Where can Minuteman's Acceptable Use Policy be found?

digital literacy and citizenship class

Who can request files, emails, etc. from student laptops?

Minuteman's Educational Technology office

Texts, photos, emails are examples of...

permanent and possibly public communication

Your full name, address, phone number are examples of...

personal information that shouldn't be shared

safe information to share with others

To represent oneself is to...

to depict oneself to others as being a certain way or having particular characteristics

show people what one is good at

When someone is anonymous, he or she is...

without a name or other information that identifies who he/she is

Connected Culture and Acceptable Use Policy

To the Lakota, and other indigenous people on North America's Great Plains, the bison was an essential part of their culture ( expressed in the quote on the previous page). The bison provided meat for nutrition, a hide for clothing and shelter, bones for tools, and fat for soap. The bison was also central to their religious beliefs. So, when European settlers hunted the bison nearly to extinction, Lakota culture suffered. Culture is central to a society and the identity of its people, as well as its continued existence. Therefore, geographers study culture as a way to understand similarities and differences among societies across the world, and in some cases, to help preserve these societies. Analyzing Culture All of a group's learned behaviors, actions, beliefs, and objects are a part of culture. It is a visible force seen in a group's actions, possessions, and influence on the landscape. For example, in a large city you can see people working in offices, factories, and stores, and living in high-rise apartments or suburban homes. You might observe them attending movies, concerts, or sporting events. Culture is also an invisible force guiding people through shared belief systems, customs, and traditions. Culture is learned, in that it develops through experiences, and not merely transmitted through genetics. For example, many people in the United States have developed a strong sense of competitiveness in school and business, and believe that hard work is a key to success. These types of elements, visible and invisible, are cultural traits. A series of interrelated traits make up a cultural complex, such as the process of steps and acceptable behaviors related to greeting a person in different cultures. A single cultural artifact, such as an automobile, may represent many different values, beliefs, behaviors and traditions and be representative of a cultural complex. Since culture is learned there are many ways that one generation passes its culture to the next. Children and adults learn traits three ways: • imitation, as when learning a language by repeating sounds or behaviors from a person or television • informal instruction, as when a parent reminds a child to say "please" • formal instruction, as when students learn history in school 132 HUMAN GEOGRAPHY: AP" EDITION CULTURAL COMPLEX OF THE AUTOMOBILE The automobile provides much more than just transportation, as it reflects many values that are central to American culture. Origins of Culture The area in which a unique culture or a specific trait develops is a culture hearth. Classical Greece was a culture hearth for democracy more than 2,000 years ago. New York City was a culture hearth for rap music in the 1970s. Geographers study how cultures develop in hearths and diffuse-or spread-to other places. Geographers also study taboos, behaviors heavily discouraged by a culture. For example, many cultures have taboos against eating certain foods, such as pork or insects. What is considered taboo changes over time. In the United States, marriages between Protestants and Catholics were once taboo, but they are not widely opposed now. Traditional, Folk, and Indigenous Cultures With the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th century, modern transportation and communication connected people as never before and led to extensive cultural mixing, especially as cities have grown. The world prior to this time was very different; however, remnants of the past are still evident in our modern cultures. Traditional, folk, and indigenous cultures share some important characteristics and are often grouped together, but they do have some subtle differences. Traditional Culture Recently, the meanings of traditional, folk, and indigenous culture have begun to merge, causing geographers to debate when each should be used. Increasingly, the term traditional culture is used to encompass all three cultural designations. All three types share the function of passing down long-held beliefs, values, and practices and are generally resistant to rapid changes in their culture. Folk Culture The beliefs and practices of small, homogenous groups of people, often living in rural areas that are relatively isolated and slow to change, are known as folk cultures. Like all cultures, they demonstrate the diverse ways that people have adapted to a physical environment. For example, people around the world learned to make shelters out of available resources, whether 3.1: INTRODUCTION TO CULTURE 133 it was snow or mud bricks or wood. However, people used similar resources such as wood differently. In Scandinavia, people used trees to build cabins. In the American Midwest, people processed trees into boards, built a frame, and attached the boards to it. Many traits of folk culture continue today. Corn was first grown in Mexico around 10,000 years ago, and it is still grown there today. While many elements of folk culture exist side by side with modern culture, there are people whose societies have changed little, if at all, from long ago. These people practice traditional cultures, those which have not been affected by modern technology or influences. They often live in remote regions, such as some small tribes in the Amazon rainforest, and have scant knowledge of the outside world. As the lines continue blurring between cultural designations, the Amish of Pennsylvania are often referenced as both folk and traditional culture. Indigenous Culture When members of an ethnic group reside in their ancestral lands, and typically possess unique cultural traits, such as speaking their own exclusive language, they are considered an indigenous culture. Some indigenous peoples have been displaced from their native lands, but still practice their indigenous culture. Native Americans in the United States, such as the Navajo, have kept indigenous cultural practices. First Nations of Canada, such as the Inuit, have also retained their indigenous culture. Globalization and Popular Culture As a result of the Industrial Revolution, improvements in transportation and communication have shortened the time required for movement, trade, or other forms of interaction between two places. This development, known as space-time compression (see Topics 1.4 and 3.6), has accelerated culture change around the world. In 1817, a freight shipment from Cincinnati needed 52 days to reach New York City. By 1850, because of canals and railroads, it took half that long. And by 1852, it took only 7 days. Today, an airplane flight takes only a few hours, and digital information takes seconds or less. Similar change has occurred on the global scale. People travel freely across the world in a matter of hours, and communication has advanced to a point where people share information instantaneously