What is in and what is out?

Images above showing the beauty of South Korea.

Related sites to the Spatialworlds project
Spatialworlds website
21st Century Geography Google Group
Australian Geography Teachers' Association website
'Towards a National Geography Curriculum' project website
Geography Teachers' Association of South Australia website
Email contact
manning@chariot.net.au

Where am I??
Adelaide, Australia: S: 34º 55' E: 138º 36'


Tough questions on curriculum content

As the consultation period for the draft Australian Curriculum: Geography is nearing an end, it is worth thinking about what should and shouldn’t be in the geography curriculum. As expected we all have different views of what is fundamentally important to be included and what can be dispensed with. This is particularly evident as we read the feedback from teachers, industry, jurisdictions, universities, community members, government departments, organisations, geography societies and geography teachers’ associations. All of these groups have different agendas and ways of looking at the world and naturally consider that their area of interest needs to be appropriately and satisfactorily represented in the curriculum.

I thought it would be an interesting exercise to make a list of all the things to consider as ACARA continues to work on ‘bedding down’ the content of the curriculum.

They are:
• How do we decide?
• Who decides?
• What is important?
• What is imperative?
• What is engaging?
• What is useful (socially, vocationally, personally, environmentally, nationally …)?
• What is age appropriate content?
• What content is achievable for schools (teacher expertise and resources?)
• Should we push outside of what is happening know in geography classrooms across Australia?
• What should be in a 21st Century curriculum?

Even after months of work and discussion there are a range of issues/points of clarification which continue to require discussion as we move ever close to the October publication deadline.

They are:
• The nature of place and space.
• The nature of sustainability in geography.
• The importance of the spatial perspective.
• Geography and citizenship capacity.
• The appropriatness and extent of cross curriculum priorities coverage.
• The mandating of fieldwork.
• The aim of engagement versus essential coverage.
• The physical/human geography balance.
• How do we integrate the key concepts into the curriculum content?
• Spatial technology and its use as a core issue to be mandated in some way or not.
• The need for the language and terminology of the document to be understandable to non-geographers.
• Geography in the primary setting – suitability and achievability.

Needless to say, ACARA and its writers and advisers have quite a job ahead in meeting the expectations of the disparate groups and individuals who have provided the feedback during consultation. A task I am sure will be met to the best of ability by all of those involved.

My top 10 this week

Left image: Walking around Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia.
Right image: Devils Marbles, Northern Territory, Australia.

Related sites to the Spatialworlds project
Spatialworlds website
21st Century Geography Google Group
Australian Geography Teachers' Association website
'Towards a National Geography Curriculum' project website
Geography Teachers' Association of South Australia website
Email contact
manning@chariot.net.au

Where am I??
Adelaide, Australia: S: 34º 55' E: 138º 36'


My Top 10 to check out

I thought I would have a play at checking out some sites of interest and use for the classroom and then try to make a top 10 list. Although they are not all directly geography, I am sure that the creative geography teacher could integrate them into a geography lesson of worth.

Well, here is my top 10 for this week.

Number 1: The Traveler IQ Challenge. Great fun learning places and their location. Try it!

Number 2: Tony Cassidy has compiled a great list of online Social Studies games.

Number 3: Culture Crossing is a unique resource for information about different countries. It provides some basic demographics, but it also shares details about communication style, dress, gestures, etc. It’s unlike any other source of information about countries on the web.

Number 4: Photos that changed the world – great visuals to explore visual literacy.
• Camera Naked’s.
• Neatorame
• Jonathan Klein: Photos that changed the world is a new “TED Talk”.

Number 5: What The World Eats, an online slideshow from Time magazine that shows families from fifteen different countries, along with what they eat during one week and its cost. This site can be used to initiate a discussion on economic inequities; use in compare/contrast activities – great for the Year 9 Food topic of the Australian Curriculum: Geography.

Number 6: The Zero Footprint Kids Calculator: It would be difficult to develop a more accessible web tool for people to figure out their own ecological footprint.

Number 7: Geographical Media is an interesting site to develop media literacy and also collect data for some mapping of media coverage.

Number 8: Map Battle is a very easy-to-use tool to create geography games online.

Number 9: Geobeats is a huge collection of short travel videos from around the world.

