GA Annual Conference - University of Manchester 16-18 April 2009
The 2009 GA Annual Conference took place at the University of Manchester from 16-18 April. The event was attended by more than 900 people from over 20 countries with many delegates, exhibitors and staff proclaiming it the 'best Conference yet'.
As always we'll be adding materials from Conference to this page as soon as they come in. If you presented a session and would like to submit content for inclusion on this page, send it to Anne Greaves and we'll add it as soon as possible. There's also a Flickr Group for sharing Conference photographs.
If you didn't get chance to submit your comments in Manchester, download an evaluation form and send it to Lucy Oxley - we really value your feedback.
Forthcoming GA Events
If you missed the GA Annual Conference or if you'd like to participate in some more high quality geography CPD, why not book on one of our forthcoming events?
Living Geography Regional Conferences for KS3-4
Cardiff - 29 September 2009 Wrexham - 13 October 2009 Belfast - 3 November 2009
Next year's Annual Conference will take place at the University of Derby from 8-10 April 2010 - find out more
LECTURES
Public Lecture - Tipping the Balance through Fairtrade All Key Stages Harriet Lamb We all enjoy a good cup of fair trade coffee knowing it offers a better deal for farmers and workers in the developing world. But we may not know so much about how Fairtrade has grown to become an important global movement that is revolutionising the way we shop and touching the lives of 7 million people across 59 developing countries. Director of the Fairtrade Foundation, Harriet Lamb, explored the case for fair trade, telling stories of the impact for producers, outlining the role of consumers and companies, and addressing the continuing obstacles to change. She ended by providing an insight into the Fairtrade Foundation's ambitious strategy for the future, Tipping the Balance.
Presidential Lecture - Investigating Geography All Key Stages Margaret Roberts The Presidential Lecture focused on three questions which are of concern to us as geography educators. What kinds of questions frame the discipline of geography? How can children and young people develop geographical understanding through enquiry? What is going on in geography classrooms and how can investigate and make sense of it? Following the Presidential Lecture, David Lambert joined Margaret to formally launch the GA's 'manifesto' A Different View.
Keynote Address - Un-natural Hazards All Key Stages Iain Stewart Earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions make life on our planet naturally risky. But what turns dramatic geophysical phenomena into human catastrophes is the inability of individuals and communities to avoid, cope with, and recover from natural calamities. Hazards emerge from Nature, but disasters are made in Society.
We hope to make Iain's PowerPoint Presentation available during the next few weeks - keep checking back for updates
Lecture 1 - Cheat Neutral Key Stage 3 - Post16 Alex Randall and Christian Hunt At last year's conference Dr Joe Smith in his keynote speech appealed to geographers to help scientists communicate climate change in a creative way, citing Cheat Neutral as an example. This lecture provided further information about this project and other innovative ideas to communicate the big global sustainability issues. In partnership with Centre for Alternative Technology
Lecture Plus 4 - The Urban Heat Island Experiment Key Stage 2 - Post16 Sylvia Knight In 2008 the Royal Meteorological Society will conduct its first big urban heat island experiment in Manchester. With the help of the general public and their car thermometers, they will generate a detailed picture of the urban heat island. This lecture looked at out how to use the data in the classroom, and how to participate in future experiments. In partnership with the Royal Meteorological Society
Chair's Summary:Dr. Knight explained the causes behind the urban heat island effect and described some of the startling differences in temperature between urban and rural areas, which range up to 9ºC. She highlighted the impacts, both recent and future, of urban temperature spikes on human mortality rates and outlined the challenge for future urban design. Finally, Dr. Knight described an innovative research project from the RMS, which involves members of the public recording local temperatures in order to build a more accurate model of the urban heat islands for selected British cities.
Lecture 5 - Outdoor Spaces for Children and Young People Key Stage 1-4 Helen Woolley Children and young people's use of different open spaces is often controlled by adults and other young people. This session drew upon 15 years of research about children and young people in town centres, skateboarders, inclusion of disabled children in primary school playgrounds and playgrounds in public spaces. It related some of the findings and issues raised by the research to the national curriculum.
