New Leadership for Geography Education

In fall 2007 National Geographic welcomed the new vice president for Education and Children’s Programs, Dr. Daniel Edelson. Mission Programs recruited Edelson from Northwestern University where he was a faculty member in education and computer science. He received his Ph.D. from Northwestern University and his B.S. from Yale University. As the author of ground-breaking software and text books for middle and high school geoscience, Edelson brings invaluable educational reform experience to the Geographic.

Bill Warren, who directs education fund-raising for NG’s Mission Programs, talked with Edelson about the opportunities of his new post.

BW: Danny, you left a tenured faculty position at one of this country’s most prestigious research universities. What made you want to take up the reins of the geography education program at NGS?

DE: This position is just the next step in the mission of improving education I’ve pursued throughout my career. I never quite fit in with academia because I prioritized impact in the world over publishable research findings. So, coming to National Geographic is an opportunity to continue my work in an environment where my personal mission is directly aligned with the mission of the organization. Plus, I’d been looking to expand my focus outside of the sciences. Since geography encompasses both physical and human systems, I can add social, cultural, and economic education to my portfolio. And, of course, if you really care about improving students’ understanding of the world, what better place could there be than National Geographic?

BW: Having been on board a short time, how would you describe your National Geographic experience thus far?

DE: It’s been exhilarating. There are so many amazing resources and such gifted people here that I have to pinch myself regularly. There’s not much time to marvel at it all because of the urgency of our work. I truly believe the future of the environment and human society hangs in the balance.

BW: So, are you optimistic about reforming geographic education?

DE:Yes, but the work is daunting. Right now, in both social studies and science, geographic content has been pushed to the margins. However, twenty years of hard work by geographers and geography educators have positioned us for rapid progress. With Gil Grosvenor’s vision and the funding of many contributors, National Geographic catalyzed a movement that led to the creation of geography education standards in all 50 states and ensured that geography was included as a core academic subject in all major federal education legislation over the past two decades. In addition, the NGS Education Foundation established university-based “Geographic Alliances” that provide professional development for teachers in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. The groundwork has been laid. Our task now is to build on that to achieve meaningful educational reform at scale.

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BW: Given that context, what do you see as your top priorities going forward?

DE: I see our top priority as bringing the critical importance of geography education to the attention of policymakers, parents, and students. Right now, geography is sitting in a blind spot. What people don’t see, because they have out-of-date ideas about geography, is that geographic knowledge and skills are the key to responding to the planet’s many challenges. We need to help people understand that geography is about explaining and predicting, not memorizing. Once people understand what geography is, they understand why it is so important that all American students study it. Of course, we must also continue to work on preparing highly qualified teachers and making sure that they have the best possible resources to aid teaching.

BW: Are there any new programs or projects in mind that you see Education and Children’s Programs creating?

DE: We are working on some exciting new programs for students that use technology to bring data, imagery, and audio into classrooms, and to give them an opportunity to interact with students around the world. We are also creating professional development programs to shape the next generation of leaders in geography education, and we’re planning new initiatives in urban districts. Most of our work is done in collaboration with others. For example, we are working with our own Maps division, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and NOAA on a project in which students will monitor water quality in the bay watershed.

BW: In closing, Danny, what advice would you give to parents or leaders in business about how best to prepare future generations of students to meet 21st-century challenges?

DE: I would encourage adults to expose the children in their lives to geographic wonder. To really understand the value of geography, children need to see how remote events can have local impact, and how local events can have remote impact. While this seems so simple, helping children to observe and wonder about geographic interconnectedness is the most important thing you can do to get them started on the path toward geographic fluency.

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Teachers Lead the Way

A key partner in improving schooling is the teacher. Yet, in surveys, both teachers and principals report their schools have inadequate basic materials for teaching geography, such as maps, atlases, and globes. Seven in ten say that professional development opportunities are inadequate in geography and social studies.

We continue to address these problems by promoting improved teaching through our Alliance Network. In 2007 the Society awarded more than $3.45 million in support of a nationwide network of “Geography Alliances,” which provide classroom materials, offer professional development and support, and connect K-12 teachers across the country.

These Alliances directly reach more than 21,000 educators annually. Training topics range from understanding Turkey’s past and present to basic training on how to teach geography at state standards, including teaching with GIS technology.

