The IAGD network continued to build at GSA 2012 in Charlotte NC. Before the conference, a short course titled Instructional Approaches to Access, Accommodation, and Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in the Geosciences was presented by IAGD members Chris Atchison, Brett Gilley and Gina Ceylan. In the course participants worked together to determine ways to help students overcome barriers and apply Inclusive Design for Learning to their classes. They also shared several exciting activities and accommodations that they had developed for their own students. Suggestions to deliver this course throughout the United States included regional locations hosted by various colleges and universities, as well as presenting in connection with various educational (NSTA) and disabilities (AHEAD) conferences.
(L-R) IAGD Members Chris Atchison, Gina Ceylan, and Brett Gilley at the IAGD Booth during the 2012 GSA Annual Meeting in Charlotte, NC, USA.
The first official IAGD members meeting was held Sunday night, November 4th where several topics were discussed, including preparing for the upcoming IAGD General Meeting, to be held on Friday, December 14th. For more information on the upcoming general meeting, please visit www.TheIAGD.org.
The technical session chaired by Chris Atchison and Sharon Locke: Research and instructional approaches of access and inclusion to increase diversity in the Geosciences was very well attended and had many great talks. For abstracts from the session please visit: https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2012AM/webprogram/Session30684.html
The IAGD was represented in the conference exhibit hall with a collaborative booth with the International Union of Geological Sciences Commission on Geoscience Education, where IAGD pamphlets, informational cards, and name-tag stickers were distributed.
This was a great conference for the development of an even stronger IAGD network. Plans are already underway for the IAGD events October 27-30, 2013 in Denver.
