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A Little Geographical Round-Up

Some random thoughts

BBC Open Archive set to End.
But the rise of the O.U. archive.
Grade or No-Grade- Antarctica Physical Features.
Global Warming Mug.
Geography loses coursework at A-level.
Countdown Conundrums with Carol.
Breathing Earth- what’s it about?
G.A. Virtual Pilot Conference.
Noel does Dubai.

Sad news, the BBC Open archive is set to end on the 30th of September, so get over there and download those Geography clips. There are some nice videos of Antarctica. There is also a nice little ‘batch’ function that allows you to download topics.

Despite the decline of the BBC Open Archive, the OU has just started to upload some of its video resources, looking forward to seeing this develop.

As you will have probably seen, I’ve produced a Grade or No Grade game using one of Andrew Field’s brilliant programmes, a larger hosted version can be found here. I think I need a wider blog, anyone have any useful format suggestions?

Rob Cha on SLN brought to my attention global warming mugs, would make a nice geographical Christmas present for sir ;). (Found via Ollie Bray)

It seems that QCA has decided that coursework in Geography at A-level will be no more from 2008, though fieldwork will remain part of the courses. It seems very sad that when we are trying to devise inspiring coursework projects in the Pilot GCSE, in an attempt in part, to encourage independant learning, that students continuing their geographical studies may not have the opportunity to progress with their enquiry development. It seems that any fieldwork component will be externally assessed, perhaps even a fieldwork techniques exam? I understand that coursework puts pressure on both students and teachers, and it has increasingly become sterilised in order to achieve the highest marks and meet so called targets, but it also levels the playing field for those students that find the trauma of an exam difficult. We need a happy medium were motivated students are able to produce coursework, that is rightly awarded and reflects their individual effort. Hopefully coursework will continue, but be externally marked…. So it seems that those of you considering Geography at the new KHCTC sixth form, may face a very different course.

So my starting Countdown Powerpoint was easy this year, perhaps you can make one to stump me. This is a nice conundrum generator. Keep them clean.

An interesting website is Breathing Earth. It shows carbon dioxide emissions, and birth and death rates. The data is a little old and I’m not sure what the authors are trying to communicate, but it makes interesting watching, especially if you compare LEDC and MEDC countries.

The G.A. Virtual Pilot Conference is ready to start tomorrow, it is also available for non-Pilot colleagues. You will need a password, there is already some interesting resources available. Hopefully I’ll catch up with this next week.

Noel Jenkins has posted some interesting Dubai resources, I feel an independent learning project coming on…

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