Compelling Learning in geography

Mark Jones, UWE PGCE Geography Tutor.Wiltshire and Swindon Annual Secondary Geography conference 22 June 2010

Outline of session

Geography: its journey since the National Curriculum

Geography: the view from the classroom: What makes an outstanding geography

lesson. (activity one)

Geographical perspectives: some considerations

Geography – compelling learning - what does the ultimate geography lesson look

like? (activity two)

Feedback from groups and ways forward

When did you join the journey?

The Curriculum Journey

The Pedagogy Journey

Training

materials for

the foundation

subjects

(DfES, 2002)

AfL (DfES , 2004)

Leading in Learning (DfES, 2005)

The CPD/PPD JourneyPersonal, Local, County, Regional, National

Action Plan for geography APG Phase 1 (2006-2008)

Action Plan for geography APG Phase 2 (2008 -2011)

“In Britain, teachers are for the most part too scattered and too

busy to come together frequently for discussion. They

require a medium through which they may readily

communicate with one another, exchange experiences and learn the progress that is being made

in method or in appliances in our own country and abroad.”

(Vol 1., No. 1, p. 1 of “The Geographical Teacher”)

James Herbertson, GA President

Source: GTE 2010 Alan Parkinson

The CPD/PPD Journey

http://www.geography.org.uk/

The CPD/PPD JourneyPersonal, Local, County, Regional, National

http://www.amazon.com/Imagine-Teacher-Nintendo-DS/dp/B001B1W3I4

Activity one

Geography: What makes an outstanding geography lesson ?

http://www.teachers.tv/videos/andy-roberts

Reference list

Davidson, G (2009) Think Piece Geographical Enquiry [online] Available from: http://www.geography.org.uk/gtip/thinkpieces/geographicalenquiry [Accessed 12 June 2010]

Jackson, P. (2006) Thinking geographically presentation at the GA Conference, 2006

Jackson P. (2006) Thinking Geographically, Geography 91 (3), 199-204

Lambert, D. (2004) ‘The power of geography’, Available at:http://www.geography.org.uk/download/NPOGPower.doc

Lambert, D. and Morgan, J. (2010) Teaching geography 11-18: A Conceptual Approach. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Shulman, L. S. (1986) Those Who Understand: Knowledge Growth in Teaching. Educational Researcher 15. 4 – 14

Taylor,L. and Catling, S. (2006) Geographical significance a useful concept Teaching Geography 33 (3) 122-123

Enquiry approach

Creating a 'need to know'

Using data

Making sense

Reflecting on learning

Roberts (2003, p.44)

Roberts (2003, p.44)

Higher Order thinking

Bloom, 1956

Synthesis

Evaluation

Evaluating

Creating

Anderson & Krathwohl 2001

Taxonomy of Cognition

Thinking geographically

PCKPedagogical Content Knowledge

“..the most regularly taught topics in one’s subject areas, the most useful forms of representation of those ideas, the most powerful analogies, illustrations, examples, explanations and demonstrations – in a word, the ways of representing and formulating that subject to make it comprehensible to others”

(Shulman,1986, p.9).

Thinking geographically

Geography’s vocabulary (an endless list of places…) and its grammar or syntax (concepts and theories that help us make sense of all those places…)(Lambert 2004)

Thinking geographically as a uniquely powerful way of seeing the worldNo ‘right answers’ to difficult ethical questionsBut a language (set of concepts and ideas) that help us see connections and inter-connections that other may miss. (Jackson , 2006)

Geographical significance

Geographical Significance

Geographical significance a useful concept (Taylor and Catling, 2006)

Why have you chosen the topic? Why is it geographically important?

How would you justify it? How will you communicate its importance to the pupils?

Are you teaching topical issues with obvious relevance?

Are you developing understanding of real places?

(Davidson, 2009)

Curriculum Making

Student Experiences

Geography:

the subjectTeaching/ Pedagogy

Underpinned by Key Concepts Thinking

Geographically

Learning activity

How does this take the learner beyond what they already know ?

Curriculum Making Curriculum Making (Lambert and Morgan, 2010, p.50)

Geography: What makes an outstanding geography lesson ?

Feedback from groups and ways forward