The Choices Program
2013 Geography Institute
The Choices Program
Brown University, Box 1948
Providence, Rhode Island 02912-9120
Tel 401-863-3155 Fax 401-863-1247
Email: Choices@brown.edu
www.choices.edu
Thinking Geographically About International Issues: The Choices Approach
Brown University, Providence, RI
June 26-28, 2013
Application Deadline: Monday, April 8, 2013
Just as history is finally being recognized as more than a list of people and dates, geography is also finally being
recognized as more than a list of places. While our history colleagues ask Why? How? and So what?, we invite you to
join Brown University’s Choices Program to ask What is where? Why? So what?
Secondary level geography teachers from public, private, and parochial schools are invited to apply for a 2013 Summer
Institute that focuses on using the resources and approach of the Choices Program to teach geography.
While the content focus of the Institute will be on the Choices unit, The United States in Afghanistan, we will examine
other Choices units and their applicability to teaching about international issues and addressing Common Core
Standards. The goal of the Institute is to build a community of geography educators who are prepared to share best
practices for using Choices materials and approach with other educators.
Participants will:

Benefit from presentations by university geographers, using The United States in Afghanistan unit as a content focus;

Be immersed in the Choices approach to teaching about contested international issues through presentations, curricular
modeling, and discussions;

Share best practices and approaches for addressing complex international issues with other educators from across the
country; and

Develop plans to share strategies, resources, and insights gained from the Institute with other geography educators.
Benefits Include:

Professional growth from content lectures and sharing of best practices;

Ongoing support from the Choices Program to conduct professional development activities in your district or region;

Expansion of leadership skills through the completion of outreach activities;

Housing, meals, and Choices curriculum units; and

a 20-hour certificate of completion.
There is no fee for the Institute, but participants are required to cover their own travel to and from Providence, RI.
We wish to thank the Cranelith Foundation for their support of this initiative.
The Choices Program
Brown University, Box 1948
Providence, Rhode Island 02912-9120
Tel 401-863-3155 Fax 401-863-1247
Email: Choices@brown.edu
www.choices.edu
The Choices Program
2013 Geography Institute
APPLICATION
Name:
Home address:
Email address:
Home or cell phone number:
School name:
School address:
Years of teaching experience:
Grade levels taught:
Subjects currently teaching:
Subjects previously/occasionally taught:
How did you hear about this institute?
Familiarity with Choices materials (circle the item that best applies to you):
I use Choices units on a regular basis
I use Choices units occasionally
I only use the free resources on the web
I have never used Choices materials
Are you a member of your state Geographic Alliance? ___Yes ___No
The Choices Program
2013 Geography Institute
The Choices Program
Brown University, Box 1948
Providence, Rhode Island 02912-9120
Tel 401-863-3155 Fax 401-863-1247
Email: Choices@brown.edu
www.choices.edu
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
In no more than two paragraphs (double spaced) for each question, please answer each of the following questions.
1. What do you feel the goal of a great geography education should be?
2. Have you used Choices materials in your classroom? If so, tell us a bit about how you have used them. If
you have not used Choices materials, after looking at our website, how might you use them?
3. An important expectation of the Institute is to share Choices materials and approach with other
geography educators. How might you share your knowledge with other educators in your district or
state? We invite you to think creatively about ways that you can share the Choices Program with
other educators. Please be specific.
While it is not required, we encourage you to attach a letter of support from your state geographic alliance, a
professional development organization, or your supervisor.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Return application to the Choices Program at Choices@brown.edu. Please put “Geography” in the subject line. Please
apply early. Space is limited. Application deadline is Monday, April 8, 2013. Notification of acceptance will be on or
before April 15, 2013. Notification will be by email only. Applicants will receive a confirmation email when the Choices
Program has received your application. Please add choices@brown.edu to your email address book to be sure you
receive our messages.
The selection committee strives to select a group that is diverse in its number of years teaching, school setting, and
familiarity with the Choices Program. This is a competitive process. We regret that we cannot accept all applicants.