Where Do You Want to Live? Using GeoFRED
This material was originally created for
Starting Point: Teaching Economics
and is replicated here as part of the SERC Pedagogic Service.
and is replicated here as part of the SERC Pedagogic Service.
Summary
In this activity, the students will use GeoFRED information to provide a researched argument for the state they want to live in. They will look at the various data available in GeoFRED and provide a reasoning using data to support their decision. The students will be able to explore and evaluate the factors impacting states and describe how these factors have changed over time.
Learning Goals
Use data to compare States for the individual's ideal living situation. The students will learn the GeoFRED system in order to gather, manage and arrange information into a written assignment.
Context for Use
Principles of Microeconomics or Macroeconomics courses after unemployment and domestic product have been discussed.
Description and Teaching Materials
The students will be free to use all the available data in GeoFRED to conduct their argument for which State they want to live in, this does not mean that you need to know every data set available, instead the understanding of the data should be provided by the student through their argument.
Student Handout for Where Do You Want to Live (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 14kB Jun2 13)
Student Handout for Where Do You Want to Live (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 14kB Jun2 13)
Teaching Notes and Tips
The students will be free to use all the available data in GeoFRED to conduct their argument for which State they want to live in, this does not mean that you need to know every data set available, instead the understanding of the data should be provided by the student through their argument. The students will provide very different answers for this assessment, it will be based on their background and future goals. For instance, different States will be evaluated based on the level of employment for the different industries (mining v. financial).
Assessment
Provide a written statement with graphs from GeoFRED describing which State is best for the student's future situation.
References and Resources
Places Rated Almanac, David Savageau: http://placesrated.expertchoice.com/
Best Places, Sperling's: http://www.bestplaces.net/
National Data Book, US Census Bureau: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/
Best Places, Sperling's: http://www.bestplaces.net/
National Data Book, US Census Bureau: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/