This week's class was a continuation of last class on Caribbean Weather Systems. This session was fully content driven with an interesting twist. Brochures, videos, standard cloud type charts, calypso, synoptic charts were among the resources used in this one class session. The first brochure was based on flooding. It gave details on everything we needed to know about flooding. Since we live on an island that is prone to flooding, it was quite helpful be reminded and sensitize ourselves of this reality.
After reviewing the information on the brochure, we were then instructed to use our observation skills to critically assess the way in which thunderstorms develop just by looking at a time lapse video. The questions that our lecturer gave us helped to guide our observations so my classmates and I knew exactly what to pay attention to while we viewed the video. It was quite interesting to note that by looking at one video, we can drawn so many conclusions about the topic. After discussing with my team members, I realized that we all had similar and dissimilar observations. Therefore, as we engaged in collaboration, we learned a lot more than we would have if we did it on our own. Additionally, after viewing the video several times we were able to discover more about thunderstorm development. Engaging in such engaging activities in this class has helped me to understand and value the importance of collaboration in the classroom and I intend on using similar strategies in the classes that I will be teaching.
It was time to move on to Northers/Cold fronts. My classmates and I were instructed to work individually on the exercise to determine the conditions before the passing of a front and after the passing of a front in Yucatan Mexico and in Belize. Although it took us a while to complete the exercise, I was assured that I answered the questions to the best of my ability. In my to do list, I know that I will definitely need to include, "memorize the symbols that are used to determine weather conditions" because during the exercise I often looked at the handouts that our lecturer gave us. I think that by now I should have been able to interpret the symbols without the aid of a weather symbol chart. Thus, it is important for me to review all the aspects of weather and climate. Additionally, I also have to do more extensive research on tornadoes and ITCZ so that I will have a greater understanding of the in which theses systems work.
In the final segment of this week's class, we review a brochure on disaster preparedness. As we followed along with out lecturer on the items needed in the even of a disaster, I asked myself, "How prepared am I in the event of a natural disaster?" "How prepared are my family members?" I then realized that in the event of a natural disaster, my family and I will not be fully prepared. I instantly had a flashback to the time when Tropical Storm Bret passed over Trinidad and Tobago. During that time my family and I were not fully prepared. However, now that I have the information at hand, it is up to me to sensitize my family and friends about the items needed in case of a disaster. It is crucial that we be fully prepared because we never know if we may end up in a similar position like our Caribbean neighbours in Dominica and Saint Martin. In future, I can definitely reassure myself that I will be prepared in the event of a natural disaster because I will use the information given to me and accept the challenge of making my own disaster preparedness kit.
In essence this was a very informative class and I realized that I need to continue doing research in order to memorize and deepen my understanding of geographic phenomenon. Additionally, I must ensure that I am fully prepared in the event of a natural disaster.
I agree Shoba, it is important to strengthen your content knowledge at every opportunity.
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