Changes to GCSE Qualifications (including Geography)

I have spent about 10 hours today so far assembling various sections that I have been working on for the last few months into coherent pages with associated documents / images / downloads etc.
Am pleased with the progress I've made and with the way that the book is looking...

Earlier today, Kate Russell over on SLN drew my attention to the results of an OFQUAL investigation into GCSEs including Geography, partly prompted by the Daily Telegraph investigation into the sessions being offered by some Chief Examiners.

Taken from Ofqual website ...

Awarding organisations are currently revising GCSE qualifications ready for the introduction of linear assessment and, in the cases of English literature, history, geography and religious studies, the separate assessment of spelling, punctuation and grammar. The revised specifications will be submitted to the regulators for accreditation soon. 

Given the suggestion that some GCSE qualifications may permit narrowing of the expected course of study, Ofqual, working with CCEA and DfES, are taking the opportunity to look closely at these revised specifications, to make sure that the standards set and the study requirements are what we expect.

The regulators will:

• review all GCSE geography specifications and assessment materials. Awarding organisations must make sure that their specifications meet all of the regulatory requirements, make clear the full course of study required of candidates and that the assessment arrangements support this. Awarding organisations will be informed of accreditation decisions by Friday, April 20, at the latest.
  
  review the current specifications for GCSE English literature, history and religious studies. Awarding organisations will be told by mid-February if there is any further action required to those qualifications before they can be accredited. We will provide a further update on this issue in mid-February.

Centres should be aware of the following:

• For those candidates already embarked on a course of study for GCSEs in English literature, geography, history and religious studies and certificating in 2013 the only changes to specifications will relate to the separate assessment of spelling, punctuation and the accurate use of grammar in the examination papers. Awarding organisations will make revised specimen assessment materials available for the current qualifications to illustrate how the requirement for the separate assessment of spelling, punctuation and the accurate use of grammar will be addressed.
  
  For courses beginning in September 2012 and candidates certificating in summer 2014, in addition to the introduction of linear assessment and the separate assessment of spelling, punctuation and grammar there may be revised specifications in GCSE geography together with changes to or fully revised specifications in GCSE English literature, history and religious studies.

12.51 22.02.11

One of the strategies included in the book is the idea of mystery.
There is also a focus on the use of Geographical Enquiry, which begins with a hook, or a 'need to know'. This might take the form of an image, video, artefact, piece of music, item of clothing, bag of objects, poem etc.

For example, I have spent a good deal of today writing materials for the Badger GCSE book and accompanying CD, around a particular context.
Can you identify the subject that these resources are related to from the cryptic title of this blog post ?

Thanks to Louise Jones

One of the features of the book will be its use of SOCIAL MEDIA to support learners, and to create some interesting and challenging lesson activities. There is a thread of this running through the book, as I feel that a 'sprinkling of technology' can help things move smoothly...

The use of Social Media has to be done with care, but fortunately there is plenty of guidance on the best way to get the maximum benefit with the minimum risk.

I am grateful to Louise Jones for both writing, and giving permission for the use of the guidance on the use of social media which is included on the CD that comes with the book.

Thinking Tools & Google Docs

I'm working today on some pages for the Badger GCSE book which focus on some Thinking Tools.

These are small strategies for putting together some ideas and making sense of them. There are lots of strategies that have been featured in other books, so my challenge is to provide a geographical twist on some of these, and to try to identify the ones which I think will work best to support GCSE Geographers.
The nature of geography means that there are certain of these graphic organisers which perhaps will work better in the classroom, or for recapping outside the classroom.

I've also been working on some pages on the use of Google Forms (one of the Google Docs)
These are now getting increasingly useful.
If you, or your students are over the age of 13, you should really have a Google Account so that you can have access to these tools, even if you don't use the other elements of a GMail etc.

Many schools, my wife's school included, have switched to GMail for their main staff accounts.

Google Forms allow for many uses - a collaborative document started by Tom Barrett provides a great deal of inspiration for possible uses, some of which are developed further in the book...

I've got it covered...

Today, I was shown some possible designs to potentially use for the front cover of the book, and asked which one I preferred. The book is going to look great.
I've been writing some sections related to the assessment of the exam: looking at tips for Controlled Assessment, and also the value of reading the Examiner's reports each year to get tips on how exams are marked.
I also have some thoughts on fieldwork and its use to reinforce learning.
More details on the book shortly, once the marketing material is finished and distributed.