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Lovely video… is development always good?

Lovely video… good one for development issues?

I’ve spent much time this week reading Ken Robinson’s Element, if you’re familiar with the TED talk and his recent lectures at the R.S.A. and Specialist School Trust conference, the first section comes as no surprise.

I’m not sure whether I’ve found my element, one for another post, but the chapter on tribes really hit home for me.

He suggests that one part of finding your element is becoming involved with a tribe, people who share your passion.

Finding your tribe offers validation of your interests. People ask why I share what I do, but blog comments, emails and people speaking about how they have used a resource, all provide an indicator that there is purpose to my work. It encourages me further, as a result it also reminds me of my need to validate the work of others. To provide encouragement, and offer advice, when appropriate. Tribes provide a circle of influence that encourage and support innovation.

The tribe also provides interaction with others who share a similar passion, as a result it encourages yourself and others to raise the bar terms of your shared interest, developments come when people build upon the ideas of others. I remember a long time ago feeling excited at finding other individuals online who shared similar viewpoints and interests, I have many teachers who I aspire to, enjoy their work and want to inherit some of their style!

I think are many developments, past and present, that are helping to develop the nature of teaching tribes, particularly within Geography. But, we have to guard against any tribe becoming exclusive, it must be open to all, even those with dissenting views. I wonder about the lack of argument that seems to take place within tribes, dissenting views, even blockers, enable us to evaluate our perspectives from a different position, hence the encourage innovation. As in all communities tribes develop (unconsciously?) a hierarchy, the challenge is for the ‘hierarchy ‘to encourage dissenters /blockers, rather than alienate, as well as new membership and fresh ideas.

The idea of synergy within a tribe is aspirational, the collective minds of the tribe collaborating on a shared project. I think we can see green roots in some areas, I wonder how long before a set of colleagues, from across a wide geographical area, collectively write a whole curriculum, teaching with the same resources, evaluating and adapting as they proceed. It seems madness people working alone…

I’ve spent a nice week doing nothing much, planning has been light due to the snow days last half-term. Next week I’m going to start looking at strategies to reduce the impact of hurricanes.

We’ll be using my favourite geo-simulation, Stop Disasters, I’ve put together a simple worksheet, have to justify playing the game in lesson . I’m going to ask students to record ten strategies that people can use to reduce the impact of hurricanes. I’ll put this worksheet on our shared drive, so students can type into the document.

I’m also going to introduce a little competition, I’ll ask students to record their scores in an Excel spreadsheet, also under our shared drive. As a result I’m sure I’ll have cries of cheating, but that’s part of the fun!

8.30 p.m.on the 28th of March?

I’ve just begun to read Ken Robinson’s new book, earlier I listened to his latest R.S.A. talk, as always, much food for thought. Alternatively watch below…

I’ve just begun to read Ken Robinson’s new book, earlier I listened to his latest R.S.A. talk, as always, much food for thought. Alternatively watch below…

For Part.3

31. Establish a geography club, plan some interesting activities, and make them active. Use this as an opportunity to develop relationships and challenge their thinking and perceptions of geography.

32. What’s the point? Highlight why it is important to study particular concepts or issues in Geography. Sometimes it is necessary to focus on the selfish, what’s in it for me?

33. Take the opportunity to give a geographical assembly on a topic close to your heart. Year leaders are often happy to have a break from this task.

34. Look at the Key Stage 3 curriculum, how can it be made more relevant and interesting to students? Ask their viewpoints on topics.

35. Develop an interesting PowerPoint about geography and its study. Have it playing at open days and parent’s evening.

36. Don’t do down other subjects, maintain your professionalism. Highlight and stress the cross-curricular nature of Geography.

37. Get a group of GCSE students to develop an alternative leaflet for GCSE geography.

38. Make use of the R.G.S ambassadors scheme.

39. Set up a YouTube channel/Flickr account for your department, use them to share student work to a wider audience.

40. Work towards the Geography Quality Mark.

I think I’ve exhausted my creative juices, any other suggestions are gladly welcome…

By Barry Schwartz, this hits the mark with me on several levels.

By Barry Schwartz, this hits the mark with me on several levels.