The Bridging Divides Project: Phase 2 Recruitment
Attention: Geography Teachers
Are you interested in using National Geographic Society’s “game-changing” resources to develop problem-based geography lessons that other Mississippi geographer teachers can use? Do you want to help your students see the value of learning geography? Researchers from the University of North Alabama and the University of Southern Mississippi are launching a curriculum development initiative supported by the National Geographic Society and are looking for expert geography teachers to participate.
What is it?
- A curriculum and professional development project with a goal of designing lessons that help teachers overcome obstacles to inquiry-based instruction while addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in Mississippi.
- A small group of participating geography teachers will work collaboratively with project directors and the project geographer to design problem-based lessons for geography.
- All teachers will teach the lessons to their students while one will be highlighted in a video case distributed online.
- The project is grounded in 16+ years of research on problem-based teaching and learning.
Why participate?
- Participants will earn continuing education units (CEUs) at no cost.
- Participants will receive a stipend of $150 a day (up to $1,500.00).
- Designed curricular materials will be distributed. These materials will benefit geography teachers, your geography students, and other geography students across Mississippi.
- Participants will enhance their geography content knowledge and ability to design instruction using National Geographic resources.
- Professional development will primarily occur online via Zoom and Canvas.
- Participants will build relationships with the best geography teachers in Mississippi and have the option to become teacher leaders if subsequent cycles of the project are funded.
What is the time commitment?
The project will involve online, self-paced professional development modules and collaborative curriculum development days. Total time commitment is 10 days spread over summer, fall, and spring.
This project has been reviewed and approved by USM’s Institutional Review Board: Protocol 21-318. If you are selected to participate, an informed consent form will be requested.
