Book on a Gapminder Webinar

I've just taken part in an excellent webinar led by Bob Lang to outline ideas for how to use the Gapminder tool in the geography classroom.

I learned several new things, even though I've been using Gapminder since it first appeared.

The new education materials, the first of a batch, have now been released. Try the population activities and download some useful lesson materials free of charge. These would be very timely for revision on population issues.

There are more chances to take part in the webinar next week - no charge:

Monday 15th April 4-5pm UK time

Wednesday 17th April at 4-5pm UK time

Wednesday 17th April at 10-11pm UK time 

Go HERE and use the CONTACT tab to book a place - well worth an hour of your evening.

ICT toolkit books...

Preparing some resources for the course on Geomedia in Salzburg that I am leading next week.

You still have chance to get funding to join me for a repeat of the course in February 2013, and the course is likely to run several times during 2013 - I'd love to see lots of you there... you can get your fees, accommodation and travel paid for.

I'm going to be using several activities from two books which I edited, and were published in April this year.

You really need to have a copy of these books in your departmental library.
They have been selling well, and getting good feedback from users.
You can order them from the GA shop - click to follow the link, and remember that GA members get a discount on purchases, and free P&P

Multimedia made Easy by Paul Cornish

GIS made Easy by Bob Lang

New From the Field resource

Last year, I contributed two sets of resources to the RGS-IBG's FROM THE FIELD resource. The aim of the resource is to connect researchers in the field with teachers and teacher educators who translate their work into the classroom at an appropriate level.
I contributed a KS4 and a KS5 example.
The website won a GA Silver Award at the GA Conference in 2012.

The newest addition was added by Bob Lang, who worked to translate Jane Labous' work on the sand diggers of Mali into a unit on rapid urbanisation in the city of Bamako.
Splendid work.

Hurricane Season

Get ready to start teaching about tropical revolving storms.
Hurricane season will start at the end of May... or has it already started ?


Tropical Storms Alberto and Beryl have already formed, but not developed any further...


Why does the hurricane season in the Atlantic start at this time of year and not earlier (or later ?)
Challenge your students to explain why...
Alberto and Beryl were the first in 2012's season - who is next ?
How are hurricanes named ?
Will there ever be another Hurricane Katrina ?

If you'd like a great activity using GIS and enquiry, you'll need to get yourself a copy of Bob Lang's 'GIS made Easy' book. This contains a full lesson activity and associated resources which teaches about some key GIS skills through the context of exploring hurricane paths.
You can have a sneak preview of the book by visiting the GA website.


Visit the NOAA site for all the latest information.


You also might want to catch up with a recent Twitter chat with the hashtag #hurrichat while it's still there: experts answering questions on hurricanes.
It's part of Hurricane Preparedness Week - lots of YouTube clips and other resources.
Get ready for the season ahead... Students should be in teams and briefed to keep an eye on a particular name and track it and report back...