• A new history/civics/geography grant program is created as part of a larger series of grant programs that includes teacher incentive grants and literacy education funding.

• States are authorized to use certain funds to support local education agencies (LEAs) in “well-rounded education” activities, which includes geography. 

• LEAs, in turn, are required to use some grant funds to be used for “well-rounded educational opportunities,” and geography is one of the subject specified for purposes of these expenditures. 

• Grants to magnet schools must be related to a series of activities, including “improving student knowledge of” various subjects, one of which is geography.

• Grants to aid in the “educational needs of educationally-disadvantaged” Native American students are focused on raising achievement in various subjects, one of which is geography.

• A “well-rounded education” for K-12 students is defined and includes instruction in a number of subjects, one of which is geography.  Our discipline is also again included as a “core academic subject” under the law.   

Chris Bunin (principal investigator), Andy Mink, and Julie Stavitski, on behalf of the Virginia Geographic Alliance and Charlottesville City Schools, were awarded NCSS’s 2015 Grant for the Enhancement of Geographic Literacy, co-sponsored by GENIP. Congratulations to all!

The Seminar: Education in Ireland combines the study of the Irish Educational system with an overview of Irish History, Literature and Culture. We study best practices in Irish curriculum, instruction and assessment including international benchmarks. While we review all aspects and levels of Irish Education including special education, you will also have the opportunity to focus your study in the subject area of interest.

While this is an extraordinary opportunity to study another educational system, we also enjoy all there is to see and do in the West of Ireland. We go to the Galway Town Theater, attend a performance of Traditional Irish Music, we visit schools, talk to local teachers, we take you on trips to Connemara and Inishbofin Island and Omey Island, the Burren in Co. Claire and to the Clonmacnois monastic site in the mid-lands, all with University faculty as guides to give you an insider’s view of Ireland.

You will enjoy the vibrant City of Galway, the pubs, the shopping, the busy streets & night life and the extraordinary arts and culture of Ireland that is represented in Galway. It will be the Trip of a Lifetime.

The costs for tuition and accommodation are listed on Page 2 of the Brochure. You can register for the Seminar by completing the preliminary registration form in the brochure.

The Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program provides short-term seminars abroad for U.S. educators in the social sciences and humanities to improve their understanding and knowledge of the peoples and cultures of other countries. The program offers educational lectures and activities specifically designed for the group, including visits to local schools and organizations, meetings with educators and students, and visits to cultural sites. Participants draw on their experiences during the program to create new, cross-cultural curricula for their classrooms and school systems back in the U.S.

In 2016, summer programs will be offered to Peru (K-8), India (9-12), and Senegal (post-secondary). The program covers airfare, lodging, and program costs. Participants should be prepared to pay a cost-share of up to $600.

Application deadline for 2016 seminars: December 9, 2015. You must apply online.

New educational and free resources on the Amazon for grades 6 through8 are available online! Check them out at natgeoed.org/amazon. This collection of activities, case studies, and interactive maps provides students with a holistic picture of the current state of the Amazon rain forest, and raises awareness about the short- and long-term impacts of human activity on its biodiversity. The National Geographic Society supports education as a vital component in conservation. By engaging with these resources, students will acquire integrated and innovative skills to become capable decision-makers, able to identify alternative solutions and weigh trade-offs to make well-reasoned decisions.

The IIE AIFS Foundation Generation Study Abroad Enrichment Grants Program recognizes U.S. secondary level teachers (grades 6-12) who have shown to be outstanding advocates for study abroad. The program is a professional development opportunity for those teachers who have taken the Generation Study Abroad pledge and taken innovative actions in preparing their students for global citizenship and study abroad. Fifty enrichment grants of $1,000 each are available to secondary school teachers and administrators to conduct any learning activity in the U.S. or abroad that enhances their international outlook and global experience.

Application Deadline: December 1, 2015 | Application Information

Esri software developer Richie Carmichael has developed an interactive 3D globe that offers a visual representation of the 10,000-plus earthquakes with a magnitude of 6 or greater that have taken place throughout the world since 1900. Viewers can rotate the virtual globe and filter the data to find the largest or deadliest seismic events.

Read more about it at: http://www.citylab.com/weather/2015/10/mapping-100-years-of-earthquakes-in-3d/409894/

Access interactive globe at: http://richiecarmichael.github.io/quake/index.html

The Association of American Geographers recently hosted a meeting to prepare a proposal for an Advanced Placement course in the field of Geographic Information Science and Technology. A writing committee was formed to lead the development of this proposal, which will consist of a course description, a recommended assessment, a plan for teacher professional development, outreach strategies and an initial list of participating universities and high schools. Soon, AAG will seek assistance and support from a broad community of stakeholders, including academic geography departments, GIS professionals, AP and GIS teachers, and a wide array of federal agencies, scientific associations and professional societies. Learn more at: http://news.aag.org/2015/10/aag-organizes-committee-to-develop-ap-gist-course-proposal/

NCGE’s GeoCamp 2015 Summer Institute in Iceland Field Guide becomes a model for others planning field trips. This inquiry-based guide is available in digital form here. At the VGA Steering committee meeting in September it was lauded as model for members to use when preparing their own field trips, and has already served as such for the “Cultural Landscapes: Urban Settlement and Development in Richmond, VA” field trip led by Lyne Everhart of the VGA during the NCGE annual meeting in early August. (A link to the pdf will permanently appear on the FOR MEMBERS page for easy access.)

HSTRY, an AASL Best Website for Education in 2015, is offering free professional development this year! This PD aims to increase student engagement and is relevant to teachers across content areas and grade levels. PD can be by webinar or on-site. Just fill out the interest form and we’ll get your district scheduled: http://bit.ly/HSTRYPD