Exemplification of standards

So far, feedback from delegates for the NQT conference tomorrow have suggested that assessment is one area that I need to spend some time focussing on - so I will.
This will be in the context of curriculum planning, as assessment is for learning, and also checking on progression...
The original APP work has turned into exemplification of standards....

To see examples of student work at each level from 3 to 8, visit the website and click the appropriate link...
You will see a portfolio of work which can be used to compare with work produced by students at your school. You might also get some ideas for developing some assessments of your own...

Tony Cassidy Slideshare

A well as my own Slideshare account HERE, you would do well to visit the account of Tony Cassidy
One presentation that we will refer to is Tony's iPhone template...

Iphone Template

View more presentations from TonyCassidy

NQT: Things to do - 1: Flickr

This is the first in what will turn into a series of posts on things that NQT Geographers could usefully be doing to expand their range of available resources and strategies.
The first one is to start using Flickr (or some other online photo storage utility such as PICASA WEB ALBUMS.

A free Flickr account can store 200 photos (there are some upload limits) - you can, of course, create more than one free account as long as you have more than one e-mail address...
A PRO account costs about £15 a year, and is well worth it for the fact that you can then upload unlimited photos to storage. My account now has over 5000 images which have been added over a number of years.

There is a useful Flickr app for iPhone and iPad which can be used to upload/view images.
Images can also be attached to e-mails which are sent to a free Googlemail account, but each set of photos would need to be attached to an appropriately named e-mail to allow for searching. This is another free option though.

One advantage of taking photos and storing them is that they might be useful a long time later.
This post features two photos that I took about 4 years ago...

Geographies of food...

New Mission Explore books

In just over a month's time, there are two new Mission:Explore books launched on the world by The Geography Collective and Can of Worms Press.
Here are the front covers for those who are interested. They are already available to pre-order on Amazon so make sure you buy at least one copy....

There will be launch events in London on the 1st and 2nd of April, but if you are around in London on the evening of the 31st of March, you can join us at the Old Explorer, just a short walk from Oxford Circus.

Sign up to join us....

Plenty more to come in a month's time...

Edgelands

Holiday reading...

Took the plunge into KINDLE apps....
An interesting exploration of the urban-rural fringe...
References Marion Shoard's classic article... (click to download PDF)

For a taste of the book, see this INDEPENDENT article...

How will this change the way that we use text with students ?

NQT Geography Conferences - March 2011

The GA is putting on 3 conferences for NQT Geographers in London, Coventry and Sheffield.
I look forward to working with various delegates at these events to develop a range of options for career planning...

Image by Alan Parkinson


Rough Itinerary for the day...

9.00: Coffee & registration
9.30 : Welcome and introduction(s)
Tales from the classroom & exploring connections

10.00: Practical session(s) - Curriculum making & the Action Plan for Geography
To update knowledge of latest resources and thinking in school geography
11.00: Coffee and cakes

11.15: What can the GA do for you ?
Raising awareness of GA project materials for use in teaching and professional development
Curriculum-making activity

12.30: Lunch & optional fieldwork activity - “Mission Explore”

1.30: The next few years: where will geography take you ?
To produce a personal 'action plan' including important steps to take and professional development targets for the next year and beyond

2.45-3.00: Discussion on ongoing contact & networks

3.00: Plenary / feedback

3.30: Departure

All delegates will be contacted to provide some ideas for preparation in advance...
Outcomes from the day will be shared on this blog, which will become NQT oriented for the rest of the year, to develop ideas for new colleagues during these "interesting times"...

Olympics 2012

Thanks to John Widdowson for alerting me to the existence of this website from the LEGACY COMPANY, which acts as a tremendous additional resource for those teaching (or planning to teach) about the Olympics 2012. It includes an excellent interactive map with a number of 'layers' which shows the true scale of the Olympic park, and the various developments that are planned.

The GA will be producing a whole range of resources for the Olympics nearer the time, and we have already had a range of Olympics activities including a teacher conference, and of course Bob Digby's ongoing tours of the Olympic Park (there is a chance to take part in one of these on day one of the conference)

There is a large section on the Sustainability of the Olympic site in John Widdowson's GCSE toolkit book, which is now available from the GA shop.

There is also a Top Spec Geography title which is forthcoming, and a KS3 toolkit publication too.
With the opening of the velodrome today, this is a good time to take another look at what is planned for the park, plus there is the ongoing talks about the football future for the Olympics stadium itself.

There is a useful brochure on Scribd which is embedded below...

Future of the Park launch brochure