now continually updated as news occurs; last updated: October 17, 2007 data recovery served since March 2, 2001 Welcome to the electronic version of Dakota Alliance, the newsletter of the North Dakota Geographic Alliance. This is a digest of NDGA events. The Alliance serves the geographic education community of North Dakota under grants from the National Geographic Society, the Legislature of the State of North Dakota, Minot State University, and others. Our main NDGA Homepage has access links to our other web site features. Dr. Paul Meartz comments on Geography in Media at Meartz's Media and Place and Meartz's Geographic and Political Writing. For North Dakota webcams go to WebCamBigLook.

News Date: October 17, 2007
Geography is Fundamental Act Moving Along

The Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act continues to work through the Congress. Rep Earl Pomeroy is a co-sponsor of the bill.. The following is a letter from him showing his support to make Geography a more crucial part of the curriculum.

From: Pomeroy, Rep. ,br> Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 10:21 AM

Good morning! I am writing this brief note to inform you that I am again co-sponsoring the "Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act." This legislation will create a grant at the Department of Education to be given to an entity to develop a nationwide program for geography outreach.

The goals are to increase teacher training, provide for the development of effective instructional materials, and work toward improved geographic literacy for our children.

As I am sure you have already seen, there were some troubling results from a 2006 National Geographic-Roper poll of young Americans. Only 37% were able to correctly identify Iraq on a map of Asia and the Middle East and only 25% could find Iran. Here in our own backyard, only half were able to locate New York on a map of the United States.

At a time when people around the globe are becoming more and more interconnected, it is critical that we provide our teachers with the tools hey need in geography instruction so that our children will have a better understanding of other countries and cultures.

I appreciate the information the North Dakota Geographic Alliance has provided me on this issue. Please don't hesitate to contact me should you have any questions about this legislation.

Earl

News Date: October 17, 2007
Constitution Nearing Ready Status for Membership Vote

The Board of the North Dakota Geographic Alliance has been working for months on a new constitution to guide the organization through the years ahead. A committee has been working out issues associated with the document, and it should be ready soon for Board approval to put it before the membership of the Alliance.

The new constitution seeks to reorganize the Alliance in line with the planning the group has undergone during the past year.

The new document is expected to give the group more freedom to explore options for bringing geographic education to the forefront in North Dakota; and to offer those activities that will best accomplish that work.

Look for the Board to be asking for our approval in the coming months.

News Date: September 11, 2007
NDGA Board Affirms Support for Return of Magazine in Future

The NDGA Board met by phone on September 7 and reconfirmed that the NDGA Magazine is only on hiatus until the organization can again fund the effort. The Board voted on May 26, 2006 to suspend the magazine’s publication given the funding and direction of mission issues within the organization. That suspension has not changed. The organization remains in a planning period and the magazine’s return is among the items to be considered.

The Board also arranged for the final meetings of the group reorganizing the constitution of the NDGA. The board hopes the revised constitution can be ready for membership approval shortly.

News Date: August 12, 2007
NDGA and Newsletter Return

The North Dakota Geographic Alliance has gone through a period of reorganization and rebuilding. This has been a hard time for those involved. For those not involved, the basic issue focused on the future direction of the NDGA. This discussion became a tug between the magazine route to serving the needs of geography in North Dakota, and those who wanted to return to the older focus of workshops aimed at preparing teachers for their geography education roles in North Dakota.

Those seeing the return to the past role dominated and the Alliance has returned to that role. The results have been long-coming, but fruitful. Take the following statement from Julie Costello of Fargo as she describes this summer’s NDGA Institute at Fargo: “Overall, the 2007 NDGA Summer Institute was the largest in NDGA history. Our goal was to have this be a year for building and restructuring of our Alliance. This Institute exceeded our expectations and has definitely given our board a diverse group of teachers to build this Alliance and help us to achieve our goal of keeping the Alliance “about the kids.” The NDGA Summer Institute gave teachers and idea of what this group can accomplish if we work together and develop clear goals. We are on our way to rebuilding and it is now the challenge to involve these new members in worthwhile activities. I would recommend that we work with My Wonderful World and Geography Action! (Geography Awareness Week) activities to work in regional groups throughout the state to continue to build our membership and to share the wealth and richness of the group which is to be the North Dakota Geographic Alliance.” Please welcome the return of the printed newsletter and the wider role of the Alliance.

As part of this change, there have been changes in personnel. Eric Clausen, after years of great service to the Alliance, has left his position as coordinator. We all thank him for his service and guidance in making the Alliance work. His efforts allowed the Alliance to take its place among those around the nation.

Marilyn Weiser and Steve Hayton [Minot State] have taken the co-coordinator positions. Marilyn Weiser is also the new Director of the office in Minot.

