Reviving a Dying School Subject

by Candice Bua-Gasser (United States of America)

I didn't expect to find USA

World Geography is still taught in alot of American high schools, but it is dying out fast. The importance of this subject is something that people dont quite understand. The attempt to connect and even identify with cultures from around the world is something our world needs desperately now. My job and my passion- is to bring the world into my classroom and to expose my students to as much material from around the world as possible. People think geography is just maps, but it is SO much more! Given the chance, I can create written and visual materials to bring to my classroom and classrooms around the globe. Because this subject is a dying subject there are not many resources available. In particular, written documents and videos- two of the most important resources needed for teaching a modern learner. Science has proven that when students have something visual to back up the knowledge they have gained they can remember it better. But if the videos they are watching are from the 1990s, dont have captions, and do not include relevant information for hitting state and national standards for World Geogeaphy, then the video becomes an obsolete tool. When students do not have written material to analyze and make connections to, they are not able to improve their reading and comprehension skills. The use of videos and documents in the classroom benefits English-language learners the most. These students come into English speaking classrooms usually far behind their native English-speaking peers and teachers MUST find resources that can help bridge the gap in their understanding. Visual material helps ELL students see material and analyzing documents helps these students interact with text that meant to spark curiosity and gain reading comprehension. I aim to save the subject of World Geography from iminent doom, to bring the excitement of cultures, hard conversations about geo-politics, and the curiosity of seeing the world BACK into the classroom! On my mission to globe trot and gather materials from raw footage around the world and scour libraries in foreign countries to find materials, I need a source of income. That source of income will be the travel blog I run at www.TheWorldGeoGal.com. Here, teachers and style-savvy travelers can find up-to-date information on everything from the cheapest flight deals to city guides for trips I have taken to free comprehensive teaching resources! Winning this session will give me another trip to write about, another opportunity to film videos and collect objects to bring enrichment into my classroom and classrooms around the world, and will give me invaluable experience face-to-face with an expert in the field of travel writing. My mantra as a person, and especially as a teacher is "One should never stop learning. Once that day comes, bury me." Learning is just as important to teachers as it is for the students they teach, and I dont plan in ever stopping learning new things!