Wall-to-Wall: Connecting Landscape and Culture

This Story Map is an invitation for you to participate in this crowdsourced mapping initiative. We hope that you will not only enjoy looking at the LiDAR landscape, but also reflect upon the history, both geological and cultural, of any place within the expanse of your computer screen and your imagination.

Source: nhdes.maps.arcgis.com

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2019 East Asia Seminars

"Since enrollment is limited, early application is encouraged. Complete This Application and forward to Arlene Kowal, 6 Country Way, Florence, MA 01062 or email: arlene.kowal@gmail.com."

Source: rigea.org

This thirty-hour seminar is open to teachers of history, geography, social studies, English/language arts, art, music, technology, and other teachers who desire to incorporate teaching about East Asia into their curriculum. School librarians and administrators are also encouraged to apply.  It provides content and resources for teaching about China, Japan, and Korea.

Benefits:

  • Learn about East Asia from experts in the field.
  • Receive $150 personal stipend and certificate for completion of 30 hours (upon completion of requirements).
  • Receive $200 in course materials and a subscription to Education About Asia.
  • Have opportunity to become eligible for subsidized study tour in East Asia (pending funding) with completion of seminar requirements.
  • Optional graduate credit may be available through UMass/Amherst.

Requirements:

  • Attend sessions (5 Saturdays), complete readings and assignments. Any sessions missed must be made up with webinars or FCCEAS events.
  • Create a written implementation plan showing how information and resources from the seminar will be used in your classes.

Since enrollment is limited, early application is encouraged. Complete This Application and forward to Arlene Kowal, 6 Country Way, Florence, MA 01062 or email: arlene.kowal@gmail.com. Rolling admission.

To view last year’s syllabus, speak with previous participants, or for further information, contact Arlene Kowal at arlene.kowal@gmail.com.

The Five College Center for East Asian Studies (NCTA national site) is located at Smith College, 18 Henshaw B1, 201, Northampton, MA. Learn more at  fcceas@fivecolleges.edu.

Giant Maps

The Alliance has TWO new Giant maps, and they are in large suitcases ready to be used in local schools and to travel the state.  The Alliance now has three types of Giant Maps: A Giant Map of Europe (26×26 feet), A Giant Map of South America (26×35 feet), and two Giant Maps of Rhode Island (14×21 feet).

If you are interested in having any of these maps, please email Amy Tibbetts at atibbetts@ric.edu with the subject line “Giant map: Europe”, “Giant map: South America”,  or “Giant map: Rhode Island”, to request a map to come to your school.  Please include 3 dates that would work best for your school schedule. Also include a cell phone number that the previous map borrower can use to arrange a time and place to hand off the map. If there isn’t a next borrower, you will be expected to return the map to Rhode Island College.

Source: rigea.org

2018 Geo-Inquiry Institute

June 21st and June 22nd are the dates for RIGEA’s summer institute.  This year’s focus will be on teaching using the geo-inquiry method.  Given that the geo-inquiry process includes asking questions about the world beyond our classroom walls and gathering information, we hold this event at the Save the Bay facility in Providence and collect data on a scientific boat cruise of the upper bay.

All educators are welcome, but this is especially geared for middle school teachers (as well as upper elementary school).  Since this model works much better when other educators at your school are also involved we are offering an incentive for you to recruit a colleague.  Every participant will receive a $200 stipend, but those that have a colleague from their school also attending will receive a $300 stipend.  So bring a friend and colleague to be your geo-inquiry partner in crime.  Click here to send in you RSVP (please RSVP by June 8th).

 

EVENT: RIGEA Geo-Inquiry Summer Institute
DATE: June 21-June 22
TIME: 9am-3pm
LOCATION: 100 Save The Bay Drive, Providence, RI  02905 (map)

Source: rigea.org

2018 APHG Summer Institute

“The mission of Mass Insight Education is to transform public schools into high-performing organizations and close the achievement gap. We engage in performance-based partnerships with districts and states through our three areas of focus: College Success, School Turnaround and State Policy & Networks.  These Summer Institutes are comprehensive five day trainings for Advanced Placement® teachers* of the following courses including AP Human Geography.”

Source: www.massinsight.org

While the majority of the participants are teachers who will be teaching the AP Human Geography course, educators looking to improve there content base in human geography are also welcome.

 

WHERE: Bridgewater State University (MA)

WHEN: July 23 – 27, 2018

Presenter: John Trites (member of the original Test Development Committee and Question Leader at the annual Reading)

REGISTRATION: Apply here

November Professional Development Opportunities

There are some great opportunities right around the corner in November—there is something for everyone so I hope you find the professional development opportunity that is right for you.

 

  1. AP Human Geography workshop-November 4th at Rhode Island College.  I’m extra excited about this one since all participants will receive APHG test prep materials, atlases, supplemental reading materials and a thumb drive loaded with materials.  Please come prepared to share.
  2. GIS Educator’s Day-November 5th in Newport.  I’ve made a deal for RIGEA members to have their conference registration for this event paid for by the alliance (normally $100).  This meeting travels around the northeast and we are incredibly fortunate to have it in Rhode Island this year.  To get you registration fees waived, please email Lyn Malone at lmalone@worldviewsgis.com.
  3. Looking at Geography–November 18th, 8:30am-1:30pm Bridgewater State University.  Hosted by SEMAGNET, see more details here.

Source: rigea.org

November APHG Workshop

At our last GeoFest, it was suggested we have an APHG-specific Saturday morning conference/sharing/networking get together.  Nov 4th, at 9am-12pm, we’ll hold that event at Rhode Island College’s Gaige Hall room 200. We’ll have breakfast (coffee, egg muffins, fruit OJ) at 9am and lunch after 12pm (pizza, cookies, and chips) available.  Connecticut and Massachusetts APHG teachers are also invited to join us.  Please RSVP here: https://goo.gl/forms/XPDz2CAFx4TXzNwv1

 

WHAT: APHG Workshop
WHEN: Nov 4th, 2017, 9am-12pm
WHERE: Rhode Island College, Gaige Hall, Room 200 

NOTICE: This event was previously planned for Nov. 11th, but is now officially on for Nov 4th. 

Source: rigea.org

Why Children Still Need to Read (and Draw) Maps

While many skills have become obsolete in the digital age, map reading remains an important tool for building children’s spatial reasoning skills and helping them make sense of our world.

Source: www.pbs.org

Young people need to develop a mental map of their environs and an over-reliance on GPS/mapping apps are no substitute.  When these youth become drivers, they are unprepared to make spatially/navigational decisions because they lack map reading skills.  They might think that their apps can do all the work and that an old fashioned paper map is outdated technology, but their spatial thinking skills become atrophied. Spatial skills are crucial for understanding the world as a global citizen, to understand your local environs and for making scientific discoveries.  So teach a kid how to read a map…the sooner the better. 

 

Tagseducation, K12geography educationspatial, mapping.