1. Developing authentic
contexts for
topics
Alan Parkinson
Freelance Geographer
Education Director, Explorer HQ
http://livinggeography.blogspot.com
iGCSE

2. FRGS, CGeog
@GeoBlogs

3. Background
• Worked on textbook for Cambridge iGCSE for Collins
– wrote structure for book and worked on
content, and teacher support materials
• Also written substantial IB / iGCSE content for
Richard Allaway’s ‘Geography all the Way’ website
• Worked for GA for 3 years, then 2 years freelancing
for numerous companies and organisations creating
teaching materials and working with teachers across
the UK & EU, including courses at Salzburg University
• September 2013: Returning to the classroom at
King’s Ely (plus GA CPD/ writing / Mission:Exploring)

4. Background
• Worked on textbook for Cambridge iGCSE for Collins
– wrote structure for book and worked on content,
and teacher support materials
• Also written substantial IB / iGCSE content for
Richard Allaway’s ‘Geography all the Way’ website
• Worked for GA for 3 years, then 2 years freelancing
for numerous companies and organisations creating
teaching materials and working with teachers across
the UK & EU, including courses at Salzburg University
• September 2013: Returning to the classroom at
King’s Ely (plus GA CPD/ writing / Mission:Exploring)

6. iGCSE involves case studies and place
studies… & skills development

7. While
working for
the GA…

8. What could the ‘i’ stand for ?
iGCSE

10. Which is obviously important….
Global connections
Interdependence
Inequality
Food security
Geopolitics
Resource issues
Climate Change

11. But it
could also
stand for
other
things….

13. Individual
Ash
collected
on a visit
to
Iceland

14. Image:TomMorganJones/MissionExplore

15. Enquiry approach…
Margaret Roberts

16. Apps make
new things
possible
Networks
Globalisation

17. Airports
http://planefinder.net/route/

19. Lived here, here and
here....

20. http://worldnames.publicprofiler.org/
PARKINSON

21. a different view

22. “maps, like notebooks, are the raw
materials of my work, constant
companions.”
Michael Palin, April 2013

23. “Childhood is a branch of
cartography”
Michael Chabon

24. Mission:Explore

25. Magic Postcodes
S66 1AG
HD4 6QQ
HU5 3ER
PE30 2QB
PE31 7QJ
PE32 2NX

26. 7 point classification of vandalism (Wilson and Healey, 1987)
Acquisitive
To acquire money or property, for example, breaking open telephone boxes
Tactical
The damage is a conscious tactic, a means to achieve some other end, such as breaking a
window to be arrested and get a bed in prison
Ideological
Similar to tactical vandalism, but carried out to further an explicit ideological cause or to
deliver a message, for example, chalking slogans on walls
Vindictive
Damage in order to obtain revenge, for example, breaking school windows to settle a grudge
against the head teacher
Play
Damage in the context of a game; for example who can break the most windows of a house
Malicious
An expression of rage or frustration which is often directed at symbolic middle class property.
It is this type that has the vicious and apparently senseless facade which people find so
difficult to understand
Innocuous
Damage done to property defined by youth as unimportant or of no value

29. Author…

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33. Facebook pages
for National
Parks
for Rivers
for Aid workers
for ….

34. SAMR
Ruben Puentedura

36. Lives on the Line
http://life.mappinglondon.co.uk/

38. Personal experiences & passions

39. Curriculum / specification as music

40. ‘Streaming’ geography
Geography in the cloud
@GeoBlogs

41. Garageband
Spotify

42. Playlists

45. iGCSE involves case studies and place
studies…

46. What do I mean by ‘authentic’ ?
au·then·tic
/ôˈTHentik/
Adjective
Of undisputed origin; genuine:
"authentic 14th-century furniture".
Made or done in the traditional or
original way: "authentic Italian meals".
Synonyms
genuine - true - real - veritable - original

