Taking the course I increased my awareness of the main geographical problems and concepts. Reaching the learning goals broadened my outlook, it was an important contribution to my competence.
Regarding the learning goals for this course, I learned the basic concepts of geography and received the skills of working with its main visual tools. These first steps provided the necessary theoretical basis for further discussion of the geographical issues. My daily observation of weather obtained a scientific character, at the moment I realize the link between weather and climate as the main element of physical geography. I learned the main elements of the biosphere and its place in the earth system. I learned to establish the cause-and-effect relations between the changes in different layers of the biosphere. Discussing the urban and economic geography and political territories as the main elements of human geography helped me to realize the place of geographical knowledge in the system of sciences.
Regarding my personal goals for this course, it should be admitted that it opened new sources of knowledge for me and the new data for analysis. After taking the course, I can receive much more useful information by watching the news block on TV. I understood that geographical position is like destiny for the country. Discussing the events in a country, it is impossible to disregard its natural resources, climate, and the countries on which it borders. It was important to realize the influence and causes of global pollution to become an ecologically conscious citizen. The course encouraged me the further analysis of geographical data, as even the everyday routine provides plenty of information for analysis.
At the end of this course, I realize the importance of geographical knowledge in the general competence of every educated person. The links of geography with the other sciences are so strong that it is difficult to separate them from them. From one side, the overall comprehension of such geographical elements as culture, population, and political territories is impossible without knowledge in the spheres of the related sciences. On the other hand, knowledge of geographical concepts and skills of working with its main visual tools are necessary for conducting researches in other subjects. Knowledge of geography is important for people of all professions, but in certain cases, it is of crucial importance for becoming a good specialist.
The course helps to systematize the knowledge and form the skills of working with the main visual tools, but, in my opinion, more emphasis should be put on the practical side of the assignments. It would be interesting to analyze the information received from the news block on TV. The students could be given the assignment to find the news concerning the geographical concepts in the local newspaper and share the results with the class. Another type of possible activity is making a tour on the outskirts. The practical application of the received knowledge would be useful and interesting at the same time. It would increase the students’ awareness of the significance of the received knowledge and stimulate them for further independent research in the sphere.
Taking the course broadened my outlook and will be useful for my further study. Geography plays an important role in the system of scientific knowledge and provides important information for the related sciences.