Number 10: Visual Geography is a nice site with images, information, and quizzes about 85 countries around the world. The quizzes on each country are good, as is the feature called “Compare.” You can pick any two countries and easily compare their demographic data with a click of the mouse.

Knowing without going in the classroom

Images above of .... Have a guess!

Related sites to the Spatialworlds project
Spatialworlds website
21st Century Geography Google Group
Australian Geography Teachers' Association website
'Towards a National Geography Curriculum' project website
Geography Teachers' Association of South Australia website
Email contact
manning@chariot.net.au

Where am I??
Adelaide, Australia: S: 34º 55' E: 138º 36'


Virtual trips in the classroom

Over the years I have been talking with geography teachers about virtual tourism and the potential of spatial technology to take students to places all around the world without actually going there. Such virtual trips are a great way to develop student understanding of places and to feel like they actually have gone there in some way. We cannot recreate the sounds, smells and feeling of a place but we can certainly acquire amazing visuals and associated information on a place from a range of tourism focussed Internet sites. Maybe the smell and feeling is to come but I am sure the sound aspect would be easy to recreate. In this posting I will list some of the most popular sites for such "virtual tripping" by students in the classroom.

* Tripwolf is a travel guide and a travel community – all in one! On tripwolf you will find the contents of professional travel reports from renowned travel guides combined with up-to-date travel tips from thousands of travelers from all over the world. Discover travel information about 50,000 places.

* Go Planit is a great travel planning site for students to explore.

* Discover America is a useful planning site for American travel.

* Travel DK is a personalised guide tool which allows you to pick n'mix information on sights, attractions, hotels, restaurants and shops.

* Yahoo Travel is a great travel organisation site.

* Gogobot is a trip planning tool which taps into social networks.

* Geolover is a new application that lets you very easily pick a destination in the world; then you’re shown key attractions at your choice; next, you pick the ones you’re most interested in seeing, and finally you’re given a unique url address showing your list. It would be nice for a geography class, and students can write why they chose the destinations and attractions they did.

* Stay.com lets users easily “drag-and-drop” attractions they want to see in different cities in order to create their own unique downloadable PDF travel guide. You can also read the PDF without having to download it. Students can just post the url and still view it on the Web.


Tripline is a great map-making application. You just list the various places you want to go in a journey, or a famous trip that has happened in history or literature, or a class field trip itinerary, and a embeddable map is created showing the trip where you can add written descriptions and photos. You can use your own photos or just search through Flickr.

* GeoTrio lets you create a virtual tour of just about anyplace on a map. You type in addresses or locations and easily create multiple “stops” that show the Google Street View snapshots of the area. You can also upload your own images.

* Tripomatic lets you create itineraries for your trips.

What amazing technology is available now for virtual tripping - let's use it in our geography lessons!

Thinking Geographically: a resource

Images from the Thinking Geographically interactive DVD.

Related sites to the Spatialworlds project
Spatialworlds website
21st Century Geography Google Group
Australian Geography Teachers' Association website
'Towards a National Geography Curriculum' project website
Geography Teachers' Association of South Australia website
Email contact
manning@chariot.net.au

Where am I??
Adelaide, Australia: S: 34º 55' E: 138º 36'


The Thinking Geographically resource

Over the Xmas period I have produced a resource to support professional learning in geography over the coming year. The resource is called 'Thinking Geographically' because that is what we need to start working on with teachers in Australia who soon will have the opportunity to teach the Australian Curriculum: Geography. The draft of the course, due for release in October 2012, is now published and open for consultation on the ACARA website. Geographers in Australia are keen for as much feedback as possible on the draft and I really encourage Spatialworlds readers to have a look at the draft and consider providing feedback to ACARA. The more feedback we get, the better the course will be!

The 'Thinking Geographically' resource is in the form of an interactive DVD and is aimed at preparing geographers and non-geographers in Australian schools to deliver the new Australian Curriculum: Geography from 2013 and beyond. Despite the Australian focus, the resource would be of equal value to any country teaching geography as a subject in schools.

As I have discussed in previous postings, there is a need to articulate clearly to non-geographers in particular what geographer actually is. That is, to be able to explain what makes geography geography. One of the invaluable lessons I have learnt from being involved in the development of the ACARA Australian Curriculum: Geography is the opportunity to clarify my thoughts on what geographical thinking is. The development of the key concepts of the Australian Curriculum: Geography has been invaluable in 'nailing down' geographical thinking. Everything can be studied geographically through the key concepts - hence every topic is a potential resource for geography classrooms.

