Newly appointed CGeogs :)
Thursday, 5 May 2011
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
Worcester Flooding 2
In preparation for a lecture at the GA Worcester branch tomorrow (see earlier post for details) I have been doing some light 'research' on the impacts and management in Worcester to add some local detail to my "High and Dry" presentation...
First stop was a search of Flickr for CC licensed images of flooding in Worcester, particularly in those areas close to the River Severn.
Important that students attribute the images that they are using for projects, and that teachers model this good practice too - it's also a way to find the most compelling images as they are taken by the people affected by flooding in many cases, and there are additional levels of information in the labels and other details added to the photo. You can use COMPFIGHT to find CC licensed images on Flickr.
This brought up plenty of images of flooding along the River Severn itself, where there are some regular victims such as the Racecourse and the Cricket Ground.
One road which has been hit several times is Hylton Road.
This can be viewed on Google Street View.
If you go to this location, for example you can see a structure that is part of flood defences which were added after 2008 floods. These were a response to criticism related to the erection of temporary flood barriers
View Larger Map
One other thing that appears in many photographs is the arched bridge over the River Severn which is a bit of a 'bottleneck' for visitors, but would also be very easily blocked by debris dams, and the pillars for the arches restrict flow.
I also mention the Flood Alert iPhone app produced by the Environment Agency and Halcrow.
First stop was a search of Flickr for CC licensed images of flooding in Worcester, particularly in those areas close to the River Severn.
Important that students attribute the images that they are using for projects, and that teachers model this good practice too - it's also a way to find the most compelling images as they are taken by the people affected by flooding in many cases, and there are additional levels of information in the labels and other details added to the photo. You can use COMPFIGHT to find CC licensed images on Flickr.
This brought up plenty of images of flooding along the River Severn itself, where there are some regular victims such as the Racecourse and the Cricket Ground.
One road which has been hit several times is Hylton Road.
This can be viewed on Google Street View.
If you go to this location, for example you can see a structure that is part of flood defences which were added after 2008 floods. These were a response to criticism related to the erection of temporary flood barriers
View Larger Map
One other thing that appears in many photographs is the arched bridge over the River Severn which is a bit of a 'bottleneck' for visitors, but would also be very easily blocked by debris dams, and the pillars for the arches restrict flow.
I also mention the Flood Alert iPhone app produced by the Environment Agency and Halcrow.
Presentation is here
Panorama...
Via Keir Clarke (from whom there are quite a few contributions on the blog)
This is a cool tool which would be useful for those exploring mountain landscapes...
An interactive PANORAMA creator...
In January, I was fortunate enough to travel to Salzburg.
When taking off for the airport for the homeward journey after a wonderful 3 day visit for the digitalearth project, I had this incredible view across the Alps, south from Salzburg...
I could identify the features that I was looking at thanks to my iPhone app which did that for me (and was also made in Salzburg) but didn't have my phone switched on of course as I was on the plane...
The panorama maker provides a different version. You can set the starting point, the direction that the 'camera' is facing and the height of the 'camera'...
Here's what I produced in less than a minute... could have been a bit more accurate given more time...
This is a cool tool which would be useful for those exploring mountain landscapes...
An interactive PANORAMA creator...
In January, I was fortunate enough to travel to Salzburg.
When taking off for the airport for the homeward journey after a wonderful 3 day visit for the digitalearth project, I had this incredible view across the Alps, south from Salzburg...
I could identify the features that I was looking at thanks to my iPhone app which did that for me (and was also made in Salzburg) but didn't have my phone switched on of course as I was on the plane...
The panorama maker provides a different version. You can set the starting point, the direction that the 'camera' is facing and the height of the 'camera'...
Here's what I produced in less than a minute... could have been a bit more accurate given more time...
Favourite places...
One of the uses that I make of my Tesco Clubcard points is to get a subscription to 'Countryfile' magazine.It's a bit middle-aged of me, but there are some useful articles and other features in most issues, and some geographical relevance.
This month's issue made a request of the readers which would be of interest here I think, and to be adapted for use with a group or to ask your colleagues on the staff.
For the 50th issue of the magazine, they want to feature 50 rural treasures of the UK.
This could be a day trip, a market town, a mountain range, a heritage site, a walk or simply an idyllic and relaxing area of the countryside.
You can also nominate via the website.
Why not get 50 together, and students research and see which they would choose from the longlist to make a short list then put the vote to parents ?
