Latest news
The population debate
A special issue of Geographical Research looks at the population debate in Australia, a debate mirrored in many other nations around the globe. The special issue has a strong policy focus, and demonstrates how political argument can be interwoven with academic analysis to produce not just an idea for action but an accompanying motivation for aggressive implementation. View presentations made during a panel discussion at the IAG 2011 Conference.
GTAV Education Officer farewelled
Terry McMeekin GTAV's Education Officer was given a rousing farewell by committee members and staff at their Christmas function on Monday 12 December. Terry was thanked by GTAV President Trish Douglas for her good humour, dedicated service and contribution to the association. All members wish Terry a happy retirement.
GTAV's new Education Officer in 2012 will be Steve Latham.
Pat Beeson recognised for her outstanding contributionThe GTAV is thrilled to announce that Pat Beeson has received an award from the Council of the Professional Teachers’ Association of Victoria (CPTAV) for her 'Outstanding Contribution to a Subject Association'. Pat is an esteemed Geography teacher whose teaching in fieldwork and spatial technology is exemplary. In 2011, on behalf of the GTAV, Pat undertook the mammoth task of coordinating “Geography's Big Week Out” — a week long experience and assessment of the best Geography students from across Australia — four of whom would ultimately be chosen to represent Australia at an international competition in Germany in 2012. Hundreds of hours of work was involved to create a fantastic program which will also provide the GTAV with a multitude of fieldwork activities for the future. The GTAV joins with the CPTAV in applauding the outstanding work of Pat Beeson. |
Pat Beeson (right) and GTAV President Trish Douglas at the award ceremony |
Australian Curriculum: Geography
The draft geography F-12 Australian Curriculum: Geography went live on-line for consultation in October 2011 and is available for feedback until 28 February 2012. If you want to have a look at the draft scope and sequence for geography just go to http://consultation.australiancurriculum.edu.au/ and log-in.
GTAV/VCAA consultation sessions
The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) and the Geography Teachers Association of Victoria (GTAV) invite teachers of Geography in primary and secondary schools to attend a consultation session to provide feedback on the draft national Geography curriculum. The feedback from these consultations will contribute to the Victorian response to the draft curriculum.
Tuesday 16 February 2012 | Ballarat | Ballarat Grammar |
Tuesday 21 February 2012 | Drouin | Chairo Christian School |
Thursday 23 February 2012 | Templestowe | Serpell Primary School |
Tuesday 28 February 2012 | Tarneit | Thomas Carr College |
To register for any of these sessions, please visit:
http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/foundation10/curriculum/registration/geography.html
GTAV surveys
Please take some time to complete the survey and have your say about this curriculum. The responses will be a guide to the GTAV in preparing a response to ACARA. A senior curriculum survey is also being developed.
>> Foundation to Year 6 Survey
>> Years 7-10 Survey
Geography apps
The GTAV would like to know about the apps you and your students are using in your geography classes. We would like you to identify the apps that are most relevant to, and enhance, geography learning and outcomes. Are the apps used for particular geographic topics or general use? We would be grateful if you could provide us with a list of app names and also tell us the topic you use the app to teach and the year level you think it is most relevant to be used. Send your response to Judy Mraz at dp@gtav.asn.au or complete as an electronic survey.
National Close the Gap Day, March 22nd 2012
Join with schools and the broader community around Australia in showing your support to Close the Gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Once registered, you will receive the learning resources and materials you need to run a successful event in your school including:
- a Schools Action Kit packed with ideas, activities, a step-by-step event guide and tools for students to take the lead and run the activities;
- classroom and assembly resources including video stories, photos, factsheets and a copy of the National Close the Gap Day DVD.
Melbourne Cup Resources for schools
The Melbourne Cup education website provides information and activities for teachers and students to investigate the Melbourne Cup and its significance to Australian life, culture, history and heritage.
