Read Chris Bunin‘s article “More than Capitals, Rivers, and Climate Maps” published online by Esri, in print in the October 2018 issue of Virginia Journal of Education, or open pdf version here.

GEOGRAPHY: The Science of Our World. https://www.geography.com/. This is a
new (2018) site developed by a collaboration between the American Association of Geographers and Esri. Check it out for a variety of teaching resources.

“Geography and maps are a fundamental language for understanding the world. They provide a framework for organizing and communicating our knowledge. Increasingly geography is used in virtually every field of human endeavor, providing a universal language for understanding, communicating ideas, and providing insights. Geography asks the big questions—Where? How? Why? What if?—and gives you the perspective to answer them with advanced technology and a solid knowledge of the world in which we all live.”

Judith Painter, Andrew Lewis Middle School, Salem, and Micah Shippee of Syracuse, NY, have co-authored a Google Earth Voyager on gerrymandering. Simplified and great for students!!!!

Both authors are Google Certified Teachers.

Take a look: https://earth.app.goo.gl/32oEiw

Nearly 100 years ago on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month the guns and cannons along the Western Front stopped firing.

To help commemorate the centennial of Armistice Day and to honor the sacrifices made during WWI, VGA, in partnership with the Teaching with Primary Source Eastern Region, is offering a 1-day Teaching with Primary Sources Symposium. This symposium will be held on November 8th in Charlottesville, VA, from 8:45 Am to 3:30 PM.

Free lesson plans and software will be provided to each participant. Each attendee will also receive a $50 stipend for travel support. Registration is limited to the first 30 registrants.

Click here for more information and to register.

Workshop agenda:
• Keynote Presentation (Dr. Lynn Rainville): Doing Their Bit: The Role of Virginians in the Great War
• Hands on Workshop – Library of Congress’ Teaching with Primary Sources Program
• Hands On Workshop – Getting Started with GeoInquiries
• Hands On Workshop – Placing Primary Sources Story Maps & Lesson Plans

Program made possible by Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Eastern Region, Virginia Geographic Alliance, and Albemarle County Public Schools.

Because everything occurs in time and space

Secondary social studies and government teachers explore ways to integrate the innovative products of a collaborative grant with the Library of Congress–Story Map Journals on key themes in U.S. History and Government. Primary sources make history come alive and maps provide a context.

Wednesday, November 14
4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (dinner provided)

Old Dominion University VB Higher Education Center, Room 247
1881 University Drive, Virginia Beach, 23453

To register, email ghribar@odu.edu

Registration deadline: November 11, 2018

Certificates for relicensure hours will be available for those completing workshop.

Workshop funded by The Library of Congress and the Virginia Geographic Alliance
with support from Old Dominion University

Flyer

For teachers who have previously attended an ArcGIS online training (face-to-face or virtual) workshop.
Refresh your skills—story mapping, clustering point data, collaborative maps, and special requests.Certificates for relicensure hours will be provided to teachers completing the workshop.

Wednesday, October 24
4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (dinner provided)

Old Dominion University VB Higher Education Center, Room 247
1881 University Drive, Virginia Beach, 23453

Registration deadline: October 20. To register email: ghribar@odu.edu

Workshop funded by Ersi, with support from Virginia Geographic Alliance and Old Dominion University.

See Flyer for additional info.

An introduction to ArcGIS Online for schools and clubs, sponsored by Esri.

Thursday, October 25th 8:00pm – 9:00pm

For more information and registration, go to https://www.directionsmag.com/webinar/8157

The National Humanities Center is offering several professional development activities this year that may be of interest to Virginia teachers:

1. Humanities in Class: Sugar Mill, Sea, Society in Caribbean History on September 29, 2018 at the National Humanities Center. This one-day symposium will help you understand this complex topic better – and to practice hands-on teaching strategies that will help your students use archival documents to investigate this global system. You can also look forward to working with some familiar faces and colleagues – including Andrew Payne of the National Archives, Chris Bunin of Albemarle County Public Schools, and Mike Williams of Warren New Tech School in Warrenton, North Carolina.

As an extra incentive, the Virginia Geographic Alliance is sponsoring 16 scholarships and travel stipends for Virginia teachers to participate.  Each award will cover the $15 registration fee as well as provide $50 to help with gas or overnight lodging.

This private link allows you to register for this scholarship on a first come, first award basis:  https://sugarmillseasociety.eventbrite.com

The schedule is as follows:

• 8:30 – arrive and welcome
• 9:00 – keynote
• 9:30 – “Let the Archives Speak” with Andrew Payne
• 12:00 – lunch (provided with registration)
• 1:00 – “From Ghana to Bridgetown to London” with Mike Williams
• 2:00 – “Geography and Barbados” with Chris Bunin
• 3:30 – dismiss

2. Humanities in Class: Digital Literacy in the Classroom is a five-module online course designed to explore ways in which the humanities can serve as a powerful tool in developing critical analytics skills in the 21st century information age. In this virtual course, educators explore digital literacy and citizenship using investigation, analysis, discussion, and reflection based on materials developed by leading humanities scholars. Participants will also develop a classroom resource that is customized to their own educational environment based on the NHC curriculum model. The course opens on September 4 and earns participants 15 hours of CEU credit.

Course topics include:
• Calling Bull in the Classroom (with Jevin West of University of Washington)
• Manipulating History
• China: A Case Study (with Min Jang of UNC-Charlotte)
Registration is limited to 30: https://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/education-programs/courses/

Registration is limited to 80: https://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/sugar-mill-sea-society-caribbean-history/

3. Humanities in Class Webinar Series 2018-19 provides an irreverent, fast-paced forum for scholars and educators to discuss compelling topics in our world through a humanities lens. This year we will feature sessions on the Second Amendment, privacy in the digital age, hip hop scholarship, and the truth and myths of Game of Thrones among other exciting topics.

Registration is limited per session to 200: https://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/education-programs/webinars/

For more information on the National Humanities Center go to https://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/.