National Council for Geographic Education

NCGE Abroad: GeoCamp Iceland, Field Guide Resources, and Prospects for Expanding Field Trips
2024-10-18 14:15 - 15:00 (America/Phoenix) | Mission Palms Coference Room: Joshua Tree
Overview
One of the services NCGE provides is facilitating trips at home and abroad for geography educators. This session will cover three things: (1) the types of materials teachers produce from previous excursions, notably GeoCamp Iceland, (2) practical resources for aspiring field guides, and (3) strategies for expanding field trip options beyond existing locations.
Session Focus
Field-Based Learning | Professional Development | International Trips
Room
Joshua Tree
Meet the Presenters
Mayra Román-Rivera, Tracy Edwards, Nicole Means, Gina Bloodworth, and Thomas Larsen
Thomas Larsen is 2024 President of the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE). He serves as Co-Coordinator of the Geographic Alliance of Iowa (GAI) and teaches geography at the University of Northern Iowa.

Tracy Edwards is a Lecturer in the Department of Geography at Frostburg State University and an adjunct instructor at Allegany College of Maryland, both in western Maryland. She teaches Human Geography, Physical Geography and Sustainability Studies courses, often working with Community Partners to integrate aspects of experiential and project-based learning into her teaching. She is anxious to share some of the lesson plan and activity ideas emerging from the 2024 GeoCamp Iceland adventure.

Mayra Román-Rivera is a coastal geomorphologist specializing in post-storm recovery and remote sensing and GIS applications of coastal environments. Her research focuses on understanding changes that occur in the coast over time (i.e. erosion, accretion, sea-level rise), how they change the landscapes, how they affect communities and people, and how, if possible, can those changes be mitigated. Mayra also participates in community outreach and citizen science programs. She believes it is our responsibility as scientists to take what we have learned through research to the communities and help them become more resilient and better prepared to face changes happening in their communities. As part of that interest, Mayra incorporates community-engaged learning in the courses she teach.

Using Human Rights Education to Teach about the Israel-Hamas War
2024-10-18 15:15 - 16:00 | Mission Palms Conference Room: Colonnade, 60 E 5th St., Tempe, Arizona, 85281
Summary
Explore how human rights education (HRE) can help teachers frame sensitive/controversial topics, including the Israel-Hamas war. This interactive session will begin with a discussion of human rights issues commonly addressed in geography and/or social studies classrooms. Following this think-pair-share activity, I will provide participants with a brief history of human rights concepts and outline a HRE framework. This portion of the session will include an introduction to key concepts in contemporary human rights discourse, with a focus on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the Convention of the Rights of the Child (1990). Next, I will guide participants through the process of using the previously outlined HRE framework to examine the Israel-Hamas war. The activity will include small group analyses of pivotal and contested events since this conflict began on October 7, 2023. Lastly, each group will share their evaluation of assigned events, and all participants will have a chance to engage in a discussion of these conclusions.
Session Focus
Secondary/High School |World/International | Human Rights | Global Citizenship | Israel-Hamas War
Room
Colonnade
Meet the Presenters
Sean Corrigan currently serves as Assistant Professor of Multicultural Education at Southern Oregon University. Prior to his time in higher education, he taught social studies for 14 years in Compton, CA, Las Vegas, NV, and Vanuatu. He has worked extensively with culturally and linguistically diverse K-12 learners in several countries, in both urban and rural settings. Dr. Corrigan’s current research focuses on human rights education and global citizenship. He is especially interested in empowering teachers to center social justice and diverse perspectives in their practice, particularly when they may face opposition to doing so.

Crafting Effective AP Human Geography Lessons: Strategies, Skills Development, and Free Response Mastery
2024-10-18 15:15 - 16:00 | Mission Palms Conference Room: Covetto, 60 E 5th St., Arizona, 85281
Summary
This session will demonstrate how to develop lessons that align with the course and exam description, emphasizing the big ideas central to the curriculum. Participants will learn how to effectively utilize provided instructional strategies, prioritizing the planning of skills-driven lessons and activities. The session will focus on showing how to introduce and reinforce skills, particularly skill category three, through engaging activities. Additionally, educators will learn how to gauge their students’ mastery of these skills. The other portion of the session will provide valuable insights into free response training, highlighting how to master task verbs essential for exam success. Through this comprehensive approach, educators will be equipped with the tools and knowledge needed to enhance their teaching and improve student outcomes in AP Human Geography
Session Focus
APHG | Exam Prep | Assessment
Room
Covetto
Meet the Presenters
Jamie Worms is the Director of the AP Human Geography course and exam at the College Board. Prior to working at the College Board, she taught Human Geography at Auburn University, Smith College, and Georgia State University since graduating with her Ph.D. in Geography & Anthropology from Louisiana State University in 2015. Worms loves everything that has to do with geography, maps, good food, and travel.

