Geographical Association

Here is a variety of material taken from lectures, workshops and teacher-to-teacher sessions held at the GA Annual Conference in Derby, 12-14 April 2007.

Post 16
Bob Digby
This session focused on issues facing teachers in planning for the new A-level specification in 2008. It looked at the criteria and agendas for new specifications, the issues and implications arising from the removal of coursework and how teachers might select a new specification.
Chaired by the Independent Schools Working Group

Download: PowerPoint Presentation (415k)

Teacher Educators
Dr David Lambert
This session considered geography teaching as a career and specifically the importance of all those preparing to teach geography in schools remaining in touch with developments in the wider discipline. There was also the opportunity to discuss issues such as the relationship that currently exists between university Departments of Geography and Departments of Education, and key developments in the GA, such as the forthcoming changes to Geography.

Download: PowerPoint Presentation (576k)

KS1-2
Anthony Barlow
This workshop was part of the PGCE/NQT Event held on Friday 13 April.

Download: PowerPoint Presentation (102k)

PGCE/NQT all levels
Sue Bermingham
This was the keynote lecture given at the PGCE/NQT event on Friday 13 April.

Download: PowerPoint Presentation (286k)

KS1-3
Kate Russell
This practical session gave participants the opportunity to explore some of the many websites which give access to digital maps and aerial photographs (or a combination of these) and how to make the best use of them in the classroom.
Presented by the GA's ICT Working Group

Download: Websites to get you started with GIS (Word, 44k)
Download: Recommended Links (Word, 35k)
Download: R U Webwise? Workshop Handout (Word, 12M)
Download: Workshop Task Sheet (Word, 25k)
Download: Workshop Plenary Sheet (Word, 23k)

KS3
John Lyon
What is the Secondary Geography Quality Mark? What did it develop from and how does it relate to the SEF? What does it involve? What does a department get out of it? Join in an activity looking at the pilot criteria and discover the SGQM's role in identifying and celebrating good geography.

Download: PowerPoint Presentation (446k)
Weblink: SGQM - GA website
Weblink: SGQM - Geography Teaching Today website

All levels
Teresa Davison
This presentation looked at the findings of a survey of all GA branches which took place early in 2007.

Download: PowerPoint Presentation (288k)

All levels
Bryan Ledgard and John Halocha
This session covered the essentials of how to take effective geographical photographs yourself and suggested a range of websites offering high quality, free digital images suitable for geographical learning. The workshop demonstrated techniques using photographs to encourage geographical enquiry and creative thinking in and beyond the classroom.

Download: Workshop Handout (Word, 29k)
Download: What Makes A Good Photograph? (PDF, 690k)

All levels
Dr David Hicks
Geography has a crucial role to play in helping young people think more creatively about the future - often a neglected dimension in education. This keynote explored practical ways in which teachers and students can engage with both probable and preferable futures for themselves and for society.

Download: PowerPoint Presentation (241k)

KS1 - Post 16
Sue Lomas and Mark Higginbottom
This presentation gave an overview of all the activities which come under the Worldwise banner.

Download: PowerPoint Presentation (351k)

All levels
Keith Grimwade
What will geography be like in 10, 20, 50 years time? Will it be a core subject or will it have gone the way of Classics? Keith Grimwade's Presidential Lecture explored a range of possible futures although his main focus was on how can we make the future rather than having it made for us.

Download: Audio Recording (MP3, 15M)
Download: PowerPoint Presentation (700k)
Download: Lecture Notes (Word, 50k)

KS3-4
Angus Willson
A local curriculum-making project has explored our ideas and decisions about homes, work and services for the future. How do we develop the skills for active engagement? How do we relate to the practitioners of architecture, planning, regeneration and property? This project received funding from the Academy for Sustainable Communities.

Download: PowerPoint Presentation (1.42M)
Download: Workshop Handout (Word, 1.27M)

KS3-4
Members of the GA Secondary Phase Committee: Alan Parkinson, Alan Kinder, Fred Martin and Tom Biebrach
In this practical session delegates ventured 'into the field' to conduct a
geographical investigation. Information was collected, returned to the classroom and put into a GIS package to show the power of new technology to enrich a future geography curriculum.

Download: Introductory PowerPoint Presentation (838k)
Download: Derby Map (JPEG, 100k)
Download: Recording Sheet (Word, 170k)
Download: Using Aegis3 for Fieldwork (Word, 48k)
Download: Using GIS for Fieldwork (Word, 273k)
Download: GA Mag GIS Supplement Taster (PDF, 58k)
Download: GIS: One Small Step (Word, 33k)
Download: 'Talk the talk: Mapping mobile phone masts with GIS' Teaching Geography subscribers only

The Secondary Phase Committee wishes to thank:

Diana Freeman of the Advisory Unit for giving AEGIS3 software for use in the workshop,
Roger Jeans of the Ordnance Survey for support and materials,
Tom Bramald of Geomatics for the loan of GPS handsets,
Paula Cooper and colleagues at King Edward VI 5 Ways School for inspiration,
and Helen Young for giving up her Saturday morning to help.

Further details are available on Alan Parkinson's website GeographyPages which features his personal Conference Diary. See also the gallery of photographs taken by Andrew Stacey.

KS1 - Post 16
Richard Treves
Google Earth enables the user to virtually 'fly' over Earth viewing it in 3D. This session provided participants with ideas of how to use it in their teaching as well as focusing on the ability of Google Earth to enable students and teachers to create their own maps.

The talk, movie clips and links are all available on Richard's website.

Link: KoKae: Using Google Earth and eMaps

All levels
Professor Andrew Goudie
This lecture looked at recent developments in the study of global warming with particular reference to future impacts on geomorphology.

