Post on 28-Mar-2015
transcript
The Future of Geography
Keith GrimwadeGA President, 2006-07
Source: Guardian, 9th April, 2007
‘Revolution, flashmobs and brain chips. A grim vision of the future’. By Richard Norton-Taylor
Image removed for copyright reasons
Images from Guardian article removed for copyright reasons
Images from Guardian article removed for copyright reasons
Key QuestionsWhy Geographical Futures?Back to the Future?What are the opportunities and challenges?What do we need to do?
The future of the GA
Membership:2001 = 10,0002007 = 6,500
Activity:Curriculum and CPD projects: 2006-07 = £298,000 excluding the Action Plan for Geography (membership = £355,000)
The future of the GAAction Plan for Geography, 2006-08
‘To provide everyone – opinion formers, policy makers, schools, parents and pupils – with a clear vision of geography as a relevant and powerful 21st century subject; and to equip teachers with the professional skills and support they need so that pupils enjoy and succeed in geography.’
The future of geography in education
a ‘freeing up’ of the primary curriculuma revised KS3 PoSrevised GCSE criteriarevised A-level criteria14 – 19 specialised diplomashigher educationteacher training
The future of geographyWhat is geography in the 21st Century?‘We could begin by making the case that any individual without geography as a significant and identifiable component of his or her education, would probably lack experiences and opportunities that:
satisfy and/or nurture their curiosity about the world
overtly connect knowledge, to see the world as a whole
develop a holistic understanding, that shows links and interrelationships within and between the more physical earth systems and human systems
deepen spatial understanding
deal with complexity and uncertainty in real world contexts
(David Lambert, 2007)
Geography and the Future, 1984:Rex Walford’s Presidential Lecture
geography seems to be poorly represented in the corridors of power the need to respond to curricular initiatives originating from outside geographythe need to improve geography’s public imagethe need to integrate the community of geography teachers and academics for more effective action
The corridors of power
‘A Case for Geography’a decade of volunteer-led
activitythe professionalisation of the AssociationDavid Lambert and Rita Gardener, special advisers to Lord Adonis, Minister for Schools
Curricular initiatives from outside geography
Geography Schools and Industry ProjectGNVQ Working Partygeography through literacy and numeracyEducation for Sustainable DevelopmentCitizenship Working GroupSpecialised Diplomas
Geography’s public image
the stereotypethe possibilitythe G Teama press and
PR officer
The community of geography teachers and academics
Research Assessment ExerciseAwarding Bodiesindividual initiativesAPG ‘Ambassadors’ Programme’
Every Child Matters
Be healthy Stay safe Enjoy and achieve Make a positive contribution Achieve economic well-being
The views of children and young people
There has been a 29.4% decline in the number of students taking GCSE geography between 1996 and 2006:
a more crowded curriculum?more constrained choices?the offer?
A view from the classroom
‘… the only way you’re ever going to get good feedback is from asking students how they feel and what their experiences are and from that you can structure the new curriculum as young people want it as opposed to how (they) think it should be’
Young People’s Geographies
eight schoolsthree one day conferencesstudents are meeting and talking about how the geography curriculum can be organised and planned in an innovative, exciting and worthwhile waythe outcome will be a set of curriculum units delivered in the students’ schools
GeoVisions
‘Create the future –
don’t let it just happen’:possible future?
probable future?
preferred future?
Approaching the future
‘ poor strategies often emerge because of lack of clarification of core purpose, values and vision’ Success and Sustainability: Developing the strategically focused school
Making the future – core purpose
‘furthering the learning and teaching of geography’‘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.’
Making the future – values
Position statement; Ethical policy; Environmental policy; Inclusion policykey geographical concepts, knowledge, understanding and skills
What do we need to take into account?
a. policy environmentb. CPD environmentc. demographyd. what will learning be like in ten years time?e. the global contextf. membershipg. relationship with the wider geographical and
subject communityh. role of GAi. children and young people
What might our vision include?a. every school a memberb. a diverse organisation, open and welcomingc. young people actively participatingd. vibrant branches and committees, with a strong regional
networke. a larger international / global presencef. independent and outward lookingg. embracing partnerships with complementary organisationsh. HQ premises a centre of excellence – as a place to work,
meet and learni. an advocate for geography, in the curriculum and in the
public domainj. catering for all levels of engagement from the occasional
website visitor to the geography activist
Three questions
What should be in the geography curriculum and why?How should students learn geography? How can the teaching and learning of geography be improved?
Margaret Roberts, TG, Autumn 06
Everyday geographies
geography that grows out of the everyday lives of teachers and children
Fran Martin, Primary Geographer, Autumn 2006
So, what do we do about it?
identify where we can make a difference and put our energies therefollow the Action Plan for Geography with a Strategy for Changeco-ordinated and concerted action to improve geography’s public imageinvolve children and young people in the development of geography
Some final thoughts
Make the Future!