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The New Geography Curriculum: ………….School to HE. ……..raising the issues Eleanor Rawling University of Oxford GA Conference April 20 2006. Why the School/HE relationship is worth worrying about……(1).
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The New Geography Curriculum:………….School to HE ……..raising the issues Eleanor Rawling University of Oxford GA Conference April 20 2006
Why the School/HE relationship is worth worrying about……(1) • Change and development in the subject as the life blood that keeps the curriculum fresh at all levels (eg research links with cognate disciplines, GCSE pilot); • Pupils’ experience/involvement in geography essential to global citizenship and as a form of knowledge creation itself; • Image/identity of geography as key to public understanding, recognition, status, funding – all levels • Functional linkages requiring supply of geographers into HE, back into teacher training and school teaching
Why the School/HE relationship is worth worrying about……(2) • The subject has been looking tired and dated in school curriculum frameworks (11-19yrs) • Signs that not all pupils are experiencing stimulating and relevant geography (5-11yrs) • Poor image with the public and policy-makers • Declining entries for GCSE and A level • Growing evidence of a gap between schools and HE • Debates within HE about diversity and fragmentation March 2006 - Geography Action Plan
Issues about the relationship • How to promote progression and continuity? – detailed curriculum prescription; broad criteria (eg A level, benchmark); statements of purpose/character; • How to promote quality? – national frameworks identifying big ideas/processes; focus on subject scholarship in ITE; subject-based professional development; web-based support; cross sector cpd; • How to reactivate cross-sectoral dialogue about the subject? – school texts/examining; action research projects (HE and school); local consortia; • How to ensure public understanding?-clearer definition of geography; media awareness /strategy; subject community work together
Character/Focus of each Key Stage overall Geography in: EY/KS1 (3-7yrs)– Establishing Foundations for learning KS2 (7-11yrs) – Moving out to New Challenges KS3 (11-14yrs)– Building Confidence, Capability and Inspiration KS4 (14-16yrs)Promoting Participation, Citizenship and new Possibilities 16-19yrs (KS5) Ensuring Opportunities for Specialism and Scholarship (+Satisfaction) Undergraduate courses - ?
What relationship between the school and academic subjects? Academic disciplines and school subjects are • essentially continuous- ss is a simpler/lower level of ad (Geog in 1960s?) • discontinuous/not closely related – affected by different factors (if current trends continue?) • related by common aims and broad principles but develop in different ways as a result of different context…..(the ideal?) Stengel 1997
Geography in 21st Century – a subject tribe sharing common aims and identity, coherent public image and strong intellectual discourse If this, then it implies a commitment to: • Discuss/agree broad aims and big picture for geography; • Promote/maintain subject-focused CPD for teachers at all levels; • Promote and develop a strong subject community -shared subject scholarship experiences, accessible research, chance for debate, cross-sector events; • Ensure some kind of agreed media approach /strategy?