Place Standard Tool

The Place Standard is a way of assessing places. 
A Scottish tool, but one I've checked out and can be used here in England too...

Whether the place is well-established, undergoing change, or is still being planned, the tool can help you. The Place Standard tool provides a simple framework to structure conversations about place. It allows you to think about the physical elements of a place (for example its open spaces and transport links) as well as the social aspects (for example whether people feel they have a say in decision making). Research shows that the way places function, look and feel can influence our health and wellbeing. The tool provides prompts for discussions, allowing you to consider all the elements of a place in a methodical way.

The tool pinpoints the assets of a place, as well as areas where a place could improve.

Billboards - "placemaking" and demographic profiling

A fascinating article in 'The Guardian' on the images that are used by companies building or regenerating areas of cities on their billboards, which are displayed on hoardings around the development site. It describes the people that are featured on these billboards, and the messages that might be given out by them.
The term "place making" is used, and this connects with the ideas of Changing Places which are in the new 'A' level specifications.
One possible element of urban fieldwork in this area could be for students to look out for these images and consider the demographic and ethnic mix of the portrayed 'residents' of the new areas that are being created.

Image of Ipswich docks redevelopment: Alan Parkinson

Tourism Slogans from around the world

The website FamilyBreaksFinder has produced an interesting map and associated word cloud which collates the tourist slogans from countries around the world, and explores what words and messages are used to put across the main essence of a country to potential visitors.
The choice of words is interesting. A range of images are also associated with the words of course when ads are produced.

The UK's slogan has changed a few times, and there are also separate slogans for Scotland, Wales etc. used from time to time. The #OMGB site doesn't seem to think there's much of interest in the East of England sadly...
There is a source list of the slogans and websites HERE which would perhaps be of use to those teaching Travel and Tourism related courses.

Image: Copyright FamilyBreaksFinder website

American Pickers and place-making...

I've blogged before about American Pickers, a show on Dave that is one of my guilty pleasures. The show's main character, Mike Wolfe is concerned about the history of places, and often donates finds to local museums to return them to the place where they originated.

Mike Wolfe has now added his name to a campaign to rediscover PLACES.

There is a range of resources available for the project, some of which would be really good in the classroom. The project is called THIS PLACE MATTERS, and you can download a range of logos and other things related to rediscovering place. I like the idea of having a picture of yourself at a place that matters to you. I will be doing this in a number of locations to get ready for disseminating the idea.

Everyone has places that are important to them. Places they care about. Places that matter. This Place Matters is a national campaign that encourages people to celebrate the places that are meaningful to them and to their communities.

This campaign isn’t just about photography. It’s about telling the stories of the places we can’t live without. Through This Place Matters, we hope to encourage and inspire an ongoing dialogue about the importance of place and preservation in all of our lives.

We are certainly going to be making use of these pins around the school, and for a range of projects…. I can't wait to get some of these laminated, and handed out to students for their use….