Geographical Association

Chair: Kye Askins
kye.askins@northumbria.ac.uk

Please get in touch with us if you would like to join the CWG, or if you would like to take part in the GeoCitizen project. We hold an annual meeting at the GA Conference, have an email forum and meet via internet video connection at other times during the year.

You are also welcome to join our discussions in the Geographical Association Network website ( aka 'The GA Ning').

Get involved with the GeoCitizen project!

Find out more >>>

We hold annual workshops at the GA Conference where we:

This workshop explored diverse citizen voices through MemoryScapes around the River Thames, and an art installation - 'Exchange Values' - which included voices of people involved in the global banana trade.

Download: Voices Workshop Report (PDF, 63k)
Download: Voices Workshop Flyer (JPEG, 160k)

This session explored the contribution of geography to citizenship issues and centred on a practical classroom activity to design an ID card. The workshop introduced teachers to recent work from within geography on the concepts and experiences of 'race', identity politics and 'whiteness'.

Download: Designing Identity Workshop Report (Word, 83k)
Download: Designing Identity PowerPoint Presentation (PPT, 148k)
Download: Designing Identity Workshop Flyer (PDF, 215k)

This workshop draws on work in political and social geography to investigate the concepts of active citizenship and personal responsibility.

Download: Citizens in Society Workshop Flyer (PDF, 298k)
Download: Citizens in Society PowerPoint Presentation (PPT, 719k)

What is geography's contribution to making citizens?

In 2007 the group commissioned a number of short viewpoint articles from academic geographers Jon Anderson, Kye Askins, Ian Cook, Luke Desforges, James Evans, Maria Fannin, Duncan Fuller, Helen Griffiths, David Lambert, Roger Lee, Julie MacLeavy, Lucy Mayblin, John Morgan, Becky Payne, Jessica Pykett, David Roberts and Tracey Skelton who thought through the links between citizenship and geography. These can be read in full below:

We have subsequently pulled these pieces together to form an article for the re-launch issue of Geography. GA members can login to download the article here.

Designing Identity

In 2008 we commissioned articles on the theme of 'designing identity' from Ian Cook, Helen Griffiths, Peter Hopkins, Peter Jackson, Joanne Norcup, Jessica Pykett and Jane Veevers. Ian Cook is working on 'mashing up' these articles for a future issue of Geography. These will be added soon.

The CWG was established in September 2006 to support GA members in the development of the citizenship dimension of geography education. We aim to help advise and forge ahead with clarifying, strengthening and developing the links and overlaps that clearly exist between geography and citizenship education.

The CWG meets three times a year. We hope to achieve our aims through:

• Initiating and promoting projects that involve the effective development of citizenship to enhance the teaching and learning of geography.
• Researching and providing information and advice about citizenship developments to members of the GA in journal publications, the GA website and conference; through presentations, workshop and correspondence.
• Monitoring developments in citizenship education and report these to GA members and the Education Committee.
• Representing the GA at a variety of fora, for example with government, other subject associations and voluntary organisations.

The CWG is made up of a range of primary and secondary geography teachers, geography educators, higher education geographers and geographers working in the public realm.

Links to relevant websites:

Public Geographies Working Group
Give Geography its Place Campaign

If you would like to register your interest in the CWG please contact Helen Griffiths.


(Updated 23.07.09)