Download: PowerPoint Presentation (1.17M)
(Some images and slides have been removed for copyright reasons)

KS2-3
Nicole Lyons
This session showcased the work that one school has undertaken in developing projects in partnership with feeder primary schools to aid the process of transition from KS2 to KS3, whilst promoting the profile of geography at the same time. There was also an opportunity to explore the practicalities of delivering ambitious collaborative work.

Download: PowerPoint Presentation (72k)
Download: Primary/Secondary Action List (Word, 22k)
Download: Primary/Secondary Liaison Overview (Word, 24k)

Post 16
Alan Marvell
This lecture considered growing discontent with contemporary suburban housing development. Images and identities of suburbia were contested to reveal kitsch design, marketing hype and increasing housing density. The role of place identity was explored as well as the shift from the suburban to 'sub-urban'.
Presented by the GA's Post 16 Phase Committee

Download: PowerPoint Presentation (1.23M)

KS2 - Post 16
Chair: John Hopkin, Panelists: Michael Bradford, David Holmes, Alan Marriott and Helen Martin
We often claim that there is no more relevant subject than geography to prepare young people for the 21st century and that one of its unique contributions is that it helps learners think about the future. But how true is that? And what sort of geography should we be planning and teaching?

Download: Michael Bradford PowerPoint Presentation (86k)
Download: David Holmes PowerPoint Presentation (155k)

KS3 - Post 16
Dr Adrian Johnson
This session gave an understanding of how mobile, hand-held GIS devices can be used in fieldwork. The relevance and excitement which this technology can bring to geography, was accompanied by practical suggestions of which hardware is suitable and how to use it.

Download: PowerPoint Presentation (423k)

KS2
Tessa Willy
This was a hands-on guide to introducing sustainability to KS2 pupils. It provided ideas for introducing sustainability and developed ideas for putting it into practice in the classroom, providing pupils with a basic comprehension of the key issues of environmental education and sustainability.
Presented by GA Early Years and Primary Phase Committee

Download: PowerPoint Presentation (245k)
(The images from this presentation have been removed for copyright reasons)
Download: Supporting Notes (Word, 76k)

KS1 - Post 16
Sean Gough
The Magic Planet is a 3D digital globe that shows systems moving across Earth as observed from space, e.g. weather systems, environmental impacts and sea surface temperatures. This session provided a chance to see the Magic Planet in use and hear the experiences of those already using the Magic Planet in the classroom.

Download: PowerPoint Presentation (689k)

KS2 - Post 16
Nicole Lyons
This session will outline the benefits of local GA branches to geography teachers and professionals. It will explain how to set up a local branch and offer ideas about the activities that could be organised within a branch, citing the new Nottinghamshire special school GA branch as an example.

Download: PowerPoint Presentation (175k)
Link: Nottinghamshire Branch

KS3 - Post 16
Tsering Paljor
This session focused on the situation of Tibetan refugees in India, including a discussion of living conditions, educational and vocational training, opportunities, jobs and way of life. The session also looked at the different Tibetan refugee settlments and the role of the Tibetan administration in exile.

Download: Session Notes (Word, 123k)
Download: PowerPoint Presentation (761k)
Download: Accompanying PowerPoint Presentation (46k)
(Some images have been removed from these presentations for copyright reasons)

KS3 - Post 16
Kathryn Stephenson and members of the GA's Secondary Phase Committee
Open the doors to supporting geography! This session focused on self-evaluation and strategies which can be used to take a department forward, asking where we are now and where do we want to be? It also looked at how the GA's Secondary Geography Quality Mark can be used to demonstrate success.

Download: Introductory PowerPoint Presentation (36k)
Download: SGQM Document (Word, 130k)
Download: SEF/SGQM - Real Example (Word, 39k)

KS2-4
Nick Lapthorn
This guided trail aimed to put ideas from the forthcoming GA Fieldwork File into practice in Derby city centre and provided an opportunity to discuss other possible areas of investigation.
Presented by the GA's Field Studies Working Group

Included in the Zip file below are the printed handouts used during the visit, a copy of the DVD file they created using Movie Maker, a document of 'Useful Information' and a selection of photographs.

Download: Zip file (13M)
Link: Derby Cityscape Video

KS3 - Post 16
Judith Mansell
Discovering Antarctica is a sensational web-based multimedia resource for teaching, learning and understanding about Antarctica. Developed using the knowledge, expertise and resources of the RGS-IBG, British Antarctic Survey and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, this resource is aimed at 11-14 year olds and provides up-to-date information on the state of Antarctica today.

Download: PowerPoint Presentation (2.7M)
Link: Discovering Antarctica

EY-KS2
Rachel Bowles, Helen Martin, Jane Whittle
This session demonstrated variety in cross-curricular work by looking at the work of the Curriculum Partnership and the Creative Partnership. An exhibition of pupil's work, gathered in the classroom and in the field was displayed, while the discussion featured contributions from teachers involved in these projects.
Presented by the GA's Early Years and Primary Phase Committee

Download: Accompanying Notes - Rachel Bowles (Word, 233k)
Download: PowerPoint Presentation - Rachel Bowles (1.3M)
Download: Accompanying Notes - Jane Whittle (Word, 29k)
Download: PowerPoint Presentation - Jane Whittle (588k)

Post 16
Susie Bissell
The future of geography as an undergraduate discipline increasingly rests on its ability to train students effectively for the workplace. This session considered research conducted during the early career path of geography graduates from Plymouth, Leeds and Gloucester, looking at their career prospects upon graduation and their opinions on the effectiveness of geography in preparing them for the workplace.

Download: PowerPoint Presentation (1.2M)

(Updated 04.07.07)