across the globe. The increased global interaction has had a profound impact on cultures, from spreading English across the world to instant sharing of news, events and music. Globalization specifically refers to the increased integration of the world economy since the 1970s. The process of intensified interaction among peoples, governments, and companies of different countries around the globe has had profound impacts on culture. The culture of the United States is intertwined with globalization. Through the influence of its corporations, Hollywood movies, and government, the United States exerts widespread influence in other countries. But other countries also shape American culture. For example, in 2019, the National Basketball Association included players from 38 countries or territories. When cultural traits- such as clothing, music, movies, and types of 134 HUMAN GEOGRAPHY: AP. EDITION businesses-spread quickly over a large area and are adopted by various groups, they become part of popular culture. Elements of popular culture often begin in urban areas and diffuse quickly through globalization processes such as the media and Internet. These elements can quickly be adopted worldwide, making them part of global culture. People around the world follow European soccer, Indian Bollywood movies, and Japanese animation known as anime. With people in many nations wearing similar clothes, listening to similar music, and eating similar food, popular cultural traits often promote uniformity in beliefs, values, and the cultural landscape across many places The cultural landscape, also known as the built environment (see Topic 3.2), is the modification of the environment by a group and is a visible reflection of that group's cultural beliefs and values. Traditional Culture to Popular Culture Popular culture emphasizes trying what is new rather than preserving what is traditional. Many people, especially older generations or those who follow a folk culture, openly resist the adoption of popular cultural traits. They do this by preserving traditional languages, religions, values, and foods. While older generations often resist the adoption of popular culture, they seldom are successful in keeping their traditional cultures from changing, especially among the young people of their society. One clash between popular and traditional culture is occurring in Brazil. As the population expands to the interior of the rain forest, many indigenous cultures, like the Yanamamo tribe, have more contact with outside groups. Remaining isolated by the forest is becoming increasingly difficult as many young people from the indigenous cultures become exposed to popular culture and begin to integrate into the larger Brazilian society. As the young people leave their communities, they are more likely to accept popular culture at the expense of their indigenous cultural heritage, which threatens the very existence of their folk culture. Traditional culture typically exhibits horizontal diversity, meaning each traditional culture has its own customs and language that makes it distinct from other culture groups. Yet, people people within each group are usually homogeneous, or very similar to each other. By contrast, popular culture typically exhibits vertical diversity, meaning that modern urban societies are usually heterogeneous, or exhibiting differences, within the society and usually contain numerous multiethnic neighborhoods. However, on a global scale popular cultures are relatively similar with the same type of malls, shops, fast food, and clothing. Urban global culture centers are not identical, yet, global cities often do not have as much horizontal diversity across space as folk cultures. 3.1: INTRODUCTION TO CULTURE 135 COMPARING TRADITIONAL AND POPULAR CULTURE Trait Traditional Culture Popular or Global Culture Society • Rural and isolated location • Urban and connected location • Homogeneous and • Diverse and multiethnic indigenous population population • Most people speak an • Many people speak a global indigenous or ethnic local language such as English or language Arabic • Horizontal diversity • Vertical diversity Social • Emphasis on community and • Emphasis on individualism and Structure conformity making choices • Families live close to each • Dispersed families other • Weakly defined gender roles • Well-defined gender roles Diffusion • Relatively slow and limited • Relatively rapid and extensive • Primarily through relocation • Often hierarchical • Oral traditions and stories • Social media and mass media Buildings and • Materials produced locally, • Materials produced in distant Housing such as stone or grass factories, such as steel or glass • Built by community or owner • Built by a business • Similar style for community • Variety of architectural styles • Different between cultures • Similar between cities • Traditional architecture • Postmodern / contemporary architecture Food • Locally produced • Often imported • Choices limited by tradition • Wide range of choice • Prepared by the family or • Purchased in restaurants community Spatial Focus • Local and regional • National and global Artifacts, Mentifacts, and Sociofacts Whether a cultural attribute is considered traditional, folk, indigenous, or popular in nature, it is valuable to differentiate between elements of culture that can be seen and those that can not. There are artifacts that comprise the material culture, which consists of tangible things, or those that can be experienced by the senses. Art, clothing, food, music, sports, and housing types are all tangible elements of culture. Another element of the study of artifacts is understanding the techniques to use or build a specific artifact. Artifacts can be unique to a particular culture, or can be shared. For example, people of all cultures need to communicate through language, yet there are many groups that possess languages unique to their culture. The ability to read, write and understand the English language is an artifact of importance for much of popular global culture. 136 HUMAN GEOGRAPHY: AP" EDITION Mentifacts comprise a group's nonmaterial culture and consist ofintangible concepts, or those not having a physical presence. Beliefs, values, practices, and aesthetics (pleasing in appearance) determine what a cultural group views as acceptable and desirable. Mentifacts can also be unique or shared. People of many cultures possess an belief in one or many deities, and often the deities are unique to that culture. The belief in a god is a mentifact-the religious building or symbols are artifacts. Cultural groups also possess sociofacts, which are the ways people organize their society and relate to one another. Taken altogether, people tend to see the whole of their culture as greater than the sum of its individual parts. Sociofacts are embodied through families, governments, sports teams, religious organizations, education systems, and other social constructs. As with artifacts and mentifacts, sociofacts may also be unique or similar to other societies. Families are the foundations of most societies, yet what constitutes the structure of a family may vary widely between cultural groups. For example, Western cultures tend to view the nuclear family, consisting of the parents and their children as the basic family unit. By contrast, in many Western African cultures the norm is the extended family, consisting of several generations and other family members such as cousins living under one roof.

