Geography teachers as Strategic decision makers: Clare Brooks Institute of Education, University of London

Some issues …  “Stories” told through narratives  Vocabulary to discuss geography  Macro v Micro

Macrosystem Culture in its broadest sense Mesosystem School Culture Including: ethos, community, policies, challenges, responses Personal Culture Including: family, beliefs, class, gender, race, school experience, community, home environment Geography Education Culture Including: interpretation of how geography and education are combined, own experience, department ethos, research, funding Education Culture Including: paradigms, preferred approach, motivation, experience, practice, research, funding Geography Culture Including: paradigms, degree experience, areas of interest, research, external agendas, research, funding Teaching Practice Microsetting

Cultural maps … School Personal Education Geography Education Geography Teaching Practice

Themes to emerge … Being “good” at geography at school. People -  Family  Gurus  Students Travel Geographical Perspective Context

But each teacher is unique …  Decision making influenced by their values  Teachers act strategically  Teachers use their geographical knowledge strategically and selectively  Making links with other geographical knowledge  Appeal to students’ personal geographies  Reflecting upon teachers’ own experience

So, how do teachers use their subject knowledge?  Strategically  In line with their values  (about teaching  and about geography)  SYNOPTIC CAPACITY