North Dakota Geographic Alliance

 

Dakota Alliance News Headlines and Notes as of October 12, 2011

 

[October 12, 2011] Agenda for NDGA Board Meeting

1) Review of Strategic Plan

2) Review of 2011-2012 Grant—compare to Strategic Plan/align deliverables to Strategic Plan in detail, re-design or refine goals, if  necessary

3) Funding

4) Board and Award nominations

5) Re-organize Executive Committee

6) All programs and PD—funding and evaluation

7) Opportunities for partnership

8) Coordinator report

9) Other business

 

 

[September 22, 2011]: NDGA Annual Meeting Announcement from Marilyn Weiser.

 

The NDGA has relocated directly across the campus of Minot State University.  Even though the flood disrupted the lives of many NDGA members and nearly everyone living in Minot and surrounding area, we will continue to offer teachers and other NDGA members all the services and resources that we possibly can. It has been decided by Jeff Beck, our Board president, and the office staff that we extend all memberships to 2011-2012. We are in the process of resuming the printing of the Newsletter as well as email GeoGrams.

 

The NDGA Annual Meeting will be held October 20th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM in Bismarck. The exact location is yet to be finalized. The agenda will include a report from the Strategic Planning Team as well as a review of the 2011-2012 grant proposal. There will be many and varied opportunities to join the NDGA team as we work hard to raise the level of geographic awareness and literacy in classrooms across the state of ND.

 

In addition, nominations are now open for the ND Geography Teacher of the Year and the ND Friend of Geography Award.  Please contact me immediately for the guidelines for both awards. Please note that the teacher award is available for all grade levels and for anyone who integrates geography into their curriculum.

 

If you are able to attend the meeting, please email or phone the office. This will allow us to plan accordingly for lunch as well as inform you of the exact meeting location.

 

[September 14, 2011]:It has been one busy and tragic year for North Dakota.  Major flooding has taken a toll across the state.  Minot, our office home, was among them.  The NDGA Office has moved to ffice space provided by the Minot State Development Office.  Some of our colleges have lost homes and continue to work to overcome the damage.  Our thoughts are with them.  We have many issues ahead for this year so board members should watch for things as the office gets reorganized after the trauma of this summer.

 

[May 6, 2011]: Word from Marilyn—The NDGA Office has computer issues and she has issued these to keep people up to date.

1)    There are nearly 25 teachers registered in both the Alliance Summer Institute and GeoFIT. Please see the attachment or the information below. Note dates for three other Alliance events.

2)    On April 17th John Rice, 23, from Maddock, ND, died in a single-engine plane crash in TX. John won first place in the ND Geography Bee and represented ND at the National Geographic Bee in Washington, D.C., three years in a row, where he captured two fourth-place finishes. Two other competitors along with John were chosen to form the U.S. team that was sent to the international competition. They defeated Germany and France in the championship round.

3)    Do you know an NDGA member who has been in the news? Traveled or will travel to an interesting place?  Deserves a hand shake/congratulations? Please let us know so that we can put their picture and/or story in the Spring Newsletter.

 

[March 18, 2011]: Board to Meet in Bismarck.  The Board of the Alliance is expecting to meet over strategic planning issues in Bismarck on March 25 and 26.  The Strategic Planning group has been working and needs the input of the Board on the plans they have been formulating.  The Meeting will be at the Kelly Inn.

 

[March 17, 2011]: Fellowship To Germany June 18-28, 2011

Announcement

The North Dakota School Boards Association and the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, in cooperation with Atlantik-Brucke (Atlantic-Bridge), announce an opportunity for social studies and history teachers to apply for an all-expense-paid study tour of Germany from June 18-28, 2011.  Over 600 American teachers from various states have participated in this study tour to date.

 

The purpose of the study tour is to promote a better understanding between the United States and Germany and to deepen the knowledge of high school social studies/history teachers about German/American relations, the Holocaust, and post-WWII Germany.

 

Ten educators will be selected to participate in the study tour.  Attendance at an orientation meeting in Bismarck on May 13-14 focusing on basic information about German society is required.  On June 18, participants will leave from Bismarck for Germany to take part in an intensive ten-day program that includes meeting with educators, political leaders, and business people.  North Dakota social studies teachers will have unique access to representatives of German institutions such as the Federal Foreign Office, the Federal Chancellery, the Federal Ministry of Economics, and German corporations and universities.  The itinerary has not been finalized, but tentative plans include visits to the cities of Frankfurt, Bonn, Cologne, and Berlin.

