7. What’s the purpose of school geography? And end in itself? Or A means to an end?
8. Geography underpins a lifelong ‘conversation’ about the earth as the home of humankind. It is not a narrow academic subject for the few. It is a fundamental idea. It is of relevance to everyone.- Geography fascinates and inspires - Geography deepens understanding-Thinking with geography enablesdecision-making - Geographical enquiry encourages skills developmentSource: the GA Manifesto A Different View(www.geography.org.uk/adifferentview)
9. ‘Geography is all about the living, breathing essence of the world we live in. It explains the past, illuminates the present and prepares us for the future. What could be more important than that?’ Michael Palin, 27 November 2007 At the reception at the Speaker’s House, House of Commons, to celebrate the successes of the Action Plan for Geography.
10. “I want my children to understand the world, but not just because the world is fascinating and the human mind is curious. I want them to understand it so they will be positioned to make it a better place.” Gardner H (2000) Intelligence Reframed: multiple intelligences for the 21st century, NY: Basic Books. P 180-1
11. The moral implications of teaching geography Questions: What are the children learning (anyhow) What are the children learning through my teaching? In what ways is this learning an educational achievement? Has it enabled students to travel ‘with a different view’?
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13. According to the QCA: The curriculum aims to enable all young people to become Successful learners who make progress and achieve Confident Individuals who lead safe and healthy lives Responsible Citizens who make a positive contribution to society
14. Whole CurriculumSkills, Knowledge and Attributes: Skills; Functional Skills (Lit/Number/ICT) + Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills Knowledge and Understanding; Big ideas that shape the world - eg chronology, conflict, scientific method Attitudes and dispositions; eg determined, adaptable, learning to learn
15. Some Different Aims From the Nuffield Reviewwww.nuffield14-19review.org.uk To introduce ideals which inspire and are worth pursuing To introduce a defensible set of values which can sustain young people into the future To encourage the disposition to take responsibility for self, the environment and wider community To provide insights into the physical, moral, social, cultural and economic worlds To prepare young people for employment - through self knowledge, basic competences and understanding and confidence in learning
16. The subject Geography – not as an end in itself but a resource in the service of educational aims Geography - “defined not as a collection of facts but as the state of the art conceptual frameworks of the subject”
17. Engaging with young people’s curiosity: questions that can be addressed by ‘thinking geographically’ Identity: Who am I? Where do I come from? Who is my family? What is my ‘story’? Who are the people around me? Where do they come from? What is their ‘story’? Place in the world: Where do I live? How does it look? How do I feel about it? How is it changing? How do I want it to change? The Physical world: What is the world (and this place) made of? Why do things move? What becomes of things? The Human world: Who decides on who gets what, and why? What is fair? How do we handle differences of opinion?
18. Curriculum Making Which learning activity ? Does this take the learner beyond what they already know ? Student Experiences Geography: the subject Teacher Choices Underpinned by Key Concepts Thinking Geographically
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20. skills and ways of thinking Key processes Range and content opportunities Curriculum Key concepts knowledge and understanding essential ideas contexts for learning Less prescribed contentbut an increased focuson subject discipline… the key ideas and skillsthat underpin a subject. A new look at subjects Importance Why the subject matters and how it contributes to the aims
21. The study of geography stimulates an interest in, and a sense of wonder about, places and helps make sense of a complex and dynamically changing world. It explains how places and landscapes are formed, how people and environment interact, and how a diverse range of economies and societies are interconnected. It builds on pupils’ own experiences to investigate at all scales from the personal to the global. Geographical enquiry encourages questioning, investigation and critical thinking about issues affecting the world and people’s lives, for the present and future. Fieldwork is an essential element of this. Pupils learn to think spatially, using maps, visual images and new technologies, including geographical information systems, to obtain, present and analyse information. Geography inspires pupils to become global citizens by exploring their own place in the world, their values and responsibilities to other people, to the environment and to the sustainability of the planet.
24. What are the stages of enquiry? Creating a need to know speculating, hypothesising, generating ideas, asking questions, planning how to research Using sources locating evidence, collecting, selecting, sorting, classifying, sequencing Reflecting on Learning evaluating, identifying areas for improvement Making sense describing, explaining, comapring, contrasting, analysing, concluding
26. The moral implications of teaching geography Questions: What are the children learning (anyhow) What are the children learning through my teaching? In what ways is this learning an educational achievement? Has it enabled students to travel ‘with a different view’?
29. Capability Derives from Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum and their work in human welfare and development economics: What it is to be ‘truly human’? Anything that prevents fully human functioning is a deprivation of capability
30. Thus, poverty is not simply ‘low income’. It is: a lack of choice a lack of opportunity
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32. being able to form a conception of the good and to plan one’s life accordingly
33. being able to show concern for others, to empathise and to live successfully with others
34. being able participate effectively in political choices, with free speech and association[after Nussbaum 1993]
35. Human capabilities and education Not to be confused with imparting value free ‘skills’ for the ‘knowledge economy’ Education to enhance the agency of young people, clarifying values and deepening understanding.
38. Power geometriesThis enables a framework for understanding. It helps us puts more specific matters into the context of wider implications and interdependencies.
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40. choices about how to live
41. creativity and productivityIn a context of ‘moral seriousness’
42. The neo-liberal orthodoxy has “dulled our ability to think for, or beyond, ourselves” [Wadley 2008] “Vibrant City”
43. Identity Who am I? Where am I from? Who is my ‘family’? What is their story? And the people around me? Society Who decides on who gets what, where and why? What is fair? Why care?
44. The physical environment What is the world (and this place) made of? Why do things move? What becomes of things? Our place in the world Where do I live? How does it look? How is it changing? How might it become?
55. The GA’s ‘manifesto’ links Geography: “Knowledge about the earth as the home of humankind” and Education“ ... to travel with a different view” www.geography.org.uk/adifferentview
57. Sharing and learning from good practice - FEB 2008 Is it possible to imagine school geography underpinning radical debate with young people about ‘how to live’?
58. Sharing and learning from good practice - FEB 2008 Is it possible to imagine school geography underpinning radical debate with young people about ‘how to live’? Yes please