A Taste of "Salsa"
2024-10-18 15:15 - 17:15 | Mission Palms Conference Room: Dolores
Summary
Come join us in creating and tasting a local favorite, of the Southwestern United States, Salsa. Participants will experience how to take a topic like “Salsa” and cook up a day of fun in the classroom that addresses all academic content areas; Social Studies (geography and history), Reading, Writing, Math, and Science. Participants will get hands-on practice with cooking, creating, and tasting Salsa.
Session Focus
Higher Education | AAPI history | Ethnic Studies | Inclusion
Room
Dolores
Presenter
Erica Hamel

NCGE Past Presidents’ Roundtable
2024-10-18 16:15 - 17:15 | Mission Palms Conference Room: San Pedro, 60 E 5th St., Tempe, Arizona, 85281
Overview
NCGE’s Past Presidents are vital sources of institutional knowledge. Contributors to this roundtable will address the following questions: (1) What recommendations do Past Presidents have for future NCGE leaders, (2) What meaningful lessons can be gleaned from geography education’s history, and (3) What ‘big questions’ remain for geography education?
Session Focus
Future of Geography Education | History of Geography Education | Leadership
Room
San Pedro
Meet the Facilitators
Greg Hill teaches high school AP Human Geography, World Regional Geography, and African-American Studies in Mesquite, Texas. Mr. Hill began his social studies teaching career as a World History teacher in Dallas Public Schools. He is the 2016 recipient of the Distinguished Educator Award: K–12 from the National Council for Geographic Education. He is also the 2020 recipient of the International Educator of the Year Award from the World Affairs Council of Dallas-Ft. Worth. At Horn High, Greg sponsors the Global Young Leaders and coaches the Current Events Team. In addition to serving NCGE as the 2023 President, he has also supported the organization as a member of the Board of Directors.

Thomas Larsen is 2024 President of the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE). He serves as Co-Coordinator of the Geographic Alliance of Iowa (GAI) and teaches geography at the University of Northern Iowa.

Poster Session: Teachers Collaborating Across Borders: Connecting Teachers and Students
2024-10-19 | Mission Palms Ballroom Prefunction
Overview
Since 2020, the Teachers Collaborating Across Borders (TCAB) program has connected 20 K-12 teachers and their students in the US with 20 counterparts across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) each year for joint virtual exchange projects. Participants can teach any subject or grade, and are chosen from a range of schools and communities: urban, suburban, and rural, diverse and culturally monolithic, from Title 1 schools to fancy New York private schools. MENA teachers are chosen from as many countries as possible, and from diverse communities within each country when possible. During the fall semester, teachers from the US and across the Middle East and North Africa create group presentations together to learn about each others’ school cultures and educational systems. In the second semester, the teachers put themselves into groups and plan international projects for their students to do together virtually, with age-appropriate activities and connections. At the end of the year, the whole group comes together again to share their projects. TCAB is led by outreach professionals from the University of Arizona’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies and the North Carolina Consortium for Middle East Studies. The application period takes place annually in the spring.
Conference Room:
Palm Ballroom Pre-function Area
Presenter
Abigail Limmer

Poster Session: The Forgotten Art: Why Retrieval Practice of Geographical Facts is Essential to Lowering Cognitive
2024-10-19 | Mission Palms Ballroom Prefunction
Overview
The study of Geography is a key component to understanding the World, developing Global Citizenship along with Cultural Awareness and promoting Critical Thinking Skills; however, Educators across America have often forgotten the foundation for this level of understanding begins at the bottom of Bloom’s Taxonomy: Recall of facts and basic concepts (Mcdaniel, R.,1970). For a period of time, many have tried to suggest that memorization is no longer necessary with the rise of the internet (Heffernen, 2017) but research has shown this is a baseless claim (Agarwal, P. K., & Bain, P. M. 2019) and (Deshler, D., Schumaker, J., Bulgren, J., Lenz, K., Jantzen, J., Adams, G., Carnine, D., Grossen, B., Davis, B., & Marquis, J., 2001). Furthermore as the Researcher will present this belief is harmful to students due to the rising Cognitive Load experienced by students in learning environments. The Researcher conducted a year-long study with her Social Studies middle school students and the Science department at Indepentant* School to show how the memorization of facts via retrieval practice is not only a viable solution to lowering Cognitive Load in the classroom, it is essential for educators to use these practices to strengthen their students’ schema, transfer knowledge and build cognitive flexibility in the Social Studies classroom, allowing students to have greater understanding of the World, become Global Citizens, build Cultural Awareness as well as Critical Thinking skills.
Conference Room:
Palm Ballroom Pre-function Area
Presenter
Kendra Miller

Poster Session: Bridging Cultures: The Amazon
2024-10-19 | Mission Palms Ballroom Prefunction
Overview
This poster session compares and contrasts the factors of the six themes of the AP World History curriculum with an emphasis on geography, climate, culture, economy, and the indigenous populations of the people of Peru, specifically the Loreto region, to students in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Conference Room:
Palm Ballroom Pre-function Area
Meet the Presenter

Victoria Vicente is currently a 10th Grade AP World History teacher at Rio Grande High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A teacher for 12 years, she is a Level III, Secondary Social Studies and Special Education K-12 certified teacher in New Mexico with a TESOL Endorsement. A 2024 NCGE GeoCamp Amazon participant, 2024 Fund for Teachers Fellow, 2024 Albert H. Small Normandy Institute Fellow, 2022 Fulbright Hays Curriculum Teacher Leader in Jordan, and a 2016 Fulbright Hays Teacher Fellow in Oman and Zanzibar.

