Introduction

This one or two semester graduate credit workshop is sponsored by the North Dakota Geographic Alliance (NDGA) and is open to North Dakota K-12 teachers and others who desire workshop credit for serving in a Geographic Alliance leadership position. This workshop is a self-paced and self-directed workshop and is offered on an open enrollment basis, meaning you can enroll at any time and work according to your schedule. However, you are requested to enroll prior to beginning activities for which you intend to earn credit. You will have up to six months after your enrollment to complete the workshop requirements. If you have questions about whether a specific leadership activity is appropriate please contact one of the workshop instructors or the North Dakota Geographic Alliance Office (phone 1-800-235-1948 or e-mail toni.schwartz@minotstateu.edu ) prior to your enrollment. See enrollment form for costs.

You do need to be an NDGA member to enroll. If you are not a current NDGA member you may establish or renew your membership by paying the $25 annual NDGA membership fee. As an NDGA member you will receive the quarterly North Dakota Geographic Alliance Magazine, the Dakota Alliance newsletter, and NDGA election notices and ballots. Membership will also entitle you to run for NDGA Board positions and to participate in all NDGA sponsored programs at the NDGA member rate.

Persons holding several types of unpaid NDGA leadership positions may enroll in this workshop (usually workshop credit will not be available to persons while they are being paid to hold NDGA leadership positions). Examples of some eligible NDGA leadership positions are given below:

1. If you are elected to the NDGA Board and if you assume a leadership role (as a Board officer or accept a Board committee assignment) you may enroll.

2. If you are designated by the NDGA Board to help organize an NDGA-sponsored professional development meeting, conference, workshop, and/or field trip you may enroll in this workshop.

3. If you are appointed by the NDGA Board to serve as an editor or assistant editor for the NDGA Magazine, Dakota Alliance Newsletter, and/or the NDGA Web site you may enroll.

4. If you assume a major committee assignment on an NDGA Board authorized committee you may enroll.

5. If you are designated by the NDGA Board as the NDGA Geography Action! Coordinator you may enroll.

6. If you hold other types of NDGA Board approved leadership positions (such positions, if available, will usually be announced in the Dakota Alliance Newsletter) you may qualify to enroll.

North Dakota Geographic Alliance information may be obtained at www.ndgamagazine.org

Instructor and Institution Options

When you enroll you may select the institution and workshop prefix you prefer. The workshop is available through Minot State University using an Education 500 workshop number, through North Dakota State University using an Education 600 workshop number, and through the University of North Dakota using a Geography 900 workshop number. Workshop requirements and expectations are the same regardless of which institution and workshop number you select. Also, please be aware that regardless of which institution and workshop prefix you select, on-line assignment pages for this on-line workshop will be hosted on a Minot State University server (i.e. Minot State University On-Line will be identified on the workshop homepage for each option).

Also, when you enroll the NDGA Office will assign one of the three workshop instructors based on instructor availability. If your preferred instructor is available any instructor preference you indicate will be honored. The three instructors are: Dr. Eric Clausen, North Dakota Geographic Alliance Director (eric.clausen@minotstateu.edu); Dr. Paul Meartz, Mayville State University Liberal Arts Division (paul_meartz@mail.masu.nodak.edu), and Dr. Douglas Munski, University of North Dakota Department of Geography (douglas_munski@und.nodak.edu). All three instructors have been approved to offer the workshop by all three universities. Usually you will be assigned to an instructor who can attend the same professional development conference you do.

When you have enrolled, and your instructor assignment has been made, you will receive instructions on how to proceed, communicate with your instructor and access the workshop assignments as briefly outlined below. Normally all communications with your instructor, including the submission of all assignments, will be handled via e-mail. You and your instructor may work out alternate communication options if needed .

Workshop Assignments and Grading

This is a self-paced and self-directed workshop. The instructor role is to simply observe and verify your progress. The workshop includes the following required and optional assignments (and/or expectations) and will be graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. You must satisfactorily complete all of the required assignments to receive a satisfactory grade. Within reason you will be allowed to repeat an assignment should you need to do so.

a. (Required) The workshop enrollee has identified a doable North Dakota Geographic Alliance leadership activity.

b. (Optional) The workshop enrollee has presented a short professional development plan (pertinent to her/his present situation and/or long term objectives).

c. (Optional) The stated professional development goals include developing geography and/or geography content knowledge, learning skills, and/or teaching skills.

d. (Optional) Information is provided showing why the identified Geographic Alliance leadership activities will advance the enrollee's stated professional development goals.

e. (Required) The workshop enrollee has developed a doable plan for her/his North Dakota Geographic Alliance leadership activities.

f. (Required) The workshop enrollee carries out her/his leadership activities as planned in a professional manner (tat least 20 hours of Geographic Alliance leadership activities for one semester of credit and at least 40 hours of leadership service are required for two semester hours of credit).

g. (Optional) The workshop enrollee has submitted notes documenting the leadership activities performed and colleague (and/or other audience) reactions to those activities.

h. (Optional) The notes are of sufficient detail to determine what leadership activities were provided and how colleagues (and/or other audiences) responded to those activities.

i. (Required) A 500-1000 word reflective essay describing the workshop experience has been submitted.

j. (Optional) The reflective essay clearly demonstrates how the workshop experience advanced the workshop enrollee's professional development objectives.

HOW TO ENROLL:

To enroll in this workshop please print and mail the printable enrollment form with appropriate payment to the North Dakota Geographic Alliance, Minot State University, Minot, ND 58707. Questions about enrollment may be directed to Toni Schwartz, North Dakota Geographic Alliance Administrative Assistant (phone 1-800-235-1948, e-mail toni.schwartz@minotstateu.edu).

Access Geographic Alliance Leadership Workshop (S/U option) Enrollment Form