Manchester 2012 will be different...
Details of next year's GA Conference are now up on the GA website
The conference takes place at the University of Manchester between the 12th and 14th of April.
The conference takes place at the University of Manchester between the 12th and 14th of April.
Chosen by the 2011-12 GA President, Fran Martin, this year's theme will provide the space to explore the geographies of difference in three key ways:
- By providing a range of examples of how geography education can develop more positive attitudes towards difference in our young people
- By reflecting on the extent to which geography as a discipline, or community of practice, reflects the diversity of the UK
- By providing some concrete, positive and inspiring ideas that can be taken back to our places of work and put into practice
If you'd like to be involved, you need to contact Lucy Oxley, who will send a proposal form for a session...
Worcester Flooding
If you are in the Worcester area tomorrow evening, why not come to the St. John's campus of the University of Worcester to the GA Branch meeting.The guest speaker is.... me !
You will have a chance to see my presentation on flood management suitable for GCSE and 'A' level students, and interested other folks...
Room: EEG162
Start: 6pm
Poster made with the Keep-calm-o-matic website
One for unit on Employment...
Primary, Secondary or Tertiary ?
A remarkable short film on the Hunan province of China, where some people have quite an interesting job...
A remarkable short film on the Hunan province of China, where some people have quite an interesting job...
Teaching Geography Summer 2011
Summer 2011 issue of Teaching Geography now available to download from GA website by subscribers....
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Keep Calm-o-matic
Thanks to Noel Jenkins for the tip-off to a cool tool for school...You know those KEEP CALM and CARRY ON things that are everywhere ?
Well now you can create your own versions with the KEEP CALM O MATIC
And thanks to a link with Zazzle you can then get your creation made into a t-shirt, mug, tie etc...
You don't have to be calm of course, as Tony Cassidy has just reminded me....
How about:
The thoughts of geographical features
Revision hints etc.
Any other ideas for its use in the classroom ??
GeoCurrents
GeoCurrents is a newish blog (to me at least) which is run by Stanford University Senior Lecturer Martin W. Lewis. It's updated very frequently with new articles, and is starting to get some discussion going among its visitors. Professor. Lewis is also co-author of two of the leading geography textbooks used in the USA, and GeoCurrents is where he spends his writing time in between textbook revisions.
Worth a look..
BBC Coast - low prices on Amazon at the moment...
Amazon now has most series available at just over a fiver per series on DVD...
Living below the line... could you ?
I posted about Living below the Line before - could you live for 5 days on just £5 worth of food ?
The Global Dimension team are trying to do that this week, and are blogging their progress,
They are already encountering some of the side issues involved. For example, what are the ethics of selling 500g of pasta for 9p when wheat prices are rising ?
Best of luck to all those people taking part...
If you want to find out how lots of other people are faring, you can also (or course) do a quick Twitter search. This brings up a whole host of tweets which includes:
- details of people who are taking part and what they are eating
- ideas for how to manage the budget
- details of charities that are being supported or are involved in this area
A whole community of people sharing their experience of, for a few days, getting closer to the everyday reality facing millions of people every day of their lives...
The Global Dimension team are trying to do that this week, and are blogging their progress,
They are already encountering some of the side issues involved. For example, what are the ethics of selling 500g of pasta for 9p when wheat prices are rising ?
Best of luck to all those people taking part...
If you want to find out how lots of other people are faring, you can also (or course) do a quick Twitter search. This brings up a whole host of tweets which includes:
- details of people who are taking part and what they are eating
- ideas for how to manage the budget
- details of charities that are being supported or are involved in this area
A whole community of people sharing their experience of, for a few days, getting closer to the everyday reality facing millions of people every day of their lives...
Monday, 2 May 2011
Eco-Fish Game
Via Twitter and a follow...
An interesting looking option for exploring ideas of sustainability is the ECO FISH game.
It looks like an interesting resource / activity, although the price tag is a bit high.
I'd like to give it a trial with a group of students to see how it worked.. Has anyone had a go at the game ?
There are some images and video on the website. Here's a description of the game from the website....
An interesting looking option for exploring ideas of sustainability is the ECO FISH game.
It looks like an interesting resource / activity, although the price tag is a bit high.
I'd like to give it a trial with a group of students to see how it worked.. Has anyone had a go at the game ?
There are some images and video on the website. Here's a description of the game from the website....
