The Importance of Being Geographic A cross-curricular professional development institute for Vermont educators   July 28-August 1 2008 Saint Michael's College Colchester, Vermont

 

Geography is a dynamic core area of study that can also bring writing, reading, mathematics, science, and history to life.  Geography captures student interest, connects diverse fields of knowledge and generates enthusiasm in the classroom.  Geography education should start early and be reinforced often.  This professional development program is driven by the fundamentals of place-based geography at local and global scales, while focusing on meeting Vermont’s K-12 standards using interdisciplinary approaches. 

 

This free, week-long professional development program is sponsored by the Vermont Geographic Alliance with the generous support of the National Geographic Education Foundation.

 

The Importance of Being Geographic will feature:

• Engaging content-driven material from university and college faculty

• Classroom-tested teaching materials and practice demonstrations from experienced Vermont teachers

• Curriculum unit development sessions with experienced Alliance-trained Teacher Consultants from various grade levels

• Field-based learning using geo-spatial technology, maps and landscape reading techniques, and interpretive methods

• Access to National Geographic Society resources and materials

• Supportive environment for meeting individual professional development goals

• Field Studies

• Training in some of the latest computer and internet geography technologies

• Movement-based learning

• Extended professional development support and learning opportunities available to program participants.

• Free maps and other great geography gear

 

The program will be based at Saint Michael's College.  Free room and board (in air-conditioned suites) is optional.

 

Professional development recertification credit (approximately 40 hours)  will be offered.  Graduate credit from St Michael’s College is available with an additional time commitment in the Fall of 2008  (this includes a requirement for a small number of on-campus meetings), the submission of a standards-based completed curricular unit, and some peer-review duties.   [Cost: $225 for 3 graduate credits; cost is subsidized with grant funds from National Geographic Education Foundation].

 

For details:  Contact Cheryl Morse Dunkley [Cheryl.Dunkley@uvm.edu] or Richard Kujawa [rkujawa@smcvt.edu]

 

Click here to open an application form as a WORD file

 

Click here to open an application form as a printable Adobe PDF file