 

About Atlantik-Brucke

Atlantik-Brucke (Atlantic Bridge), founded in 1952 as a private, nonpartisan organization, seeks to strengthen both the understanding of Germany in the United States and Canada and likewise of the United States and Canada in Germany.  Over the years it has developed into Germany’s key transatlantic institution with a broad spectrum of economic, political, and social programs that involve top-level decision makers, high ranking military officers, leaders of business and industry, mid-career journalists, teachers, young leaders, and high school students.  Atlantik-Brucke reaches thousands of people every year through its study trips, conferences, workshops, lecture series, and award ceremonies.  The organization is composed of approximately 500 members who are among the leading figures in German public life.  It also regularly works together with other organizations that share similar goals and publishes a variety of materials that present objective information about Germany.

 

Fellowship To Germany

Guidelines and Application Form

 

Nominations for a Fellowship to Germany must come from a school administrator with support from the district superintendent.

 

Candidates should:

 

·     Teach Social Studies, U.S. history, or European history

·     Include discussion of the Holocaust and/or its social effects on post-WWII Germany in the course of study

·     Be an exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled teacher in any state-approved, accredited school

·     Have the respect and admiration of students, colleagues, and parents

·     Possess energy to withstand a taxing ten-day study tour schedule

·     Be flexible in working with others and value teamwork and cooperation

·     Have the ability to attend an orientation session about Germany in Bismarck

on May 13-14, 2011

 

Application checklist:

 

1.   Completed application form by April 11, 2011

2.   Signature of school/building principal

3.   Signature of district superintendent

4.   Two letters of recommendation

5.   Ability to attend orientation session in Bismarck on May 13-14

 

Seek more information at www.ndsba.org

 

 

 

[December 4, 2010]: World of 7 Billion Resource.  From: Lauren Carlson.  I’m writing to follow up an email I sent a couple weeks ago about the World of 7 Billion project from Population Education. All aspects of the program are free to educators and we would greatly appreciate your help in spreading the word. Information about the classroom lesson plans and the student video contest is available at www.Worldof7Billion.org.  

 If you have any questions or comments concerning the World of 7Billion content, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Additionally, if you are able to share the program information with your members, I would be thrilled to hear about it so please let us know! Your support is greatly appreciated as we get this valuable resource into the hands of educators.

 

[December 4, 2010]: The following has been received from Catherine Bally of the National Geographic Society: “The Board of Governors of the National Geographic Education Foundation met Wednesday afternoon, December 8, and your proposal is approved. 

Please notify your Sponsored Programs office that the funds will be available by January, or when all paperwork is complete.
(Perhaps sooner, but factoring in the holidays, I am expecting it would be January.)

Thank you for all the good thinking that went into your proposal and revisions and for the work you will be doing under this grant.

[November 15, 2010]: Geography Awareness Week Update from Marilyn Weiser. 

 

1. The files for the MapMaker Kits are at: https://sites.google.com/a/ngs.org/geography-awareness-week-2010/file-cabinet. You will notice that the NCGE conference training is referred to several times on this web page. Other ideas have come from all over the country.

MapMaker Kit Mega Maps are large wall or floor maps that students can build together. The finished product can cover the wall of a classroom, cafeteria, or gymnasium—even the side of a school building, or just a table top. 

 

2. Great Ocean Barrier Reef Activity with worksheet

 

3. Mapping Significant World Treasures (most related to water). World Heritage sites, includes beautiful photos of all sites.

    Students will be able to:

 

• Locate culturally and/or environmentally significant areas around the world

• Use the latitude and longitude to locate the sites

 

Please request CD if interested in the above resources. All of the files are too big to send via email!

 

[October 29, 2010] Read the latest in our Fall Newsletter.

 

[October 12, 2010]: The committee for the selection of the Warren Kress Geography Teacher of the Year has chosen Kim Schultz, Bismarck, for this honor. Kim has been an avid supporter and advocate of geography education as well as a leader of Geography Awareness Week and a very successful 2009 GeoFest in Bismarck. 

 

 

[July 27, 2010] Marilyn Weiser is seeking your help in identifying and recognizing a North Dakota teacher who demonstrates excellence in geography education. The North Dakota Geographic Alliance presents the Warren Kress Outstanding Geography Teacher Award annually to applaud great geography teaching. We urge you to consider nominating a teacher you feel may be eligible for this recognition.

The deadline for nominations is September 15, 2010. Nomination forms are available from the NDGA office.

 

The North Dakota Geographic Alliance is a well-known professional organization. Our more than three hundred members include public and private school teachers at all levels K-12. This award is open to any teacher, whether in public or private school, who teaches geography. Geography content and geographic approaches to learning can be found in self-contained elementary classrooms, and also in programs focused on social studies, science, foreign language, English language arts, technology, art and music. We urge you to consider outstanding teachers in any of these areas for nomination.

 

[May 14, 2010]:  Read the latest in our Spring Newsletter.

 

[March 28, 2010]: If you are a high school biology teacher, would you please let Marilyn Wiesr know because the National Geographic is sponsoring a Summer Institute for Alliance members who teach high school biology.

