USC Spatial’s Kirk Oda to lead workshop for middle and high school educators
On Monday, January 8, 2018, from 8 am - 3:30 pm, Dr. Katsuhiko Oda, Assistant Professor (Teaching) of Spatial Sciences in the USC Spatial Sciences Institute, will conduct a workshop for middle and high school teachers to learn how to use geospatial technology in their classrooms as a dynamic tool to support instruction in social science and STEM fields.
In this one-day workshop, teachers of science and social science for grades 6 – 12 will develop a lesson plan that integrates GeoInquiry-based learning and utilizes geospatial technologies. The team of Oda, Angela Hasan, USC Rossier School of Education Associate Professor, and Dr. Thomas Herman, Director of the California Geographic Alliance, will share information about how geospatial technologies engage students in developing the literacy and competency required for college and career readiness. In this interactive workshop, teachers will participate in discussions and hands-on learning activities.
“The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and California History-Social Science Frameworks emphasize naturalistic inquiry, literacy, and skills development and capacity to take informed action. Inquiry-based instruction using web-based geographic information systems (GIS) can enhance a teacher’s capacity to develop these competencies in their students,” said Oda.
The workshop will take place at the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), 12830 Columbia Way, Conference Room B, in Downey, California 90242.
Teachers will receive a $200 stipend for attending the in-person workshop, and additional stipends for participation in follow-up online lessons. The registration fee of $50 per person includes training materials, morning refreshments, and lunch. The registration deadline is Friday, December 22, 2017. To register, go to: http://lacoe.k12oms.org/1537-142508.
This workshop and Oda’s development of a Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) model for organizing coherent professional development experiences for teachers seeking to use geospatial technology in different subject areas is funded by the National Center for Research in Geography Education (NCRGE), a research consortium headquartered at the American Association of Geographers (AAG) and Texas State University. Oda’s grant represents an investment by NCRGE to develop a research coordination network furthering geography education research.
For more information, contact Dr. Oda at katsuhio@usc.edu.
