Graphics


 * It is likely that we will need to include photographs and some graphics. To what extent will probably be determined by the content and age group we are targeting. BUT, generally speaking, there are some graphics and photographs that speak to "Nevada", regardless of age group or specific content. What are they? The state bird, flower, flag? The strip? The arch? The Lake? Pop up pyramids, pie charts, histograms? Use this space to discuss some of the obvious (and less so) graphics and photohraphs we should include in our atlas. Posting examples would be well worth it ... and good fodder for discussion. [pg]**

This graphic and others like it might be appropriate for our atlas. You may also want to visit the http://www.nystromnet.com/ atlas pages to get ideas on how they include graphics, photos, and other map-like representions into their atlases [pg]



I think graphics are going to be important in this atlas, especially if were going to be making it for kids. In the ADD age that we live in we won't even have a chance in keeping kids attention with just maps, we need put something in the Atlas that will keep their attention. An example of this can be a 3D map of Nevada from either Google Earth, World Wind, etc. with images of what the actual terrain looks like from that show Planet Earth or something. We should look into topics that are going to need to have graphics to represent what we are talking about i.e. climate, basic physical land features, animals, plants, etc. [jesse rodrigue]

I agree with Jesse, three dimensional and real-time graphics are definetly going to be necessary if we want to keep up with the technology trends commonly geared towards childern. Many fourth-graders for example, can easily interpret digital images do to video game exposer. Many video games such as Final Fantasy or Zelda rely on the players abiltiy to navigate themselves through vastly complex worlds full of geographical images and symbols. Making a flower or flag interesting to a child that is bombarded with complex graphical images everyday is challenging and demands that elements such as real-time images captured from Google Earth be employeed in our Atlas. [Nathan]

I agree with you guys. I've done some work with this age group during the early days of Google Earth. For the ADD age, you've got to show them something new or you can count on the span of attention being **very** short. For instance, I was working on a Digitally Enhanced Learning Experience (DELE) that was a digital textbook for K-12 grade students. Essentially it was a very crude Google Earth. I had heard of Google Earth, but was so focused on making the DELE, I didn't take the time to check GE out. And the kids let me know this. I'll post some of the imagery I used and some of GE's soon to show you the comparison. Needless to say, there is a big difference. [krock]



Graphics and photographs are a must if we are going to create an atlas for elementary level students, kids are more likely to remember facts about their country if it stands out visually. So, the only way to keep their attention on the atlas is to provide meaningful graphics and photos that they will be able to understand. The state bird, flower and flag are a given, they should absolutely be included, pop up pyramids, pie charts and histograms are a good idea if the children can interpret the information being displayed in them. We would definitely have to include bright colors, bold fonts, fun pictures, etc. in the graphs in order to grab and keep the kids attention. [harmeno]

I am not sure if K-4 would be able to handle pie charts and such. Having been homeschooled I don't know what grade kids learn that stuff, but I don't think they learn fractions till about 3rd grade so I doubt that they could handle more complicated charts and histograms. Anyone have a kid or know a kid that could confirm what level math is done in 4th grade? So we have an idea what the are supposed to be able to handle. [Astfgl]

There is a lot of talk about histograms and pie charts but what kinds of things do we want to display in the atlas? Are kids really going to want to know the economic income or revenue generated in each county? I think that if we keep things simple or something that the children may be interested in, would work the best. A possible page could be croplands or production agriculture in each county. The differences could be represented by tractors or other graphics. Another one that we talked about in class would be endangered species. We could have a picture of all the endangered species found in the state along with the location of their habitat in the state. The state really does have diversity. It’s not all about gambling. Mining, agriculture and recreational activities are just a few of the growing and thriving industries which can all be presented or taught about with graphics. [dustin nelson]

I agree with Dustin and Irene we should avoid complex issues such as ecomonics, politics, and the geography of things like prostutition (recreational activity). In terms of indangered species I found a cool website that features all the endangered species of Nevada by county and by species. [|Nevada's Endangered Species] This site will definetly help us locate data and images for all endangered species. [Nathan]

I'm thinking that one of the pages in the atlas could be devoted to notable geographic features throughout Nevada. This page could have Nevada in the middle with both natural and man made features located on the map with a supporting picture. We could use bright colors, big pictures from google earth and world wind. I was thinking a few places we could put on the map could be the Las Vegas Strip, Lake Tahoe, etc. Another type of map that we could do like this would be to show the variation in climate and the visual implications it has on the landscape i.e. pictures of the changing natural landscape. (Rodrigue)

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