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Geography concepts: What, why and how?. Liz Taylor University of Cambridge. (This slide showed an image of an exercise book page from 1947 – lots of small pictures showing characteristics and products of different regions of France.).
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Geography concepts:What, why and how? Liz Taylor University of Cambridge
(This slide showed an image of an exercise book page from 1947 – lots of small pictures showing characteristics and products of different regions of France.)
(This slide showed a detailed map in coloured pencil of the relief and key features of Spain and Portugal.)
A more recent example… Ecosystems • Elements in an ecosystem (biotic, abiotic, food chains and webs) • Rainforest ecosystems • Desert ecosystems • Mediterranean ecosystems Geography concepts: what, why & how?
An even more recent example… Geography of crime • Defining and categorising crime • Crime in the local area • Mapping crime (GIS) • Preventing crime Geography concepts: what, why & how?
What’s the big idea? • Key concepts can be used in planning to give focus, to aid selection of content, to organise. Geography concepts: what, why & how?
A detailed knowledge of content is important concepts methods (processes, skills) knowledge (range, content) Geography concepts: what, why & how?
But which concepts should we use to organise it? Geography concepts: what, why & how?
Different people, different purposes, different lists… Geography concepts: what, why & how?
Which concepts? • Concepts are classifiers – tools for making sense of the world • Which are most powerful for constructing school geography around (in this time and place)? Geography concepts: what, why & how?
Key concepts in the 2008 NC • place • space • scale • interdependence • physical and human processes • environmental interaction and sustainable development • cultural understanding and diversity Geography concepts: what, why & how?
Change Diversity Perception & representation Interaction Geography concepts: what, why & how?
Diversity Interaction Change Perception & representation Place, space, time central SPACE PLACE TIME Geography concepts: what, why & how?
The proof of the pudding… … is in whether thinking about these ideas helps us to plan geographically rigorous, engaging and challenging sequences of learning… Geography concepts: what, why & how?
…so how can this happen? Enquiry sequence… • short, focussed sequence of lessons • a good enquiry question (pith & rigour) • driven by a particular big concept • outcome activity which answers the question and is integral to the sequence Geography concepts: what, why & how?
Constructing a good question is vital! • A question the pupils will want to answer (pith) • A question which will encourage careful and challenging thinking about a geographical topic (rigour) Geography concepts: what, why & how?
Do these have pith & rigour? • What are the human and physical factors which have affected coastal erosion in the Dunwich area over the past 50 years? • Olympics in China: good or bad? • Should people be allowed to destroy the Amazon rainforest? Geography concepts: what, why & how?
It’s not easy, but it is important! Some work in progress… • How far has my mobile travelled? (interaction/globalisation) • Glastonbury: environmental friend or foe? (interaction/sustainability) • Where should the Smiths live in Australia? (diversity) • Lake District 2050: What will it be like? (change) Geography concepts: what, why & how?
Question setting Which key concept? Outcome activity Planning sequence (selection) Achieving focus… Geography concepts: what, why & how?
Conclusions • Why? • What? • How? Geography concepts: what, why & how?
Challenges for future development… • Long term progression • Synthesis Geography concepts: what, why & how?
More info… • GA website – big concepts thinkpiece (www.geography.org.uk/projects/gtip/thinkpieces/) • Teaching Geography – summer ‘08 • CPD course 2009 – ejt38@cam.ac.uk • Thank you! Geography concepts: what, why & how?