Geography Rant

Time to Rebrand

2008-01-15T12:23:00.001Z

Like many others at the moment I'm working on how to teach the new A level specs. We have chosen Edexcel's new approach and I am currently working on the Re-branding Places section looking at the Thames Gateway, 2012, Hastings and some as yet undecided rural areas.

For those interested in sharing on this development - I am mostly reading GEOBLOGS new blog http://newedexcelgeography.blogspot.com/ and also discussing in the new edexcel community ning http://newedexcelgeog.ning.com/.

Please feel free to share in the discussions through this forum and share resources. I have a branding awareness PowerPoint starter in my 4 shared area, with thanks from Tom.

Together we can rebrand Geography as the best A level choice (not that it isn't already!!)

More Thinking Images

2008-01-11T10:37:00.000Z

Thanks to Daniel Mace of Langley Grammar in Slough for 4 more desktop images to stimulate thinking in the classroom ( http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/rob.newstead/DanielMace ). All images are from the Middle East and could lead to quite in-depth discussions of a geopolitical nature. Daniels commentry is also included.

Cheers Daniel

Also thanks to Gazz from SLN group for his suggestion for up to date images at:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/series/24hoursinpictures

Who else has images to share?- lets make this a really good free resource.

Images Update

2007-12-20T14:29:00.001Z

Thanks to Annie for the first images.

Thinking Through Images

2007-12-19T13:36:00.000Z

For some time now I have been placing an image on my desktop to inspire students to ask questions about the world. I have found that the most unusual images are the best to initiate curiosity. However, I am starting to run out of images to display and am running out of inspiration for Google image search terms so I thought it might be a good idea to share some unusual images with each other.

If you would like to take part please email me your image (rob.newstead@gmail.com) and I will place it in a Picasa web album for all to share. I have put two in- lets see if we can get enough for one a week, for a year (around 40 would be great).

The more unusual the better!

Picasa Album: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/rob.newstead

Teaching and Learning Ideas

2007-12-18T16:18:00.000Z

Well I have been thinking about this some more and wondering what the best way to pull together a list- how would people like to contribute?

You could email me the ideas and I'll put them up or I could start a google group.

If you're interested in getting involved let me know which you prefer- or any other idea you have.

Teaching & Learning Ideas

2007-12-11T10:42:00.000Z

I was thinking the other day about how to approach teaching a lesson with the new Edexcel AS Specification when I had reason to walk into my colleague's teaching room to find her class doing Geographical Speed Dating with coastal defences. This started me thinking; Do we have a list of teaching strategies to refer to when planning lessons?

If you are anything like me it is so easy to forget the huge list of ideas that have come to light over the last 5 or 10 years so I thought I'd start compiling list and encourage people to add to it.

I started with Speed Dating (thanks to Lucy)

Podcast making
Mind Movies
Blockbusters
Trump cards
Taboo

JosieC on SLN added:

True or false
Living graphs
Making animals
Odd one out
Role plays
Picture annotating

Map skills quizzes