How to be “out standing in your field” (work)

Alan ParkinsonFormer GA Secondary

Curriculum Development Leader

Chapter 18 of GA Secondary Geography Handbook

Chapter 10 of Primary Geography Handbook

(and many more GA publications relating to fieldwork)

“the process not the product...” ?

Image: Alan Parkinson

Animoto movie...

http://biz.animoto.com/education/faq.html

rebecca@animoto.com

Fieldwork on the Salt Marsh

Exploring ZONATION and SUCCESSION

Image: Alan Parkinson

What OFSTED think (if you’re interested)

• “Well planned fieldwork in geography adds clear value to learning in the subject as well as providing a positive contribution to the wider curriculum.”

• “Follow up from fieldwork also provides very good support for extended writing, numeracy linked to the analysis of data, sketching, map work, formulating hypotheses and thinking skills.”

• “Enquiry-based fieldwork sharpens and deepens learners’ understanding of geography and the progressive development of geographical skills”

Benefit of the local area

• Accessible• Can be visited frequently, and

cheaply, and observe changes over time

• Pupil perceptions of their local area• “Alternative narratives”• Geo Orienteering David Rogers

Beacon Dodsworth

10

ACORN ClassificationTree with branches

10

IKEA Frames

Fieldwork in the School Grounds

http://daviderogers.blogspot.com

“Over to you” – student based

learning

QCA – 2020 Vision

Data Collection

Image: Alan Parkinson

Image copyright The Sun

Castleton: accessibility...http://www.geographypages.co.uk/peaks.htm

Increasing convergence of technology

Field Sketches ? Cheat….http://www.dumpr.net

Image: Alan Parkinson

Google Earth• PLACEMARKS (add content…)

• Upload video to YouTube (phone videos) & embed

• PATHS (transects with waypoints)

• QUESTIONNAIRE DATA (plotted with GE Graph)

• LAND USE ZONING (with POLYGONS)

RISK ASSESSMENTS

With thanks to Paula Owens, Primary Curriculum Development Leader, GA

Image by Andrew Stacey

Isle of Arran – Flickr images

Aerial view of area with Google

1

What are the risks? What action can we take to stay safe?

Risk: falling over on bumpy, hard car park surface.

Action: walk rather than run. Look carefully.

Risk: steep, slippery slope

Action: keep clear.

Risk: moving cars

Action: Look, listen & think. Stay close to adults

N

1

Arial view via Google of Beach area to be visited2

Note the end terraced house.

What risks? What action can we take to stay safe?

Risk: sharp objects and other rubbish on beach

Action: check carefully before sitting down.

Risk: hot sun can burn skin

Action: sun cream and hats

2Here is the same house seen from ground level.

Parents’ Evenings and Open Evenings – data collection and publicity opportunities !

After the event...• Follow up• Picture competition• Displays of pupil work and quotes for publicity materials• ‘Modelling’

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ?

Selected slides taken fromhttp://www.geography.org.uk/secondary/ofstedconference/

David Holmes’ slidesField Studies Council Adviser

Presentation available athttp://www.slideshare.net/GeoBlogs

With thanks to:• Richard Meadows• Rachael Peryer• Paula Owens, GA Primary Curriculum Development Leader• David Holmes• Images by Andrew Stacey and me…• Members of SLN Forum, and the Edexcel Ning

http://newedexcelgeog.ning.com• http://www.geographypages.co.uk/virtual.htm• Jamie Buchanan Dunlop• David Rogers for Enquiry Slides and GeoOrienteering• GTT website Fieldwork section: Eleanor Coulber• The Sun website