Center for Geography Assessment
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The evaluation process to determine whether a student will become a Scholar of Distinction in Applied Geography is based on evidence that the student has mastered the knowledge and skills listed in the content standard. Evidence of achievement is verified only after the student has addressed all requirements and successfully completed the necessary assessments.
To become a Scholar of Distinction in Applied Geography, students must do the following:
1. Satisfy all state and local graduation requirements
At a minimum, this includes passing the state Minnesota Basic Standards tests in reading, mathematics and written composition and satisfying distribution requirements in the Minnesota Profile of Learning by completing work in the High Standards.
2. Complete work in the standard Human Geography
A student must receive a minimum achievement score of 3 on the Human Geography standard as part of the student's record of work in the Profile of Learning: High Standards.
3. Pass a comprehensive test of geographic knowledge
Students must earn a passing score on the Minnesota Geography Examination given in March of each year by the Center for Geography Assessment. Students may take this test more than once, if needed. Or, students must earn a score of 2 or more on the College Board's Advanced Placement Geography Examination, which is administered annually in the spring. (Note: The Advanced Placement exam is being developed. Students should not plan on taking this test until sometime after the year 2000.) Both tests assess the degree to which students possess comprehensive knowledge of geography. In addition, students will be asked to apply complex reasoning processes on a wide variety of topics. One way of preparing for the test is using the
test item bank on this site.
Students will be informed of their test scores and whether they are approved to proceed to the next phase, the research project.
4. Complete an in-depth research project
The project requires the application of sophisticated geographic skills. The project may be designed by the student or selected from one of several models described in the Research Project Models section. The student must focus his or her project on an identified, real world problem to be solved or question to be answered. Students are encouraged to structure a project that is relevant to his or her home community. Project proposals must receive pre-approval from the Center for Geography Assessment before work is initiated. Completed projects must be submitted to the Center for Geography Assessment for validation of successful completion.
It is assumed that students who wish to become a Scholar of Distinction in Applied Geography are honest students capable of independent work. Monitoring students' work to assure independent performance of projects by students, however, is required. The staff of the Center for Geography Assessment will develop a schedule with each participating students and sponsors for site visits and interviews to monitor project progress.
The student's completed research project will be evaluated by the consultants of the Center for Geography Assessment, who will determine the degree to which the project meets the specific quality criteria. The sponsors will be notified of the center's consultants' findings. A student must receive an "excellent" rating on at least four (4) out of six (6) performance criteria established for each research project in order to fulfill the research requirement for Scholars of Distinction in Applied Human Geography. The sponsors will then be responsible for all local administrative procedures necessary for noting the achievement on a student's transcript.
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