Blog Post #1

https://arcg.is/0qb4G8

My StoryMap on migration can be found here!

I decided to synthesize the knowledge I’ve obtained within the past week through the use of the Story Maps digital tool. Through this activity, I’ve largely learned that indecision is, by far, my most glaring flaw! As an amateur with technology, the magnitude of content and overwhelming degree of customization initially left me with sore eyes and low moral. However, I was determined to utilize this tool to the best of my abilities. The geographic layout of regions on a page conveys more than just spatial relations. The simple sight of a map can conjure something visceral and Story Maps allowed me to emphasize the geo-political nature of migration in a way that would otherwise fall flat.

Through this activity, I became acutely aware of how difficult it is to summarize the phenomenon of migration. In a way, the nuances and complexities of this digital tool were reflections of the immense scope and intricacies of the issue itself. Conveying the history and human impact of oppressive conditions through such a technological vessel felt somewhat surreal and I often found myself questioning where to place the emphasis and bulk of my focus: on the technology or the information? After meticulously scrolling through map layers and sorting through endless page layouts, a realization finally hit me. I’d been missing the entire point. Technology and the social sciences do not have to be mutually exclusive fields, and this exercise allowed me to truly synthesize the two realms for myself.  

7 Comments

  1. Joe Slama

    Hey so wow! This was a really cool, and fun, read. You definitely found aspects of this website that I didn’t. You had a lot of good info in here, and I especially liked the focus on migrants’ humanity—economic benefits are a nice plus and a good persuasive tool, but that shouldn’t be the focus of such work. I’m glad you front-loaded those comments.

    • Savannah

      Thank you tremendously, Joe! I was seriously in awe of your map, though. Also, I’m glad you agree with my perspective on the economic narrative. It’s a complex topic and I think it’s important to stay cautious of how we frame our rhetoric. I can’t wait to share more thoughts with each other throughout the duration of this course.

  2. Cali

    Sarah, I really enjoyed you map story. I also experienced some hesitation when starting this project because of the amount of information and importance surrounding migration. Your map used a lot of information to make a very powerful point that I think many people often do not feel comfortable addressing.

    • Savannah

      Thank you, Cali! I really appreciate this feedback, and I enjoyed your project as well. Migration is a difficult topic to summarize but I think we were all able to grow and gain insight from each other through this activity. I’m eager to continue this learning process together!

  3. Megan Kraus

    I loved the format of this! I loved that the map aligned with your information. How did you find this program? Is it easy to create?

    • Savannah

      Thank you so much, Megan! I found this specific style of map by creating an account for ArcGIS StoryMaps and sorting through the various layout options. It was very difficult getting oriented with the site and it took a lot of trial and error before finally getting the hang of things. I definitely recommend trying it out for yourself though, I’d love to see what you create!

  4. grohoski

    I thought that aesthetically your Story Map was really nice, but I have to be honest I got a little lost in the message. At the beginning you point out that migration is important but the last two thirds of the presentation seem to be more about wealth and work not being evenly distributed across the globe. I am sure it was not at all your intention, but it left me with the impression that migration was a problem to be fixed because people should not have to leave their home lands for opportunities. While I think it is an honorable wish for people to be able to have opportunity no matter where they are born, I think the message that migration really is important gets a little lost in the other topics you bring up. But seriously great job on the technology side of things.

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