The Life Geographic: A somewhat self-absorbed personal and professional development blog of an ex-Geography high-school teacher…
I don't know why I put myself through it! A love for performing, geography and educating - all rolled into one, I guess! Almost every Geographical Association Conference Teachmeet I get lyrical. This year, I decided to honour the epic efforts and achievements of the team behind developing the Slow Ways.
Started as a pandemic ‘comfort project’ but growing into something so much more, Coffee and Geography was a podcast where I simply chatted to people. These chats led to exploring connections and intersections through a geographical lens, but also helped to broaden my horizons, check my own privilege, and bring back some faith in humanity. Bring a brew and come and find out what I’ve learnt, which can be useful anecdotes and aids in the classroom, from these ‘everyday’ conversations.
A few days ago I attended, in person, my first Geographical Association Annual Conference since 2019. The same was true of all other geography educators, since the last two had been totally online. This conference is for geography teachers, academics, exhibitors and students. It is always a wonderful event. Now that I have a podcast, I took the opportunity of grabbing my mobile recording equipment and doing a bit of recording for you all! Enjoy the listen.
This is part 2 of my teachers' guide for the IPCC's 6th Assessment (AR6) on climate change. Part 1 covered the report released last year on the updated science on climate change. Now the IPCC's Working Group 2 (WG2) report, focusing on the impacts of climate change, is out. Having completed a read of the report myself, I can say with some morbidness but conviction, that the terms climate crisis and climate emergency are well and truly justified.
Some colleagues and I have had the privilege of working with James Cheshire and Oliver Uberti, developing educational materials for their latest book Atlas of The Invisible. The book is truly is an impressive piece of work, deserving of the three awards and positive reviews received so far. In my opinion it is a must have for the school library, and teachers can make so much use of it in various ways.
It’s been my first full foray into podcating as a host and producer and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Sure, the production side of things has been taxing at times, but I've loved developing new skills. But without a shadow of a doubt it has been all the guests that have given me the most pleasure. To celebrate and reflect, I thought I'd put together a piece of poetry. Enjoy.
Many say that COP26 ended last November with not much to cheer about. But it did give us educators plenty food for thought. Secretary of State for Education Nadhim Zahawi gave encouraging sentiments regarding the Department for Education’s (DfE) plans to improve climate change and sustainability education in England. A draft strategy has been published and here I will offer a brief overview with some light analysis and what schools can do to get a head-start.
COP26 ended this week, and it was more blah-blah-blah from those in power. It is fitting, therefore, in the spirit of the inspiring youth, marginalised populations and their allies who made their presence felt in Glasgow, that this blog is about hopes, dreams and fantasy regarding climate change. I took part in a wonderful, geeky, but also poignant chat about climate change in Sci-Fi, and decided it was such a great discussion that I wanted to type up bits about it for the blog.
Find out whether a GIS for schools using climate data which I helped develop won an award from Copernicus ECMWF. But also check out the other amazing nominations that a teachers could use in the classroom.
The world's first forecourt for electric vehicles has more to it than meets the eye! If you are interested in, or teach, issues regarding transport, sustainable development, climate change mitigation, elecrtric vehicles and renewable energy, then you are not going to want to miss this! This video blog was filmed on-location at the GRIDSERVE Electric Forecourt outside of Braintree, Essex, UK.
Geogramblings 