Key Stage 3 Key Stage 3 Geography in the 21Geography in the 21stst

CenturyCentury

Key Stage 3 Key Stage 3 Geography in the 21Geography in the 21stst

CenturyCentury

David LambertDavid Lambert

Geographical AssociationGeographical Association

Outline of KeynoteOutline of KeynoteOutline of KeynoteOutline of Keynote

School geography:School geography:

• Need for changeNeed for change• The power of geographyThe power of geography• Opportunities on their wayOpportunities on their way• Threats to be aware ofThreats 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 5th Feb 2007

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

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

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?

EvaluationEvaluationVisionVision OrganisationOrganisation

21st Century Professional Development

Move away from “R&D”

(and instead)

Grow a culture of “D&R”

Geography for the 21st Century?

Why geography matters

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

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 21st 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 21st Century?

Let at least a thousand flowers bloom!

Together, we can do it……

www.geographyteachingtoday.org.uk

www.geography.org.uk