Interaction Journal - Contributor Guidelines

Contributing to Interaction with articles or reviews enhances the development of geographic literacy, assists with our members’ professional learning and helps support teachers and students. We welcome your work including: practical examples of good teaching practice, effective methods of student learning, reviews of educational resources or technologies, synopses of background information on topical issues aligned to or about the curriculum, news on educational innovation, geographical analyses or discussions, fieldwork, and suggestions for future themes and content. Your contribution will build on more than 60 years of GTAV’s journal production. That proud heritage has, literally and figuratively through collective interaction among our members and partner organisations, helped foster a more creative, active and informed community of geographic educators in Victoria.

 

The GTAV encourage submissions that relate to Geography teaching covering all years of curriculum (Primary, Secondary and VCE). Whether it’s a lesson plan, an in-depth analysis of a geographic unit, a fieldwork activity, a geospatial technology skill or broader article on Geography, writing for Interaction gives you a chance to share your expertise and ideas with Geography teachers and educators. Each edition of Interaction focuses on a theme relating to Geography teaching. Articles that don’t relate to the theme may be held over for an appropriate edition. Contributors should submit their articles by the ‘Copy Deadline’ dates found in themes table below. Note that the Copy Deadline is when to handover a completed article, not a draft. You are welcome to email the Interaction Editor with any queries about the development, direction or content of your intended submission.

Interaction features a number of regular sections which cover different levels and areas of the curriculum. Consider which would best suit your contribution.

 

Please submit articles for consideration to the Editor: [email protected] Please read the Contributor Guidelines carefully before submitting. The Editor’s decision is final whether the GTAV will publish your submission. Any questions regarding submission should be directed to the Editor.

 

Your article will be edited to correct spelling or syntax, apply house style and where necessary, enhance expression and clarify meaning. The Editor will endeavour to consult the contributor before making substantial changes. If published, you will receive a complimentary copy of the issue in which the article appears. Please ensure current email details of all contributors are sent to the Editor, so a PDF copy can be sent out.

 

Articles need to be appropriate for practising Geography teachers and educators and address the current Victorian Curriculum (not the Australian Curriculum). Articles need to be written in an appropriate tone, which can vary from a formal, academic style to a more conversational style, depending on the nature of the contribution. Keeping in mind the audience, you are encouraged to use an active voice, with direct and simple language.

 

Articles submitted must be original work of the author(s). Where images or quoted text from other authors are included, the source must be cited. Where another person or party has assisted with the writing of the article, this should be acknowledged at the end of the article. If your article is accepted, you assign copyright to the GTAV, but reserve your right to use your contribution in your teaching activities and other specified areas. Contributors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce any materials (e.g. text, graphics, photographs) from other publications. Where photographs of students are included, parental/guardian permission, and possibly school permission, must be sought for their use in publication.

 

Submissions are to be a Word document with structural formatting (headings, bold, italics). Please include: Article title; Author(s) name AND author(s) bio (max. 50 words); Markers for any figures to be included, clearly numbered, captioned and sourced.

 

Authors are encouraged to supply or suggest suitable images to accompany your article. All Figures should be referred to where relevant in the text, and normally above the actual Figure (e.g. ‘see Figure 3’) rather than just appearing as accompanying illustrations. Each Figure (image, table, graphic, map, etc) should be captioned immediately below with title and source (e.g. ‘Figure 3. Average Annual Rainfall, Australia – 2000. Source: CSIRO, 2024’). You should supply your Figures with your submission, but images may also be added to an article during layout, in which case GTAV will carry out image research as required.

During Layout stage, your text and Figures will be arranged most appropriately.

For copyright reasons, it is essential that authors provide the source of all Figures. If it is not an original work, please advise the Editor of the source. Contributors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce any materials (e.g. text, illustrations, images) from other publications. If you need assistance, please contact the Editor.

For images of school students, please ensure you have written permission from the parent or guardian specifying releasing the image for publication in Interaction. Also please check if school permission is needed for the image use.

 

Do you have an article or teaching resource you would like to share with GTAV members?

We welcome submissions covering range of practical content including:

• Material for implementation in the classroom such as lesson plans and activities
• Teaching strategies for Geography skills and concepts
• Case studies aligned with the Victorian Curriculum F-10 and VCE Study Design
• Fieldwork ideas and examples
• Geospatial technology resources and applications
• Embedding Geography in the Primary curriculum
• Useful resources
• Careers in Geography
• Book reviews

To enquire further or to submit content for consideration, email Stephen Legg, Editor - Interaction at [email protected]