News Date: August 12, 2007
Geography Action!

bu Julie Costello

Julie Costello [Fargo] In Fall 2007, Geography Action! will continue its journey around the world, with a focus on the natural, cultural, and historic treasures of Asia. Discover the diversity of Asia through music, videos, maps, and more.

Here’s a great opportunity for you to get involved. It is my hope to bring together interested Teacher Consultants from around the state to receive materials and training to help “spread the word” and share resources with their schools. I will have everything ready for you to take back and share with your school. If you are interested in receiving training and materials, please send me an e-mail (julie.costello@fargo.k12.nd.us) so that I can start planning the time and place for training. You will be reimbursed for travel and, of course, there’ll be food to go along with some great resources that will be classroom ready and goodies for your classroom. If you want to find out more, please feel free to contact me!

News Date: August 12, 2007
What's Happening in My Wonderful World?

by Marilyn Weiser

My Wonderful World just keeps getting better and better!! Educators, celebrate the 400th anniversary in Jamestown, Virginia. Bring Jamestown's history into your classroom with a National Geographic's kids game—On the Trail of Captain John Smith: A Jamestown Adventure. Follow Captain John Smith as he meets the Native Americans who inhabit the area, explores the Chesapeake Bay, and helps to ensure the establishment of the colony. Also, try your hand at shooting a bow and arrow, sword fishing, boat racing, and much more! In addition, there are more games, a video, lesson plans, fascinating online interactives, and articles.

Check out other innovative ideas for getting your students interested in geography and the world around them in “More News and Notes.” Check the Archives for great ideas on a variety of classroom activities. For example, in February Geography + Information Postcards explains how students can explore their environment and record information such as climate, population, industry, and resources on postcards. Then they can share their findings by submitting the postcards online to the Geography + Information Distribution Project. In February you can read the article entitled “Have Your Students Run Around the Globe.” This is a fun and unique program that integrates geography, physical education, math, and world history. You will discover how students in Sequoia Middle School in Fontana, CA, are “running round the world” as they learn about cities, states, and countries they pass through.

Go to “See Our Ads” on the home page and show your students and parents the 60 second television public service announcement. Kari Brock, a 2007 NDGA Summer Institute participant, suggests showing it on “Back to School Night” and encouraging families to take geography home to their world.

Click on Educators and discover 10 Ways to Give Your Students the World!! The site to go to is: http://www.mywonderfulworld.org.

News Date: August 12, 2007
Douthit Wins Kress Award

The North Dakota Geographic Alliance is pleased to announce the winner of the 2007 Warren Kress Outstanding ND Geography Teacher Award. Chris Douthit, Schroeder Middle School, Grand Forks, ND, was presented this award on June 16th in Fargo. The Warren Kress Outstanding Geography Teacher 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. He taught at the University of Minnesota and later at Saint Cloud State University before becoming a faculty member of North Dakota State University in 1957. He remained on the NDSU faculty until his retirement in 1991. While at NDSU, Dr. Kress was active in many areas of teaching and advising and Douthit shown receiving Kress Award at the NDGA Board meeting in Fargo.

was a founding member of the College of University Studies and the Council of Latin American Geographers. Following his retirement, Dr. Kress remained active in professional organizations. He was honored in 1999 as a 50-year member of the Association of American Geographers and as a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Minnesota Geography Department, one of the largest geography departments in the nation. He was also active in the North Dakota Geographic Alliance.

Chris is a graduate of Dickinson High School (1977). He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Dakota and M. Ed. in Geographic Education in 1995 and an Education Administrative Credential in 2004 also from the University of North Dakota. Chris has taught 7th grade World Geography at Schroeder Middle School for 17 years. He has been the head cross-country coach and Assistant track and field coach at Red River High School since 2002. Prior to this he coached middle school cross country and track.

Chris is the present chair of Schroeder Middle School’s Social Studies Department, was the past coordinator of Operation Days Work (ODW) program for Grand Forks schools. The purpose of ODW is involving students in providing educational opportunities to students in third world nations through community service. Schroeder was one of the first eight schools across the nation to introduce ODW to American students. Chris went to Norway with students to study and learn about their work with the program which includes an emphasis on community service. The Norwegians began the program in 1964. He experienced a week in Philadelphia with seventh grade students who wrote the ODW constitution with the other pilot schools.

Chris has chaired and worked on many curriculum committees as well as the state and national standards. He uses his Geography textbook in the classroom as only one of many resources while teaching students. While trying to make geography ‘real’ for his students, he also uses technology such as podcasts and iMovie.

This year his 7th graders worked on a Schroeder School history project. The project included interviews with current and former students and staff who have attended and worked at Schroeder. It will be a filmed documentary.