The resource comprises a range of Geographical 'think pieces', articles and presentations, tips and structures for curriculum planning and hundreds of Internet sites to support geographical education in schools. The attached document provides a useful insight into the operation and nature of the resource.

I hope the resource will be a useful part of the implementation and associated professional learning for the Australian Curriculum: Geography and any other country teaching geography in schools.

If you wish to have a copy of the interactive 'Thinking Geographically' DVD just email me at manning@chariot.net.au and I will forward details on the DVD to you. Hopefully it will hit the mark with professional learning on thinking geographically.

The line between pleasure and pain!

Images above: On the road through the Flinders Ranges, South Australia.

Related sites to the Spatialworlds project
Spatialworlds website
21st Century Geography Google Group
Australian Geography Teachers' Association website
'Towards a National Geography Curriculum' project website
Geography Teachers' Association of South Australia website
Email contact
malcolm.mcinerney@gmail.com

Where am I??
Adelaide, Australia: S: 34º 55' E: 138º 36'

Presentations to develop visual literacy in geography

“The wise man fears the serene sky, but when a storm comes he walks on the waves and challenges the wind” Confucius quotes

This posting was initiated by viewing the Slideshare collection called the Nubia Group. After checking out the Slideshare resource go to the Nubia groups blogpsot to view even more presentations.

The collection is a broad selection of things we may consider beautiful and fascinating about living in our world and things which cause pain to humanity. I have just selected the PowerPoints from the collection which may be of use to the geography classroom (I am sure there are many more) and recommend you to go through the rich collection of images and commentary contained within. A great resource for visual literacy work in the classroom. While about it go and have look at other geography relevant collections on Slideshare – an amazing resource to help create lessons and for student projects etc.


Pleasure ??????????

Earth art

From the sky Part 1

From the sky Part 2

Digital world – great images

Around the World

Children of the World

Brazil carnival

Chinese festivals

The Haj

Christmas across the globe

Ramadan
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/observing-ramadan
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/observing-ramadan-part2
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/observing-ramadan-part3

Chinese Gods

Beauty of Egypt

Indian wedding

Iceland landscapes

Amazing landscapes

Urban colours

Amazing shots from far ways
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/amazing-shots-from-far-away-2
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/amazing-shots-from-far-away

Nature photography

Great migrations

Beauty of Burma

Beauty of Norway

Beauty of Canada

Beauty of Scotland

Beauty of Ireland

Beauty of Dubai

Beauty of New Zealand

Afghanistan picture portrait

Scenes from China

Beauty of the Philippines

Beauty of China

Egypt
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/egypte-11
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/the-nile-river-egypt-2492855

Around the world in images

Amazing World

Pakistan portraits

Great images

India portrait

People of the World
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/eric-lafforgue-photographer-part2
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/eric-lafforgue-photographer-part1

Nomads of Tibet


Pain??????????

Save the Children

Mississippi floods 2011

Brazil floods 2011

Flood in Pakistan
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/flood-in-pakistan-part-12
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/flood-in-pakistan-part-11eid-in-refugee-camps
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/flood-in-pakistan-part02
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/flood-in-pakistan-2010

Water

Japan weeks after the Tsunami 2011
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/japan-one-week-later2011-march-18
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/japan-two-weeks-later-2011march-25
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/japan-earthquake-aftermath-2011-march13

Japan earthquake 2011

Atomic fallout: Japan 2011
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/japan-alarm-over-atomic-crisismarch-16
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/nuclear-disaster-threat-looms-over-japan-2011-march14

New Zealand earthquake 2011

China flooding 2011

Russian wildfires 2010

China landslides 2010

Pakistan in need –Aid
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/flood-in-pakistan-part4
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/pakistan-in-need-part-9
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/flood-in-pakistan-part-10angelina-jolie
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/flood-emergency-in-pakistan-is-not-over

Libya unrest 2011
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/libya-unrest-2011march-2
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/libya-massive-exode-and-un-sanctions
http://www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/libya-on-the-edge

Middle East violence

Crisis in Yemen

Haiti earthquake – two years on

Rich information: Real time and spatial

Left image:Crossing the bridge at going home time.
Right image: Cityscape from a room above, Sydney.

