Making connections Clare Brooks GTE 2008

Summary My research findings Reflect on John Dewey Implications for ‘new’ National Curriculum

Background Researching “knowledge” is complex Teachers transform their subject knowledge Pedagogical Content Knowledge What we know about geography teachers … Eclectic and dynamic subject Jewitt - specialism affects how they teach Barrett-Hacking- specialism is suspended

My research … Focus on “expert” geography teachers how they understand geography how they teach geography Influences on their practice 5 “cultures of influence” Focus here is on use of SK in classroom practice

3 strategies observed Students Geography students’ experience prior geographical knowledge teacher’s experience (or story)

Synoptic Capacity “the ability to draw strands of a field together in a way that provides both coherence and meaning, to place what is known in context and opens the way for connections to be made between the knower and the known” (Rice, 1992, p 125)

John Dewey “psychologise” the subject Teachers have to create the right bridge “logical” organisation of experience & reflections of others - the “map” Child’s experience

“The unity of all the sciences is found in geography.”

Relevance today? Smith & Girod - teachers don’t psychologise the subject - but receive it

Challenges for ITE Then will be able to “psychologise” the subject Understanding subject as the “map” Getting to see students as unique Then will be able to “psychologise” the subject

A starting point … 3 strategies Through their experience Through their previous learning Through narrative But also has implications for thinking about how structure the whole curriculum Does it relate to students’ experience? Photo © Damien Everett / Flickr