Summary
Inspired by our favorite educational philosopher, Ms. Frizzle, I sought an immersive way to engage my teenage students in the global issues we explore in class. Simply showing pictures of immigration, war, or international relations can only go so far before these topics begin to feel distant and abstract. Enter Geo-Strat!, an online strategy game I designed for classroom
integration. This game places students in national leadership roles, challenging them to navigate complex global issues and discover how geography shapes our world. As their nations face refugee crises, natural resource depletion, and political conflicts, students actively engage with geographic concepts, asking “where?” and “why?”, fostering critical thinking. Join us for a fast-paced play through of Geo-Strat, where you will take on a national role and explore how this interactive tool brings geography to life. Participants will leave with practical strategies for incorporating the game into their curriculum—and a FREE join code!
Session Focus
Secondary/High School | Global Issues| World/International
Conference Room
Flannigan
Meet the Presenters
Hello! I’m Dr. Ashley Penir, a geography and teacher educator out of California. I have a passion for teaching the power of geography and building geographic thinkers. With over 16 years of teaching geography in high school and at CSU, Fresno, I am convinced geography is essential to our curriculum and have dedicated my studies to exploring ways to understand and teach geography’s use and purpose. Geography is alive and I endeavor to teach it that way! I can’t wait to think through exciting ideas in geography education with everyone here at the NCGE!
