Project Description

Poles Together is a collaboration of Prof. Stephanie Pfirman, Dr. Robin Bell, the Center for New Media Teaching and Learning (CCNMTL), and the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN). The project focuses on the use of GIS for the teaching and learning of scientific thinking through the study of early polar exploration.

Course Description

Undergraduate students at Barnard College experience the Arctic and Antarctic from the perspective of the early polar explorers: Nansen, Shackleton, Scott and Amundsen. They study the effect of extreme environmental conditions on expedition planning and implementation and consider the relative importance of luck and skill in ultimate outcomes. Reading include classic works and journal accounts, including Nansen's "Farthest North" and Lansing's "Endurance." Students explore the dynamics of expeditions and the role of varying environmental conditions through role play and the use of a web-based GIS exploration tool to follow varying polar conditions during the expeditions and discuss emerging issues.

Link to Courseworks: https://courseworks.columbia.edu (for registered students)

Development Credits

Faculty Producer Stephanie Pfirman Robin Bell Executive Producers Frank Moretti, CCNMTL Maurice Matiz, CCNMTL

Project Manager Ryan Kelsey, CCNMTL MapViewer Development Mark Becker, CIESIN Interface Development Zarina Mustapha, CCNMTL Content Research Rachel Ganiere Contributor or Ice Tracks, Temperature and Sea Ice Data Chuck Fowler, CCAR http://www-ccar.colorado.edu http://just-ice.colorado.edu