Freshman Common Reader Author Presentation

Where Am I Wearing on the Map: Ball State University Libraries Provide Cartographic Lesson for Freshman Common Reader

Kelsey Timmerman, author of the Ball State University Freshman Common Reader selection Where Am I Wearing? will present Common Threads: Searching for Community in our Globalized World on Tuesday, September 18 at 7:30 P.M. at Emens Auditorium.

Dr. Martha Payne, Assistant Professor in the Department of English, collaborated with the staff of the Ball State University Libraries' GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) to create a class assignment based on the book.  Students in Payne’s English 103 classes learned how to create interactive maps using Google Maps.  Groups were assigned sections of the book to map, so students created maps of Honduras, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and China depicting the locations of garment factories and other places from Timmerman’s travels.  One group created a map showing the notable places mentioned in the United States, including Muncie, Indiana—Timmerman’s current residence.  And another group created a map showing the immigration of Amilcar from Honduras to California (shown above).

The GRMC personnel are available to coordinate class assignments in a variety of courses using maps and other cartographic resources and GIS software.  The GRMC also provide custom orientation tours and instructional sessions.

For more information, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.