Mary C. Henry

We're creeping closer to the halfway point of the semester and things are getting busy for me. My teaching load ended up being lighter than planned this semester, since one of my classes was canceled. However, I am busy with some research work right now. I have a paper revision due on October 8th, so I've been working on that the last few weeks- a little at a time. I am also working on a new proposal to the Ohio Board of Regents Improving Teacher Quality Program. We are hoping to partner with some local schools to develop some new approaches for teaching science and math. I have never applied to this program before, and it's been hectic trying to coordinate with colleagues and set up meetings with K12 teachers. I am very excited about the project, though- I hope we get funding!! Proposals are due October 27th. Yikes! The canceled class has made things easier on me for all the other things I am working on, but I am still feeling stressed. Proposal-writing is tough work and I...

Late last fall, I joined the steering committee for the Ohio Geographic Alliance (OGA). A retired colleague (Professor Emeritus Dr. Howell Lloyd) was stepping down after many years serving on the committee. We attended my first meeting together and I was thankful to have someone at the meeting who I already knew and also someone to help me navigate to Ohio State University for the first time (where OGA is based). OGA is one of many state geographic alliances and is sponsored by the National Geographic Society . Established in 1990, OGA is an organization devoted to enhancing geography, as both a physical and socialc science, in Ohio's K-12 curriculum. It is a partnership that includes K-12 teachers and university geography professors who work together in pre-service, inservice, materials development and public engagement activities. (from OGA website ). I was very excited about the prospect of joining this organization, because I have wanted to get involved in K-12 education and ...

Spring semester 2009 has just ended and I am trying to catch my breath. Grades were due this past Tuesday, then I spent two days helping with Miami-Talawanda Science Week. Robbyn Abbitt (our GIS Coordinator) organized the program for third- and fourth-graders to visit extreme places using Google Earth . The kids seemed to enjoy it- especially at the end when they got to search for their houses and look at Disney World (the 3-D buildings are REALLY cool!) I am collaborating on a proposal and have a manuscript to review, in between fielding emails from disgruntled students! It may be summer, but it’s no vacation!