Teaching Geography with the California Atlas

1 Units
Online Fixed-Date

Course Description

Maximize the Use of Your Classroom Atlas to Promote Geographic Teaching and Learning

This course will introduce teachers to geographic thinking, perspectives, and literacy while using the revised California classroom atlas* as a tool and resource for learning.  Teachers will learn about the physical and cultural geography of California as well as instructional practices for engaging students in learning about their world.

*Cunha, S. and Herman, T. (2021). California: A Changing State. 2nd ed. San Diego State University Research Foundation

Course Details

Number of Units:  1.0 graduate level extension credit(s) in semester hours

Who Should Attend:  This course provides continuing education for 4th grade teachers, who will benefit the most.  However, Grade 2-12 teachers will also find content valuable.  The course utilizes the California atlas, but teachers from other states are welcome to take this course and transfer learning to their own state's atlas.

Course Materials: All required materials are built into the online course.  A free electronic version of the California Atlas will be provided within the course.

Technical Requirements

Course Options

Course Date Units Price

What You Will Learn

  • Explore geographic thinking, perspectives, literacy and spatial reasoning
  • Expand on the geography of California over time (aligned to California History-Social Sciences Standards)
  • Practice teaching strategies for use with the atlas and in teaching geography in general

Instructors

Professional development courses offered by the University of San Diego’s Division of Professional & Continuing Education are taught by faculty that possess a depth and breadth of academic and real-world professional experience.

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Online Fixed-Date

Online Fixed-Date: Online fixed-date courses offer a convenient, yet rigorous style of learning that enables you to collaborate with your instructor and other students in a shared, online learning environment. These courses have fixed start and finish dates, but as an online student you will have 24/7 online access to your classroom assignments, syllabus and course resources. Our online fixed-date courses allow you to work on your assignments anytime, although you are required to complete the assignments by specific dates.

How is the learning structured? In an online fixed-date course, you and your classmates will proceed through the curriculum together, collaborating in a shared learning experience. Each online fixed-date course is asynchronous, meaning that you can work on your assignments anytime, although required to complete the assignments by specific dates. The course is designed with learning modules where all of the content is grouped into weekly assignments. Each module covers one or more topics. Within each of the learning modules, you can expect the following components:

  • Module introduction that outlines what you can expect to learn in the module.
  • Required readings (textbook, articles, journals, etc.) and presentations (audio and/or video).
  • Assignments with due dates (which may include: written assignments, journal entries, research, blogs, etc.) based on the readings and presentations.
  • Discussion forum where you answer prompts from the instructor and interact with your classmates.
  • Module conclusion to review the topics and what you should have learned.
  • Typically, there is a final project, paper, or exam due in the last module that culminates all of the topics covered in each of the learning modules. You’ll find that the design of the learning modules has a rhythm to help you manage your time in the course.

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