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By Laurie Couture
Pedagogical Consultant, EngagED Learning
@lauriecouture92
To better understand the issues that need to be addressed in geography class, it is now possible to start with real-life situations thanks to an increasing number of online platforms and applications. These resources benefit teachers who assist students in developing abilities including understanding a territory’s structure, interpreting a territorial issue, and increasing their global civic awareness. Digital tools help make geography concepts more engaging and tangible.
There is nothing better than being able to travel to a location to understand the characteristics of an area or features of a scenery. Picturing uncharted places is now easier than ever before. Several tools offered by Google allow you to leave the classroom without actually leaving the classroom—especially without spending a dime. This encourages students to explore the world using the Internet’s capabilities and then use their findings to make connections with their learning objectives.
Tools you can use:
Similar to what was said in the preceding paragraph, giving students the chance to compare or find additional locations with similar features is interesting when studying geography. Collaborative online spaces, in which students can discuss their findings with their peers, are essential to achieve this. By making comments on one another’s findings, they can also provide feedback. The creation of an account is not always necessary, which can be helpful.
Tools you can use:
Natural phenomena that are examined in geography class are frequently covered in the media. Consider the issues faced by cities due to population growth, a volcanic explosion that poses a natural risk, or laws put in place to safeguard national parks. Each of these news stories can be examined from a geographic perspective. Simply put, opportunities and/or activities can be produced from articles or videos!
Tools you can use:
Some students may struggle with the vocabulary unique to a region. Giving students the option to create an illustrated dictionary may enable them to define less familiar terms like globalization, urbanization, or rurality. This will serve as a resource for monitoring their education and vocabulary growth.
Tools you can use:
Overall, students that are interested in learning about the world around them may face some challenges in the field of social studies. Therefore, the teaching of geography, which primarily aspires to raise informed and concerned citizens, can benefit from the use of digital technology.
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