Create MCQ quiz using these questions: Text: Happiness and the Home Q1. What is the main idea of the text? A. A home is more than a building and plays an important role in happiness B. Modern apartments are better than traditional homes C. Houses look similar around the world Q2. Which sentence best paraphrases the idea of “home” in the text? A. Home includes feelings, people, and meaning, not just a place B. Home is mainly a house people live in C. Home only refers to where families sleep Q3. Which detail best supports the idea that home shapes identity? A. Personal identity begins in the family home B. Apartments are similar in many countries C. Homes can be expensive to build Q4. Why does the author include examples from different cultures? A. To show that ideas of home are shaped by environment and culture B. To compare rich and poor countries C. To explain which homes are the most modern Q5. Which sentence is the best short summary of Paragraph B? A. Geography and climate influence how homes are built and understood B. People prefer traditional houses to modern ones C. Homes must always be made from natural materials Q6. What idea links the examples of Mongolia, Greece, and other cultures? A. Homes reflect local needs and cultural values B. All homes are temporary C. Climate is the same everywhere Q7. Why is the kitchen often described as important in the text? A. It represents comfort, togetherness, and daily family life B. It is the largest room in the house C. It is where modern technology is used Q8. Which sentence best summarises Paragraph C? A. Shared spaces connected to warmth and food are central to the idea of home B. Fire is no longer important in modern homes C. Kitchens are replacing living rooms Q9. How does Paragraph D expand the idea of “home”? A. It shows that home can also be personal and virtual B. It explains how homes are decorated C. It repeats ideas from earlier paragraphs Q10. Which option best synthesises the text into one overall idea? A. Home is a physical, emotional, and cultural space that supports well-being B. Home design is more important than family life C. Modern living has replaced traditional ideas of home

Globalization The world becoming more connected through trade and ideas. Globalization helps people share technology. 全球化 Interdependence When countries or people depend on each other. Interdependence makes trade important. 相互依赖 Migration Moving from one place to another to live. There was a big migration to cities. 移民；迁移 Trade The buying and selling of goods. China has trade with many countries. 贸易 Conflict A serious disagreement or fight. The two countries had a conflict over land. 冲突 Colonization When one country takes control of another area. Colonization changed the local culture. 殖民 Diplomacy Managing relationships between countries. Diplomacy helps keep peace. 外交

