Synthesis: A Critical Skill for AP Human Geography & the 21 st Century

1. Synthesis: A Critical Skill for AP Human Geography & the 21st Century Jody Smothers Marcello Sitka High School, Sitka, Alaska AP Human geography reader National council for geographic education Editor, THE Geography teacher

2. WHY? SYNTHESIS

3. Synthesizing Mind: the ability to integrate ideas from different disciplines or spheres into a coherent whole & to communicate that integration to others. Howard Gardner: Five Minds Disciplinary Mind: the mastery of major schools of thought, includingscience, mathematics, & history, & of at least one professional craft. Synthesizing Mind: the ability to integrate ideas from different disciplinesor spheres into a coherent whole & to communicate that integration to others. Creating Mind: the capacity to uncover & clarify new problems, questions & phenomena. Respectful Mind: awareness of & appreciation for differences amonghuman beings & human groups. Ethical Mind: fulfillment of one‘s responsibilities as a worker & as a citizen. (Speech at AP Annual Conference, Seattle, 2008)

4. Human geography: the study of the spatial organization of human activity and of people’s relationship with their environment (Knox & Marston) Synthesizing Discipline Human geography Physical geography

5. 21st Century Observe, synthesize, present data Wide range of interdisciplinary studies in the 21st century http://www.p21.org/documents/21stcskillsmap_geog.pdf

6. 21st Century Outcome: Frames, analyzes and synthesizes information in order to solve problems and answer questions http://www.p21.org/documents/21stcskillsmap_geog.pdf

7. Ask: Identifies substantial geographic issues & problems • Acquire: Systematically, accurately, & thoroughly locates & gathers geographic information from a variety of primary & secondary sources • Organize: Selects & designs elaborate and/or multiple forms of maps, graphs, diagrams, tables, & charts to organize geographic information • Analyze: Thoroughly & extensively uses complex processes of analysis, synthesis, evaluation & explanation to interpret geographic information from a variety of sources • Answer: Formulates valid, complex generalizations from the results of a full array of geographic inquiry methods Geographic Skills Ask geographic questions Acquire geographic information Organize geographic information Analyze geographic information Answer geographic questions

8. WHY? SYNTHESIS IN AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

9. Have I read the course outline? • Intended curriculum • Have I done the instruction? • Delivered curriculum • Have I given students the tools to be successful on the exam? • Assessed curriculum Any Curriculum or Course Three Enduring Questions Aligned Curriculum

10. How to: • 1. use and think about maps and spatial data • 2. understand and interpret the implications of associations among phenomena in places • 3. recognize and interpret at different scales the relationships among patterns and processes • 4. define regions and evaluate the regionalization process • 5. characterize and analyze changing interconnections among places AP Human Geography Course Outline (Intended Curriculum) Key skills: Maps & spatial data Associations among phenomena Patterns & processes Regions Changing interconnections

11. The Exam: Section II: Free-Response • In the free-response section, you will be asked to write cogent answers to three constructed response questions. The questions may require you to interrelate different topical areas and to analyze and evaluate geographical concepts. Questions may be based on stimulus material such as verbal description, maps, graphs, photographs, and diagrams. You are expected to use your analytical and organizational skills to formulate answers in writing your essays. • The free-response section usually includes one question that tests a specific concept in geography and its application to real-world situations, one question that tests your ability to pull together and synthesize material from across the course, and one question that tests your depth of knowledge of a topic and gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to apply and analyze geographic concepts across geographic contexts. • Remember to answer each question in the way it is structured. Points are allocated for sub-parts of the question and not for the overall answer. Your answer should be in essay form. Outlines and unlabeled diagrams and maps are not acceptable final answers. Learn to think outside of the box, and you will have the opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of key concepts in geography. http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/humangeo/exam.html?humangeo AP Human Geography Free Response Items (Assessed Curriculum) From the AP Central Website: Specific concept and its application to real-world situations Ability to pull together and synthesize material from across the course Depth of knowledge of a topic + ability to apply & analyze concepts across geographical contexts

12. An example Course Outline: Intended Curriculum IV. Political Organization of Space . . . . …………………………….........13–17% A. Territorial dimensions of politics 1. The concept of territoriality 2. The nature and meaning of boundaries 3. Influences of boundaries on identity, interaction, and exchange 4. Federal and unitary states 5. Spatial relationships between political patterns and patterns of ethnicity, economy, and environment B. Evolution of the contemporary political pattern 1. The nation-state concept 2. Colonialism and imperialism 3. Democratization C. Changes and challenges to political–territorial arrangements 1. Changing nature of sovereignty 2. Fragmentation, unification, alliance 3. Supranationalism and devolution 4. Electoral geography, including gerrymandering 5. Terrorism

