Latest News and Events

2013 National Council for Geographic Education in Denver, CO

The 2013 annual conference for the National Council for Geographic Education is now open for registration.  Join hundreds of educators (K-12 & University) and geography professionals from around the world this August 1-4.  Financial support for Colorado teachers from small school districts is available through COGA - fill out and return this application by May 25, 2013.  Attend the 2013 conference in Denver to exchange ideas, research, resources, and best practices in geography education.  For more information, follow this link.


National Geographic Library Needs Your Help - by May 16th, 2013

National Geographic is considering developing a new online tool to enable easier educator access to a range of the Society's resources related to geography education. In order to ensure this product is as relevant and useful as possible, they are conducting a brief survey of geography Alliance educator members, and we would greatly appreciate your input. As thanks for your time and input, National Geographic is happy to offer you a 20% discount in National Geographic's online store, which you'll be able to access at the end of the survey.  Please click the link below to get started:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Geography_portal_2013


 Giant Traveling Maps from National Geographic

Now is the time to reserve a map for the 2013-2014 school year.  Vibrant vinyl maps will guide students through lessons and fun activities related to climate, natural resources, famous landmarks, and demographics. Teachers are provided with a trunk of props and accessories designed to enhance the lessons and encourage student engagement with content-rich games suitable for various age groups and class sizes.  For more information or to reserve a map, visit this link.  If you need assistance in funding a visit of the map to your school or district, please use this link to access an information form about requesting funds.


AP Human Geography Resource Collection from National Geographic

National Geographic Education has created a portal on the NatGeoEd.org website for AP Human Geography teachers to visit for teaching and learning resources, including classroom activities, videos, maps, background reading material, and more. The new portal organizes content from National Geographic Education by each of the major topics taught in the AP Human Geography course. The collection will grow over time as new content aligning to the course topics is published online.  Click here to access this great resource!


Geography for Life:  National Geography Standards, 2nd Edition from NCGE

The Geography Education Implementation Project (GENIP) - a consortium of the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE), the National Geographic Society (NGS), the Association of American Geographers (AAG), and the American Geographical Society (AGS) - has released a revised and updated version of Geography for Life: National Geography Standards (1994). The revised edition features restructured content and a new format. Each standard is presented through four components: an introductory essay; knowledge statements; performance statements and examples. You can order your copy by following this link.


Scott Allen's National Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference Presentation and Resources

For a great website full of resources for Social Studies educators, including a presentation for NCSS entitled  "Lateral Power: Geography of the Third Industrial Revolution" visit Mr. Allen's Audacious & Adventurous Website.  
The first two Industrial Revolutions are well known. Now connect and map the Third Industrial Revolution. Witness  lateral power 's influence on your students, your teaching and our world.


National Council for Geographic Education Membership

The Colorado Geographic Alliance and the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) are teaming up to support geography educators across the state with the creation of a new Alliance-Affiliated Membership. The NCGE-Alliance partnership was forged in recognition of the common goal of enhancing the status and quality of geography education, and it means more support, benefits and opportunities for you, people who are passionate about geographic education. 

In addition to Colorado-specific Alliance resources, NCGE's national conference, publications, and professional development activities are now even more affordable. Your $50 NCGE-Alliance membership will include:
·   Subscriptions to NCGE journals such as Journal of Geography, The Geography Teacher, and Perspective, the NCGE Newsletter, designed to keep you abreast of useful information regarding the field of geography education
·   Discounts on NCGE publications and NCGE's annual National Conference on Geography Education (to be held in August 2013 in Denver!)
·   Professional development opportunities, including unlimited access to NCGE's LIVE Webinar series, giving you direct access to learn from the best geography educators from around the world

For more information about becoming an Alliance-Affiliated Member, go to http://www.ncge.org/alliance-membership.  The membership flyer and membership form can be accessed here.   A portion of your membership fee will be returned to the Colorado Geographic Alliance for support of teachers.


GIS Distance Learning Course

A collaboration of the Governor's Office of Information Technology, ESRI, the Colorado Geographic Alliance, University of Denver, and Colorado 4-H is developing a GIS (Geographic Information System) distance learning program that can serve as an enhancement and introduction to GIS across a variety of classroom subjects.  For more information click here.


Colorado Department of Education Content Areas

The CDE has created a series of pages that serve as a hub of content to help support the academic achievement of students throughout the state.  These pages provide information about state standards, professional development, curriculum information and instructional resources.  These pages are highly reccommended to help improve curriculum in a number of areas, including Science, Social Studies, and STEM.  Click here to visit the CDE Content Areas Main Page.


Geography professor studies how tragic events are memorialized

For a perspective on recent tragedies, read Ken Foote's observations on how community events are commemorated in this interview in CU Connections.

Join Coga

This Is What Geographers Do:

Mapping the Nation

From maps of disease and the weather to the earliest maps of the national population, this was a period when the very concept of a map was reinvented. By the early twentieth century, maps had become common tools of analysis, communication, and visual representation in an increasingly complex nation.

Today we live in a world that is saturated with maps and graphic knowledge. The maps on this site reveal how this involved a fundamentally new way of thinking.  By Susan Schultan


Mapping the Nation

 
 

GPS Units Available for Check-Out

GPS Units available for checkoutCOGA has 11 GPS units available for educators to check out, using these tools to enhance geospatial awareness and curriculum.  These are available free for your use.

Click here to download the borrowing agreement.

 

AP Human Geography Test Bank

The AP Human Geography Test Bank is available for purchase online through the UCCS Bookstore for $10.  Once your purchase is complete, you will be provided with access to the materials.  Click here to purchase access to the AP Human Geography Test Bank.

AP Human Geography

Click here to access the AP Human Geography Testbank (password required). (For those who have previously purchased.)

 
 
 

The Colorado Geographic Alliance endeavors to:

Instill and nurture spatial awareness and geographic literacy, by changing our understanding and experience of the world.

National Geographic Education Foundation