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News - Geography and Geographical Education
The latest news on developments in geography, geographical education and related areas. Past news pages can be accessed via the table below. If you would like your news item featured on this page please contact Anne Greaves.
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| Geography in Education: lost in the post? |
Chief Executive of the Geographical Association, David Lambert, presented his inaugural Professorial Lecture at the Institute of Education on Tuesday 23 June 2009.
Although David began by suggesting that to some geography might be seen as struggling to find its identity and hence is arguably 'lost in the post' he quickly countered with the premise that contemporary geography is a school subject of great significance.
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His lecture was a celebration of a vibrant, exciting subject. If we didn't have geography we would have to invent it. He gave examples from the recent Ipsos Mori poll commissioned for A Different View and other student comments in support of the subject which has a lot to offer children and young people growing up in a confusing, rapidly changing and dangerous world.
Challenging us to think about the purpose of education, he presented a philosophical map for the 'logical geography' of education that developed in three parts: Motivation (creating a need to know); Significance (developing worthwhile learning); Creativity (enabling students to be creative).
Drawing critically on the Geographical Association's recently published 'manifesto' for school geography, A Different View, David talked about the role of subjects as educational resources and all teachers as 'curriculum makers' using the subject in a way that contributes to both their own and their students' 'capabilities'. He argued that 'capability' is not the same as skills but is about choices, how to live, being creative and productive and geography's contribution to developing outward looking, globally minded, future focussed individuals.
He concluded with the idea that in the context of our collective need to understand human occupancy of the Earth more fully, geography in schools has a new role to play and that teachers and students are both important in the process of constructing a geography curriculum for this century.
John Lyon, Programme Director
Read more on Alan Parkinson's Living Geography Blog.
A printed copy of the lecture is available to purchase from the IOE online shop.
(25.06.09)
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| New school initiatives from The Prince's Rainforests Project |
The Prince's Rainforests Project (PRP) has launched a variety of new schemes and competitions on their schools website. Here is a taster of what is available:
Eco-Schools
The PRP have teamed up with Eco-Schools, so that schools are able to use PRP lesson ideas to contribute towards their Eco-Schools awards.
My Rainforest Project
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Children can join a new awareness and fundraising artwork project, set up in conjunction with The PRP, to help spread the message about the link between rainforests and climate change, whilst also raising money for their schools or youth groups from their inspirational artwork.
The Eden Project and National Geographic Kids competition
The PRP has joined forces with National Geographic Kids magazine and The Eden Project to create an all-expenses paid, two-day school trip. The trip includes a sleepover in one of the largest greenhouses in the world, a night-time rainforest safari and an overnight stay at Woodland Valley, an organic education farm set in the heart of Cornwall.
For more information about these iniatives, and for lots of great lesson ideas, visit The Prince's Rainforests Project For Schools website.
(17.06.09)
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| Prepare for Controlled Assessment with the FSC |
The Field Studies Council (FSC) have developed a new range of GCSE Geography programmes, available from September 2009, specifically for the new A and B specifications for AQA, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC.
The purpose of each programme will be to conduct fieldwork to enable students to plan and prepare for the controlled assessment in accordance with each Awarding Body's guidance for their year of entry; students will produce a portfolio to take back to school/college. This can be done on its own, over three days, or over five days with additional activities.
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Full details can be found on the FSC website.
There are also two INSET courses coming up designed to support teachers in the delivery of fieldwork for the new controlled assessments. Again, full details of these can be found on the FSC website.
(11.06.09)
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