Chair's Summary:Helen Woolley gave us an informative and useful lecture on the importance of outdoor spaces within our schools. She provided support and knowledge of funding sources, information about risk assessment and ideas to make links with their communities. We were encouraged throughout the lecture to look for learning spaces further afield than our own school grounds, including local parks, forests and green spaces within our local communities to enhance motivation and excitement in all learners.
Lecture Plus 5 - Make Geography - be a Champion Early Years - Key Stage 3 Paula Owens, Anthony Barlow and Helen Martin Geography Champions talked about how they have enthused their local schools to understand geography, shared the outcomes and discussed the activities. Presented by GA EYPPC
Lecture 6 - All Change! KS2 & 3 in Wales Key Stage 2-3 Janet Bond Welsh Strand An overview of the new, revised Geography National Curriculum for Wales. This session explored the opportunities for teachers and learners in Wales provided by the development of a skills-based curriculum, and improving learning outcomes through investigation in geography within a wider framework of curriculum and assessment development.
Chair's Summary:Janet outlined the curriculum approaches developed in Wales, which differ from those in England. The driving force is a skills-based framework and a learner-centred approach, with different priorities for different schools who are free to develop a thematic curriculum. Geography is seen as a making a major contribution with geographical topics in themes addressing skills but also engendering a focus on concepts. At KS3, department-annotated assessment portfolios are being developed and moderated with more emphasis given to professional judgement. The discussion raised questions and concerns about constructing an appropriate balance and emphasis between general and geographical learning within a curriculum.
Lecture 7 - Rethinking Human Geography Key Stage 4 - Post16 viv Pointon The gap between university and schools has narrowed with the new A-Level and GCSE specifications. The population, settlement and economic structure is being replaced with themes on food, health and energy and the concept of a changing world. This session focused on engaging students in the new human geography. Presented by GA P16PC
Lecture 8 - Economic Geographies of Global Development Post 16 Roger Lee This session explored the notion of economic geographies and applied it to geographies of global development with special reference to China. Economic geographies are defined as circuits of value, driven by social relations of value, which take place across space and through time. Increasingly dominated by financial relations, they are powerful shapers of geographies of development.
Lecture Plus 8 - 8 Way Thinking: Evolution and Evaluation Key Stage 1 - Post16 Steve Rawlinson The Tyne and Wear Branch of the GA have been developing 8 Way Thinking as part of the national Living Geography project. This session reviewed the evolution of the approach, shared some of the materials produced and evaluated its success across all age ranges.
Lecture 9 - Geography, Community and Citizenship Key Stage 1-4 Sir Keith Ajegbo In this talk Sir Keith drew from his experience as a secondary school Headteacher and adviser to the DCSF on the citizenship curriculum, identity and community cohesion. As originator of the idea 'Who do we think we are?' (wdwtwa), a project which has been led by the Royal Geographical Society and the Historical Association, Sir Keith is especially interested in the way the curriculum can contribute to children and young people's sense of identity. The opportunities for geography to play a full role are perhaps self evident, and the talk pointed to some of the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
Lecture 10 - Teaching About London's 2012 Olympics Key Stage 3 - Post16 Bob Digby London's bid for the 2012 Olympics was designed as the sustainable Olympics - building on Sydney's success with the world's first 'Green Games' in 2000, and contributing to the regeneration of London's most deprived Boroughs. With three years to go, how far is London achieving its aims?
Chair's Summary: The key themes of this lecture were sustainability and rejuvenation through the geography of sport and leisure. The Sydney Olympics in 2000 made this acceptable through its rejuvenation of urban areas, environmental transformation and notion of sustainable legacies. The Olympic Games is a major commitment for any host country with enormous costs including land purchase, construction of venues and infrastructure, hosting and security, although tourist income should partially offset this expenditure. The deprived areas of Newham and Stratford are the focus of the regeneration. Progress is good but tensions remain: the overall impact (environmentally, econonically and socially) will be enormous and, hopefully, sustainable.