Related sites to the Spatialworlds project
Spatialworlds website
21st Century Geography Google Group
Australian Geography Teachers' Association website
'Towards a National Geography Curriculum' project website
Geography Teachers' Association of South Australia website
Email contact
manning@chariot.net.au

Where am I??
Adelaide, Australia: S: 34º 55' E: 138º 36'



A new year welcome to Spatialworlds with this amazing real time spatial information site from Hungary. A great site of rich spatial information to start the Spatialworlds year.

Here is an amazing Emergency and Disaster Information site from Budapest, Hungary with the philosophy

"Nothing happens unexpectedly, everything has an indication,
we just have to observe the connections."

A philosophy that truly reflects the geographical concept of interconnection.

The Hungarian National Association of Radio Distress-Signalling and Infocommunications (RSOE) operates the Emergency and Disaster Information Service (EDIS) within the frame of its own website which has the objective to monitor and document all the events on the Earth which may cause disaster or emergency. The service uses the speed and the data spectrum of the internet to gather information. They monitor and process several foreign organisation's data to get quick and certified information.

The EDIS website operated together by the General-Directorate of National Disaster Management (OKF) and RSOE, in co-operation with the Crisis Management Centre of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provides useful information regarding emergency situations and their prevention. Extraordinary events happening in Hungary, Europe and other areas of the World are being monitored in 24 hours per day. All events processed by RSOE EDIS are displayed near real time - for the sake of international compatibility - according to the CAP protocol on a secure website.

To ensure clear transparency all events are categorized separately in the RSS,XML, CAP directory (e.g. earthquake, fire, flood, landslide, nuclear event, tornado, volcano). RSOE EDIS also contributes in dissemination of the CAP protocol in Hungary.

Beside the official information, with the help of special programs nearly 9-1000 internet press publications are monitored and the publication containing predefined keywords are processed. However, these "news" cannot be considered as official and reliable information, but many times critical information is gathered from the internet press. They screen the incoming information and store in a central database sorted by category.

If the world was 100 people

This excellent video, one of my favourites to get the message across to students re: the nature and dimensions of human geography, has been updated and is up on YouTube for classroom use.

Educational think piece

An older but goody, always worth another look.

SA Geographers, not South Australian!

Left image: Student working on a SA Spatial technology site. South Australian as opposed to South African!
Right image: A piece of farming history on Goyders line - the margins of the good earth in South Australia.

Related sites to the Spatialworlds project
Spatialworlds website
21st Century Geography Google Group
Australian Geography Teachers' Association website
'Towards a National Geography Curriculum' project website
Geography Teachers' Association of South Australia website
Email contact
manning@chariot.net.au

Where am I??
Adelaide, Australia: S: 34º 55' E: 138º 36'

Connection with South African geographers via Google Groups

After meeting geography teacher, Bridget Fleming from South Africa in 2009, I have been a member of the South African Google Group. This group of inspiring and committed geography teachers in South Africa has been the source of many great spatial links which I have included in this Spatialworlds blog. If you want to join the group go to http://groups.google.com/group/sageographyteachers?hl=en
Everytime I see an SA addressed email from the group come in I think it is something South Australian ... but it is from our South African colleagues. Must be terribly confusing for the postal services having two countries being SA! Be aware that there is quite a bit of “chatter” with the group, much not that relevant to those outside of South Africa, but the group does supply some great Internet links and provides a real insight into an active geographical education community doing their best to keep pace with the ever-changing world of geography.
Here are just some of the latest links that I was sent from the group.

Where in the World? A Google Earth Puzzle
Some amazing images from Google Earth – fantastic examples of patterns and trending for spatial analysis. Looking at the world through Google Earth offers striking images of the diversity of our planet and the impact that humans have had on it. The site finds some great images and then challenges visitors to figure out where in the world each of the images is taken. North is not always up in the pictures, and, apart from a bit of contrast, they are unaltered images provided by Google and its mapping partners. You make your guesses, and see the score at the end of looking and guessing.

A great website for contour lines.
Contour maps of South African dams. Although maps/images of South African locations, this site is a great example of the practical recreational use of spatial technology. A dream site for the South African fisherperson and boatie.

Fun with projections
What your favourite projection says about you?

