Personal Geographies of pupils and trainee teachers Sue Bermingham Manchester Metropolitan University Sue Bermingham Manchester Metropolitan University

Original PhD focus Location of Placement - how to skill trainees in using the geographical lived experiences pupils bring to the classroom

Today sharing findings from my PhD research and inviting discussion on: What are personal geographies? How are personal geographies constructed? Are personal geographies a good thing? Should they be encouraged? Are there Permitted and Censored personal geographies? What factors affect the use of personal geographies in the classroom? What are personal geographies? How are personal geographies constructed? Are personal geographies a good thing? Should they be encouraged? Are there Permitted and Censored personal geographies? What factors affect the use of personal geographies in the classroom?

Methods used to date Interviews with pairs of trainees at start & end of PGCE year Questionnaire surveys of trainees during year of training Group interviews with pupils in partnership schools Life History drawings of trainees Personal items of trainees shared Assignments Interviews with pairs of trainees at start & end of PGCE year Questionnaire surveys of trainees during year of training Group interviews with pupils in partnership schools Life History drawings of trainees Personal items of trainees shared Assignments

What are personal geographies? Discussion

What are personal geographies? As Butt (2009) reminds us The term personal geography is one that is rather loosely defined within geography education. Although it is often used, even within official documentation, its meaning and implications for teaching and learning geography have largely been assumed.

What are personal geographies? Subject Mentor definitions - handout

What are personal geographies? Trainee teacher definitions - handout

How are personal geographies constructed? Discussion

How are personal geographies constructed? If the life history diagrams and the collection of 3 personal possessions throw light on, the trainee geography teachers personal geography at the start of the training year, does it matter if most of their geographical experiences are outside the formal UK education system that they are striving to enter as professionals? If most geography is learnt outside the formal education system how can we equip the novice geography teacher to build upon and extend the pupils personal geographies? Most worrying, how can we secure the future of geography in the curriculum if it appears mainly learnt in the world?

Are personal geographies a good thing? Should they be encouraged? Assumption at start of PhD that they are a good thing! Matrix handout Assumption at start of PhD that they are a good thing! Matrix handout

Are there Permitted and Censored personal geographies? Discussion

What factors affect the use of personal geographies in the classroom?

Trainees views after 5 weeks The group question, What strategies will you adopt on Block A in order to effectively use the personal geographies pupils bring to your classroom?, Handout

Where am I now April 2010? personal geography as a floating signifier Researching techniques for analysing discourse (I am resisting tendency to find patterns) personal geography as a floating signifier Researching techniques for analysing discourse (I am resisting tendency to find patterns)