
Maps make us smarter
Updated: Nov 30, 2021
๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ ๐ฆ๐๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ค๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐งโ
๐๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐ with many opinions on ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐ญ, ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐๐ก ๐ข๐ญ. Opinions range from The 3 basics reading, writing, arithmetic; to the 4 basics English, math, science & social studies; to the emphasis on life skills over formal education. No matter where you fall on the education spectrum ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ง ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฉ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ ๐จ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง.๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ ๐ฆ๐๐ฉ๐ฌ! Letโs explore how paper maps open new cognitive pathways and facilitate skill development.
๐บ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค๐ข๐ง๐
Paper map require visualization of where things are located and where you are in respect to them. This causes you to subconsciously gather information about your surroundings. Then your brain makes connections between the two. Spatial thinking has been linked to greater success in math, science, geography and navigation.
โ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐โ ~ National Geographic.
๐บ ๐๐ฒ๐ฆ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค๐ข๐ง๐
Maps are filled with symbols like roads, rivers, trails, direction etc. This requires the brain to recognize symbols in relation to the bigger picture. Symbolic thinking promotes reading and understanding which is a critical skill needed in many facets of education such as comprehension, math and navigation skills.
๐บ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ:
Reading a paper map requires you to navigate and follow a path. When you draw your route or trace it with your finger hand eye coordination is being developed. Then you need to actually physically navigate your route. By showing children how to do both they can grow their gross motor skills which have been shown to help in all areas of academic improvement.
๐บ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฆ๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ
Decision making and consequences are crucial skills needed in all aspects of our lives. We all succeed or fail based on our decisions. Maps encourage these skills by making you look at all your options then choosing a route. You are then required to act on that decision. It is through this you get hands on knowledge of mistakes and consequence. Did you end up at your intended location? If not what happened? Then you learn from your mistake and how to correct it.
๐บ ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ
Paper maps provides opportunity to unplug and be present. Digital devices can cause time mismanagement and distraction. By unplugging and using a paper map you promote a distraction-less environment. One where you can really focus on the task at hand. By not relying on digital means you have the opportunity to focus and connect with the world around you.
๐บ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐:
โ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐โ - Albert Einstein.
Paper Maps are real. They are tangible you can hold them. They show you real places that can be visited. By locating an area on a map then using the map to physically find it you create the opportunity to form a deeper connection. You get to not only see but to experience the communities, streets, landscapes etc. This all works to inform and develop a connection to a location.
So what are you waiting for? Go grab a paper map and work on those navigation skills.
~map on everyone.