Spatial Reference website- Topographic Maps in South Africa
This service provides access to about 1600 topographic maps covering most of South Africa. These maps are electronic copies of the 1:50000 scale topographic maps. Detail such as road networks, contours and spot heights, trig beacons, land use definition (residential, nature reserves, plantations, industrial), farm boundaries, some services, dams and rivers are available on the maps making it useful for surveyors, town planners, engineers, navigation, flight planning, geography, etc...

Weather animations
A useful collection of animations to support the teaching of climate and weather.

Images from the NASA Earth Observatory
* An image everyday. Have a look at the image for today at

*Also check out the image galleries for topics such as natural hazards, human presence etc.

* Worth also looking at the global maps while on the site

This information is not from SA but from the US - Well worth considering.

Teaching with GIS: Introduction to Using GIS in the Classroom
Three free ESRI authored web courses of one hour duration. The ESRI website says:

"Today's students embrace technology outside the classroom, and, when used effectively, technology is an excellent tool to engage students inside the classroom as well. This course presents strategies for integrating GIS to support instruction, discussion, and extended learning on any topic. You will learn how to create and use GIS maps as a framework for understanding the geographic context of current and historical events and phenomena and exploring issues of interest to your local community. Many practical ideas for GIS activities that enhance student learning and critical thinking skills are shared."

Everyone is a Geographer!

Left image: Rural landscape from the air, Port Lincoln, South Austraia.
Right image: Early morning over Hobart, Tasmania.

Related sites to the Spatialworlds project
Spatialworlds website
21st Century Geography Google Group
Australian Geography Teachers' Association website
'Towards a National Geography Curriculum' project website
Geography Teachers' Association of South Australia website
Email contact
manning@chariot.net.au

Where am I??
Adelaide, Australia: S: 34º 55' E: 138º 36'

The impact of the Geospatial Revolution on geography in the community

How amazing is the Geospatial Revolution? Everyone I now is a geographer via the use of Google Earth, Google maps etc on their computer/iPad and the use of the plethora of Apps on their iPhones. People who say they know nothing about geography or spatial technology are in fact, the users of spatial technology, appliers of geographic skills and acquirers of geographic knowledge. This indeed is a revolution!! In this posting, first of many I think, I will identify some of my favourite geography orientated apps and those of others. Where will it stop, this Geospatial Revolution?

Apps you must have!!

To find the app listed below just go to the App Store on the iPhone or your computer and search.


Most of those listed are free or only 99 cents. Great value to play by oneself or adapt as a classroom activity using your SmartBoard or other sharing devices.


* Living Earth HD
A world clock, weather and alarm all in one. Includes a stunning live 3D simulation of the Earth.

* GPS
Gives you access to the iPhone’s GPS functionality. Includes street and topographic maps.

* Global Navigator
GPS navigation all over the world using Google Map with up to date maps and satellite images.

* iMapMyRUN and iMapMyRIDE
Map your run, ride and workout – logs distance, route, calories, elevation and much more. A runners best friend!! Voice prompts give you updates on your progress.

* GolfLogix: Golf GPS
Maps your game on the course, providing course imagery and tracking.

* Navfree GPS Live Australia and New Zealand
A navigation app that offers turn-by-turn navigation using high quality open-source map data.

* MetroView GPS Navigation
A complete Turn-By-Turn Navigation solution with Speed Alert.

* World Geography Trivia
Geography trivia with animations and sounds.

* Geogame World Series
The ultimate geography game to test your knowledge and help you learn.

* World Countries ALL-IN-ONE
19 educational geographic apps in one app: Countries factbooks, Wikitravel, phots, news and much more.

* iWorldQuiz
You are given a location to find and after guessing you will be scored according to speed and accuracy.

* Where Around The World
The goal of this app is to chase down and catch criminals by solving geography trivia clues and mini-puzzles.

* The Amazing Hunt Around the World
A puzzle game to solve real world puzzles and riddles by visiting real-world scary locations.

* ESRI ArcGIS
Maps come to life using ArcGIS online – a great way to discover and use maps.

* Quakefeed – World Earthquakes
Using ESRI base maps, see the earthquakes of the past 7 days with a magnitude greater than 2.5.

* Maps+
Browse Google maps to find out where you are, search the map, get directions with route alternatives, use location alarms etc.

* City Walks
Maps of 470 cities worldwide.

* History: Maps of World
A fun and educational collection of high resolution historical maps.

