September 28, 2004
Dr. Ron Dorn
Professor, Department of Geography
ArizonaStateUniversity
Tempe, AZ85287
Dear Dr. Dorn:
Michigan is pleased to be invited to take part in the project The Efficacy of GeoLiteracy on Student Achievement in Elementary and Middle School Reading and Geography. To this end, the Michigan Geographic Alliance will facilitate and host a workshop at CentralMichiganUniversity for 15 Teacher Consultants to be trained by the Arizona Geographic Alliance staff in using the GeoLiteracy lessons, materials, and strategies.
In addition to the workshop, the following procedures will be followed by the Michigan Geographic Alliance staff:
1)Complete all paperwork required for conducting research with human subjects;
2)Recruit teachers who will administer a pretest, teach 3-5 lessons from GeoLiteracy, administer a posttest;
3)Collect and help analyze the data and provide it to the Arizona Geographic Alliance for further analysis.
MGA’s role as outlined in the attached timeline and budget is acceptable. I anticipate that the results of this joint project will benefit students and teachers in Michigan, which is part of our mission as well as that of National Geographic Education Foundation.
I am looking forward to participating in this project.
Sincerely,
Michael Libbee
Professor of Geography
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Timeline of “Efficacy of GeoLiteracy: Assessing Student Achievement in Elementary and Middle School Reading and Geography Instruction”
March/April, 2004 -, Dr. Hinde writes pre/post tests
April/May, 2004 – Grades 3-8 teachers throughout Arizona pilot pre/post tests
June/July, 2004 – Tests analyzed and scores tabulated (Dr. Hinde)
August, 2004 – Tests revised (Drs. Hinde and Smith)
August 23, 2004 – Questionnaire sent to participating teachers in AZ (recording school and teacher demographic information)
August/September – TX and MI alliances actively recruiting teachers for research
Sept. 1 – Tests and materials distributed to participating teachers in Arizona
Sept. 13-17 – AZ teachers administer pretests and send results to Hinde
Sept. 20 – AZ teachers begin teaching GeoLiteracy lessons; Hinde tabulate pretest results
Oct. 16-17 – Ekiss and Hinde travel to Michigan to conduct GeoLiteracy training to participating teachers and distribute materials(“buddy” teachers of TCs should’ve been recruited prior to workshop as well)
Oct. 18-22 – MI teachers administer pretests and send results to Libbee and Hinde
Oct. 25 – MI teachers begin teaching GeoLiteracy lessons; Libbee and Hinde tabulate MI pretest results
Dec. 6-10 – AZ teachers administer posttests and send results to Hinde
January/February, 2005 – Hinde and Smith analyze AZ test data
Jan. 8-9 – Ekiss and Hinde travel to Texas to conduct GeoLiteracy training to participating teachers and distribute materials (“buddy” teachers of TCs should’ve been recruited prior to workshop as well)
Jan. 10-14 – TX teachers administer pretests and send results to Hinde and Bednarz
Jan. 18 – TX teachers begin teaching GeoLiteracy lessons; Hinde and Bednarz tabulate TX pretest results
Jan. 31 – Feb. 4 – MI teachers administer posttests and send results to Hinde and Libbee
February/March – Hinde, Libbee, and Smith analyze MI test data
May 2-6 – TX teachers administer posttests and send results to Hinde and Bednarz
May/June – Hinde, Bednarz, and Smith analyze TX test data
July, August, September – Hinde and Smith analyze cumulative test results from all three states
September through December – drafts of articles written
October – Present findings at NCGE annual conference
November – Present findings at College and University Faculty Association (NCSS SIG) at NCSS national conference
January 15, 2006 – Final Report to NGSEF in the form of fiscal expenditures and drafts of articles for journal publication
Post-Grant Discussions
- Discuss results with FIPSE program in hopes of FIPSE funding a national program
- Discuss results with NSF Geography program manager to assist in NSF proposal coordinating education directorate with social and behavioral sciences
- Discuss results with NGS Publishing
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