Fifty Ideas in Fifty Minutes Online Handout Part 9 of 9: Its not about the tech its about the teach

Introduction

A friend of mine Ewan Macintosh came up with this phrase. I really like it. Many of the ideas in my presentation were technology related. But in reality it’s about how we use this technology. I also believe that it’s not just about the technology and there are lots of other things that we should be trying to do if we want to promote 21^st Century Geography.

Idea 44 – Bring back more outdoor learning

Outdoor learning is important and fundamental to Geography David Job once said ‘geography without fieldwork is like science without experiments’. I agree with him. We are at turning point in terms of geography fieldwork and outdoor education. Make sure you have a look at the Taking Learning Outdoors web site if you haven’t seen it yet.

 

Idea 45 – You don’t have to have a river to do river fieldwork

See a previous post on river (path) fieldwork for more information.

 

Idea 46 & 47 – Make time for science and experiments

I demonstrated the tornado in a bottle and a method of teaching about jet streams, using some hands on Geography.

For a real extreme geography experiment see Dr James Brey make a Tornado in his classroom (yes a real Tornado!). You can view the pictures here and there is also a small amount of Google video of the experiment that Brey now repeats several times a year. The great bit about the photographs is that the coloured dots on the floor around the tornado are monopoly houses that James asks his students to bring into class to demonstrate Tornado damage.

 

Idea 48 – Geography is not under threat BUT geography teachers could be

I honestly believe that Geography will be in our schools in 5, 10, 15 and 50 years time. But it might not be taught by Geography teachers. Our subject is at treat and already bits of it a re being poached by other subjects. Make sure you have signed the partition to give geography its place.

 

Idea 49 – Make Geography Magic

Geography can be a magical subject. I demonstrated making dehydrated snow to one of the groups. Children like wonder and we are in the position to make them feel wounder for Geography. I showed a few earth from the air photographs to help illustrate this.

Idea 50 – Share one of your own ideas

Share one of your own ideas by commenting below or filling in the on-line survey over on the Survey Monkey web site. There were nearly 200 over the two presentation. Just think how many ideas we will have if you all contributed just one?

Comments

[Rob Chambers]

Ollie - I was really disappointed to have missed the SAGT conference due to illness as I was so looking forward to it and meeting everyone. It has therefore been great to be able to catch up on what went on by reading your posts based on your seminar - what a fantastic set of ideas - definitely cheered me up! Off to read a couple more I've missed.

[Ollie Bray]

Hi Rob, Hope your feeling better. I was also really sorry to miss you at SAGT. There were lost of people sorry to miss your presentation. Perhaps you will be able to come and do it next year? I’ll make sure you get an invite! Thanks for your comments about the ideas - I know that you will will be add a few more for us. Cheers for now. Ollie