* Around me
Enables you to quickly find out information about your surroundings.

* World MapView
Up-to date World Maps on the iPhone.

* Your World
This app challenges you to learn where the countries of the world are located by placing them onto a 3D earth.

* Toilet Map (one of many around the world)
This app shows you where the closest toilet is to your location in London.


Thanks to Roger and Anita for the following apps – their favourites on their GISetc website

* SkySafari
The basic version of SkySafari 3 shows you 120,000 stars, plus 220 of the best-known star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies in the sky. It displays the Solar System’s major planets and moons using NASA spacecraft imagery, and includes the best-known asteroids and comets.

* Oh! Ranger
Although American in content it is a great App as an example of the power of spatial technology. “Oh, Ranger!" is a virtual guide to the outdoors.

* Geo Walk – 3D World Fact Book
Let’s say you want to find out what there is to know about Africa. Spin the globe until you find it and you will see African sights only. If you are interested in architectural wonders of the world – category filter will help! Try the Quiz afterwards to feel that you are getting smarter by the minute!

* Skyview
Skyview is a stargazing app that implements augmented reality to “explore the universe.”

* Geology AZ is the Arizona version of the first GIS (geographical information system) for the iPhone. This initial release focuses on the geology of the Grand Canyon state, and related data.

* iRecycle
Recycling is the easiest and most accessible way to get people plugged into sustainability.

* Project Noah
Project Noah’s ultimate goal is to build the go-to platform for documenting all the world’s organisms and through doing this we hope to develop an effective way to measure Mother Nature’s pulse.

* My Radar
This free radar app will center over your location and provide you with accurate, real time weather scans.

This listing is really just the tip of the “app iceberg”. The potential for the teaching of geography in the classroom (and student homework) is unlimited. The iPhone apps related to geography, which are many, is a gift for the geography teacher wanting to engage students in geographical skills and thinking. Why not use what is second nature for students, their iPhone. In fact, as I mentioned earlier in the posting, our community has become geographically/spatially literate via Google Maps/Earth and the iPhone apps without realising it - this includes students in geography classes, no longer satisfied with hand-drawn maps and black-line master.

Opening up the open source option!

Images: Student 3D work using ArcView 3x

Related sites to the Spatialworlds project
Spatialworlds website
21st Century Geography Google Group
Australian Geography Teachers' Association website
'Towards a National Geography Curriculum' project website
Geography Teachers' Association of South Australia website
Email contact
manning@chariot.net.au

Where am I??
Adelaide, Australia: S: 34º 55' E: 138º 36'

Open Source GIS, which one??

Access to software such as open source (the license shall not require a royalty or other fee), is becoming a viable alternative for schools to expensive stand-alone vendor products. In previous Spatialworlds posting we have highlighted the availability of free GIS on-line products such as ESRI ArcGIS on-line , Spatial Genie , QGIS and GRASS.

It seems that on a monthly basis the number of such software choices is growing. Basic GIS open source programs can provide basic GIS functionality, including data input, map display, spatial query, attribute query and spatial analysis. There are also open source programs for remote sensing and 3D visualization.

In this posting I wish to highlight the importance of this trend to the achievability of using GIS in the classroom and some of the open source products I have not previously mentioned. An excellent spatial blog from Direction Magazine is planning to review many of these on-line open source GIS platforms in coming months. It is worth keeping an eye on this site if you are considering exploring the option of open source GIS.

These programs are proving to be popular for a range of reasons:
* they are a real option for the teacher who would like to explore the possibility of teaching GIS but does not have immediate financial support from their school to purchase GIS software.
* the software is an excellent option if students would like to install and try GIS software on their home computers.
* the immediacy of such software is attractive for the teacher who would like to use GIS with their students tomorrow (commercial GIS software will require more than one week to finalize the licensing with vendors. You can download and use open source software immediately).
* it is the way to go for schools with computers that are using non-Windows operating systems, such as MacOSX or Linux

Here are a few of the open source options we have not previously discussed.

* uDig is an open source desktop application framework, built with Eclipse Rich Client (RCP) technology. The uDig program can be downloaded from the site, as can free data and walk throughs to support the use of the program.

