Key Stage 3 Geography in the 21 st

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

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

Shift Happens

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 5 th Feb 2007

Resulting in a curriculum that is – appropriate • adaptable for the 21 st century economy, society, environment, technology for pupils’ different needs for schools in different circumstances • challenging real audiences real purposes, worthwhile real skills • inspiring engaging, enjoyable expanding horizons

And a curriculum that enables learners to – linger longer • dig deeper • cross boundaries to secure learning to follow through to recap reach conceptual understanding go beneath the surface link subjects go beyond the school gates

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

Rethinking subjects

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. 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

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

Key Processes – Geographical Enquiry – Fieldwork and out of class learning – Graphicacy and visual literacy – Geographical Communication

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

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

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

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

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

Geography for the 21 st Century?

Why geography matters

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

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

Why geography matters That is, understanding Sustainable Development

Geography matters! Therefore,

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

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

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 21 st century subject; and to equip teachers with the professional skills and support they need so that pupils enjoy and succeed in geography. ’

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

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