VALE: Basil Johnson
It is with much sadness that the GTAV records the death of Basil Johnson, one of the early members of the Association. Basil Johnson held the position of Vice President of the Association for nine years, from 1963-1971. Basil Johnson, with his wife and family arrived in Melbourne in early 1963 to take up a position in the Geography department at the newly established Monash University. A senior lecturer in Geography at Birmingham, Basil was also well acquainted with school Geography in the United Kingdom. He brought this interest with him when he came to Australia.
For most newly appointed professors, the work involved with staffing and programming a brand new department would have been ample, but Basil Johnson from the outset let it be known that he was a friend to teachers. He gave an enormous amount of time not just as GTAV Vice President, but as a speaker, writer, lecturer and examiner. He was instrumental in the development of Geography curriculum in his capacity as a senior member of the Geography Standing Committee of the Victoria Universities and Schools Examinations Board (VUSEB).
His contribution to the subject and its teaching at both secondary and tertiary levels was extraordinary — his hands-on approach enabled often enthusiastic, but poorly trained teachers to feel that they could not only cope, but enjoy the new era of secondary school expansion. His legacy is enduring — as one of the key functions of the GTAV continues to be the provision of knowledge, expertise and a passion for the teaching of Geography.
Based on an article written by John Collins from ‘GTAV: the first 50 years’
Online resources for teaching about population
The Australian Bureau of Statistics Education Unit has launched QuickGeog activities which may be accessed online or downloaded and edited to meet your needs. Each one is designed to be completed in less than a period. They contain a graphic or table of data taken from ABS publications and a series of questions or activities. The first release of activities focus on population.
If you haven't seen it already, take a look at 'Spotlight' from the ABS, where students may investigate how they fit within the Australian population. This is a very engaging way to begin a study of population.
Are you looking for historical data on the growth of population in Australia or migration patterns over time? Historical datasets have been simplified and uploaded to the Education Services pages on the website. They contain some interactive visualisations to engage students and encourage them to look at the stories contained within the data.
The ABS website also has a new set of State and Territory Indicators (Cat.no. 1367.0) which provide an overview of population, economy and environment for each of Australia's states and territories.
Geographia — AGTA newsletter
Read all of the latest news from AGTA in the latest issue of Geographia.
Education and Training for Sustainability
Swinburne University of Technology is offering a new course in Education for Sustainability (H22060VIC). Geography students may be interested in this Education and Training for Sustainability (Voc Grad Cert) course that has recently been accredited. It is the first of its kind in Australia.
>> Further details and a FAQ sheet.
Education and Training for Sustainability
Swinburne University of Technology is offering a new course in Education for Sustainability (H22060VIC). Geography students may be interested in this Education and Training for Sustainability (Voc Grad Cert) course that has recently been accredited. It is the first of its kind in Australia.
>> Further details and a FAQ sheet.
Jock Herbert
1924–2011
It is with much sadness that the GTAV records the death of Jock Herbert one of the founding members of the Association.
Jock Herbert held the positions of GTAV Secretary 1959-61 and Vice President in 1962 and made an outstanding and lasting contribution to the teaching of geography in Victoria. Our sympathies go to his wife Gwen and family.
The GTAV was represented at his funeral which took place at St Thomas Anglican Church, Upper Ferntree Gully on Wednesday 11 May 2011. A tribute to Jock Herbert will be published in the next issue of Interaction.
New online curriculum materials for teachers
savewater!® a not-for-profit organisation has produced three sets of worksheets (all free of charge) in line with the new Australian curriculum:
- Water Savers, on saving water in and around the home for years 6 – 8
- Carbon Tradies, on environmental sustainability locally for years 7 – 9
- Climate Change. The Cold Hard Facts, based on documentary for years 9 – 10
These activities sheets together with the associated teacher’s guides are available to download from http://www.savewater.com.au/how-to-save-water/in-education/
Tutankhamun and The Golden Age of the Pharaohs Exhibition
A must-see for every student of Geography, Histo