Poster Session: ESD program considering regional vitalization through tourism resources
2024-10-19 | Mission Palms Ballroom Prefunction
Overview
This poster session compares and contrasts the factors of the six themes of the AP World History curriculum with an emphasis on geography, climate, culture, economy, and the indigenous populations of the people of Peru, specifically the Loreto region, to students in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Conference Room:
Palm Ballroom Pre-function Area
Presenter
Nagata Shigefumi teaches social-studies pedagogy at the University. He is interested in the geography lesson plan as ESD. In his spare time, he enjoys visiting world heritage sites in the world.

Poster Session: Unveiling Geographical Dynamics of California Coastal Bottlenose Dolphins: A Multifaceted Exploration
2024-10-19 | Mission Palms Ballroom Prefunction
Overview
Marine biological research provides a rich source of opportunities for the development of geographical and related STEM education activities for pre-K to adult learners. In this poster, the geographic perspective is focused upon research about the California coastal bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), a common cetacean species in very nearshore Pacific waters off northern Baja, California, Mexico, and the Western US coast. Research on “the coasties” conducted across nearly 45 years provides an abundance of field data and experiences, as well as numerous academic and peer-reviewed documents, reports, images, and summaries; and, most importantly, there is a rich source of geographical narrative available in this work that can provoke curiosity and interest in a wide range of audiences. Here, we summarize and highlight interesting aspects of the coasties’ geographical narrative, and its meaning and inspiration for further important research, conservation, and geographic educational activities.
Conference Room:
Palm Ballroom Pre-function Area
Meet the Presenter
Alex G. Kesaris, B.S., M.A., GISP, is a volunteer educator who loves presenting geographic knowledge through narratives about the research with which he is most familiar. He has conducted field research from shore, small boats, ships, and aircraft with scientists from SDSU, UCSD SIO, NOAA, and CDFW. Along the way, he developed and delivered educational activities, posters, presentations, technical memoranda, and peer-reviewed publications for diverse audiences. For the past 12 years, Alex has
provided GIS services with Sustenant, CDFW, GISinc, Axim Geospatial, and NV5 Geospatial.

Poster Session: Tales & Travels: First Chapter Friday
2024-10-19 | Mission Palms Ballroom Prefunction
Overview
One of my many passions in life is reading so I wanted to incorporate books into my curriculum; First Chapter Friday was born through this vision. FCF is when I read the first chapter of a new book that has a setting in the region we are currently studying in World Geography class. I’m growing my classroom library and introducing books and reading to my students weekly. Not only am I reading more, but my students are reading more too, while we study the world. When I started this, my goal was to foster their interest in reading and further the goal of inclusivity in my classroom. By using these First Chapter Friday encompasses middle grade fiction and nonfiction, as well as children’s literature, into the seventh grade World Geography course. The year-long course includes a study of six major world regions, along with skill building for research, writing, and project-based learning. Each week has a different read, and the books are preassigned.
Conference Room:
Palm Ballroom Pre-function Area
Meet the Presenter
Kelly Zander Patterson, is in her tenth year of teaching at Charlotte Country Day School, however she has been teaching for a total of thirteen years. She was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina. She is a graduate of the College of Charleston, where she received her History and Secondary Education degrees. She is a wife, mother, and sister, who enjoys spending time with family. She loves to read, bake, and she also has a passion for entertaining, whether it’s organizing a small impromptu get-together, or hosting a large social gathering. She enjoy the details of personalized stationery, beautiful gift wrap, and a handwritten note. She is currently teaching and advising seventh grade students, while also serving as the chair of the Social Studies Department at the Middle School.

GeoCivics Education During An Election Year: Lessons for Teachers by Teachers
2024-10-19 08:00 - 08:45 | Mission Palms Conference Room: Xavier
Summary
GeoCivics engaged teachers from across the United States in a place-based professional development in Washington DC. The K-12 teachers discussed with National Parks Rangers current changes happening within the parks to “tell the true history” of the parks, engaged with Black American historians about the history of Washington DC and it’s direct connection to their histories, and collaborated with local geographers to ensure the 2024 Election Year would be an opportunity to engage “many stories” of Americans from every walk of life through a geographic lens. Teachers then created meaningful geographic-focused lessons and civic action projects to ensure every student, including linguistically diverse students and students from varied backgrounds, see themselves as part of the American story. Lessons will be explored and collaborative discussions will be facilitated to ensure teachers find connections and support for their own classrooms.
Session Focus
Early Childhood/Elementary | Geography | Civics | Elections
Conference Room
Xavier
Meet the Presenters
Karen Guerrero is an educator with 20 years of K-12 classroom experience, 16 years of teaching
future educators at local colleges and universities, and 20 years of conducting teacher
professional development. She has worked with a variety of students from inner-city children to
urban adults. Her research focus is teaching integrated geography content across all curricular
areas to diverse learners. She is a National Geographic explorer with research on STEMSS
(STEM + Social Studies with an emphasis of geography across the STEMSS fields) teaching and
learning and continually looks for opportunities to collaborate globally.

