Logo for 2017 Geography Education in the 21st CenturyThe Illinois Geography Alliance and the Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment at Illinois State University will hold the 2017 Geography Education in the 21st Century Conference at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, November 11, at Felmley Hall of Science Annex on the campus of Illinois State University.

The event is free and interested participants are required to submit an online registration form.

The program is a one-day, drive-in conference for geography educators, and will provide participants with great networking opportunities, a keynote, and a variety of breakout sessions.

The breakout sessions will include the following:

    • The New Illinois State Geography Standards
    • The Giant Traveling Floor Map of Illinois
    • The Online Atlas of Illinois for K-12 Classrooms
    • Geographic Thinking
    • Using Maps and other Primary Sources in your Classroom (Library of Congress Teaching With Primary Sources Program)
    • Technology for Geography Teachers (e.g., GIS, GPS, Google Earth, Apps)
    • The Geo-Inquiry Process—Ask, Collect, Visualize, Create, and Act
    • Elementary School Geography (K-5)
    • Middle School and Jr. High Geography (6-8)
    • High School Geography (including AP Human Geography)
    • Community College and College/University Geography Instructors and Professors
    • Pre-Service Teacher

A detailed schedule of events is available on the conference website.

Sponsored by the Illinois Geographic Alliance and the Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment at Illinois State University, the event is relevant for a wide range of geography educators including pre-service and in-service elementary school, middle school/junior high, and high school teachers and community college/university geography instructors and professors.

Professional development (PD) hours (formerly referred to as CPDUs) will be provided at no out-of-pocket charge to in-service K-12 teachers who are members of the Illinois Geographic Alliance.

Support for the conference comes from a grant received by the National Geographic Society Education Foundation with additional funds from the Illinois State University Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment.

For information on directions, parking, and accommodations, visit the conference website or contact Amy Bloom at (309) 438-8115 or ambloom@ilstu.edu.