Delaware Geographic Alliance
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Delaware Geographic Alliance
|
|
The DGA is actively trying to promote geography education throughout the state of Delaware. Unfortunately at this time, only the Colonial School District and the New Castle County Vo-Tech School District offers courses in geography. Further, the only school to offer AP Human Geography is Wm. Penn High School (Colonial). For more information as to, "Why Geography Is Important," read the report by the Univ. of TX - San Marcos. For more detail on DE Geography Education, please review the DGA Presentation.
"When the Delaware Geographic Alliance was formed in 1988 with a planning grant from the National Geographic Society, geography instruction in Delaware was non-existent, buried elsewhere in social studies curricula, taught primarily by history-trained teachers. A set of state-level social studies guidelines made occasional mention of maps, but the word "geography" was absent."
- Dr. Peter Rees, "The Course of Education Reform"
The implementation of the K-12 state standards in 1995 changed the nature of geography education in Delaware. Geography immediately comprised a quarter of all content in the core area of social studies. Over a decade later, geography instruction in Delaware has increased at a steady rate. Though still brushed off by some as a lesser component of social studies (the other three being history, civics, and economics), many have begun to realize the importance and wide-ranging scope of geography in the modern world.
The supporters and implementers of geography education in Delaware are many. Countless individuals have devoted time and effort into promoting geographic education across the first state. In many ways these unnamed ambassadors of geography education, in their face-to-face daily interactions, have done more than any to ensure the continuing exposure of this fascinating subject. The following are existing organizations and institutions which promote geography education in Delaware:
The Delaware Geographic Alliance (DGA): An organization funded by the National Geographic Society and dedicated to K-12 geography education whose membership is open to public and private school teachers, informal educators, interested members of the public, college professors, and geography professionals in the workplace. The DGA consistently provides professional development for teachers and is active in school district curriculum consultation under the coordination of Margaret Legates.
The Delaware Geographic Data Committee (DGDC): A community comprised of members from the governmental, academic, and private sectors that is dedicated to the improvement of Geographic Information System (GIS) tools and spatial data within Delaware. Miriam Pomilio, as chair of the GIS in Education Subcommittee, spearheads the effort to disperse GIS and geospatial tools into Delaware classrooms in support of geography education.
The Delaware Space Grant Consortium (DESGC): A program funded by NASA and directed by Dr. Dermott Mullan which helps serve and train students and teachers in Delaware in areas related to geography. The DESGC is primarily active at the college level where geographic education is concerned.
The Social Studies Coalition of Delaware (SSCD): A partnership organization co-chaired by Bud Read and Todd Seelhorst which is committed to improving the quality of K-12 social studies education in Delaware. The SSCD is a joint effort on behalf of the Delaware Department of Education, public school districts, and other affiliate organizations. The primary goal of the coalition is to ensure that all public school students meet the social studies standards as tested by the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP).
The University of Delaware Department of Geography: The geography department of the University of Delaware is centered in Climatology at the college level of education and is chaired by Dr. Brian Hanson. Six degree programs are offered to students from the undergraduate to the doctorate levels of study. The University of Delaware is the only institution of higher education in Delaware which offers a program in Geography.
The infrastructure in place to support geography instruction in Delaware continues to strengthen. Because there is no national standardized test in social studies that matches the Delaware Content Standards, it is difficult to compare Delaware to a national norm. The results from the DSTP social studies test over the past seven years do indicate certain trends in geography education across the state. According to 2007 DSTP results, 53% of grade 11 students statewide passed the social studies exam. Compare that to the 29% of grade 11 students statewide that passed in 2000. Results indicate improvement. However, the 2007 DSTP shows that 68% of state students in grade 4 passed the social studies exam. High school students across the state are therefore passing at a much lower percentage than younger students.
The Delaware Geographic Alliance has consequently increased its efforts to target geography education in the high schools as of 2007. The Delaware Geography - Health Initiative curriculum project became available in 2007. This computer based series of units incorporates GIS-manufactured maps and current statistical information concerning Delaware. Lesson plans targeting high school geography standards are in development and will be ready for the 2008-2009 academic school year.
For a summary of how Delaware students perform on the Social Studies DSTP, please review the online report provided by the Delaware Dept. of Education.
For more information, click on desired event.
If you would like an event added to the calendar, please contact Maggie Legates.