Year 9 Pupils Conceptions of Geography Nick Hopwood

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Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography Nick Hopwood Definition Pupils’ conceptions of geography are

Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography Nick Hopwood Definition Pupils’ conceptions of geography are those ideas, beliefs, and opinions that are brought to bear when they experience, talk about, and think about school geography. They may be descriptive or evaluative in nature. They need not be geographical or specific to geography. Geography Teacher Educators’ Conference, Brighton 27 -29 January 2006

Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography Methodology School A: Bart & Lisa Interaction Three

Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography Methodology School A: Bart & Lisa Interaction Three 14 -week fieldwork phases School B: Matt & Sara School C: Jenie & Ryan Observation Documents Interview Concept mapping Four non classroom-based techniques Supplied photo elicitation Geographical questions Self-directed photography Geography Teacher Educators’ Conference, Brighton 27 -29 January 2006

Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography Bart Descriptive Geography is about a variety of

Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography Bart Descriptive Geography is about a variety of different things Evaluative Learning and knowledge are important Everything in geography relates to land I appreciate activities and experiences that help me learn Geographers ask questions: Where? Why? What opinions? Learning why things happen is interesting Not about the future There is no point learning about the future Geography Teacher Educators’ Conference, Brighton 27 -29 January 2006

Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography Lisa Descriptive Geography is about peopleenvironment relationships Geographers

Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography Lisa Descriptive Geography is about peopleenvironment relationships Geographers study different opinions Geography is about what might happen Geography is green and environmentally friendly Evaluative I like studying how people affect the environment and I think environmental issues are important Geography is important because it helps people with knowledge (holiday destinations), skills (map reading), and planning (futures) Geography Teacher Educators’ Conference, Brighton 27 -29 January 2006

Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography Population board game The task: Pupils had studied

Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography Population board game The task: Pupils had studied fertility and were asked to create a board game that explained either the UK’s ageing population structure or Tanzania’s wide-based population pyramid Bart § I liked doing the game because it made learning fun § My game explains why there are so few children in the UK § Learning fertility rates isn’t that good because they change. Lisa § My game is about Tanzania and it’s all about how people affect the environment: more babies means more buildings which means more trees are cut down and more cities built § I’m interested in these things Geography Teacher Educators’ Conference, Brighton 27 -29 January 2006

Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography Migration timeline (1) The task: Pupils had studied

Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography Migration timeline (1) The task: Pupils had studied push and pull factors which cause migration. They were shown an example of a migration timeline on a sheet, and were asked to construct their own version. It could be fictional or based on a real life migration Bart and Lisa interpreted this task in strikingly different ways The meaning of these experiences to Bart and Lisa only became apparent through interviews with them afterwards Geography Teacher Educators’ Conference, Brighton 27 -29 January 2006

Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography Migration timeline (1) Bart: “I did this one

Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography Migration timeline (1) Bart: “I did this one because it would be more helpful if it had actually been a real event, if it had actually happened… We were doing the holocaust in history so I put that in there, it was facts from history that explained why they moved. ” 1930 Born into a Jewish family 1932 Hitler came to power Hitler did not like the Jews Moved to Britain for freedom After years of racist comments, decided to move Got a good job and healthcare The Brits were not anti-Jewish so they stayed $ Geography Teacher Educators’ Conference, Brighton 27 -29 January 2006

Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography Migration timeline (1) Lisa: “This is showing what

Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography Migration timeline (1) Lisa: “This is showing what could happen to someone from another country, if they were poorer what can actually happen… it’s relevant to geography because it can show you what might happen and how it might work out. ” Steph’s ancestors moved* 1870 1880 Steph’s mum gets a cleaning job and her dad gets a good job at an airport 1890 Steph’s twin brothers were born 1910 1930 1900 1920 Stephwas born They move to a three bed house in Middlesex 1950 1940 1970 1960 *From the Dominican Republic to the UK. Her family had quite a bit of money (well they were richer than most people and they wanted better jobs) Geography Teacher Educators’ Conference, Brighton 27 -29 January 2006