Key Skills in Geography

Key Skills in Geography

1. Source: Pearson Education Australia-Prepared by LydiaLe@UTS

2. Learning to learn in Geography

   • Ask the questions geographers ask to identify and collect geographic information
   • Observe question, sort and classify
   • identify compass points and use them to find direction
   • describe places and features
   • develop learning skills of thinking, asking and presenting information

3. The essentials of Maps

   • read and interpret different kinds of maps, including street directories
   • identify and use elements of maps, including legend, direction, title, scale and border
   • locate places using alphanumeric references
   • identify and use scale shown in words, as linear scale or as a representative fraction
   • use compass points to determine direction
   • orientate a map
   • describe and explain relationships on a map
   • measure distances on a map using linear scale

4. Working with Maps

   • use various types of maps-physical, political, reference and thematic
   • identify and interpret relief using shading, spot heights, layer colours and contour lines
   • use maps at a range of scales-local, regional, national, international and global
   • identify and distinguish between different types of map projection
   • locate features on a map using latitude and longitude
   • identify and use a map of world time zones
   • use an atlas

5. Fieldwork

   • use a variety of instruments and tools to collect and record geographic information in the field, including: -a compass and GPS unit -weather instruments, with scale and cloud charts -test kits -maps and photos
   • use a variety of techniques to collect and record geographic information in the field, including: --surveys-interviews and questionnaries -field sketch
   • collate, interpret and analyse data gathered in the field and use a variety of written, oral, visual and graphic methods to present the results of the study
   • use ICT tools such as PowerPoint to create a multimedia presentation to present the results of the study

6. More graphs & Statistics

   • identify, analyse, interpret and evaluate geographic information as statistical data 
   • construct and present, interpret and evaluate statistical data in different types of more complex graphs, including: -compound bar and column graphs -histograms -population profiles, also known as population pyramids -scatter graphs
   • use a variety of statistical data to recognise and interpret patterns and change in patterns, and to plan, forecast and predict

7. Remote sensing

   • distinguish between photographs and satellite images
   • distinguish between, interpret and gather geographic information from: -natural colour images -pseu-natural colour images -false colour images
   • observe and interpret a variety of images to gather geographic information, observe changing geographic information, and to plan and predict

8. Topographic Map extract

   • use and interpret topographic maps

9. The Weather Map

   • describe and measure weather
   • identify and interpret weather images from space
   • understand how weather maps are drawn and weather forecasts made
   • use the weather map to forecast weather

10. Statistics & Graphs

    • identify and collect geographic information as statistical data
    • identify and calculate statistical terms including mean or average, median, range, percentage change
    • construct and present, interpret and evaluate statistical data in different types of graphs, including: -column and bar graphs, including multiple column and bar graphs -line graphs,including multiple and compound line graphs -pie or sector graphs, including proportional pie graphs -climatic graphs

11. Geography & Technology

    • identify and collect geographic information from ICT-based resources
    • understand what a GIS is, how a GIS works, GIS layers, how a GIS looks, and the impact of GIS technology on maps and the geographic information they can show
    • use a GIS to assist decision making - decide on information needed, obtain data, overlay data, map, interpret, analyse and make decisions
    • understand GPS and how it works, and use GPS
    • use ICT tools such as Google Earth to create their own maps with a variety of map, photo, satellite image and other data layers
    • use the Internet to design and develop a WebQuest, an example of Internet-based learning
    • understand what makes an effective multimedia presentation and the traps to avoid
    • use ICT tools such as PowerPoint to create a multimedia presentation to communicate geographic information

12. Photographs

    • distinguish between, observe, record and interpret different types of photographs: -ground level photographs -oblique aerial photographs -vertical aerial photographs -astronaut photographs
    • draw a photo sketch or line drawing
    • draw a sketch map from a vertical aerial photograph
    • identify and collect geographic information from photographs and maps, observe change, and make predictions

13. More Map Skills

    • record and represent geographic information using a range of maps
    • analyse and interpret geographic information shown by a variety of maps, including: -dot maps -choropleth maps -isoline maps -flowline maps -proportional symbol maps -cartograms -orthophoto maps

14. Working with Diagrams

    • record, present, and interpret geographic information in different types of diagrams, including: -profiles and transects -block diagrams -modes -more complex diagrams such as flow diagrams and concept diagrams

15. Working with Topographic Map

    • read and interpret topographic map
    • identify and use elements of maps including legend, direction, title, scale, and border
    • locate features on a map using area and grid references
    • distinguish between large-scale and small-scale maps
    • measure distance on a map using a linear scale
    • measure the area of a feature
    • calculate the density of a feature
    • recognise and use the different north points
    • measure bearing on a map
    • interpret relief and identify land-forms using contours
    • calculate the gradient of a slope
    • construct a cross-section and calculate vertical exaggeratetion
    • construct a longitudinal profile
    • construct a transect
    • identify line of sight
    • identify the aspect of a slope
    • construct a sketch or precis map
    • identify and collect geographic information from maps