Chris is a teacher consultant for the ND Geographic Alliance and a member of the North Dakota High School Coaches Association. Chris’s awards include the 1995 Thomas Clifford Award given to him as the outstanding graduated student of the UND Master’s of Education program. He has also served on the ND Education Standards and Practices Board from 2002-2007 and is the present chairman of this Board. Chris is married to Kate and has two daughters, Mollie (21) and Maggie (18).

News Date: August 12, 2007
The World, Our Village NDGA Summer Institute, June 2007

by Maxine Trottier

Remember past NDGA Summer Institutes where teachers shared a love of geography by talking and listening to each other? Do you remember the laughter that filled the room? Can you hear the eagerness to learn erupting as participants answer their assigned geographic questions? I remember.

The 2007 NDGA Summer Institute was held June 11-15 in Carl Ben Eielson Middle School, Fargo. Forty-four people from every part of North Dakota attended. The first day was fantastic! Monday’s presenters, David Smith, Marilyn, Gerri, and Bonnie set the tone and the 44 participants responded. Their presentations received excellent reviews. Yes, NDGA is back!

Merrill Piepkorn (North Dakota Prairie Public Radio) from “Hear It Now,” interviewed Julie, Marilyn, and David Smith on Monday afternoon. “Hear It Now” aired in Fargo at 7:00 pm June 11 and you can hear it, now, by going to this website: http://www.prairiepublic.org/programs/hearitnow/

A breath taking silence Tuesday morning was broken only by the stories of Pierre Atitlio & Kachuol Mel Kachuol. Pierre & Kachuol shared their inspiring journeys to America. The participants could not get enough and surely would have listened until noon if the schedule had allowed. The book by John Bul Dau, God Grew Tired of Us is a must read.

The Geography in the Work Place panel was excellent. Panel members Bill Mahar, Julie Gunkleman, Christine Holland Laney, Marsha Polinski, John Marks, and Jessica Thomasson discussed the role of geography in their work. A thank you goes to Marilyn’s brother, Bob Stien, for bringing a unique geographical perspective from the work force. What role does Geography play in our work? our life? Do we take geography for granted? The Hjemkomst Museum and River Keeper’s Christine Holland finished our day.

Fred Walk began Wednesday with Geography Alive. The participants came alive. Imagine seeing 44 teachers smiling, laughing, and working together to solve the geographic questions Fred gave them. It was invigorating! It was geography! A Discovery Middle School teacher, Tami Haman, showed how to use an active board to present “Teaching without a Textbook.” This wonderful teacher shared her unique classroom experience. Tami’s expertise with an active board and slate showed us how important technology can be to our students and in our classrooms. It was impressive.

The walking tour of Fargo rained out. Steve Martens finished our day with his architectural power point. Seeing downtown Fargo architecture through Dr. Marten’s eyes was spectacular.

Thursday's rain didn't stop Roger and Anita Palmer's classes. GIS in the morning, GPS Geo-caching and Google Earth in the afternoon, Roger and Anita Palmer have not lost their touch. There was some indication of information overload for everyone! Another remarkable first happened Thursday. A parent (whose children attend Centennial and will go to Discovery) attended and participated in Roger and Anita's GIS class this morning.

It’s Friday and no one really thought about being tired because Julie’s Genographic Project piqued everyone’s curiosity. Could we all have come from Africa? Isn’t this a novel thought! Julie shared her Genographic kit results. Human migration paths were the topic of the morning and engendered rave reviews from the participants.

The afternoon sessions began with “Geography and the Generation Gap,” presented by Maxine. The participants shared memories of their respective generations. Some remembered people, some remembered places, and others remembered things specific to their generation. Deb Dawley’s presentation had everyone’s attention. Deb always models geography education at its best. The participants enjoyed her! NDGA membership and Institute evaluations finished Friday, our last day. Our largest NDGA Summer Institute 2007 had come to an end. Remember our past NDGA Summer Institutes? Well, we’re back! See you in 2008.

News Date: August 12, 2007
What is Ahead for the NDGA

Paul Meartz

The NDGA is planning for a booth at the NDEA Institute. Check us out there.

The NDGA Board meets by phone on August 16th. The constitution has been receiving a work over for the last few months and grant issues remain.

A postcard is being developed that will assist in our membership drive. This card will be going to a wide audience to alert people that the NDGA is back and has changed directions.

Our site in SecondLife.Com is nearing readiness. The Alliance will have a demonstration and gathering site in Neualtenburg. Watch for further word on this venture into cyberspace. If you are “in-world”, teleport to Funadama 137 146 32. Join the fun. A medieval German village seems the place for us?

The web site is undergoing rebuilding. We hope to increase the number of lesson plans. If you have some to share, send them in. But do watch for changes.

Julie Costello is organizing for a great Geography Awareness Week this November. She has some materials and is looking for people to help out.