"Maps That Stretch Minds" Contest Encourages Thinking "Outside the box"!
Nearly all world maps distort land areas, thus giving the viewer a false impression the relative sizes of the countries. Some educators, however, do use equal area world maps and they (and their students) will have an opportunity to share their stories and successes of how they use maps in the classroom. This media literacy contest is an opportunity to get teachers and students thinking about how we see the world around us.
Amherst, MA, August 16, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Nearly every world map in USA classrooms distorts land areas. An exciting new contest challenges this notion. Educators who do use equal area world maps will have an opportunity to share their stories and successes of how they use maps in the classroom. Exploring the agendas and images of all we see and hear is called “Media Literacy” and that is how contest winners will be judged.
A unique consortium of map publishers and media literacy educators are offering an opportunity this school year to get teachers and students thinking about how we see the world around us. ODTmaps.com and Worldmapper.org have teamed up with Project Look Sharp, the Buckminster Fuller Institute, World View, and several NGOs and advocacy groups for social justice to encourage the sharing of educational strategies using innovative world maps. ODT publishes equal area world maps (like the Peters and Hobo-Dyer) as well as maps that place South at the top of the map. Worldmapper.org produces cartogram-style maps where territories are re-sized according to the subject of interest. Their maps include topics like natural resources, income, wealth, poverty, education, disease, disaster, pollution, depletion, communication, and exploitation.
This contest is for map lovers of all kinds, including instructors, interested individuals and institutions. ALL can enter and tell why they love the maps that have helped them see the world from a broader perspective. Entries can come from individual students or an entire classroom. For contest details and how to enter, go to ODTmaps.com and click under FEATURED NEWS at the top right of the page. There is no entry fee, and maps of any kind (that stretch minds) are accepted. You can even submit your very own hand-drawn map with your contest entry.
Map author Ward Kaiser says, “It seems to me we're at the dawn of a revolution. It's a new way of connecting the way we use maps and how we live in the world. Many see maps primarily as way-finding devices: 'We're here ... how do we get there?' Or as helpful tools when we need certain basic information: 'Where in the U.K. is Sheffield?' Now we're beginning to analyze the whole mapping enterprise in light of its social and political agenda. We're seeing that maps affect our lives in myriad ways even when we're not on the road. I hope the Maps that Stretch Minds contest generates lots of excitement, new ideas, and a world of understanding.”
Over $5,000 in prizes will be given away
For Entry details: http://www.odtmaps.com/detail.asp_Q_product_id_E_ContestPrizes_A_Contents=TAB2
Contest Flier is at: http://odtmaps.com/maps.44.0.0.1.htm
For sponsors and supporting organizations: http://odtmaps.com/pdf/ContestSupportFinal.pdf
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A unique consortium of map publishers and media literacy educators are offering an opportunity this school year to get teachers and students thinking about how we see the world around us. ODTmaps.com and Worldmapper.org have teamed up with Project Look Sharp, the Buckminster Fuller Institute, World View, and several NGOs and advocacy groups for social justice to encourage the sharing of educational strategies using innovative world maps. ODT publishes equal area world maps (like the Peters and Hobo-Dyer) as well as maps that place South at the top of the map. Worldmapper.org produces cartogram-style maps where territories are re-sized according to the subject of interest. Their maps include topics like natural resources, income, wealth, poverty, education, disease, disaster, pollution, depletion, communication, and exploitation.
This contest is for map lovers of all kinds, including instructors, interested individuals and institutions. ALL can enter and tell why they love the maps that have helped them see the world from a broader perspective. Entries can come from individual students or an entire classroom. For contest details and how to enter, go to ODTmaps.com and click under FEATURED NEWS at the top right of the page. There is no entry fee, and maps of any kind (that stretch minds) are accepted. You can even submit your very own hand-drawn map with your contest entry.
Map author Ward Kaiser says, “It seems to me we're at the dawn of a revolution. It's a new way of connecting the way we use maps and how we live in the world. Many see maps primarily as way-finding devices: 'We're here ... how do we get there?' Or as helpful tools when we need certain basic information: 'Where in the U.K. is Sheffield?' Now we're beginning to analyze the whole mapping enterprise in light of its social and political agenda. We're seeing that maps affect our lives in myriad ways even when we're not on the road. I hope the Maps that Stretch Minds contest generates lots of excitement, new ideas, and a world of understanding.”
Over $5,000 in prizes will be given away
For Entry details: http://www.odtmaps.com/detail.asp_Q_product_id_E_ContestPrizes_A_Contents=TAB2
Contest Flier is at: http://odtmaps.com/maps.44.0.0.1.htm
For sponsors and supporting organizations: http://odtmaps.com/pdf/ContestSupportFinal.pdf
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Contact
ODTmaps.com
Bob Abramms
800-736-1293
www.ODTmaps.com
Fax: 413-549-3503
Bob Abramms
800-736-1293
www.ODTmaps.com
Fax: 413-549-3503
Contact
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