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The New York Geographic Alliance is always looking for new opportunities to reach out to the teachers in our state. It is our mission to get more geography into our schools. Furthermore, we want the geographic education to be relevant to the 21st century. New York's students must be literate in the tools available today, such as GIS. Now that there is a good FREE software for Geographic Information Systems - Arc Exploration Java Education Edition (AEJEE), it is possible for students of all ages to learn the basics of this very useful tool. Maps on a variety of topics, from local to global, are possible with training and practice.
NYGA wants teachers to start using GIS in their classrooms to complement their current curricula. Therefore, we are offering training to teachers in one-day workshops, which we guarantee will give you the skills you need to work on projects on your own and with your students. During the training workshops, maps will be demonstrated that are appropriate for all grade levels and most subject areas.
Maps like the one above are easily created by using AEJEE software!
Our first workshop will be at Monroe Community College (Rochester, NY) on November 17, 2009 (as part of Geography Awareness Week) and December 1, 2009. To receive inservice credit, you must attend both sessions! The lead instructors will be Jonathon Little and Timothy McDonnell of MCC's Geography Department. Interested teachers can register for this workshop in the Upcoming Events section of this website. Space is limited to the size of our computer lab (25), so register early!
NYGA is looking for schools, teacher centers, and colleges to host future training in other parts of the state. If you are interested in being a host school, please contact Tim McDonnell or Carol Gersmehl. We only require that you have AEJEE software installed on computers, so all teachers can practice the basic skills during the workshop. (It should not be a problem, since it is a free download for educational groups). We will supply the participants with files they need to work independently after the workshop on CDs. Teachers who design maps and lessons for those maps will receive stipends from NYGA.
Call Tim McDonnell at (585)-292-2398 for more information about this project.
Due to demand, registration for the GIS training at MCC has been extended until November 13th! |
Geography Awareness