Registration Open

noreply@blogger.com (Chad K) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 23:22:00 +0000

The 2011 PGS Annual Meeting On-line registration is now open at the following link:http://thepgs.org/registration/registration.php

Don’t forget this year we accept credit card payments through PayPal!

Lodging Info - Annual Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Chad K) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:49:00 +0000

Annual Meeting Lodging Info: Holiday Inn-Indiana, PA. When you call the Holiday Inn, be sure to mention the PGS meeting to get the $99 group rate.

Holiday Inn Indiana
1395 Wayne Ave • Indiana, PA 15701
Phone: (724) 463-3561 • Fax: (724) 463-8006

2011 Meeting Information

noreply@blogger.com (Chad K) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:04:00 +0000

The Annual Meeting information is posted herein as a PNG file. Registration will begin September 15th through this website.

Call for Nominations

noreply@blogger.com (Chad K) — Thu, 26 May 2011 03:16:00 +0000

Revisions to the PGS constitution were recently approved by its membership. Our webmaster will be posting the updated constitution to this website shortly.

The Executive Board is soliciting nominations for the fall elections. Please review the constitution and identify a person or persons willing to fulfill the duties outlined for the respective positions on the Board. The Executive Director will also construct a formal call for nominees soon and have it sent to the membership. Please direct your nomination to:

bjzaprowski@salisbury.edu

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New Center of Population

noreply@blogger.com (Chad K) — Tue, 10 May 2011 00:32:00 +0000

NOAA today issued a press release regarding the calculation of the new US "center of population" from the 2010 census data:

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2011/20110509_cop.html

This is one of many statistics becoming available from the 2010 census. Demographers and Geographers will be analyzing these data for years. Research scientists who uncover new patterns & analysis are encouraged to present at this fall's PGS meeting at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Nov 4-5, 2011).

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PA Geographic Alliance News

noreply@blogger.com (Chad K) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 15:43:00 +0000

Below are some recent opportunities for teachers which have come across my desk recently. Before you jump to those, if you have time, would you please respond to a few questions we have about your interest in professional development and the potential of us hosting the NGS Giant Traveling Map in PA?? Thanks in advance for your input!
Thanks so much and thanks too for all you do to support geographic literacy in the state of Pennsylvania!
Jan
jssmit@ship.edu

I am interested in your input/ideas on:
1. Topics for Professional Development (be as specific as possible—focus on interest/need for content areas and/or pedagogy)
2. Type of Professional Development: 1 Day, Multi-Day, Residential? Location Ideas?
3. How do you feel about professional development opportunities offered online in a distance ed/webinar format?
4. What is the best type of credit for you for professional development: Grad Credit or Act 48 Credit
5. Are you interested in learning more about the National Geographic Giant Traveling Map and, possibly, hosting it at your school or school district? (for more info: http://events.nationalgeographic.com/events/special-events/giant-traveling-maps/ ) I am working on writing some grants to support the cost of hosting some of these in the state next academic year, but want to make sure I have enough teacher interest.)

Opportunities for teachers ( and students) listed below: Clicking on the Topic will link to more information in this email.
AP Human Geography Course for Pennsylvania Students 2011-2012
PA Wind for Schools Project
National Conference on Geographic Education-Portland, Oregon-August 4-7
PBS Award for Teaching Innovation
Igniting Creative Energy Challenge
NEH Landmarks of American History Teacher Workshop
Green Prize in Public Education program

AP Human Geography Course for Pennsylvania Students 2011-2012
The Pennsylvania Alliance for Geographic Education is pleased to announce a new on-line Advanced Placement Human Geography course available for the 2011-2012 school year. This course is available to students in grades 9-12 in all school districts and all private schools in Pennsylvania.
The tuition for this year-long class is $550.00 per student (the exam fee and 2 textbooks will be an additional cost). An exam score of 3, 4, or 5 (out of a possible 5) enables the student to transfer 3 college credits to the college of their choice that accepts these credits. This course will be taught in an asynchronous format and is ideal for an independent study or an enrichment class! For more information, go to the Alliance website http://www.pageoalliance.org/ A limited number of seats will be available. If you are interested in providing your students with this wonderful new opportunity, please contact Dr. Jan Smith, Pennsylvania Alliance for Geographic Education Coordinator at Shippensburg University, as soon as possible for additional information and to register. Contact: jssmit@ship.edu

Pennsylvania "Wind for Schools" Project
The Pennsylvania "Wind for Schools" Project provides educational support to K-12 schools interested in learning about wind energy in the classroom. The program works with selected schools to install a small wind turbine; Pennsylvania State University students and faculty act as consultants in the assessment, design and integration of the wind systems. Teacher training and hands-on curricula are provided. Applications are due March 1.
For more information:
http://www.wind.psu.edu/wfs/

NCGE National Conference on Geography Education in Portland, Oregon
2011 National Conference on Geographic Education
"Going Green for Geography"
August 4 - 7, 2011
Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront
1401 SW Naito Parkway
Portland, OR 97201
Phone: (503) 226-7600
Fax: (503) 221-1789

We invite you to attend the 2011 National Conference on Geography Education. The conference is sponsored by the National Council for Geographic Education. The Oregon Geographic Alliance is the co-host for this event. Participants, sponsors, and exhibitors, may present and/or attend engaging sessions.