C Consumers and customers C1 Market segmentation, targeting and positioning Learners will understand how and why B2B and B2C organisations segment the market, and how and why marketing activities are adapted according to the different segments identified. • Target market segmentation: o demographics – age, race, religion, gender, family size, ethnicity, income, education level, disability, socio-economic group i.e. socio-economic status, MOSAIC o geographic – location o psychographic – social class, attitudes, lifestyle and personality characteristics o behavioural – spending, consumption, rate of usage, loyalty status, desired benefits o B2B targeting – organisation size, scope, purpose, culture, type of product, industry type, budget holder/purchasing decision maker, budget size. C2 Consumer buying behaviour • Customer needs and wants: o functional benefits o emotional benefits o physiological benefits o luxury or necessity. • Consumer behaviour processes: o what, how much, when, why o impulse purchases o routine purchases o limited decision making o extensive decision making. C3 Customer profiles Learners will understand customer profiling within marketing practice. • External customer: a person or external organisation who buys products. • Internal customer: a person who is directly connected to the organisation, but not necessarily employed by them: o stakeholders o employees o shareholders. • Consumer: a person or business who uses the products they have bought or were bought for them. • Physical goods and intangible services. • Customer profiles: o demographics – age, gender, occupation, income, education o psychographic o behavioural – using web analytics to create user

