Key+Concepts

There are a number of Key Concepts that have been coming up in exam papers at all levels in recent times. I have listed them here and a brief explanation for them, but often you have to be able to apply the idea to any given setting. I am trying to add a glog to go with each one, so you may need to be patient as they are all added and for them to load.

This poster may help you understand the concept of perception. If you would like to print out your own copy of the poster you can access it here. || This poster may help you understand the concept of processes. If you would like to print out your own copy of the poster you can access it here. || This poster may help you understand the concept of accessibility. If you would like to print out your own copy of the poster you can access it here Ironically another example of accessibility because those who do not have web access are denied this resource! || This poster may help you understand the concept of patterns. If you would like to print out your own copy of the poster you can access it here || This poster may help you understand the concept of systems. If you would like to print out your own copy of the poster you can access it here || This poster may help you understand the concept of culture. If you would like to print out your own copy of the poster you can access it here || This poster may help you understand the concept of change. If you would like to print out your own copy of the poster you can access it here. || This poster may help you understand the concept of location. If you would like to print out your own copy of the poster you can access it here. || This poster may help you understand the concept of regions. If you would like to print out your own copy of the poster you can access it here. ||
 * media type="custom" key="6837843" || **Perception** ~ Perception is all about the way we view things. In turn our perception often affects the way that we treat an environment or act toward people or events. An easy example of perception would be about school. If you ask two people what they think of school one person might say that school is great - that is their perception, the other person might say that school sux - that is their perception. It is not too hard to see how these perceptions might affect how they act at school (both inside and outside of the classroom).
 * media type="custom" key="10016227" || **Processes ~** Processes is one of things that not all texts agree with and often we use it when we are really talking about an element that causes a process, but it is not actually a process, e.g. attrition is not a process, but erosion (through attrition) is. To put it simply a process is one of those big ideas that causes change. When you are answering a question about a process you need to make sure that you make it quite explicit what the process is that you are talking about.
 * media type="custom" key="6837861" || **Accessibility** ~ Accessibility is all about someones ability to be able to access a resources whether that is a good or a service. A lot of this comes down to three factors: wealth (as in Hurricane Katrina when the order was given to evacuate about a quarter of the city could not do that because they did not have access to private transport and all public transport had closed down even if they could afford that), distance / location (some resources are just too far away or are in inhospitable places to be able to access it) and perception (this has a big impact on whether someone feels that a resource is for them or not).
 * media type="custom" key="10016231" || **Patterns** ~ Patterns is a concept that can be created in a lot of settings. Usually in geography we are talking about patterns on the landscape, but these can be both natural and cultural. Also remember that a pattern is a general pattern as we are talking nature and a pattern will not necessarily be perfect. A perfect pattern will be more obvious in a cultural setting.
 * media type="custom" key="10016233" || **Systems** ~ A system is any natural or cultural setting that looks at the entire setting. It has four main components: inputs, processes, outpts and feedback. This can apply to any system whether it be a natural system (like a beach) or a cultural setting (a factory).
 * || **Distance** ~ I have not done a poster for distance as I feel it is too self explanatory. It is the distance from one thing to another. Scale can also come in here as different scales can make some features look further apart using a larger scale. ||
 * media type="custom" key="10016245" || **Culture** ~ Culture in geography largely looks at the effect of man. It is not necessarily the effect of man on a natural environment, but it could be the effect of man on a cultural setting such as an urban setting.
 * media type="custom" key="6837925" || **Change** ~ Change is all about change! The way that phenomena (whether man made or natural) never stay the same. Generally phenomena are in a constant state of change but it is the rate of change that is important. A mountain may slowly build up over centuries or may change dramatically with a significant event like an earthquake, avalanche or landslide.
 * media type="custom" key="10016239" || **Location** ~ This is probably pretty obvious and generally looks at the location of one feature in relation to another.
 * media type="custom" key="10016251" || **Regions** ~ Again pretty obvious. How do we or can we divide an area up. This could be official regions such as provinces or unofficial regions such as those regions with above average rainfall.
 * || **Interaction** ||