13. The modern state system is engaged in a struggle between the forces of supranationalism and devolution. • Define both terms and give an example of each. • With reference to the political and economic geography of Europe, briefly discuss three changes resulting from supranationalism. • With reference to the political and economic geography of Europe, briefly discuss three changes resulting from devolution. Past Questions Analysis 2005 #1 modern state system supranationalism devolution political geography economic geography Europe

14. Course Outline = Assessment =Instruction? Do we have alignment? Instructional planning report as one tool Multiple textbooks Examine own teaching Search for/create tools Source: de Blij, Murphy, Fouberg, p. 238.

15. The viability of any state depends on a balance between centripetal and centrifugal forces. • Define the concepts “centripetal force” and “centrifugal force.” • Give a specific example and explain a centripetal force that affects the viability of any state shown on the map above. • With reference to a different specific example, explain a centrifugal force that affects the viability of any state shown on the map above. Past Questions Analysis 2006 #3 centripetal force centrifugal force state region of South Asia (Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal)

16. Centrifugal Forces Centripetal Forces Strong language, common cultural history Strong polarizing, core area Well-defined & uncontested boundaries (e.g. sea, mountain ranges); low population density in frontier areas Different languages, strong minority groups No central core area Ambiguous boundaries; high population density in frontiers areas Human Group Short history of occupation Long history of occupation STATE Territory Source: Haggett, Peter. Geography: A Global Synthesis. Harlow, England: Prentice Hall, 2001. pp. 518-520.

17. Let’s do an example Start with partners Build to groups of 6 Source: Knox and Marston

20. Stop and discuss Human groups State territory Whole Picture??? • Synthesizing Mind: the ability to integrate ideas from different disciplinesor spheres into a coherent whole & to communicate that integration to others.

21. Geographic Skills Scoring Guide • Opportunity to improve (Palmer Wolf) • Chance to revise (Darling Hammond) • Learning trend (Marzano) Assessment Scoring assessments: projects throughout the year Offers the opportunity to synthesize information in each unit Construct knowledge Source: Knox and Marston

22. Free Response Items: 2010 #3 • Demographic transition + population pyramids + economic development Assessment Scoring assessments: free response items Can or did your students make the connections? UK Geography Source: Knox and Marston

23. Instruction Map Analysis Refugee Assignment Cultural Assignment HDI or China Assignment Black Gold Geopolitical Diagram Urban Questions: Canada/US (geo questions on DC as activity) Rwanda review

24. How to: • 1. use and think about maps and spatial data • 2. understand and interpret the implications of associations among phenomena in places • 3. recognize and interpret at different scales the relationships among patterns and processes • 4. define regions and evaluate the regionalization process • 5. characterize and analyze changing interconnections among places AP Human Geography Course Outline (Intended Curriculum) Key skills: Maps & spatial data Associations among phenomena Patterns & processes Regions Changing interconnections

25. How? • Free response questions early and often (Gillespie re: Fellman, Getis, and Getis ?s) • Free response questions that cut across units • Review not just by concepts or units but across concepts and units (Rwanda example) • Let students construct synthesis • Feedback (opportunity to improve, revise, learn) How do we make the match among the intended, delivered, and assessed APHG curriculum & provide opportunities for synthesis? Key skills: Maps & spatial data Associations among phenomena Patterns & processes Regions Changing inter-connections 7 units: Nature Population Culture Political Economic Urban Agriculture

26. Sources College Board. AP Human Geography Course Outline and Website. de Blij, H. J., Murphy, Alexander B., and Fouberg, Erin H. Human Geography: People, Place, and Culture. 8th edition. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2007. Gardner, Howard. Presentation. AP Annual Conference, Seattle, July, 2008. Geography and 21st Century Skills. Tuscon: Partnership for 21stCenutry Skills, May 2009. Accessed at: http://www.p21.org/documents/21stcskillsmap_geog.pdf. Haggett, Peter. Geography: A Global Synthesis. Harlow, England: Prentice Hall, 2001.518-520. Knox, Paul L. and Marston, Sallie A. Places and Regions in Global Context: Human Geography. 4th edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2007. Photos in presentation by Jody Smothers Marcello. smothers-marcelloj@mail.ssd.k12.ak.us