COMMENTS FROM PARTICIPANTS
All the freebies, especially the educational useful materials. I have never attended a course or anything else where so many good, new, useful things were given to me. Lectures, field trips and the stressful intimidating in service presentations which were so helpful. Great breakfast especially the oatmeal and delightful lunches!
What amazed and pleased me about attending the Geography Institute is the total support for teachers in so many ways. I have never received such a wealth of materials, teaching tools, etc. from a workshop as well as support from the instructor and her staff. MAHALO!!
Receiving a wealth of materials/resources and fantastic lesson plans which can be adapted to many grade levels. I also enjoyed meeting other teachers from all over Hawaii and making connections here and there. Also doing a presentation in front of many colleagues was a learning experience in itself. Knowing people who can help me with geography -- great resource people.
Geography is much more than I thought. I didn't realize how much a part of our everyday lives it influences.
Life without geography . . . rather difficult to imagine how much our lives would be with out the study of geography. Worse yet, life without the Hawaii Geographic Alliance. The Alliance has been a life force in many of our classrooms -- it has encouraged, motivated and inspired us to bring geography to life for our students. The best is yet to come because of our new knowledge -- we all become for better explorers.
The Geography Alliance Institute has helped me to see geography in a fun and interesting way. I look at the world in a whole new perspective and I'm excited to share this with my students. Geography is all around us, we just need to use our "geographic" eyes to enjoy it.
The inservice lessons really highlighted the class. As well as receiving such helpful and insightful lessons, it lit a lot of lightbulbs. Its always a pleasure to work with teachers -- you gain so much from other teachers -- learning cultural difference that are silently portrayed in the activities. What an awesome experience! The overall feeling evoked can be compared to a mixed plate lunch (of knowledge) - Many "ono" entrees (lessons) that make you full! Now -- I need to nap and dream!
Imagine, the time and space
From Hilo to Honolulu (Lower Alewa Heights) that is
A decade gone by . . .
Geography was here, however dimly
Nurtured ny mother Higuchi a
glowing, beaming, living entity.
Now and in the future!
We are all a part of the history of HGA
a living history or a dead one?
For me a debt I will never
fully repay for a life
generously enriched, expanded, alive.
In pidgin language of the islands . . .
Who da Kine: Mary Frances, Bernice, and Dawn
What da Kine: Hawaii Geographic Alliance leaders
Why da Kine: Open windows to the world
Where da Kine: Hawaii's Schools
How da Kine: Provide Workshops
When da Kine: Your convenience for me!!!!
The amount of resources that we received everyday was overwhelming. WOW! I can use so many of these things in my room next year. The teacher lessons and how they integrated the different subjects into their geography lesson was also eye-opening.
The Summer Geography Alliance has opened up doors to my curriculum. I am able to witness geography play a part in all parts of the curriculum. Living in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, it is often difficult for our children (and sometimes even ourselves) to realize we are only a part of a larger puzzle called the world. It is this bigger part of the puzzle that affects our lives in so many ways. If children learn geography, they also learn compassion and appreciation for all the things that make our place a beautiful place to live.
One of the best ways for teachers to learn is to interact with their peers. As one plant can have many flowers, so can one idea have many interpretations.
The Summer Geography Institute opens your eyes and mind to the world and what it has to offer. Map skills, atlases, friendships, resources galore, learning trips, and a fostering of love and excitement towards geography is what you will gain from this workshop. The world is offered to you at this institute . . . take advantage!
The Geography Alliance was not just a workshop, it was an experience that has become a part of us. As we leave today, we will take with us not just the learning, but also the aloha from the group. As we go our separate ways we will carry on together because we are one in the Geography Alliance.
The Geography Alliance Institute has helped me look at the world with "Geographic" eyes. Although I have traveled to many countries (Russia, Japan, Italy, New Zealand and France), coming to this institute has made me want to re-visit these areas and explore new ones to look at how the history of that country has impacted the geography and to really examing the cultural diversity that exists there.
The most powerful aspect of this year's Summer Geography Alliance has been the teacher interaction. We are showered with information, resources, and ideas and then to see all of this begin to take shape and form into effective powerful lessons for our students -- that is an amazing thing. I have grown as an individual first, then as a professional. I know that the networking between teachers will continue even after the alliance. Afterall, we have one goal -- to reach our students with the world of geography.
What struck me the most is how geography can be a part of almost any lesson in any content area. As a librarian it was very useful to see all of the atlases and maps available for students, as well as the books everyone used to present their lessons.
*Standards-based education became a little more clear.
I appreciate the wealth of information I learned and was provided with. I also appreciate how organized, professional, and knowledgable everyone is. It's so comforting to know that the HGA is out there for teachers. Thank you!
My eyes are wide open . . . Not only do I have a better understanding of what GEOGRAPHY is, but I've learned how to better encorporate it into my curriculum.
Geography spans across the Earth . . . tracing migration and
and industry, it reaches beyond mapping
locations and topography digging deep into their effects
on human systems and environment. Geography
is much more than identifying landforms, using maps and
learning the names of places around the world. Geography
determines lifestyle, it drives movement, it impacts the
earth . . . it is the study of the entire surface of the Earth both
static and fluid . . . Geography is much more
than what I imagined.