Beyond the Description of Place: Building Geographic Vocabulary and Schema in the Classroom
2024-10-19 08:00 - 08:45 | Mission Palms Conference Room: Dolores
Summary
Beyond the Description of Place: Building Geographic Vocabulary and Schema in the Classroom. This hands-on, 45-minute session will provide multiple activities to help teachers encourage students to engage with academic texts as well as fiction and creative nonfiction as a means of refining geographic concepts and skills. Examples will be targeted to middle and high school classrooms, but could be adapted to any level, as a means of supporting ELA standards and skills.
Session Focus
Secondary/High School | Schema, Language Development | Place-based
Conference Room
Delores
Meet the Presenters

Ellen J. Foster is a professor of teacher education, secondary program coordinator, and executive director of the Mississippi Geographic Alliance at the University of Mississippi; a past president of NCGE; and GeoCamp Iceland four-time leader and 2023 alumni trip organizer. Dr. Foster taught geography for nine years in the greater San Antonio area before transitioning to higher education.

Rosemary Oliphant-Ingham is a professor of teacher education with expertise in English education and young adult literature at the University of Mississippi. She has more than 30 years experience in K-12 and post-secondary education.

Geospatial Technologies as a teaching tool - Challenges and Opportunities
2024-10-19 08:00 - 08:45 | Mission Palms Coference Room: Joshua Tree
Summary
Interactive digital mapping platforms (NG Mapmaker, ArcGIS Online, Google Earth), and satellite imagery are powerful instructional tools that encourage inquiry-based learning. The Delaware Center for Geographic Education (DCGE), in partnership with the Delaware Department of Education and Social Studies Coalition of Delaware, has been inserting all forms of geospatial technologies into newly-developed, literature based and standards aligned social studies instructional materials. The primary goal of the geospatial technology-infused instructional materials is to make learning interactive and engaging and provide opportunities for student-centered inquiry. Secondary goals include: i) developing student knowledge of the power and potential of geospatial technologies, and ii) piquing student interest in potential college and career paths focused on the geosciences. Challenges to the adoption of these new instructional resources include developing teacher skills in the technology and supporting (particularly elementary) teachers in the adoption of inquiry based learning. DCGE’s partnership with DelawareView and the Delaware GeoEducation Committee has supported the development of a range of extra-curricular activities to support enhancing student and teacher learning through geospatial technologies. This presentation will share strategies for inserting geospatial technologies into news and existing elementary-level instruction and provide examples of how to increase student and education adoption of the technologies.
Session Focus
Early Childhood/Elementary | Geospatial Technologies
Conference Room
Joshua Tree
About the Presenter
Mary Schorse is an environmental geographer whose primary expertise is in human-environment interactions, natural resource management, payment for ecosystem services (PES), and sustainability. She has extensive experience in multi-disciplinary stakeholder engagement in designing, implementing and assessing projects and initiatives. As a human geography, Dr. Schorse also dedicates her time to geography education and ensuring that K-12 educators are equipped and prepared to teach important geographic concepts as part of the K-12 social studies curriculum, and developing outreach programs for students and families to engage with geography and geospatial tools directly. Her work in geography education focuses heavily on identifying creative strategies for utilizing geospatial technologies such as GIS and satellite imagery as an instructional resource. in the K-12 classroom. Dr. Schorse has also engaged in utilizing GIS and spatial analysis in the examination of educational equity challenges in the state of Delaware.

Teaching Resources about Key Processes Shaping Today’s World
2024-10-19 08:00 - 08:45 | Mission Palms Conference Room: Colonnade, 60 E 5th St., Tempe, Arizona, 85281
Summary
This presentation shows web-based teaching/learning resources that explain key processes of change in today’s world such as climate change. globalization, economic failures, urbanization, and the like. These short modules are academically informed but tailored to a non-academic audience. They are found at <https://davidrutherford.org/resources>
Session Focus
All Grade Levels | Teaching/Learning | Today’s World-Changing
Conference Room
Colonnade
Presenter
David Rutherford is Associate Professor in the multi-disciplinary Department of Public Policy Leadership at the University of Mississippi. His undergraduate and Masters degrees are in geography, and he earned his Ph.D. in geography/geographic education from Texas State University. His broad background in research and teaching in geography covers physical, human, regional, techniques, and educational components of the discipline. The focus of his teaching and research is on major dynamics in the contemporary world. For more information visit David’s website at https://davidrutherford.org/
Contact: druther@olemiss.edu

Encoding Geography: Integrating Computer Science into Geography Instruction
2024-10-19 08:00 - 08:45 | Mission Palms Conference Room: Covetto, 60 E 5th St., Arizona, 85281
Summary
In the Encoding Geography Researcher Practitioner Partnership, researchers and teachers work together to explore the benefits and opportunities related to the integration of computational thinking and computer science into geography instruction. The intersection of geography and computer science connects directly to important research topics and impactful careers in many fields. These fields are likely of high interest to students, even though they may associate the subject of geography with something other than their own futures. An updated approach to geography instruction can tap into student interests and aspirations and infuse energy into the learning of geographical concepts and the pursuit of geographic inquiry. This session shares lessons that teams created for a 9th grade course. These lessons can be adapted for use in middle or high school classes and serve as models for further lesson development and revision.
Session Focus
Secondary/High School | Computation | Analysis | Inquiry
Conference Room
Covetto
Meet the Presenters
Kelly León is an Assistant Professor of Education at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay and a former geography teacher and curriculum specialist for the Sweetwater Union HS District in San Diego County. Kelly’s research interests include K12 geography education, teachers’ curriculum-making, and K12 ethnic studies.

