Free online PD from National Geographic

National Geographic is offering FREE online professional development this summer. They include

• Connecting the Geo-Inquiry Process to Your Teaching Practice (June 24-August 18), all grades, 30 hours
• Teaching Global Climate Change in Your Classroom (June 24-August 11), middle school, 45 hours
  Collecting Data to Explore Plastic Pollution in Our Communities (June 24-August 11), all grades, 25 hours
• Mapping as a Visualization and Communication Tool in Your Classroom (June 24-August 5), all grades, 20 hours
• Integrating Service with Learning Goals (June 24-August 5), grades 5-9, 15 hours.

I need to learn to use Google Classroom! Want to help me? Plus: STORYCORPS Is Coming To Montana (Virtually)

Online Montana History Class

I'm looking for 5-10 generous Montana history teachers who use and understand Google Classroom to actively participate in a 6-hour online class this June (Starting June 15).

I'll be honest: my motivation is not pure and this is going to be different than most of the workshops we offer. Participants WILL walk away with 6 OPI renewal units and a better understanding of the resources available to teach Montana history. But you'll also be expected to teach me the ins and outs of the platform and to be patient with me as I fumble through the learning process. (FAIL=First Attempt In Learning, right?)

Those of you who know me probably know that I'm a bit of a control freak. For this class, I'm going to let that go. We'll be in this together, teaching one another, about Montana history resources, and ways to harness technology to better serve students. 

Interested? Email me (Martha Kohl) at mkohl@mt.gov.

StoryCorps Is Coming to Montana

On an entirely different note, Montana Public Radio will host StoryCorps for 4 weeks to record the stories of local residents and preserve them in the Library of Congress.

In a StoryCorps interview, two people are able to record a meaningful conversation with one another about who they are, what they’ve learned in life, and how they want to be remembered. A trained StoryCorps facilitator guides them through the interview process. After each 40-minute recording session, participants receive a digital copy of their interview. With participant permission, a second copy is archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress for future generations to hear.

The first 1/2 of the reservations to record will open May 20 at 10 a.m., with the remaining recording reservations available on June 9 at 10 a.m.. Reservations can be made by calling StoryCorps’ 24-hour toll-free reservation line at 1-800-850-4406 or visiting storycorps.org.