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Model Grants

In partnership with leading nonprofits, the Society continues to support teachers through Education Foundation grants. During the 2007 school year, Earthwatch Institute was able to send teachers on field expeditions, where multiple classes engaged in scientific inquiry and geography and conservation fieldwork via live video link.

Grant support to the popular youth organization 4-H engaged students in planning for community emergency preparedness and evacuation routes, where kids use cutting-edge technology and work directly with local first responders.

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Grosvenor Fund Makes First Grants

In 2007 the first grants were made from the Gilbert M. Grosvenor Fund for Geography Education, established the year before on the occasion of our chairman’s 75th birthday.

At the national level, $271,167 was allocated from the Grosvenor Fund endowment across three projects:

• Distribution of high-quality teaching materials, including 125,000 Climate Change map supplements that appeared in National Geographic magazine;
• Mini-grants to support Alliance work in states facing educational standards and curriculum revisions;
• Creation of a strategic plan focused on strengthening the capacity of all Geographic Alliances, exploring partnerships between Alliances, and strengthening their ties to the nationwide programs of NGS.

Additionally, $340,177 was awarded to the 17 states where Grosvenor Fund endowments were established, to support teacher training, materials development, and public outreach.

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Grosvenor Teacher Fellowships

2007 was also the inaugural year of the Grosvenor Teacher Fellowships, established by Sven Lindblad to honor NGS Chairman Gil Grosvenor’s lifetime commitment to geography education.

Two teachers, Kathryn Russell (5th grade, Graveraet Intermediate School, Marquette, Mich.) and Dennis Rees (6th grade, Oakwood School, Peoria, Ariz.) each took a ten-day Lindblad expedition to the Galápagos Islands, bringing their newfound knowledge from the birthplace of the theory of evolution back to their classrooms.

Find the latest educator resources at nationalgeographic.org/education.

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Donors Make a Difference

• Through targeted programs, donors help raise geography achievement by underwriting national teacher training workshops and supporting the develop­ment and distribution of gold-standard classroom materials in print and online.
• NGS offers a 1:1 match for all donations to state endowments. More than half the states have endowments supporting local education innovation.

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JASON Unleashes Monster Storms

With its pioneering multimedia curricula, The JASON Project continues to inspire and motivate young students to join in the adventure of science. In 2007 JASON rolled out its Operation: Monster Storms curriculum, transporting student “Argonauts” to Earth’s most extreme weather events, with the guidance of explorers and researchers.

Operation: Monster Storms is the first product in JASON’s new curriculum line, developed in partnership with NASA, NOAA, and the Society. Along with innovative curricula, JASON provides professional development opportunities for teachers to enhance their skill set to effectively teach these materials.

“Our goal was to create a product that can truly change the way science is taught and learned,” says JASON president Caleb M. Schutz. “We focused on creating a stand-alone curriculum unit aimed at increasing student proficiency, giving teachers the tools and resources to make it relevant to their needs, and expanding our online multimedia so every student experiences the thrill of exploration and discovery.”

Discover online digital-learning labs at jason.org

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Female Wins Geo Bee—First Since 1990

Since 1989, thousands of schools and millions of students have taken part in the National Geographic Bee, an entertaining and challenging test of geography knowledge. Nearly five million students participate in the Bee yearly. Moderated by JEOPARDY! host Alex Trebek, the national finals take place at Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., with the top winners sharing $50,000 in college scholarships. The Bee motivates students and teachers to become more knowledgeable about geography while also inspiring the public to learn more about our world and its inhabitants.

Caitlin Snaring (pictured), 14, of Redmond, Wash., became only the second female to win the title of National Geographic Bee champion in May 2007, and JPMorgan Chase returned as the event’s corporate sponsor.

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Mexico Wins Geographic World Championship

Biennially, teams of winning students from around the world compete in the National Geographic World Championship. In 2007, 18 countries sent teams to the competition, held at SeaWorld San Diego. Sponsored by SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Adventure Parks, teams from Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. participated in the finals. Mexico took the top prize, and the team was later honored with a visit from the president of Mexico.

With increasing numbers of countries recognizing the value of geography education, the 2009 World Championship is sure to attract an even more impressive slate of competitor countries.

Take the GeoBee quiz today at nationalgeographic.org/geographicbee.

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Photo credits, Background image: David Evans; Title image:Trent Campbell; Main Story: Caty Smith, Bill Bernstein, Trent Campbell, Charlie Fitzpatrick, Peter Haydock, Mark Thiessen, Rebecca Hale.