EPDIS: Institutes: Social Studies: Community Land Use

Community Land Use

UPDATED 03/11/2004

Participant Application Information

2003-2004 School Year Workshops
1 credit

January 7, 2004: Focus on the Standards for Social Studies
Gogebic Ontonagon ISD
GRAPCEP Location/date: TBA

The Michigan Curriculum Framework (MCF) Social Studies Strands and Standards will be reviewed, and teachers will review MEAP scores for their district and make correlations to the MCF Social Studies Standards and Benchmarks. Teachers will then look at ways to integrate benchmarks from other subjects. The goal will be to help address and reinforce curriculum areas students are struggling with, while keeping the community land use theme and service learning in mind.

February 27, 2004: Service Learning
Gogebic Ontonagon ISD
GRAPCEP Location/date: TBA

Teachers discuss service learning and how to effectively implement it in their classrooms. Examples of service learning projects will be provided to teachers to help foster creative ideas for classroom projects related to the community land use theme.

April 30, 2004: Community Geography
Michigan Technological University
GRAPCEP Location/date: TBA

Teachers will engage in activities to identify the cultural, historical and natural character of their community. They will evaluate how the visual and natural environment impacts the economic and environmental qualities of their community and identify potential consequences of future land use changes. Keeping different perspectives on community growth in mind, they will identify community planning tools to enhance a community's visual appearance and make recommendations to enhance the livability of their community.

Summer Institute 2004
3 credits

June 20-26, 2004: Community Land Use
Michigan Technological University

Application

Teachers will learn how to implement the Michigan Social Studies Standards through activities on land use planning, community design and development and analysis of public opinion surveys. They will practice the application of the six core economic principles to their local communities, examining the human/environment interaction, and mapping.

The Institute will model ways to integrate these topics into classrooms and across the curriculum. Institute teachers will participate in a multi-day session on using Geographic Positioning Units (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to digitize, display, and evaluate information about community characteristics. Participants will also examine the political and legal processes established to make community decisions and encourage practices that can be used to enhance the livability, functionality, and character of a community. Teachers will plan a teaching unit that includes a service learning component to implement into their classroom during the 2004-2005 school year.

Spring 2005 Classroom Practicum
1 credit

Implementation and assessment of teaching units developed during the Summer Institute.

2004-2005 School Year Workshops
1 credit

Connecting with the Learner: Equity Toolkit
Location/dates: TBA

Teachers will learn strategies to facilitate and support an effective learning community in their classroom. They will explore the effect of teacher expectations on student performance.

Instructional Assessment
Location/dates: TBA

Teachers will explore methods and strategies to assess student learning in effective and creative ways. They will learn how effective student assessments can improve instruction and increase student learning.

Summer Institute 2005
2 credits

June 19-25, 2005: Partners in Learning Institute
Michigan Technological University

Teachers and their students will share the successes and challenges of implementing their community projects. They will learn how to assess the impact of their work. Together they will explore careers in science, engineering, and technology, participate in unique field and laboratory experiences, and determine ways to disseminate their work