From July 24 to 29 at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, the MGA co-hosted an institute for teachers. The purpose of the workshop was to show educators how to incorporate Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and UAVs (Drones) into their classroom curriculum as they help students think geographically about local, national, and international issues.
Shannon White, Samson Tesfaye, and Paco Gomez acted as the primary content specialists. They focused on GIS processes and methods including map reading, data collection, GPS work, data transfer, story maps, geocaching, remote sensing, and drone technology. The group also learned how to include these geospatial technologies in their elementary, middle, or high school classrooms.
The teachers were given the final task of creating a Geo-Inquiry project and presenting their research to their peers. In their projects, they had to associate some of the processes learned throughout the week. We're happy to report that each member successfully "graduated" by giving a summary of their Geo-Inquiry project on the final day of the institute. Thanks to the 2022 group who are helping spread the ever-expanding discipline of Geography throughout Missouri's schools.
NCGE 2022 Annual Conference
Registration is open for the 2022 Annual Conference of the National Council for Geographic Education. The meeting will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota from October 14-16. Three days will be devolved to connecting K-12 geography teachers, college, and university faculty members, curriculum designers and specialists, as well as other geographic leaders. See https://ncge.org/ for more details.
Missouri Conference on History
The sixty-fifth annual Missouri Conference on History, hosted by the Missouri State University’s College of Humanities and Public Affairs and History Department and sponsored by the State Historical Society of Missouri, will be held March 15-17, 2023, at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Springfield.
Paper and panel proposals in all fields of history, including public history and historic preservation, are invited. The conference is particularly interested in proposals for complete sessions, including panelists, chair, and commentator. Proposals should be submitted no later than November 1, 2022.
The annual Earthquake Insight Field Trip is set for Friday-Sunday, November 4-6, 2022. The route starts in St. Louis, and includes about 500 highway miles. The field trip, led by an experienced geologist, focuses on earthquake hazards, history and risk in the central U.S. Stops include evidence of past earthquakes, regional earthquake history, and engineered structures, utilities and critical national economic infrastructure exposed to the hazard.
The Missouri Digital Newspaper Project is home to more than 4 million pages from over 350 historic titles published in 108 Missouri counties (and the City of St. Louis). The collection can be used as primary sources for historical research and also to give students insight into the role and impact of Missouri and Missourians in state and national events. Find out more about the collection at https://shsmo.org/collections/newspapers/mdnp.
Texas State University 100% Online Ph.D. and Master's Degrees in Geography Education
Interested in renting a Big Map? Non-profit organizations will be charged a flat fee of $125 to cover shipping (round-trip) and handling. Maps can be picked-up and returned to our University of Missouri office for a handling fee of $25. For-profit organizations should contact the MGA for pricing information. Handling fees will be used to maintain the Big Maps and the variety of geography education tools included in the Big Map containers. Maps can be checked out for approximately a two week period.
Educators in Boone and Cole counties are eligible, while funding allows, to have free access to the maps thanks to a donation from Missouri Credit Union. Please contact the MGA office for details.
Today's Geographic Fun Fact It's Back to School season! The United States Census Bureau estimates that approximately 73 million American children and adults are enrolled in school, from nursery school to university-level.
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Miscellaneous
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