GeoCivics: The Politics and Geographies of America’s Electoral System
A Three-Day Summer Institute June 13-15, 2022, CO Springs
Funded by William E. Hewit Institute for History and Social Science Education
Registration: https://forms.gle/bDpEjf5y28AXnmyY8 Please register by April 15, 2022
Who: Secondary Teachers & Pre-service Teachers of Civics, Geography, History, and Math
When: June 13 - 15, 2021, 7:30 am – 5 pm
Where: University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
What: Institute provides in-depth, hands-on exposure to historical analysis, spatial thinking, and instructional techniques focused on the challenges of creating fair electoral districts, using Colorado as a case study. Teachers will gain insight into how political scientists, geographers, mathematicians, and public officials engage in conversation about representation in a modern democratic republic. The process of drawing electoral districts is a gateway for discussing geography, demographics, and political systems and an opportunity to introduce your students to the importance of geospatial technology and geographic information systems.
- Timely professional development focused on misunderstood aspects of electoral policy and history important to all Americans
- Guidance on using GIS/ArcGIS tools for election issues and any type of problem-based investigation
- 2 hours of graduate credit from UNC available ($130)
- Registration, breakfast, lunch, and materials provided
- Stipend of $500 upon submission of two lesson plans by July 31, 2022; guidelines provided at Institute
Agenda Includes:
- Constitutional guidelines and historical changes to redistricting
- Reapportionment and consequences for the Electoral College
- Gerrymandering: race, partisanship, & the role of the judicial system
- Colorado demographics and 2020 Census data
- Seeing electoral districts as a mathematical problem
- GIS in education, Esri GeoInquiries, and National Geographic Geo-Inquiry Process
- Teaching government functions and geographic perspectives in the secondary classroom
- GeoCivics activities and resources
- Cross-disciplinary ideas for teaching elections and government
- Guidelines for teaching contentious issues
- Guidelines for lesson plans and time to begin lesson-plan creation
Instructors:
- Dr. Gregory Williams, Dept. of Political Science & Intl. Affairs, University of Northern Colorado
- Dr. Rebecca Theobald, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, UCCS
- Dr. Beth Malmskog, Department of Mathematics, Colorado College
- Dr. Phil Klein, Department of Geography, GIS, and Sustainability, University of Northern Colorado
- Chris Elnicki, Executive Director, Colorado Center for Civic Learning & Engagement
- Matt Gottfried, Geospatial Technology Specialist, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
- Guest speakers include Carlos Perez, CO Independent Legislative Commission, Anton Schulzki, Palmer High School & NCSS President, as well as policymakers, government officials, and community members
Questions? Contact Dr. Phil Klein at phil.klein@unco.edu
