All posts by Thomas Herman

Events

My California GIS Mapping Showcase and Competition (9th Annual)

Image including CGA logo and title of contest: "My California GIS Mapping SHowcase and Competition for 4th-12th grades"Register now for the 2024-25 competition.

The 9th Annual “My California GIS Mapping Showcase and Competition” encourages middle (4th-8th grade) and high school (9th-12th grade) students to harness the power of Geographic Information Systems. Students choose an issue, story, or event within the state to examine in depth. They use ArcGIS Online to access geographic data and analysis tools and then produce a StoryMap that shares their results and insights. Continue reading My California GIS Mapping Showcase and Competition (9th Annual) →

Instructional Resources

Explore Data About Your Place in the World Using Geography and GIS

Get to know your community better. Studying the people and the environment in the place where you live has numerous benefits.

  • A local scale inquiry builds on experience and insights that you are already accumulating through your everyday lived experiences.
  • You can take advantage of opportunities for experiential learning and develop your skills through direct observation and interaction.
  • You can connect learning to civic action and find ways to contribute to your community based on what you are learning.

These are two tools designed to help you access, collect, and learn from information about your local area. These can help you better understand the place where you live and study. They can also help you find ways to connect with and contribute to your community.

  • Community Environmental Justice Screening Tool (PDF)
  • 2020 US Census Community Demographic Data Collection Sheets (PDF)
Professional Development

Integrating Computer Science and Geography in Grades 3-12

Fellows in this program explore how education in computer science and geography concepts and skills can be integrated in highly engaging and relevant lessons across a range of subject areas and at any grade level. They invest time in creating and piloting lessons to meet the needs of their own students. They also participate in a community of practice, which is a vehicle for supporting other teachers and creating meaningful learning experiences for more students. Continue reading Integrating Computer Science and Geography in Grades 3-12 →

Professional Development

Teaching Geography with the Atlas: Online Course Is Open Now

CALLING ALL FOURTH GRADE TEACHERS IN CALIFORNIA!

The California Geographic Alliance and California Global Education Project have collaborated to create an online professional learning course that supports teachers in using the revised student atlas, California: A Changing State (2nd Ed.), as a teaching and learning resource.

Enroll now for this asynchronous 1-unit course.

  • The course has 3 modules, requiring approximately 4-5 hours per module to complete. It is offered through the University of San Diego Professional and Continuing Education program.
  • The instructor is Thomas Herman, PhD, Director of the CGA.
  • Enrollment in the course is $169, but an automatic discount of 25% is applied for registrations during the month of May 2024.
  • Atlas and all required materials are provided online.
  • 4th grade teachers in California who complete the course will receive a classroom set of atlases (20 copies) plus additional instructional materials, while supplies last!
Events, Professional Development

Environmental Justice for California Communities: An Interdisciplinary Workshop Series for Secondary Teachers

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This is an exciting Professional Learning program presented by the California Environmental Literacy Initiative, several California Subject Matter Projects, and the California Geographic Alliance. We are excited to support a cohort of teachers to become leaders in using an exciting new resource for place-based environmental learning and action.

In the 3-part series, teachers will get experience with classroom-ready resources and will learn how they and their students can use geospatial tools to develop their own inquiries. The CHELA (California’s Hub for Environmental Learning and Action) website helps educators, students, and collaborators:

  • use powerful GIS mapping tools to access current data and visualize, understand, and analyze important issues in a way that centers their own communities and concerns, wherever in the state they may live;
  • follow their interests and hone their own questions across a broad range of topics related to the environment, sustainability, and environmental justice; and
  • share their stories of environmental learning, action, and advocacy.

Continue reading Environmental Justice for California Communities: An Interdisciplinary Workshop Series for Secondary Teachers →

Events, Professional Development, Uncategorized

Celebrate California Biodiversity Day by Documenting Biodiversity in Your Spaces, Sept. 4-12

To recognize California Biodiversity Day , the California Geographic Alliance is organizing students across the state to become Biodiversity Explorers and Mappers. In the interest of developing environmental literacy and stewardship in all young people, this will be an opportunity for close observation and appreciation of the amazing diversity of organisms present in our state, which is a global biodiversity hotspot.

Continue reading Celebrate California Biodiversity Day by Documenting Biodiversity in Your Spaces, Sept. 4-12 →

Uncategorized

Student Atlas of California Completely Updated and Available Now Online

We are happy to announce the availability of a completely updated and improved second edition of our popular student atlas of California!

Image shows front cover of student atlas titled California: A Changing State, second edition. Cover shows map of California with icons representing recognizable features of the state.
Image shows front cover of student atlas titled California: A Changing State, second edition. Cover shows map of California with icons representing recognizable features of the state.

Continue reading Student Atlas of California Completely Updated and Available Now Online →