Summary
The Pan-American Institute for Geography and History (IPGH) initiated a multi-year research and outreach effort to enhance geography education across the Americas through a charge given to its Commission on Geography’s Committee on Education. Through this endeavor, called ‘Geo Literacy for the Countries of the Americas’, researchers focused on four broad areas: geography teaching methods, connecting geography and education stakeholders, best practices in on-line geography teaching, and best practices in in-person teaching.
This presentation outlines the accomplishments of the Committee on Education and then provides specific examples of educational materials and best practices developed through the project, with a focus on those that are directly transferable to US classrooms and state-level curricular standards. As one example, the presenters will share bilingual (Spanish and English) materials that build off of the National Geographic Geo-Inquiry Process to incorporate the research or creative activities of National Geographic Explorers as well as educator/student guides that align the steps of Geo- Inquiry with select geographic themes in Chile and across the globe. Geography education/teacher education researchers at a Chilean university led the development of these materials with the support and expertise of teachers and teacher education students in the region.
Session Focus
All Grade Levels | World/International | Geo-Literacy for the Countries of the Americas
Conference Room
Flannigan
Meet the Presenters
Alex Oberle (PhD Geography) is Professor of Geography at the University of Northern Iowa. His research specializes in geography education, specifically inquiry in geography, internationalizing teacher education, and GIS/geospatial technologies in geography education. Email: alex.oberle@uni.edu
Sandra Alvarez Barahona (PhD Education) is Professor of History and Geography in the Education Department at the University of La Serena (Chile). Her research specializes in geography education and the promotion of geographic thinking among teacher education students. email: salvarez@userena.cl Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5357-767X
Fabián Araya Palacios (PhD Geography) is Professor of Social Sciences and Dean of the College of Social Sciences, Business, and Law at the University of La Serena (Chile). His research specializes in geography education for civic engagement, sustainability, and the promotion of geographic thinking among teacher education students. email: faraya@userena.cl Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6083-1661