Lecture 14 - Who Do We Think We Are? - Exploring Identity and Diversity Through Geography Key Stage 2-4 Steve Brace and Harpreet Sanghera Who Do We Think We Are? is a new, cross-curricular education project designed to engage primary and secondary school teachers in the exploration of identity, diversity and citizenship with their students - in their schools, local communities and nationally. This session looked at how the project's key themes can be delivered through geography.
Lecture 16 - zerocarbonbritain Key Stage 3 - Post16 Julie Bromilow zerocarbonbritain is a renewable energy strategy for Britain in a global context. It describes a phase out of fossil fuel use over 20 years by 'powering down' energy use and 'powering up' with renewable energy, demonstrating the policy framework needed and the technologies and lifestyle changes we can expect. In partnership with Centre for Alternative Technology
Lecture 18 - QCA Update Key Stage 1 - Post16 David Gardner An update from the QCA Geography Adviser on developments in curriculum, assessment and qualifications. In partnership with QCA
Chair's Summary:The title of this lecture belied the importance of its content. David Gardner provided a review of recent QCA documents, giving a clear overview of the need to achieve coherence of their messages. He stressed the ways in which the content and pedagogies of geography are in a prime position to play a key part in many of the cross-curricular dimensions and that form many of the current agendas in schools. It was immensely encouraging to hear how QCA regard the passion of the subject teacher as a key factor in helping to create the world class education system that is its aim. The lecture helped give the 'big picture' that would help every geography teacher to play a full and constructive part in this system.
Lecture 19 - Sustainable Fieldwork Abroad Key Stage 3 - Post16 Paul Baker Having taken KS3 children abroad for fieldwork over the last 20 years, Paul Baker has recently produced a new sustainable package using Europe and Africa. The aim of this lecture was to show how in a difficult a climate for carbon footprints this can be reduced and the fieldwork made sustainable. Presented by GA ISWG
Chair's Summary:Paul's lecture was thought-provoking for any geographer who loves travelling. He discussed how to make a field trip have a sustainable impact on both the local environment and on the people who live there, using examples from fieldtrips to France, Morocco, Kenya and Borneo. His suggestions included carbon off-setting and encouraging students to take 'green packed lunches'. Paul certainly challenges geographers to travel with a 'different view'.
WORKSHOPS
Workshop 1 - Quality Geography Early Years - Key Stage 2 Wendy North and Paula Owens The Primary Geography Quality Mark is both an award and an amazingly powerful tool for supporting primary schools as they develop and celebrate quality geography. This session provided an opportunity to share ideas with subject coordinators who have previously achieved the award.
Workshop 3 - New Approaches to Teaching Retail Geographies Key Stage 3 - Post16 Charles Rawding This session focused on recent approaches to the teaching of shopping and retail in general and offered insights into how these approaches can be introduced in the classroom.
Workshop 6 - Teaching Citizenship Through Geography: Citizens in Society Key Stage 2 - Post16 Jessica Pykett This session explored the particular contributions of geography to active citizenship. Linked to the themes of democracy, justice, rights and responsibilities the session introduced teachers to key concepts from current research in political geography. Participants discussed classroom activities aimed at understanding the relationship between individual and social responsibility. Presented by GA CWG
Workshop 7 - Making the Most of Your KS3 Toolkit Key Stage 3 Alan Kinder and John Widdowson The Key Stage 3 Geography Teachers' Toolkit is designed to help you teach the new secondary curriculum. Could you use the Toolkit in your classroom to challenge and enthuse your learners? This session taught participants to adapt or extend the Toolkit to help them gain confidence in planning a curriculum of their own.
Workshop 8 - Textbooks: Everyone's Guilty Pleasure Key Stage 3-4 David Rogers Designed to dispel the myths surrounding the use of textbooks in the classroom, this session explored ways to use published resources innovatively and creatively in the context of busy departments, non-specialist teaching teams and curriculum change. It also examined ways in which they can facilitate students' investigation of geography. Sponsored by Folens
Workshop 9 - Quality Learning Outside the Classroom All Key Stages Sue Lomas and Nick Lapthorn The government's drive to encourage a wider and more exciting curriculum for all learners means that providing quality opportunities for learning outside the classroom are becoming an expectation at all key stages. This session provided ideas for new and innovative learning outside the classroom and demonstrated what constitutes quality learning in the out-of-doors. Presented by GA LOtCWG
Workshop 13 - Foundations for Sustainability Early Years - Key Stage 1 Paula Owens and Fran Martin Paula and Fran's new book, Caring for Our World was written with pupils aged 4-8 in mind, and is about practical ESD using successful, current examples from UK schools. This workshop shared lots of ideas for cross-curricular thinking, understanding links to sustainable schools, ECM and SEAL and a gave strong case for the role of geography.