47. What do I mean by ‘authentic’ ?
Another definition
au·then·tic
/ôˈTHentik/
Adjective
Of undisputed origin; genuine:
"authentic 14th-century furniture".
Made or done in the traditional or
original way: "authentic Italian meals".
Synonyms
genuine - true - real - veritable - original

48. “authentic learning”
• ‘real world relevance’
• ill-defined problems – no ‘easy answer’
(Mysteries ??)
• sustained investigation – not double page
spreads…
• multiple perspectives e.g. migration…
• collaboration
• reflection
• assessment integrated into task

49. “authentic learning”
• ‘real world relevance’
• ill-defined problems – no ‘easy answer’
(Mysteries ??)
• sustained investigation – not double page
spreads…
• multiple perspectives e.g. migration…
• collaboration
• reflection
• assessment integrated into task

50. “authentic learning”
• ‘real world relevance’
• ill-defined problems – no ‘easy answer’
(Mysteries ??)
• sustained investigation – not double page
spreads…
• multiple perspectives e.g. migration…
• collaboration
• reflection
• assessment integrated into task

52. Authentic narratives
Some examples I’ll be using

53. New York
Times
June 2013
China’s
plans for
250
million
people…

54. Radio 4

55. Tue 11th June
Link with GA resource
Clive Myrie speaks to Mike Nowak, a Pole who lived for many years in Britain, but
who has now returned home to Warsaw.
Mike came to England long before the 2004 enlargement of the European Union, so
witnessed the increase in Polish immigration for himself. Suddenly he was able to
speak in his mother-tongue all day, every day, and witnessed Polish shops and
businesses starting up around him.
Recently he made the decision to return to Warsaw. Clive asks what changes Mike
has seen back in Poland since he first left, and finds out where Polish opinion stands
on further EU immigration.

56. US Migration

58. http://migrationsmap.net/#/USA/arrivals

59. http://www.humaneborders.info/

60. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/01/map-us-mexico-migrant-deaths-border

61. Local inspiration

62. @SaveHoptonBeach

63. “They’re called
floodplains because
they flood”

64. Ben Hennig Cartograms

66. Tasks that students are set relate to
the real world
Could be done by those working in
jobs in these areas…
Could even be set by real people – in
person or via Skype / video message –
challenges to be completed and fed
back…

67. Parental audit…
• Parents with particular skills who may be
prepared to lend their expertise..
• Surveys at parents evenings and other events
where parents are around
• Work Experience links – reporting on the
geographical skills that were used in the
workplace

68. Geography in Careers
Careers in Geography
http://geography.org.uk/resources/careers/getstarted

69. Some examples..
• GA website: ‘Geography through Careers’

70. Academic Geographies
Ollie O’ Brien – This Place
http://casa.oobrien.com/thisplace/

71. 71
Mapcrunch.com
http://www.mapcrunch.com/
GeoGuessr / GeoSettr / LocatePlace
71

72. T-shirt design on a
theme….
Overpopulation

74. Risk

75. Gapminder Population
http://www.gapminder.org/popreg
New area of the website
Focus on EDUCATION

79. 79
@GeoBlogs
@pensionerfrank

80. Google Forms – collect real data and visualise it
Collaborate on presentations, documents and
graphics

81. 81
Out now - iBooks
102

82. Image by Jack Davison
Where to go for
more ?

83. References & reading
• Lombardi (2007) – Authentic Learning
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/eli3009.pdf
• Rawding, C (2013) – Effective innovation in the
secondary geography curriculum (Routledge)
• Roberts, M (2003) – Learning through Enquiry – new
edition due out Summer 2013
• Widdowson, J and Parkinson, A: Fieldwork through
Enquiry – due out in Summer 2013

84. For more of my ‘stuff’…
• http://www.slideshare.net/geoblogs - 250+
presentations and resources
• http://livinggeography.blogspot.com - over
4500 posts
• Twitter: @GeoBlogs
• Back to the classroom:
http://geographyteacher2point0.blogspot.co.uk/