* gvSIG is another open source geographic information system (GIS), that is a desktop application designed for capturing, storing, handling, analyzing and deploying any kind of referenced geographic information in order to solve complex management and planning problems. gvSIG is known for having a user-friendly interface, being able to access the most common formats, both vector and raster ones. It features a wide range of tools for working with geographic-like information (query tools, layout creation, geoprocessing, networks, etc).

* The OpenGeo Suite combines the power of open source plus the reliability and support of a single, stable vendor behind a full stack of software. The OpenGeo Suite offers a fully-integrated open source geospatial platform for serving maps and data through web applications, mobile devices, and desktop clients. The OpenGeo Suite Enterprise Edition is comprised of tested, integrated and supported geospatial components GeoServer, OpenLayers, GeoWebCache, PostGIS and GeoExt

* GISVM is a free and ready to use anywhere Geographic Information System Virtual Machine. It is now available in three main versions; A full-feature GIS Desktop Workstation, a base GIS Desktop Virtual Machine and a full-feature GIS Server based exclusively on free Server GIS software:

The Open Source Foundation

While talking about open source GIS it is worth mentioning the Open Source Software for Geospatial initiative organized by Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo). This is a foundation created to support the collaborative development of open source geospatial software, and promote its widespread use. The recent 2011 FOSS4G conference in Denver was focused on free and open source geospatial software. Open source is becoming so popular that the list of FOSS4G sponsors has been growing rapidly. Sponsors today include names such as ESRI, Google, MapQuest and USGIF.

I am sure this is just the tip of the iceberg and in the future (if not already), open source software will be the way to go for GIS in schools.

AGTA 2013: It's all happening!

Left image:Yorke Peninsula, South Australia.
Right Image: Adelaide coastline, South Australia.

Related sites to the Spatialworlds project
Spatialworlds website
21st Century Geography Google Group
Australian Geography Teachers' Association website
'Towards a National Geography Curriculum' project website
Geography Teachers' Association of South Australia website
Email contact
manning@chariot.net.au

Where am I??
Adelaide, Australia: S: 34º 55' E: 138º 36'


“Without geography, the world would be a mystery to us.”
David Lambert CEO, Geography Association of the UK


In regards to curriculum, David Lambert writes:

“A curriculum shaped by whim, the topics in the news and contemporary themes of "relevance" - or, worse still, policy imperatives laid down by the Government - is likely to be incoherent, shallow and like junk food: deeply unsatisfying after the initial fat and sugar rush.
A person growing up in the 21st century as a global citizen (and all that implies) is at a disadvantage without geographical knowledge - economically, culturally and politically. How can we make any of the personal decisions that already confront us every day about energy, food and water security without geographical knowledge? Understanding geographical perspectives contributes to our capabilities as educated individuals and members of society.”

Why am I quoting David Lambert? It seems like yesterday that I was talking about AGTA 2011 and the arrival of Dr Rita Gardner, Director of the RGS to be our keynote.

Well time has moved forward and we are now well into planning for AGTA 2013 in Perth, Western Australia. Only last night I got the good news that David Lambert and Simon Catling have accepted AGTA’s invitation to be keynotes at AGTA 2013.

As some of the most respected and influential educators in the area of school geography, I thought it worth profiling them in this posting and commence my work convincing anyone who visits this blog to get to Perth in January 2013 to join us at AGTA 2013 – it should be a great experience in many ways.

The Australian Geography Teachers Association (AGTA) conference for 2013, known as AGTA 2013 is to be held in Perth from January 7-10, 2013. For more information on the conference and expressions of interest to present just go to the AGTA site at http://www.agta.asn.au/conf2013/index.htm.

So why David and Simon as keynotes? I think the background on them that follows speaks for itself. Their CV’s shows that with both presenting, AGTA 2013 covers the needs of geography from F-12 in a way that maybe previous conference neglected.

With the Australian Curriculum: Geography being written and to be implemented for all years from F-12, then we must tackle the challenges of primary implementation. It is hoped that this broader focus for AGTA 2013 will attract primary educators who may have seen the work of AGTA in the past secondary-centric. With the investment in bringing Simon, a primary geography educator of enormous influence and David, one who has been intimately involved in the implementation of the UK National Curriculum for Geography from Reception to Year 12, we hope this view may change for this conference.


Professor David Lambert

In his book, “Global Perspectives in the Geography Curriculum”, David said:

“a decline in the subject's popularity in the early 1990s prompted attempts to make geography more 'relevant' to pupils.”