Workshop 15 - Linking Geography and History in the Classroom Key Stage 2-3 Penny Locke This investigative session compared modern and historical maps of matching scale to add an extra dimension to the study of any local area. As well as revising essential map skills, other topics included: urban development, transport links, impact of recreation and waterways. Delegates also discovered how to use evidence from the past to imagine the landscape of the future.
Workshop 18 - ICT - Mapping images the digital way Key Stage 1-3 Wendy North and Kate Russell An introduction to online mapping and digital image galleries. Mapping the location of images can now be done using a number of free web based programmes including Geograph, Picasa and Flickr. This session looked at ways to use these programmes to create a 'My Walks' or alternative geo-located projects. Presented by GA ICTWG
Workshop 19 - Planning for the new KS3 Curriculum - a Welsh perspective Key Stage 3 Stacey McCabe Welsh Strand The new Welsh KS3 Programme of Study offers schools a real opportunity to develop a relevant and challenging curriculum for the 21st Century. This session offered practical advice from a leading curriculum planner and case studies from practicing teachers in Wales on how to create a dynamic new curriculum (whilst not having to give up all your weekends and evenings to do it!). Welsh Strand - Linked to lecture 6
Workshop 21 - Doorstep Geography Key Stage 3 - Post16 Emma Johns and Rachel Lawrenson You should get out more! This practical workshop equipped participants with a range of easy activities for fieldwork on their doorstep. Out-of-classroom learning without the bus journeys, queuing and colleagues complaining about students missing their lessons! Presented by GA SPC
Workshop 22 - Special Places Early Years - Key Stage 2 Julia Tanner Research suggests that attachment to significant places is important for children's sense of self, belonging and emotional well-being. This session explored some practical activities for developing children's awareness and sensitivity to places that are special to them, and how these activities link to the SEAL (social and emotional aspects of learning) curriculum.
Workshop 25 - Making Sustainable Energy Real All Key Stages Anne Wheldon and Paula Owens Ashden Award winners have made local, sustainable energy happen, in the UK and the developing world. The Ashden Awards, supported by the GA, have developed free educational resources using films of Award winners, and have received excellent feedback. This session highlighted what's new since last year, then gave participants the chance to use and feedback on the resources. In partnership with the Ashden Awards
Workshop 28 - Real Geography in a Real World Key Stage 3 Paul White, Jordan Noble-Smith and Mel Norman In this session, NQTs explained ways they have been able to make links within lessons between geography and other subjects including food technology, art, PE, ICT and maths. Examples demonstrated how geography also contributes to the Global Dimension. Workshop activities included work undertaken during the PGCE & NQT years. Presented by GA TEWG
Workshop 29 - Transforming Tired Topics Key Stage 4 Tom Biebrach, Fred Martin and Alan Parkinson Research has shown that there remain a number of topics at GCSE level that teachers find challenging and students suggest are not particularly inspiring. This session offered a range of ideas and opportunities to make these topics more exciting and engaging, transforming that 'tired' topic whilst retaining quality geographical learning. Presented by GA SPC
Workshop 30 - Young Geographers and Living Geography Early Years - Key Stage 2 Wendy North and Paula Owens Living Geography is about doing geography that is 'alive' and relevant to everyday lives. This session gave delegates the opportunity to discuss outcomes and new ideas with some of the participating teachers and find out how they responded to this challenge by planning and doing innovative fieldwork activities in their school grounds and localities.
Workshop 31 - Geography in the News: Katine - It starts with a village in Uganda Key Stage 2 Margaret Holborn A case study comparison of a less economically developed part of the world and the UK, run by staff from the Guardian's Education Centre. Delegates used the Guardian's three-year development project in Katine and considered how to either create a newspaper, make a podcast, write a blog or storyboard a video clip with pupils.
