Cloud Point app

Thanks to Emma Espley for pointing me towards Cloud Point.

From the website:

What is the point of clouds? 

We at Cloud Point see them as the most amazing by-products of nature - they don't need to be there! A mere gathering of water droplets formed from atmospheric processes can give rise to some of the most amazing shapes, forms and colours. But what we love about them most is they are ever changing. You will never see the same cloud twice and they are always different from one moment to the next. But thats what makes them special; impermanence.

Cloud Point gives you the opportunity to capture these moments, learn what clouds they are, and share this with others. 

Our mission is to create a platform where you can turn to appreciate nature in its ever-changing form, whilst contributing to science and hopefully learning something along the way.

Think also; what connects us to the world gone before our time? 

These days there are so few things that link us now. But when you consider it, you're looking at exactly the same forms and shapes your ancestors would have seen.

Clouds give us the calming, visual opportunity to pause and reflect. So next time you see a cloud, pause for a second and give thanks for all that has been, and is, and will be, under this incredible sky.

The site offers an app which connects you to a like-minded community.

This would be of particular interest to members of the Cloud Appreciation Society. I am member #719, so a relatively early joiner.

GA EDI Report newly published

 

When I was serving on the GA's Governing Body, work started on a report exploring the diversity and inclusion of all aspects of the GA's activity. This was going to be produced by a Working Group called the DIWG.

It has taken a while to carry out the research that underpins the report. Thanks to all those who were involved in producing this.

Thanks to Steve Brace for sending me a copy of the report.

You can download your own copy from here.

Thanks also to the report's co-authors:

Elaine Anderson, Nona Anderson, Peter Jackson, Alastair Owens, Hina Robinson, Iram Sammar and Christine Winter.

The report is published today. It can be downloaded from the GA website.

GA press release says:

Despite growing diversity of the geography GCSE cohort, at A level and at university geography is one of the least diverse of all subjects.

The subject, and its institutions, are not serving all geography teachers nor all young people who could benefit from studying geography. Change is needed.

The Geographical Association (GA) recognises the need for change and invited feedback from a wide range of participants on its work and governance.

The Geography for Everyone? report, and the research on which it is based, was commissioned by the GA’s Diversity and Inclusion Working Group, established in response to the GA’s 'listening exercise'. This spoke of the need to ‘drive forward initiatives for greater diversity in the Association and support for anti-racist teaching in geography’.

While the research sets out to explore diversity and inclusion from a range of perspectives, the themes of ‘race’ and ethnicity were strongly emphasised in interviews with participants and are central to the report, perhaps reflecting wider societal concerns and movements like ‘Black Lives Matter’. The report’s co-authors Elaine Anderson, Nona Anderson, Peter Jackson, Alastair Owens, Hina Robinson, Iram Sammar and Christine Winter commented:

'Working together on this report has opened our eyes to some of the challenges that the Geographical Association faces in becoming a more diverse and inclusive organisation.

But we are also optimistic that the GA can use the insights and recommendations in our report to drive change so that it supports the needs of all geography educators and helps to build a discipline that values the experiences and perspectives of everyone.'

The GA welcomes this report and its recommendations. These will help bring positive change to the Association and the subject.

The GA is currently preparing its new 2025 -30 strategic plan and ‘Geography for Everyone’ will be one of its guiding principles.

Cooper Education

James Peverill got in touch to let me know about some upcoming events organised by Cooper Education.

This is a newish CPD offering - catering for those who want help with specific GCSE and ‘A’ level exam specifications - and includes some very well known speakers including Cameron Dunn, Paul Logue, Kate Stockings and Catherine Owen. 

If you go to the website and scroll down you will see that they offer a range of CPD sessions - held as webinars - supporting different qualifications. The next session, for example, features Kate Stockings talking about Regenerating Places for EQ3 and EQ4. It takes place later today. She is also leading another session next week. 

Check the website if you are interested in finding out more.

Please note: I have not attended any of these sessions so this is not a personal endorsement, but all the speakers are very highly regarded.

ONS Population Projection explorer

Another useful interactive from ONS to unpick the Census 2021 data.

This comes after yesterday's news stories about projections of how fast migration is going to be changing the UK's population over the next decade.

The UK Population projection explorer is a new tool launched yesterday.