ENGLISH GROUP PROJECT: THE GLOBAL VENTURE (Thailand) Comprehensive Presentation Script & Role Outline (5-Person Distribution) 1. Strategic Role & Workload Distribution Matrix Role / Name Core Domain / Responsibility Presentation Delivery Scope Member 1Member 1 Tan Finance & Housing (Rent, cost of living, deposits, urban/rural margins)Finance & Housing (Rent, cost of living, deposits, urban/rural margins) Slide 3: Finance Lead, Slide 8: Data VisualizerSlide 3: Finance Lead, Slide 8: Data Visualizer Member 2Member 2 Huy Work Culture & Professional Etiquette (Hierarchy, industry growth, networking)Work Culture & Professional Etiquette (Hierarchy, industry growth, networking) Slide 3: Culture Lead, Slide 9: Adaptation ExpertSlide 3: Culture Lead, Slide 9: Adaptation Expert Member 3Member 3 Minh Legal, Immigration & Visa Pathways (Non-Immigrant B visas, extensions, 90-day rules)Legal, Immigration & Visa Pathways (Non-Immigrant B visas, extensions, 90-day rules) Slide 3: Legal Anchor, Slide 4: Legal FrameworkSlide 3: Legal Anchor, Slide 4: Legal Framework Member 4Member 4 THanh Healthcare Ecosystem & Public Safety (Insurance, emergency networks, local hazards)Healthcare Ecosystem & Public Safety (Insurance, emergency networks, local hazards) Slide 3: Safety Anchor, Slide 10: Matrix PresenterSlide 3: Safety Anchor, Slide 10: Matrix Presenter Member 5Member 5 Sơn(project manager),Kiên Logistics, Climate & Project Manager (Transit, weather, group synthesis)Logistics, Climate & Project Manager (Transit, weather, group synthesis) Slide 1-2: Opener, Slide 6: Email Lead, Slide 11-12: CloserSlide 1-2: Opener, Slide 6: Email Lead, Slide 11-12: Closer 3. Complete Presentation Script (Slide-by-Slide) Execution Note: During delivery, presenters should display the corresponding slide from the HTML presentation tool. Speak clearly, maintaining eye contact with the grading panel. 12-Slide Presentation Guide: Secondments in Thailand Slide 1: Title Slide Purpose: Introduce the topic clearly. Content guide: Include the presentation title, group members’ names, course/module name, and date. Speaker guide: Briefly say that the presentation explains what employees and companies should consider before sending someone on secondment to Thailand. Slide 2: Agenda / Overview Welcome everyone. Our presentation is about secondments in Thailand. We will cover the main areas that a company and employee should prepare for before relocation. These include finance and housing, work culture, legal and visa requirements, healthcare and safety, and daily logistics such as transport and climate. By the end of the presentation, we hope to show that a successful secondment depends not only on the job itself, but also on good planning before and after arrival in Thailand. Slide 3: What Is a Secondment? A secondment is a temporary work assignment where an employee is transferred to another country, branch, client site, or partner organization while usually remaining connected to the original employer. Secondments require coordination between the employee, home employer, host organization, and local authorities. Slide 4: Finance & Housing — Cost of Living Finance and housing are one of the first things a secondee should plan before moving to Thailand. The cost of living can vary a lot depending on whether the employee is based in Bangkok, another major city, or a regional area. Urban areas usually have higher rent, but they also offer better access to transport, hospitals, offices, and international services. In smaller cities or rural areas, rent may be lower, but transport and convenience can become bigger concerns. So, the key point is that secondees should not only compare prices, but also consider location, commute, and what support the employer provides. Slide 6: Work Culture — Hierarchy & Etiquette Purpose: Help secondees understand workplace expectations. Content guide: Cover respect for seniority, polite communication, indirect feedback, saving face, punctuality, proper greetings, and professional dress. Speaker guide: Explain that foreign employees should avoid being too blunt in meetings and should observe how local colleagues communicate with managers or senior staff. Suggested visual: “Do and Don’t” etiquette list. Slide 7: Work Culture — Industry Growth & Networking Purpose: Connect secondments to career and business opportunities. Content guide: Mention sectors where Thailand often attracts foreign professionals, such as manufacturing, tourism, logistics, finance, technology, and regional business operations. Discuss relationship-building and networking. Speaker guide: Emphasize that trust and long-term relationships are important in Thai professional settings. Networking can happen through industry events, chambers of commerce, company introductions, and informal business meals. Suggested visual: Thailand industry opportunity map or sector icons. Slide 8: Legal & Immigration — Visa Pathways Purpose: Explain the main legal entry pathway for work-related secondments. Content guide: Introduce the Non-Immigrant B visa as a common work/business visa category. Mention that supporting documents may include passport, application forms, employment or company letters, and other evidence requested by Thai authorities. Speaker guide: Make clear that a visa alone may not be enough to legally work; seconded employees normally need the correct visa and work authorization. The exact process depends on the employer, role, nationality, and assignment structure. Suggested visual: Simple flowchart: Home employer → Host company → Visa application → Arrival → Work permit/compliance. Slide 9: Legal & Immigration — Compliance Rules Purpose: Explain ongoing responsibilities after arrival. Content guide: Cover visa extensions, work permit validity, re-entry permits, address reporting, and 90-day reporting for eligible long-stay foreigners. Speaker guide: Stress that compliance is not a one-time task. Employees and HR teams should track deadlines carefully because missing reporting or renewal dates can cause fines, delays, or legal issues. Suggested visual: Compliance checklist or timeline. Slide 10: Healthcare & Public Safety Purpose: Explain how secondees should prepare for health and safety risks. Content guide: Cover international health insurance, access to private hospitals, emergency numbers, vaccinations or health checks if required, and common local hazards such as road safety, flooding, heat, food hygiene, and mosquito-borne illnesses. Speaker guide: Explain that Thailand has strong healthcare options in major cities, but employees should confirm insurance coverage before arrival. They should also know what to do in an emergency and save important contact numbers. Suggested visual: Emergency preparation checklist. Slide 11: Logistics & Climate Purpose: Explain practical relocation and daily-life planning. Content guide: Cover public transit, taxis, ride-hailing, domestic travel, airport access, SIM cards, banking, weather, rainy season, heat, and packing needs. Speaker guide: Mention that weather affects commuting, clothing, housing choice, and travel planning. Employees should plan around heat, rain, and possible flooding, especially during the rainy season. Suggested visual: Seasonal calendar showing hot, rainy, and cool periods. Slide 12: Project Manager / Group Synthesis Purpose: Bring the presentation together and end with key recommendations. Content guide: Summarize the main risks and preparation steps: budget early, secure compliant visa/work permit arrangements, understand workplace culture, arrange insurance, and prepare for climate/logistics. Speaker guide: Conclude by saying that a successful secondment in Thailand depends on both professional readiness and personal relocation planning. End with 3–5 recommendations for companies and employees. Suggested visual: Final checklist: “Before departure,” “Upon arrival,” and “During secondment.” A simple way to divide the work is: Member 1: Slides 1–3 introduction. Member 2: Slides 4–5 finance and housing. Member 3: Slides 6–7 work culture. Member 4: Slides 8–9 legal and immigration. Member 5: Slides 10–12 healthcare, logistics, and conclusion.

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