Your conference registration fee includes:
Access to all sessions, workshops, and speakers.
(1) Ticket to the opening conference reception.
(1) Ticket to official conference dinner celebration & party.
Admission to the annual awards reception.
Access to purchase tickets to a wide offering of Field Trips that will explore Portland and it's surrounding areas.
Access to the daily keynote speaker sessions.
Admission to exhibit hall.
Access to purchase tickets to National Geography's annual Teacher-Fest.
Optional registration for individuals accompanying full paid registrants.
Access to special events and meetings.
Receive graduate course credit.
Discounted hotel rates.
Discounted airline rates.
PBS Award for Teaching Innovations
Your inventive thinking continuously fuels, inspires and engages young minds. Whether you teach your students physics with rocket launchers, social studies by re-enacting historical events, or literature by inviting kids to create digital stories, you are innovating and making a difference – and we want to recognize and thank YOU! PBS and local public television stations invite you to enter the PBS Teachers Innovation Awards! The 2011 PBS Teachers Innovation Awards runs through March 31, 2011. Winners will be notified by May 31, 2011.
For more information: http://www.pbs.org/teachers/innovators/

Igniting Creative Energy Challenge
K-12 educators are invited to participate in the "Igniting Creative Energy Challenge," a joint project of the National Energy Foundation and Johnson Controls Inc. This educational competition encourages students to learn about energy conservation and the environment. Students may express their ideas in the form of documented science projects, essays, stories, artwork, photographs, music, video or website projects. Grand prize is a trip to Washington DC, to participate in the National Energy Efficiency Forum in June.
For more information
http://www.ignitingcreativeenergy.org/

NEH Landmarks of American History Teacher Workshop
America’s Industrial Revolution at The Henry Ford is a nationally-recognized NEH Landmarks of American History Teacher Workshop that will draw together K-12 educators from around the country. Participants will study under leading humanities scholars and museum staff for unique enrichment exercises centered on the impact of industrialization. Participants will explore the diverse ways that Americans experienced social change between 1760s and the 1920s through lecture/discussions and by visiting with museum curators at selected sites in Greenfield Village including Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park Laboratory, Hermitage Plantation Slave quarters, 1760s Daggett Farm, 1880s Firestone Farm and a railroad round house. In addition, time is set aside each day for exploration of archival sources in the Benson Ford Research Center. The week’s activities will culminate with a visit to a related National Historic Landmark, the Ford Motor Company’s Rouge industrial complex.

Participants will receive a stipend of $1,200 following the residential workshop sessions. Stipends are intended to help cover ordinary living expenses, books and travel. Additionally, participants will have a chance to earn continuing education, undergraduate, and graduate credit.

Workshop dates are July 17-22 and August 7-12, 2011. Each workshop is limited to 40 participants. The deadline for applications is March 1, 2011.
How to Apply
1. Read the 2011 NEH Applicant Guidelines (below) thoroughly.
2. Then, fill out the NEH application cover sheet at http://www.neh.gov/online/education/participants/. Submit it electronically directly to NEH. Print 3 copies to include with your mailed application.
3. Write an essay of no more than one double-spaced typed page providing information about your professional background and interest in social, business and industrial history; your special perspectives, skills, or experiences that would contribute to the Workshop; and how the workshop experience would enhance your teaching or school service and/or help you address unfulfilled needs in teaching of American history. The essay is perhaps the most important part of the completed application.
4. Prepare your resume to show clearly your educational background and past, present and future teaching responsibilities.
5. Finally, ask your principal, department head or, if applicable, the head of a home schooling association to submit a letter of recommendation in support of your application directly to the project director address below.
6. Three copies of your completed application (cover sheet, resume and essay) must be postmarked no later than March 1, 2011, and sent to:
Paula Gangopadhyay
Director of Education/Project Director-NEH Teacher Workshop
The Henry Ford
20900 Oakwood Blvd.
Dearborn, MI 48124
For further questions or clarifications on the application process, feel free to contact either of the following THF project staff via email, paulag@thehenryford.org, dorothye@thehenryford.org or MaryWy@thehenryford.org.

Green Prize in Public Education program
The National Environmental Education Foundation will recognize three K-12 public schools that have successfully become green schools as part of the Green Prize in Public Education program. One school that has "most successfully implemented an innovative, sustainable school wide greening effort" will receive $10,000. Two merit awards of $5,000 each will also be given to schools that demonstrate "greening success." Applications are due Feb. 15.
For more information: http://neefusa.org/grants/green_prize.htm

Please let me know if the Alliance can do anything for you!

Janet S. Smith, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Coordinator, Pennsylvania Alliance for Geographic Education
Department of Geography-Earth Science
Shippensburg University
Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
jssmit@ship.edu
717-477-1757

Fall Meeting Dates

noreply@blogger.com (Chad K) — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 18:04:00 +0000

The Annual PGS Meeting dates are: November 4th & 5th on the campus of Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Please keep these dates in your calendar. More information forthcoming.

Fall 2011 Meeting Preview

noreply@blogger.com (The PGS) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:18:00 +0000

Join us in the Fall of 2011 for the Annual PGS Conference, this year hosted by Indiana University.

Visit the IUP Geography Department here.

Call for Papers - 50th Anniversary Pennsylvania Geographer

noreply@blogger.com (The PGS) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:06:00 +0000

We are quickly approaching the 50th Anniversary Pennsylvania Geographer Journal. If you have any historical articles about the founding of the Society please forward them to the Journal staff by Spring/Summer of 2011.

Announcing the Review of International Geographical Education Online

noreply@blogger.com (The PGS) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 14:38:00 +0000

Learn more about this exciting new Geography resource here.

The PGS Wire