCommunity Mailing List |
| |
| Mailing List Archives |
| Subject: | Re: [gislist] FW: kids and mapping |
| Date: |
01/12/2007 01:15:00 PM |
| From: |
Barbara Seekins |
|
|
It is interesting how our environment can affect our personal navigation
techniques and associations with cardinality.
I grew up on the east coast and for the first 20 years of my life
associated "east" with the ocean. The "west" had an association of land,
open dry plains, & mountains. Later I moved to the west coast and still
find that subconsciously I have that old association stuck in my head
even though it's no longer valid in my present location. Now, I live in
Oregon where within the state the reality is that much of the eastern
section is dry and mountainous while the western section is rainy & wet
much of the year and the ocean is to the west.
Now I find I rely on large visual landmarks (like Mt. Hood or the
coastal range) for guiding my local navigation. In the east, there
weren't many landmarks like these that dominate the landscape.
It makes me wonder if one is living in Australia, would one be more
inclined to put a south arrow on a map?
Barb
Landon Blake wrote:
> Here is another interesting thought on kids, maps, and "personal
> navigation".
>
> I grew up in the Northern Rockies.
>
> When I was in my early twenties I moved to California's Central Valley.
> For the first time in my life I found trouble navigating my
> surroundings. I was able to identify the cause of the problem a few days
> later:
>
> There was no mountain peaks or mountain ranges that I could use to get
> my bearings. I hadn't realized it growing up, but I was determining my
> approximate location and the cardinal directions by identifying nearby
> peaks and the orientation of those mountain ridges.
>
> Most days in the Central Valley smog, dust, or other air pollutions
> blocks the view of the far away mountain ranges, and on bad days you
> can't even see prominent Mount Diablo.
> I find I've come to be a lot more dependent on road networks for
> "personal navigation" in my new home.
>
> It is interesting how our background can affect our own navigation
> techniques. I probably would've never noticed by dependence on mountain
> peaks for navigation if I wouldn't have moved.
>
> Another funny thing: When I drew maps as a kid I always started by
> drawing mountain ranges and began to add the other features after. If I
> had grown up next to the ocean maybe I would have started by drawing the
> coast. If I had grown up in a city maybe I would have started by drawing
> freeways.
>
> Thanks for the interesting conversation.
>
> The Sunburned Surveyor
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gislist-bounces@lists.geocomm.com
> [mailto:gislist-bounces@lists.geocomm.com] On Behalf Of Trish Long
> Sent: Friday, January 12, 2007 7:59 AM
> To: gislist@lists.geocomm.com
> Subject: [gislist] kids and mapping
>
> Nonie - Thanks for sharing that children's map link.
>
> I enjoy talking to kids about their concepts of their neighborhood,
> where
> they live, and its relationship to the world. I haven't yet figured out
> at
> what age children generally come to an understanding of place. But for
> some
> kids it seems quite early and I am often impressed with their navigation
> skills. I suppose somebody is researching this very thing.
>
> As someone who does not have a very good sense of direction, I am
> fascinated
> by the ways people find their way around. Many people find it funny that
> I
> make maps for a living. The way I think about it, my poor sense of
> direction
> means I really need to rely on maps. I am always amazed to meet people
> who
> are uncomfortable using maps for navigation at all.
>
> Just my contribution for the day.
>
> Trish
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gislist-bounces@lists.geocomm.com
> [mailto:gislist-bounces@lists.geocomm.com] On Behalf Of Nonie Castro
> Sent: Friday, January 12, 2007 10:15 AM
> To: gislist@lists.geocomm.com
> Subject: Re: [gislist] topic change
>
> I just LOVE looking at maps that children make!
>
> Look at the photos I took from the ESRI convention in 2005:
> http://app.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/35079/
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> gislist mailing list
> gislist@lists.geocomm.com
> http://lists.geocomm.com/mailman/listinfo/gislist
>
> _________________________________
> This list is brought to you by
> The GeoCommunity
> http://www.geocomm.com/
>
>
> Warning:
> Information provided via electronic media is not guaranteed against defects including translation and transmission errors. If the reader is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly pro
|
|
Sponsored by:
For information
regarding
advertising rates
Click Here!
|