In many ways this has been David’s mission as he has guided the work of the GA in the UK - with considerable success.

These quotes from a recent article by David in the Telegraph are worth highlighting here to give a taste of the inspiring talk we will hear in Perth in 2013;

“Geography is the subject that contributes more than any other to young people’s knowledge of the world. Geography is not just important on its own account. It is a linking discipline, connecting to science, to the arts, to history and languages. In primary schools where geography in strong, the subject can help to knit the curriculum together as well as satisfy pupils' curiosity about people and places. In senior schools, geography offers the opportunity to develop a broader and very contemporary skill-set. It also helps many students to keep their options open, rather than having to narrow their courses down to either the sciences or the arts. Geography straddles both, using diverse sources and data, and asking challenging and engaging questions about the change pupils can see in the world around them.
In schools where geography teaching is weak – and especially where it is handled by non-specialists – children are denied these crucial elements of a broad and balanced education that will benefit them throughout their lives. Instead, they will have a narrower conception of the world, and will have missed out on the fieldwork that could teach them about the power of learning directly in particular places and environments.
In the end, geography isn't just about reciting a list of capital cities – although that can be an impressive party trick. It is the subject that contributes more than any other to young people's knowledge of the world, their understanding of the relationships between people and places, and their ability and propensity to think critically and creatively about the ways in which we affect the planet we live on.”


So who is David Lambert?

Professor David Lambert was a comprehensive school geography teacher before joining the Institute of Education in 1987. In 2002 he became Chief Executive of the Geographical Association, helping guide its development as a significant provider of CPD and a leader in funded curriculum development activity. From September 2007, he has combined this role with a return to the Institute of Education as Professor of Geography Education. His writing and research are concerned with curriculum development and assessment, and his overarching goal is to advance understanding of the role of geography in schools in relation to broad educational purposes
Of particular significance to our work with the Australian Curriculum: Geography is David’s thinking and work in his book “Teaching Geography 11-18: A Conceptual Approach”.

"This is a must read for all 11-18 geography educators. It argues for a new geography curriculum founded on a set of major concepts that are profoundly relevant to 21st century life. For years, books on 11-18 geography education have focussed on classroom techniques, new pedagogic technologies and alternative modes of student assessment.. It asks not only what geography is for, but bases its answer on a set of key concepts able to sustain an exciting and relevant curriculum. ".
Professor Noel Castree, University of Manchester, UK

This engaging and stimulating book from David aims to radically re-shape and sharpen debates in geography education by asking several key questions:
• What is the place of geography within the secondary school curriculum?
• To what extent does school geography reflect and engage with contemporary issues and theories from the wider subject?
• What are the issues, challenges and opportunities of a concept-led approach to teaching geography?
• What are the implications of ICT, media and technology for the future of geography teaching in schools?

These are questions that we in Australia developing the Australian Curriculum: Geography consistently ask. David has said to me that there are strong parallels between what they have been through with the National Curriculum for Geography in the UK and what we are presently immersed in with ACARA in Australia. His keynote I am sure will be a highlight at the conference and will further inform our approaches as we head towards the implementation stage in 2013.

I can’t resist putting this quote as a footnote to my comments on David.


"If we think education in its broadest sense is important, then geography is important too. Thinking geographically helps us understand ourselves in the world... or, as our manifesto says, helps us travel with a different view. If geography, as it is laid out in the manifesto, were not part of the curriculum then we'd risk turning out young people who were only partially educated." - July 2009


Professor Simon Catling

Simon is the Professor in Primary Education in the School of Education - Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Simon's academic and research interests are:
• Young children’s geographies and their relationship to geographical education.
• Younger children’s ideas about geography.
• Geographical education and curriculum development in the Foundations Stage and Primary School curriculum.
• The representation of geography in commercial books on geography published for younger children.
• Student teachers’ geographical knowledge, understanding, values and attitudes.
• The role and value of geography professional learning for primary teachers.
Simon has written much on the subject of geography and map learning for teachers and children.


Simon’s specialist interest is in children’s geographical learning , a unique endeavour in the geographical education world and one which deserves continued attention. Recognised as the world leader in this area we are certainly fortunate to have Simon as our keynote at AGTA 2013. I plan to write more in reference to Simon's work and primary school geography in coming months.