Thomas Herman is a Research Fellow in the Department of Geography at San Diego State University where he is the Project Director for the Young People’s Environments, Society, and Space Research Center. He also contributes to teacher professional learning, the development of teaching and learning resources, and advocacy for geography education as Director of the California Geographic Alliance, a member of the California Environmental Literacy Initiative, and Chair of the NCSS Geography Community.

Atsushi Nara is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and the Associate Director of the Center for Human Dynamics in the Mobile Age at San Diego State University. He holds a PhD in geography from Arizona State University. His research interests include spatial data science, spatiotemporal data analysis and modeling, human dynamics and movement behaviors, complex adaptive systems, and geocomputation education.

Jessica Embury is a doctoral student in the Departments of Geography at San Diego State University and the University of California Santa Barbara, and a researcher at the Center for Human Dynamics in the Mobile Age. Embury’s research focuses on spatial modeling, spatiotemporal data analysis, and the integration of big geospatial data into geographic applications. Embury has experience conducting geographic research and producing spatial models related to social equity issues such as food access, pollution burden, and disease vulnerability.

Coline Dony is Senior Grants and Project Manager at the American Association of Geographers. She manages sponsored partnerships that support AAG’s mission. To support the sustainability and broadening of the geography discipline, Coline’s research focused on creating educational pathways between middle school and college to be exposed to a geography curriculum that is better aligned with the work of geographers today, and that incorporates more recent concepts such as geocomputational thinking.

Geographies of Genocide:Why Geography matters in conducting Genocidal Campaigns in the Modern Era
2024-10-19 08:00 - 08:45 | Mission Palms Conference Room: San Pedro, 60 E 5th St., Tempe, Arizona, 85281
Overview
Geography education goes a long way in understanding why, where, and how genocides occur. In my teaching, I stress the geopolitical circumstances behind the occurrence of genocides a d how the landscape adds to the uniqueness of each genocide. For this session, I (1) discuss why and when to teach about genocides and human rights in Geography classrooms; (2) demonstrate the teaching of genocides case study, regional, thematic, and other approaches; and (3) offer lesson ideas, resources, and readings.”
Session Focus
Higher Education | Genocide | Geography | Geopolitics
Conference Room
San Pedro
Meet the Presenters
Tracey H Norrell, PhD is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Geography and Sustainability Department at the University of Tennessee. She currently teaches courses in World Geography, Migration, Europe (including War and Society and Russia and its Neighbors) and two courses in Geography of Human Rights. This course over the years had to be split into two courses due to its popularity – the Americas and Africa and Europe and Asia. She is also the recipient of the 2022 National Council for Geographic Education Higher Ed Distinguished Teacher Award.

The Silk Road and Geography: A Traveler’s Tale
2024-10-19 09:00 - 09:45 | Mission Palms Conference Room: Xavier
Overview
Come travel the Silk Road! But wait, how will you get past the Taklimakan (Go in and you will never come out) Desert? What will you trade? Will your children be grown up by the time you get home? Participants will investigate the ancient Silk Road through two lenses, the first, a decision-making activity to choose the “perfect route,” and the second, focusing on the purpose, and trade goods, of the Silk Road. Participants will leave the session with two, classroom ready activities, focusing on both the physical geography of the route, and trade along the Silk Road.
Session Focus
Middle School/Junior High | Geography | Trade | World History
Conference Room
Xavier
Presenter
Cynthia Bloom

Embark on a GIS journey by Investigating YOUR Local Landscape
2024-10-19 09:00 - 09:45 | Mission Palms Conference Room: Dolores
Overview
What’s it like here? If you are curious about utilizing dynamic maps to activate student spatial thinking skills, join us to learn about one pathway to engage learners with their local landscape. Walk through an investigation created by a 7th grade teacher and a GeoMentor that utilizes the new MapMaker application to empower students to use critical spatial thinking skills while exploring their community. This activity is envisioned as step one on a scaffolded introduction to using GIS in a Geography classroom.
Session Focus
All Grade Levels | Spatial Thinking | Place | GIS | Technology
Conference Room
Dolores
Meet the Presenters
Shana Crosson is a Spatial Technologies Consultant at U-Spatial at the Twin Cities Campus of the University of Minnesota, focusing on integrating geospatial technologies and spatial thinking across the curriculum in higher education and in K-12.