The group of students are divided into at least five countries (name them after real countries or let the teams decide if they want to be the Democratic Republic of Denim or the Isle of Muppets!
Once this is done, each country of pupils must vote for a leader, a speaker and a fisher, these roles can be swapped as the game progresses. They are given their tools and equipment to make a boat.
Then 30 blue and 30 yellow fish along with all 15 ‘illegal' creatures are placed in the ocean (on the game board)...then they go fishing!.
For the first round fish are an ‘open access' resource. Countries can fish as long and as hard as they like however they may ONLY catch as many fish as will fit in their ‘boat'. When all fishermen return to their tables the round is over.
And then...scores are added up, the second round starts....but hang on, where have all the fish gone?
It's now time to negotiate some rules of the seas and start to fish again...And then the fun starts..!
There are 5 ways to play the game...
1. Eco-Fish - the basic game
2. Eco-Fish with chance cards
3. Eco-Fish with added technology
4. Skills based Eco-Fish
5. Political and Economic Eco-Fish
The game can be played over and over again with the robust pieces. There are so many learning outcomes from the game that can be adapted as you go along.
Case studies help to bring the learning to life and allows the students to reflect the game back onto the real issues of sustainability across the world.
'Plate tectonics'...
Nice revision video from Paul Hunt at Appleton School
Good use of a paper plate
Good use of a paper plate
Sunday, 1 May 2011
Tourism: Honeymoons..
The Royal couple are delaying their honeymoon...
They have asked for privacy...
Where will they go for their honeymoon ? Here are one bookmaker's odds:
Honeymoon destination odds
3/1 Kenya
3/1 Scotland
3/1 Scotland
7/2 Jordan
11/2 Cornwall
6/1 South Africa
7/1 Caribbean
10/1 Mustique
10/1 Tanzania
20/1 Seychelles
20/1 Saint Tropez
25/1 Australia
25/1 Monaco
25/1 Maldives
33/1 Wales
(all odds from William Hill)
Split the team into groups and make up a 4 day itinerary for the couple, which has a number of factors that need to be taken into account (feel free to add your own...)
- Luxury accommodation
- Privacy - exclusive resorts / private beaches
- Some romantic destinations to visit
- Sampling the local food and wine....
- Helipad / local airport for easy access
- Suggestions for souvenirs to take back for the extended family...
- Using Photo-shop or some such, you could even mock up a holiday photo :)
(all odds from William Hill)
Split the team into groups and make up a 4 day itinerary for the couple, which has a number of factors that need to be taken into account (feel free to add your own...)
- Luxury accommodation
- Privacy - exclusive resorts / private beaches
- Some romantic destinations to visit
- Sampling the local food and wine....
- Helipad / local airport for easy access
- Suggestions for souvenirs to take back for the extended family...
- Using Photo-shop or some such, you could even mock up a holiday photo :)
A global event ?
Some interesting statistics being mentioned in relation to the global nature of Friday's Royal wedding...
A useful context for GLOBALISATION
There was a lot made of the support for British designers for example... with the dress / cake / music / Welsh gold for the ring etc.
One figure that was mentioned was that there was a global TV audience of 2 billion for the event.
Thanks to my Twitter network for bringing this article to my attention, which questions the figures that were quoted.
Might be an interesting homework to source an image from the celebrations taking place in as many countries as possible. How about the guests in the abbey - who travelled the furthest ?
How about the sourcing of ingredients for the food served at the wedding reception ?
One record that the wedding did help break: I've never seen so many people in my village shop as when I went for the Sunday papers this morning....
Our Choice
I installed this to take a good look, and there is an impressive range of media: images, audio, video, infographics etc., all introduced by Al himself...
Watch the trailer to find out more...
Will write a fuller review once I've had a chance to read through the whole thing...
AEGIS: An Educational Geographic Information System
AEGIS 3 is An Educational GIS, (hence the name) which will be familiar to many readers of this blog. I purchased it for use in my school, although it was 'aegis' before I got round to using it...
It has been developed by the Advisory Unit, specifically for use in schools, and has the advantage of being used in lots of schools, where teachers have been developing resources for use with the package, so there are plenty of materials available online, which have been shared by users.
What makes it easy to use is the recognisable screen 'format', which is a word document / A4 worksheet which helps to create distinctive activities which can be completed by students, or developed as appropriate.