Workshop 33 - Creativity and Geographical Investigation Key Stage 3-4 Simon Renshaw and members of the Secondary Phase Committee This session provided delegates with a range of creative thinking techniques and practical examples that highlighted how geographical investigation can serve to promote creative thinking, a Personal, Learning and Thinking Skill (PLTS) which features in the new KS3 curriculum. Pre-workshop viewing was available on the TED website. Presented by GA SPC
Workshop 35 - Researching Enjoyable Geography? Key Stage 3 Teresa Lenton In this session, two NQTS shared their experiences of action research using pupil voice on 'Global development, what's it got to do with me?' and 'What do year nine pupils enjoy about the subject of Geography?'. Participants had the chance to consider the findings and discuss possibilities for their own action research. Presented by GA TEWG
Workshop 36 - We Saw It... We Want It Improved! Key Stage 1-2 Anthony Barlow A series of walks sparked a debate about our local environment. Following literacy work, ICT work and our own end-of-year production, other classes used the issues as a springboard to looking closer to home on 'how can we improve what we see from our window'. This workshop demonstrated how we did it, our excellent work and what our plan is for the future! Presented by GA EYPPC
Workshop 41 - Controversial Global Issues: Resourcing the food crisis Key Stage 3 Alan Parkinson and John McLaverty Geographers occasionally have to tackle controversial issues in the classroom - food security is one such issue. The GA has worked with Oxfam to create an online CPD unit on the GTT website including ready-made lessons and a toolkit of approaches for taking things further. In partnership with Oxfam
Workshop 43 - Investigating Geography with the Editorial Collective Key Stage 3 - Post16 Peter Jackson and members of the Editorial Collective This session provided an opportunity to reflect on the new format and editorial mission of the GA's flagship journal Geography. The session encouraged debate and discussion of the journal's purpose and future direction, and invited feedback from participants in conversation with members of the editorial collective.
Moving Geography Forward Key Stage 3 - Post16 Helen Gadsby This discussion forum was held to investigate the current position of geography education in schools across the European Union and share ideas and practice in moving the subject forward using expertise from a range of examples across the European Union. In partnership with HERODOT
Website: GA Ning: Moving Geography Forward This group has been set up to continue the discussions which began during the Forum: 1. How do you view the current status of geography? 2. Where do you want geography to be? 3. How do we get there?
School Linking: A Southern Perspective Key Stage 3-4 Alison Leonard Pupils, teachers and others associated with UK schools and Initial Teacher Education (ITE) have participated in links and partnerships with their counterparts in schools and ITE in developing countries. Alison's research seeks to understand how these affect school communities at the Southern end of such relationships.
Interpretations of Enquiry in Primary Geography Key Stage 1-2 Wendy Garner This paper explores interpretations of enquiry within the context of primary geography and aims to justify it as a pedagogical approach.
Exploring Alternative Approaches to KS3 - a small scale action research project Key Stage 3 Phil Wood and Simon Renshaw The radical changes which have occurred in the focus and approach to the new Key Stage 3 programme of study in Geography offer new opportunities to develop and innovate within the curriculum. This action research project is focused on developing two focused and related approaches to the subject.
Pupils on the Move Key Stage 3 Andrew Puddephatt Using kinaesthetic learning techniques to demonstrate the relief of the UK (as a starter to a height/contours OS map lesson) and recap on the factors affecting climates in a local area (as a plenary activity on microclimates).
Using Thinking Skills to Investigate Geography Key Stage 3 Alison Vaughan This session demonstrated how thinking skills are vital for students learning at Key Stage 3, in building transferable skills that are cross-curricular. It also highlighted the importance of incorporating thinking skills strategies into the new Key Stage 3 Curriculum.
URBAN EARTH: MANCHESTER All Key Stages Dan Raven-Ellison URBAN EARTH is a project to (re)present some of the world's largest urban areas by walking across them. Adventurers capture the city in anyway they choose, talking, sharing and creating as they experience the city.