Jess Winkelaar

Teaching Geopolitical Theories through Current Events
2024-10-19 09:00 - 09:45 | Mission Palms Coference Room: Joshua Tree
Overview
This session will open up the discussion of the relevance of framing classroom conversations of global events within a lens of geopolitics. Through examining geopolitical theories from a critical geopolitical lens it is possible to help put world events into more of a geographic perspective. By teaching students to break about arguments and critique the usage of geopolitical theories to justify actions, we can help students be critical consumers of knowledge and help them form their own opinions of current events. A case study of the historical foundations and ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine will be discussed within the context of geopolitical theories before expanding into further discussions of the relevance of theories in understanding other world events. Information about classical and critical approaches to geopolitics will be presented along with teaching strategies for implementation.
Session Focus
Secondary/High School | Political Geography | Current Events | Geopolitics | World/International Focus
Conference Room
Joshua Tree
Meet the Presenters
Kyle Tredinnick is a high school teacher for Omaha Public Schools, and works with the University of Nebraska system and the Geographic Educators of Nebraska.

Every Region has a Reason
2024-10-19 09:00 - 09:45 | Mission Palms Conference Room: Colonnade, 60 E 5th St., Tempe, Arizona, 85281
Overview
Every region has a reason. Large or small, political or physical, imagined or real, controversial or not, regions and the concept of a region are important for understanding our dynamic world. This engaging interactive session will provide plenty of handouts, discuss various examples of regions, and will involve critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Add to your students’ awareness of the world around them locally, nationally, and globally with your participation in this workshop!
Session Focus
All Grade Levels | Regions | Hands-on | Inquiry | Curriculum and Instruction
Conference Room
Colonnade
Meet the Presenter
Passionate about Geography and Geography education for many years, Gary Gress has been a K-12 teacher, Alliance Coordinator, and past president of NCGE. He teaches in the Department of Geography at the University of Oklahoma focusing on environmental concerns and issues. Gress’s interests involve studying various global regions, “place geography”, and how Climate Change is changing specific urban/rural landscapes.

Tales from the Crypt: AZ Cemeteries and More
2024-10-19 09:00 - 09:45 | Mission Palms Conference Room: Covetto, 60 E 5th St., Arizona, 85281
Overview
Cemeteries are a unique cultural landscape. In this session, educators will see a showcase of AZ cemeteries and how they can teach local geography and history. Educators will then be introduced to a field study where students explore the symbols and demographics found in this unique environment. After gathering their information in the field study, students then present their findings in charts, graphs, and written communications. All materials needed for the field study are free and online. The concepts learned in this session can be applied to cemeteries in any location.
Session Focus
Middle School/Junior High | Field Study | Local Geography and History
Conference Room
Covetto
Meet the Presenter
In the past 30 years, Gale Olp Ekiss has continually showcased the application of K-12 geography
skills and content at local, state, and national social studies conferences. Gale is a past Co-
coordinator of the Arizona Geographic Alliance (AZGA). During her 18 years as Co-coordinator, she
was the Project Manager for three National Geographic Society Education Foundation grant projects:
GeoLiteracy, GeoMath, and GeoLiteracy for ELLs. Gale helped secure consistent funding for the
Arizona Geographic Alliance making this alliance one of the most visible supporters of geography
education in the nation. She taught for Mesa Public Schools (Mesa, Arizona) for 28 years before
moving to the university level.

The Other South Korea in APHG
2024-10-19 09:00 - 09:45 | Mission Palms Conference Room: San Pedro, 60 E 5th St., Tempe, Arizona, 85281
Overview
South Korea in the U.S. curriculum is largely the Korean War and the Demilitarized Zone/Joint Security Area. In this session, the “other” view of South Korea is presented by APHG teachers who have participated in academic field study in the country. They will provide their field study-based observations within the context of APHG. Topics such as Korean traditions within urban society; cultural celebrations and places; marketing fish and flip-flops; population dynamics; and international issues and challenges. The captivation by K-Pop among U.S. youth via TV serials/streaming, music, games, manhwa, and food choices are discussed as a means to enhance Korean content contributions to the APHG course. The session will promote the importance of experiential learning and how it enhances content through virtual and place-based learning
Session Focus
APHG | Experiential | Field study | Application | World/International
Conference Room
San Pedro
Meet the Presenter
Amber Jeffords has been a Colorado girl since childhood, growing up in Colorado Springs and returning to nearby Fountain, Colorado as a social studies teacher at Fountain-Fort Carson High School. Amber just completed her 20th year teaching, all of them at FFCHS. In her 20 years, she has taught Global Studies, US History, Geo Geo of the National Parks, and has been a proud AP Human Geography teacher for the past 8 years. Amber created and co-sponsored an outdoor adventure program with her colleague (and BFF) Tinya, and has worked hard to ensure that students of all backgrounds and abilities have access to the great outdoors! She also loves travel and exploring the world around her to better bring it to life for her students.

Tinya Duffey teaches 9th grade Global Studies and AP Human Geography at Fountain-Fort Carson High School. She has taught for 19 years, and in nearly all those years she has been teaching Geography, by choice! She proposed AP Human Geography to her school 8 years ago and since, it has truly transformed her teaching. Additionally, Duffey co-sponsors an outdoor adventure program where her team take students on outdoor excursions for educational, career and team-building opportunities. She lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado with her husband and two teenage kids. They are a vegan family, as she has spent the past 25 years organizing plant-based educational events in her community and advocating for animal welfare. Duffey is a long-time distance runner and lover of fitness. Duffey and her family spend their spare time remodeling their home, camping, river rafting and loving up on their rescued pets.