 

[March 26, 2010]  Due to illness the Board meeting in Bismarck is postponed.

 

[March 10, 2010] Are you ready to dive into geography this summer? Leave these dates open for exciting adventures.  Check out the diverse schedule!

Upcoming Events/Institutes - North Dakota Geographic Alliance June 7-11, 2010-NDGA Summer Institute, Williston June 15-16, 2010-Teacher Coalition Workshop, Medora June 21-25, 2010-GIS Workshop: “Upper Midwest Geospatial Technologies in the Classroom”, Bismarck July 13-14, 2010-NW Area Ag Tour “Ag in the Classroom, Minot State University August 2-5, 2010-2010 Geo FIT: Forestry Institute for Teachers SW North Dakota

 

[March 10, 2010] Geographically FIT (Forestry Institute for Teachers) – August 2-5, 2010 – 2 graduate credits Enjoy the breath-taking beauty of western North Dakota and join us on this four-day learning experience sponsored by the ND Geographic Alliance and ND Forest Service that will take place in a classroom on wheels. The charter bus will travel to many sites, while you learn about the geography, geology and forestry of the region. The adventure begins in Belfield and includes a trip to the Ponderosa Pine Forest, the Logging Camp Ranch and north unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. US Forest Service staff, on site in the National Grasslands, will discuss management, energy and grazing issues. A trip through the Killdeer Mountains is included on our way to Dickinson where we will join the city forester for a “walk about” town to observe Community Forestry.

 

[March 10, 2010] North Dakota Geographic Alliance Summer Institute—June 7-11, 2010—3 graduate credits “Fur, Food, Fuel, Future...Economic Geography" Hop on Amtrak! Get in your car! Rush to Williston! Join K-12 teachers for a good look at what’s going on in the western region of our state!! We will explore geography, geology and history of fur trade that led to settlement, that gave way to advances in transportation, technology, and communications that brought us to where we are today…..Rockin’ on the Bakken!! In addition to two days in the oil fields, this POWER-packed adventure will take you on daily field trips to explore a national park, historic forts, oil work over rig, and much more. Williston State College, June 7-11.

 

[January 4, 2009]: The January GeoGram contains three travel opportunites.  One is to Washington DC for one week (you and students), with only transportation cost to the city required.

 

The second is a professional development opportunity for the Japan-US Teacher Exchange program for ESD (Education for Sustainable Development). All expenses paid.

 

Finally, NDGA has been invited to have two teachers participate in a project that will take place in 2011-12 or 2012-13. All expenses paid.

This project is funded by the National Science Foundation. You will help develop and disseminate new models for professional development that integrate climate change into geography instruction in grades 4-10. This is a very exciting opportunity and if you are interested, please notify the office immediately. 800-235-1948, 701-858-3063 or email marilyn.weiser@minotstateu.edu.

 

 [November 9, 2009]: Governor declares Geography Awarenss Week official.  See the official proclamation.

 

[October 30, 2009]:  Ballots for the election of two members to the NDGA Board are in the mail.  Return them in the envelope provided.  One is a general member and one is a teacher member.

 

[October 14, 2009]: Read the latest copy of our Newsletter, Dakota Alliance, in PDF format.

 

[September 30, 2009]  From Marilyn Weiser: The North Dakota Geographic Alliance is pleased to announce nominations are now being sought for the 2009 Warren Kress Outstanding Geography Teacher Award recipient. The Award was established with contributions from the Kress family and North Dakota Geographic Alliance members to honor the life and professional career of Dr. Warren Kress, who served many years as North Dakota State University Professor of Geography. Dr. Kress died on August 23, 2001.  I am writing to seek your help in identifying and recognizing a North Dakota teacher who demonstrates excellence in geography education. We urge you to consider nominating a teacher you feel may be eligible for this recognition. The deadline for nominations is October 19, 2009.

 

o   The North Dakota Geographic Alliance is a well-known professional organization for teachers who teach geography in their classrooms. Our nearly three hundred members include public and private school teachers as well as university professors and community members. This award is open to any teacher, whether in public or private school, who teaches geography. Geography content and geographic approaches to learning can be found in self-contained elementary classrooms, and also in programs focused on social studies, science, foreign language, English language arts, technology, art and music. We urge you to consider outstanding teachers in any of these areas for nomination. 

 

o   Nomination Guidelines: The following information from the candidate must be included: 1) Education background. 2)Teaching history to include years taught and grade level. 3) Geography-related professional involvement. 4) Professional highlights and awards. 5) Professional organizations, and 6) Statement on the importance of geographic literacy

 

o   Please mail the nomination by October 19th to marilyn.weiser@minotstateu.edu or to: Minot State University, NDGA, 500 University Ave. W, Minot, ND  58707