Thursday 21 June 2012

iPad Apps for GCSE Geography

Many geography departments are experimenting with, or considering purchasing iPads.
(Other tablet devices are available...... they're just not as good....)

According to a statistic I saw it a while ago, around 70% of school ICT managers are apparently considering the implications of iPads for their school networks, or have already taken the plunge with them.
Here are the apps I have on my iPad - exported thanks to a tip from Kathy Schrock...
My iPad Apps 




What are your favourite Geography apps for GCSE Geography ?

(i)GCSE Grade Booster

Although the Badger Book is described as a GCSE Grade Booster, there could also be the addition of an 'i' to the front, as many of the ideas would be of equal use to colleagues teaching the iGCSE Geography Specifications which are around.

Matt Podbury has started a new NING for those who are teaching (or about to start teaching) the iGCSE Geography

It's particularly aimed at those doing the Cambridge Specification 0460.

I was heavily involved in writing a textbook and teacher guide for this specification.

If you're teaching this spec or thinking of doing it, come and join us.

Monday 18 June 2012

Using YouTube 2

Following the earlier post on the value of YouTube for revision, it's worth doing a quick search to see whether there is appropriate revision material available.
It's good to see that several teachers are creating and sharing this material.
Miss Room has a YouTube channel of videos that have had over 10 000 views in total (as of today) and cover a range of useful topics for GCSE Geography.

Why not set up your own YouTube channel ? It's easier than ever to record digital video these days - your phone probably allows you to take a video.

It's good to see a teacher who is sharing materials that are helpful not only to her own classes, but to anyone who finds them online. Also follow Miss Room on Twitter @GeographyCarrie


Are you aware ?

That it's Geography Awareness Week next week ?
Head over to the GA website to download your pack of materials.


Sunday 17 June 2012

Using YouTube

Remember that when you are on a page with a YouTube clip, you can set it to start at a certain time.
The information can then be shared in a URL or a hyperlink so that the video plays at a certain time. This can get over the problem of a long lead time, and also allows you to save the video to your favourites.
Once a video is saved in your favourites, as long as you are logged in, you can then use YouTube XL, which will remove the comments below a film, which can often be seen by students and are sometimes not particular suitable for viewing in a classroom...

Increasingly, schools are realising that there are benefits in removing the barriers to the use of this website.

If you are unable to view YouTube clips in your classroom, remember that you can always use


Do you have any favourite YouTube clips that you use for GCSE Geography Revision or teaching ?
Perhaps we could put together a Top Ten for this site...


Remember that ZAMZAR has now been prevented from converting YOUTUBE VIDEOS....

Ideas for using Google Earth

Many teachers make use of Google Earth when teaching GCSE Geography. The potential to create customised maps and other resources is what makes the site an invaluable tool for teachers. Revision materials can be created, with placemarks containing images and information.

I am just back from the Dublin Google GeoTeachers Institute.

The site for the two events is now up and running here.
Some interesting speakers and a busy schedule. I enjoyed sharing what I've done with Google Earth over the years.

I also presented about the Google World Wonders project, which I contributed some materials for.

Google Earth has great further potential for GCSE Geography. Future posts will explore this.

The final push...

Students around the country are preparing for the final days and weeks of the Summer 2012 exam season.
Make sure that you have prepared as carefully as possible.
The Badger book provides various strategies for revision.

Best of luck to everyone sitting exams this week.

Friday 8 June 2012

Final push for the exams...

Very best wishes to all those who are sitting their GCSE Geography exams next week, and the teachers who have been preparing them for those exams.
Remember that there are plenty of materials online from the NINGs, to the awarding body websites, to the SLN Geography Forum to check for what teachers are sharing...

At least the weather this week has been good for revising: wet and windy. There are few worse things as a teenager than trying to revise when the sky is blue with the promise of a wonderful day spent outside.
A reminder that when teaching mid-latitude depressions a wet and windy day might be good...

There are also some apps that have been produced to help students with revision.
There is one for AQA that can be seen here. I don't have the app, but several teachers I know say that it has proved useful.

The Badger book describes the value of apps, and also includes an activity where students create content for their own revision app.

World Oceans Day, and other days...

Today is World Oceans Day.


The Badger book contains a range of advice on the importance of timing. Many colleagues will be on half term this week and so miss out on teaching on the actual day itself, but with prior notice, a holiday task can be set if a day falls within one.

The GLOBAL DIMENSION Calendar is a useful resource in this regard. It is given out each year in the TES as a hardcopy. This year's was in a recent issue, so you may have missed getting your hand on a copy, but the web version is available all the time. For example, June the 12th is World Day against Child Labour, so that's an opportunity to explore the issues surrounding the production of products that young people may own.
As we move into July, we enter Oxfam World Water Week too, so that's one to plan ahead for....

Don't forget to check out the wonderful Frozen Oceans packs on the Digital Explorer Oceans website which I contributed to. Plenty of interest there to get you thinking about the value of the oceans, and the threat of ocean acidification on this World Oceans Day.


Also check out the #worldoceansday tweets...
Plenty of interesting people to follow...


Image: Alan Parkinson - fishing boat launching from Weybourne beach, Norfolk earlier this week...