A.I. Chatbot Prompting in the Geography Classroom
2024-10-19 10:00 - 10:45 | Mission Palms Conference Room: Xavier
Overview
This session will focus on A.I. chatbots and the growing importance of prompt generating both in and out of the classroom. Much like a Google search, a chatbot’s result is only as good as its language prompt. We will talk about the importance of using specific and precise language that generates desired results. Through the consideration of Mishra and Koehler’s 2006 TPACK framework, we will learn about how to evaluate when the use of chatbots and prompt generating is best for your geography classroom. The presenter will discuss her observations on the ways that chatbots are being used in her school and the ways that prompt generating is being introduced in her geography and social science classrooms. Come ready with your questions, concerns, and current best practices to share. Bring a laptop and create a ChatGPT account prior to the meeting if you want to explore during the session.
Session Focus
Secondary/High School | Ai Chatbots | ChatGPT | Technology | Curriculum and Instruction
Conference Room
Xavier
Meet the Presenters
Samantha Serrano is a 21-year veteran teacher at James B. Conant High School, Hoffman Estates, Illinois where she has taught AP Human Geography since 2006. She currently serves as an NCGE director, is an AAG member, an AGS teacher fellow, and has completed the National Geographic teacher certification. Her favorite professional development includes the annual AP grading, the NCGE conference, and her teacher fellowships with Dr. Stoltman to South Korea presenting on the topics of virtual geographies and place names. Her geography education interests include the use of geospatial technologies, issues of equity and access, and virtual geographies. She is an alumnus of Illinois State University (Social Science Education), Northeastern Illinois University (M.A. Geography and Environmental Studies), and hopefully soon Texas State University (PhD Geography Education).

Building Logical Reasoning Skills Thru Geographical Inquiry: Exploring Various Cities of Progress
2024-10-19 10:00 - 10:45 | Mission Palms Coference Room: Joshua Tree
Overview
Exploring the cities of Constantinople, Florence, Hastings, Kyoto, and Timbuktu, the presenters will take participants through a Classical Educational Geo-Inquiry journey to learn more about how the 5 themes of Geography impacted the formation of these cities whether it was in a moment of glory or a sustained period of time, each of these cities were directly formed by the land around them. Participants within the session will walk away with the ready to use discussion based application within the 6-12th classroom to build Logic reasoning skills and Rhetorical discussion. This session will focus on participants to discuss, analyze and argue the common themes of Geography that allowed these cities to become Centers of Progress.
Session Focus
Middle School/Junior High |Geo-Inquiry | Discussion | Engagement | Inquiry
Conference Room
Joshua Tree
Meet the Presenters
Kendra Miller & Ansley Tomlin

Who Eats What Where? Using Primary Sources to Teach the Geography of Food
2024-10-19 10:00 - 10:45 | Mission Palms Conference Room: Colonnade, 60 E 5th St., Tempe, Arizona, 85281
Overview
In this session, we will discuss how to incorporate the geography of food into the classroom using primary source materials. Food is an inherently geographic topic that is connected to both the natural environment and culture, making it a perfect vehicle for teaching both physical and human geography content. In this session, we will begin with an overview about teaching the geography of food, connecting it to geography and social studies standards as well as the practice of asking geographic questions and developing geographic skills. In the second part of the session, we will use the Library of Congress’ Primary Source Analysis Tool along with some freely available materials to study who eats what where. While the session is geared toward the secondary classroom, the content is easily adaptable to any grade level. Handouts will be available for participating teachers.
Session Focus
Secondary/High School | Food | primary sources | Inquiry
Conference Room
Colonnade
Meet the Presenter
Gillian Acheson is a professor in the Department of Geography & GIS at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She teaches a variety of courses including World Regions, Human Geography, Population Geography, Spatial Thinking & Behavior, Geography of Food, and Geography and Social Justice. Her research interests are in geography education and the cultural landscape with publications ranging from map reading and comprehension to representation of women in introductory geography textbooks to the cultural landscape of cemeteries. She is a past recipient of NCGE’s Higher Education Distinguished Teaching award.