Students can work with the sheets easily, to develop their GIS skills in a progression. The software is sent on a disc with license documents, and there are also modules for bringing in OS Mastermap data and also GOAD plans...
In the last few years, there has been a lot of activity from the Advisory Unit who has worked in association with Helen Young (creator of the GeographyGeek website)
They have produced two particularly useful resources for teachers who are new to the software, and want support introducing it for use with pupils.
I shall introduce and talk about those in another blog post as I shall be blogging regularly about AEGIS and its use in the classroom.
I am grateful to Diana Freeman from the Advisory Unit for her previous support in various ways. She very kindly provided software and support (along with Helen Young, Paula Cooper and Tom Bramald from Geomatics) for a double workshop that I led at the GA Conference in 2007 (before I joined the GA staff....)
Materials from this can still be downloaded from the GA website:
(details but not hyperlinks below...)
Download: Introductory PowerPoint Presentation (838k)
Download: Derby Map (JPEG, 100k)
Download: Recording Sheet (Word, 170k)
Download: Using Aegis3 for Fieldwork (Word, 48k)
Download: Using GIS for Fieldwork (Word, 273k)
Download: GA Mag GIS Supplement Taster (PDF, 58k)
Download: GIS: One Small Step (Word, 33k)
Download: 'Talk the talk: Mapping mobile phone masts with GIS' Teaching Geographysubscribers only
The presentation I used on that day is available below - still of some use after all those years - whatever happened to all those SPC colleagues :)
I am now grateful for Diana Freeman once again, as she is one of the strands that I blogged about a few days ago with regards to my current plans from September.
From September 2011, or earlier if required, I will be available to offer training on GIS with AEGIS with you and your colleagues. If you have purchased AEGIS and you'd like to have a day or half-day training, we can organise that for you if you contact the Advisory Unit.
I hope to see some of you in 2011-12...
That is not the only GIS training that I will be doing next year, and information on where and when I shall be working will appear in the right hand column of this blog in the section "Where will Mister P be..." - more on the ESRI / GA courses for next year to appear as plans develop...
It has been developed by the Advisory Unit, specifically for use in schools, and has the advantage of being used in lots of schools, where teachers have been developing resources for use with the package, so there are plenty of materials available online, which have been shared by users.
What makes it easy to use is the recognisable screen 'format', which is a word document / A4 worksheet which helps to create distinctive activities which can be completed by students, or developed as appropriate.
Students can work with the sheets easily, to develop their GIS skills in a progression. The software is sent on a disc with license documents, and there are also modules for bringing in OS Mastermap data and also GOAD plans...
In the last few years, there has been a lot of activity from the Advisory Unit who has worked in association with Helen Young (creator of the GeographyGeek website)
They have produced two particularly useful resources for teachers who are new to the software, and want support introducing it for use with pupils.
I shall introduce and talk about those in another blog post as I shall be blogging regularly about AEGIS and its use in the classroom.
I am grateful to Diana Freeman from the Advisory Unit for her previous support in various ways. She very kindly provided software and support (along with Helen Young, Paula Cooper and Tom Bramald from Geomatics) for a double workshop that I led at the GA Conference in 2007 (before I joined the GA staff....)
Materials from this can still be downloaded from the GA website:
(details but not hyperlinks below...)
Download: Introductory PowerPoint Presentation (838k)
Download: Derby Map (JPEG, 100k)
Download: Recording Sheet (Word, 170k)
Download: Using Aegis3 for Fieldwork (Word, 48k)
Download: Using GIS for Fieldwork (Word, 273k)
Download: GA Mag GIS Supplement Taster (PDF, 58k)
Download: GIS: One Small Step (Word, 33k)
Download: 'Talk the talk: Mapping mobile phone masts with GIS' Teaching Geographysubscribers only
The presentation I used on that day is available below - still of some use after all those years - whatever happened to all those SPC colleagues :)
I am now grateful for Diana Freeman once again, as she is one of the strands that I blogged about a few days ago with regards to my current plans from September.
From September 2011, or earlier if required, I will be available to offer training on GIS with AEGIS with you and your colleagues. If you have purchased AEGIS and you'd like to have a day or half-day training, we can organise that for you if you contact the Advisory Unit.
I hope to see some of you in 2011-12...
That is not the only GIS training that I will be doing next year, and information on where and when I shall be working will appear in the right hand column of this blog in the section "Where will Mister P be..." - more on the ESRI / GA courses for next year to appear as plans develop...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)