The Partners Network* Workshop is time dedicated to collaboration and collective impact. Everyone invested in geography education is welcome to attend, whether or not you represent an organization. Please come prepared to discuss common challenges and opportunities, share best practices, celebrate your accomplishments, and plan future strategies. The agenda will include time for sharing as well as two presentations that have been selected for their value to Network members.
*Any non-profit organization involved in advancing geography education, or with an aligned mission, is welcome to join the NCGE Partners Network. This includes international and national organizations, alliances and councils organized at the state level, and higher education departments and their auxiliaries. Partners are encouraged to share information on their activities throughout the year so that NCGE can help aggregate, amplify, and publicize the work we are doing to support geography education at all levels and the impact that work is having.
Full Schedule
- 9:00 -10:00 am: Annual highlights lightning round.
Any organization that desires can use 3 minutes and up to 3 slides to share key accomplishments and upcoming activities.
- 10:15-11:00: “Assessing statewide needs of geography education: a landscape analysis story from Oregon.”
Geographic literacy is increasingly necessary for informed civic and career readiness while at the same time geography instructional time is in steady decline. How can interested organizations assess and plan for a systematic approach to better support and improve geography education across a region? Come hear the story of a landscape analysis process conducted in Oregon and discuss what lessons you can take away and apply to your home state or region.
About the Presenter- Sarah Anderson is an educator, author, and consultant specializing in place-based education and curriculum design. Previously a middle school teacher, Sarah is the author of the book Bringing School to Life: Place-based Education across the Curriculum. Her research has been published in Educational Leadership, Education Week, Educational Studies and Green Schools Catalyst Quarterly and her work has been featured by Yes! Magazine and Edutopia. Sarah is currently a doctoral candidate in the Educational Theory and Practice program at Simon Fraser University.
- 11:15-12:00: “Strategies for funding a state geographic alliance”
Research shows that some state geography alliances have a private endowment, some received money back from National Geographic, and some have funding from the state legislatures. A large number of state alliances lost all funding after 2018. This is analogous to early river travelers going upstream from the coast, who had to stop at a waterfall cliff or a fall line. Geography education encountered a cliff in 2018 and must find a way around it, including securing funding. The purpose of this session is present and discuss strategies for funding state geography alliances.
About the Presenter – Harris Payne and Jerry Mitchell
Conference Room
Reynolds Leadership Circle