Inquiry-based Human Geography Lessons for People and the Planet
2024-10-19 10:00 - 10:45 | Mission Palms Conference Room: San Pedro, 60 E 5th St., Tempe, Arizona, 85281
Overview
Engage in activities to help students understand the interactions and interdependence of individuals, societies and the environment, and to develop inquiry skills to better appreciate these interconnections. Presented activities are interdisciplinary with topics relevant to geography, economics, civics, life and earth sciences. These include demographics and human movements and settlements, as well as historical and current patterns of people’s use of natural resource use and altering ecosystems. Take part in a collaborative brainstorming exercise on identifying factors necessary for sustainable communities, create concept-maps that explore human-environmental connections, and play a role in a simulation of world population growth (with options for working with the data in a digital format). Lessons build skills in critical thinking, data analysis and collaborative problem solving. Receive lesson plans and background readings in an electronic format, matched to state standards, the C3 Framework, AP Human
Session Focus
All Grade Levels | Human Geography | Population | Environment |Curriculum and Instruction
Conference Room
San Pedro
Meet the Presenter
Dianne McKee, MEd
GeoCivics Project Director | Arizona State University
Dianne McKee brings over 20 years’ experience teaching in both formal and non-formal settings, directing federal and regional grants, developing courses and curricula, and designing and delivering both in-person and online professional development for K-12 teachers. She is a Teacher Consultant for the Arizona Geographic Alliance, and a Teacher Trainer for Engineering is Elementary, Makey Makey and Population Education. She has also authored numerous science, environmental, and geographic student publications, as well as developed environmental programs, courses, and training guides for government agencies and non-profit organizations.

Using an Atlas to Develop Multiple Literacies
2024-10-19 10:00 - 10:45 | Mission Palms Conference Room: Covetto, 60 E 5th St., Arizona, 85281
Overview
An atlas can be more than a reference book. See how a student atlas can be a tool for developing the information literacies and analytic skills necessary to conduct geographic inquiries. Attendees will engage with instructional materials created for an atlas designed to align with 4th grade History-Social Studies standards in California. Through this hands-on experience, teachers will learn how to help their students use atlases and other information sources to practice geographic thinking and acquire geographic knowledge.
Session Focus
All Grade Levels | Inquiry | Atlas | Curriculum and Instruction
Conference Room
Covetto
Meet the Presenter
Thomas Herman is a Research Fellow in the Department of Geography at San Diego State University where he is the Project Director for the Young People’s Environments, Society, and Space Research Center. He also contributes to teacher professional learning, the development of teaching and learning resources, and advocacy for geography education as Director of the California Geographic Alliance, a member of the California Environmental Literacy Initiative, and Chair of the NCSS Geography Community.

Research Roundtable for Geography Education
2024-10-19 10:00 - 10:45 | Mission Palms Conference Room: Dolores
Overview
Research underscores the empirical value of geography education, not just its intrinsic value. Participants in the research roundtable will meet to identify pathways for collaboration, sources of funding, and possibilities for the future of research in geography education. This session is supported by the American Association of Geographers’ (AAG) Geography Education Specialty Group.
Session Focus
Research | Collaboration | Grant Applications
Room
Delores
Meet the Presenters
AAG’s Geography Education Specialty Group | Mary Curtis and Thomas Larsen
Thomas Larsen is 2024 President of the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE). He serves as Co-Coordinator of the Geographic Alliance of Iowa (GAI) and teaches geography at the University of Northern Iowa.

Dr. Mary D. Curtis is an Assistant Professor at the University of Houston-Clear Lake in the College of Education where she coordinates the Social Studies teacher preparation program. Dr. Curtis is a geography educator with over 20 years of experience and service from local to international levels. She currently serves as the Vice Chair for the Association of American Geographers Geography Education Specialty Group and as Associate Editor for the Journal of Geography.

Maps and Models: How to choose which data visualization to use
2024-10-19 11:00 - 11:45 | Mission Palms Conference Room: Xavier
Overview
Every state has geographic standards that explore data, maps, and models. Geography standards ask you to analyze data, make a model, and explore patterns, but how do you know which type of model or map to use? This session will break down the types of data visualization and when you should use each type. When is a bar chart, scatter plot, choropleth map, or pie chart the best choice? This session will help teachers easily make those decisions, and also provide *free* tools to create different types of data visualizations! Teachers will walk out of this presentation having created various types of models and maps with various geographic data at local, regional, and global scales.
Session Focus
All Grade Levels | Data | Maps | Models | Inquiry
Conference Room
Xavier
Meet the Presenter
Jessica Flach is a former AP Human Geography teacher from Pensacola, Florida. Currently in graduate school at the University of South Carolina, Jessica works with the South Carolina Geographic Alliance in organizing professional development for K-12 geography teachers in South Carolina. Her graduate research focuses on youth geographies, travel, and citizenship. She is especially passionate about data literacy in geography classrooms, and strives to help geography teachers create engaging, inquiry-based lessons.

Michael Mewborne has taught in various grades, subjects, and capacities from 2006-2009 in private schools around Columbia, South Carolina. In 2009 he received his Masters of Arts in Teaching from the University of South Carolina and in 2010 started teaching at Chapin High School where he first taught and fell in love with geography. Mewborne initially did not want to teach geography, so he needed a lot of support and turned to his state geography alliance. Through the alliance, Mewborne found a community of peers to challenge and encourage him, making him a better teacher. He moved to River Bluff High School, an Expeditionary Learning Education school, where He taught from 2016-2018, at which point he took on the position of Education Programs Manager with the South Carolina Geographic Alliance. Mewborne is now the Associate Director of the Alliance and on staff in the University of South Carolina’s Geography Department. He does outreach to other colleges and universities across the state working with pre-service teachers, school districts and in-service teachers to support them in their work to bring excellent geography education to every student in his state through resource creation, research, and professional development.