Small changes in factors like migration and life expectancy can have a big influence on population projections. This interactive tool enables you to adjust different factors and see the effect they have on what the population may look like in the future and make comparisons with our official projections.

There is a caveat:

The statistics generated by this tool are projections, not predictions. National population projections are not forecasts and do not attempt to predict changes in international migration, births or deaths.

Knowledge Symposium at UCL

 A UCL Symposium on knowledge looks like it might be a useful CPD opportunity. It is on the 26th of March 2025

This symposium aims to investigate: 

a) how knowledge in education in different countries is shaped by contemporary ideas about the relationship between the past, present and future, and 

b) epistemic growth in university disciplines and school subjects. 

We will discuss whether schools can and should do without ideas of epistemic growth and progress in education and how we should think about and revise the relation between knowledge, education and progress in different socio-political and educational contexts.

This symposium will bring together scholars and teachers interested in exploring the relationships between knowledge, education and progress. 

As John Hopkin (a former President of the GA) succinctly explains:

‘The idea of education is an idea of progress, an investment in the future of our young people and community’ (2011, 116). 

The suggestion that humanity is lifted through studying a planned curriculum of learning different disciplines dates to Peter Rasmus (1515-1567). 

Rasmus built a case for learning from a designated series of books (a curriculum), not just individual scholars, thus opening the potential for the democratisation of education. In 21^st century Europe, societies struggle to articulate a positive vision of the future and a vision for education. Ideas of social, economic, moral and political progress are problematised and contested. 

The idea of progress has been tainted with its past association with colonialism, exploitation and domination and is thus criticized as a genuinely `Western ideal´, a secularized `hollow replica of a Christian conception of history´ or even as a kind of `Prozac for intellectuals´ (Gray, 2004). 

Some academics now envisage Education After Progress, while others think schools must engage with the meaning of social progress. 

Find out more here.

The cost is £40 (£10 for unwaged/students)

Place available on RGS Education Committee

There is availability to join me on the Royal Geographical Society's Education Committee, which I joined in June as Vice President Education.

We have an important job to do - particularly at the moment with a focus on the Government's Curriculum and Assessment review.

The process is explained on the link below if you'd like to put yourself forward.

You will need to fill in a few forms online and get them to the Director's office by the 20th of March 2025. Selected names will then be added to a ballot paper which will go out to all those eligible to vote. The results will be announced at the RGS's AGM in early June 2025. I shall be there. 

You will fill the role for a four year term.

Only Fellows of the Society may stand for positions on Council and only Fellows may propose candidates for election (this includes Associate Fellows).

If you wish to stand for election to Council, you should be able to demonstrate:

• a good working knowledge of the Society
• an understanding and support for its breadth of activities and audiences
• experience and seniority relevant to the position that you are standing for

Each position also requires a sound working knowledge, as appropriate, of geographical education, expeditions and fieldwork, research and higher education, geography in professional practice. In addition, Council has provided guidance to nominees and proposers on the skills, expertise and experience that it feels would be most helpful at the present time. It is not a requirement that nominees fill identified skills gaps but it is highly desirable.

For Education this is described as:

Practical expertise, skills and knowledge as an established geography teacher (with five or more years of classroom experience), head of geography or senior leader at secondary level (Councillor).   

In terms of time commitment, Council members must be available to read papers for, and attend, four Council meetings per year and at least two Committee meetings per year.

Go to this page for all the details.

Feel free to get in touch if you would like to know more details about what is involved in this role, and good luck if you are thinking of applying.

International Geography Training - new for 2025

A new venture, and one I can certainly get behind...

Two legends of international geography teaching, resource creation and training in the same virtual space: Richard Allaway and Matt Podbury have teamed up to offer some special support for teachers in international schools / teaching international qualifications.

Their new website and opportunity is now live.

They will start their new enterprise by offering three online workshops between now and May 2025, which can be booked individually or as an ‘all three bundle’.

Each workshop consists of two 90-minute sessions and then the opportunity to have a 30-minute one-on-one meeting with either Richard or Matt to focus on your specific topics of interest and questions.

The workshops will happen on Saturdays, so most of you will not need to find cover for your classes. They will run from 10h00 CET to 13h30 CET, so you have enough time for a lie-in and a lazy breakfast, and everything is finished in time for a late lunch.

The workshops focus on the training needs of international geography teachers, especially those teaching IB DP Geography and IGCSE Geography.

Head to the website to find out more.