Key Stage 3 Geography in the 21 st Century

1. Key Stage 3 Geography in the 21st Century David Lambert Geographical Association

2. Outline of Keynote School geography: Need for change The power of geography Opportunities on their way Threats to be aware of

3. Shift Happens

4. Disciplined innovation "The best approach would allow for experimentation. As we also report today, there are concerns that many initiatives in education are pursued without being tested properly. Ministers should encourage different schools to engage in different strategies for motivating children at this sensitive age, pool the results and adjust accordingly. There is no merit whatsoever is replacing uniform teaching with anarchy.“ The Times 2007 5th Feb 2007

5. Resulting in a curriculum that is • appropriate • adaptable • challenging • inspiring for the 21st centuryeconomy, society, environment, technology for pupils’ different needsfor schools in different circumstances real audiencesreal purposes, worthwhilereal skills engaging, enjoyableexpanding horizons

6. And a curriculum that enables learners to • linger longer • dig deeper • cross boundaries to secure learningto follow throughto recap reach conceptual understandinggo beneath the surface link subjectsgo beyond the school gates

7. And a curriculum that builds • coherent • meaningful for all pupils • makes imaginative use of resources building on …avoiding repetition why am I doing this?how can I use what I’ve learnt? creative engagement with the subject combining teacher expertises

8. skills and ways of thinking Key processes Range and content opportunities Curriculum Key concepts knowledge and understanding essential ideas Importance why the subject matters contexts for learning Rethinking subjects

9. Less prescribed content but an increased focus on subject discipline… the key ideas and skills that underpin a subject. 13 Skills 23 separate elements 18 sub-elements + 54 items of content 7 key concepts 4 key processes 4 aspects of range and content A new look at subjects: an extract from geography The importance statement Geography is important in developing investigation and critical thinking about issues affecting the world and people's lives, for the present and future. Geography inspires pupils to think about their own place in the world, their values and responsibilities to other people, to the environment and to the sustainability of the planet.

10. Key Concepts • Place • Space • Scale • Interdependence • Environmental interaction and sustainable development • Human and physical processes • Cultural understanding and diversity

11. Key Processes • Geographical Enquiry • Fieldwork and out of class learning • Graphicacy and visual literacy • Geographical Communication

12. Range and content Investigations focusing on: - variety of scales - places, themes and issues - key aspects of the UK, EU and regions/countries in ‘different states of development’ - physical geography - human geography - people-environmental interactions

13. Curriculum opportunities • Make links to other subjects and the wider curriculum • Investigate issues of relevance to the UK and globally (including issues in the news) • Participate in informed, responsible action • Real world investigations, individually and in teams • Varied resources, including GIS • Varied approaches to enquiry • Building on personal experiences of geography

14. Cross-curriculum dimensions The non-statutory cross curricular dimensions reflect the major ideas and challenges that face society and have significance for individuals. • Identity and culture • Healthy lifestyles • Community participation • Enterprise • Sustainable futures and the global dimension • Technology and the media • Creativity and critical thinking

15. Three curriculum questions • What are we trying to achieve? • How will we organise learning? • How will we know when we are achieving our aims? Vision Organisation Evaluation

16. 21st Century Professional Development Move away from “R&D” (and instead) Grow a culture of “D&R”

17. Geography for the 21st Century?

18. Why geography matters

19. Why geography matters It is a subject resource for the twenty-first century. Some 21st century topics: • Global Climate Change • Unequal distributions of • wealth • poverty • well-being • Migrations

20. Why geography matters Or what about, - energy security? - water security? - food security?

21. Why geography matters That is, understanding Sustainable Development

22. Geography matters! Therefore,

23. It can contribute to worthwhile and informed choices. For example, “Thinking Geographically appreciates • different perspectives eg place • interconnectedness – eg scale • interdependence – eg physical/human • analysis, evaluation and synthesis

24. It is a subject resource which is concerned with ‘the actual and the real’. “Living Geography” encourages: • learning outside the classroom • identifying and understanding contemporary change • using geographical imagination to help envision futures • awe and wonder, and excitement

25. The Action Plan for Geography The goal of the Action Plan is: ‘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.’

26. Geography for the 21st Century? Let at least a thousand flowers bloom!

27. Together, we can do it…… www.geographyteachingtoday.org.uk www.geography.org.uk

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