I think the video link below is a good starting point on what broad elements Geography as a discipline covers:
Can Geography make a difference? A bit about me........
My first experiences of learning about Geogrpahy came in primary school where most pupils had a book which they read during their free reading time. For me I 'read' an Atlas. I used to look up countries with funny names of countries like Chile (for some reason I fond that funny), find major cities lite London and New York, Learning capitals cities, flags of countries, populations and probably most importantly my place in this world, where did I live? where was I on the map?
During my Secondary school experience Geography as a subject became a priority over most subjects (Art came a close second). I loved learning about different parts of the world, their climates, how people lived in those places and how people, us, can have a dramatic impact on our environment which we depend on. This lead me to go onto university to study Environmental Science, and i went the full hog and added Education to my degree, what best way to express my passion for Geography but to teach it. My degree came at a time of increased global awareness of environmental issues such climatic change, environmental degradation, and the human impact on the environment and my studies has had a lasting influence on my perception of the world and world events. After graduating i taught in Glasgow and had the chance to practice my skills as a teacher of Geography. During my probation year I did the most impulsive thing i have ever done (to date) i went in to a travel agents on a soaking Thursday after school and booked and paid for a round the world ticket! I don't know what drove me to do it, it wasn't anything to do with the day I had (i had a particular good day, maybe i was in high spirits). So there i was sitting on the bus with a world ticket in my hands!
After months of preparation on the 9th of August 2009, I lost my bottle and questioned what i was doing! I was planning to visit 15 counties, 3 separate continents, for 10 months....all by myself. What was i doing!! But i did it!
After arriving in Thailand i visited Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Chile (what a laugh!), Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Brazil! Only 13 i know, I missed out Paraguay and Uruguay do to lack of money! But i managed it, with a little help along the way, and after this experience my passion for the world and the study of it grew and grew. I visited those places i found funny at primary school, those places at Secondary I learned about and the places I taught. Below are some of my favourite pictures i took along the way:
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Iguazu Falls, Argentina |
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| Favela, Rio De Janerio |
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| Rice Field Chiang Mai, Thailand | <><><><><><>
These places and experiences brought to life what i had learned and was a fantastic opportunity for me. Now that i am back home i want to bring these experiences into the classroom and inspire future travellers and explorers into the understanding Geography can bring new opportunities in life and give young learners a chance to become good learners with an understanding of the wider world making them responsible citizens for the future and to expand their horizons.
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover".
-Mark Twain
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