Personal Geographies

of pupils and trainee

teachers

Personal Geographies

of pupils and trainee

teachers

Sue BerminghamManchester Metropolitan

University

Sue BerminghamManchester Metropolitan

University

Original PhD focusOriginal PhD focus

• Location of Placement - how to skill trainees in using the geographical lived experiences pupils bring to the classroom

• Location of Placement - how to skill trainees in using the geographical lived experiences pupils bring to the classroom

Today sharing findings from my PhD research and inviting discussion on:

Today sharing findings from my PhD research and inviting discussion on:

•  What are personal geographies?

• How are personal geographies constructed?

• Are personal geographies a good thing? Should they be encouraged?

• Are there ‘Permitted’ and ‘Censored’ personal geographies?

• What factors affect the use of personal geographies in the classroom? 

•  What are personal geographies?

• How are personal geographies constructed?

• Are personal geographies a good thing? Should they be encouraged?

• Are there ‘Permitted’ and ‘Censored’ personal geographies?

• What factors affect the use of personal geographies in the classroom? 

Methods used to dateMethods used to date

• Interviews with pairs of trainees at start & end of PGCE year

• Questionnaire surveys of trainees during year of training

• Group interviews with pupils in partnership schools

• Life History drawings of trainees• Personal items of trainees shared• Assignments

• Interviews with pairs of trainees at start & end of PGCE year

• Questionnaire surveys of trainees during year of training

• Group interviews with pupils in partnership schools

• Life History drawings of trainees• Personal items of trainees shared• Assignments

 What are personal geographies?

 What are personal geographies?

• Discussion• Discussion

 What are personal geographies?

 What are personal geographies?

• As Butt (2009) reminds us ‘The term ‘personal geography’ is one that is rather loosely defined within geography education. Although it is often used, even within official documentation, its meaning and implications for teaching and learning geography have largely been assumed.’

• As Butt (2009) reminds us ‘The term ‘personal geography’ is one that is rather loosely defined within geography education. Although it is often used, even within official documentation, its meaning and implications for teaching and learning geography have largely been assumed.’

 What are personal geographies?

 What are personal geographies?

• Subject Mentor definitions - handout• Subject Mentor definitions - handout

 What are personal geographies?

 What are personal geographies?

• Trainee teacher definitions - handout

• Trainee teacher definitions - handout

How are personal geographies constructed?

How are personal geographies constructed?

• Discussion• Discussion

How are personal geographies constructed?

How are personal geographies constructed?

• If the life history diagrams and the collection of 3 personal possessions throw light on, the trainee geography teacher’s personal geography at the start of the training year, does it matter if most of their geographical experiences are outside the formal UK education system that they are striving to enter as professionals? If most geography is learnt outside the formal education system how can we equip the novice geography teacher to build upon and extend the pupils personal geographies? Most worrying, how can we secure the future of geography in the curriculum if it appears mainly learnt ‘in the world’?

• If the life history diagrams and the collection of 3 personal possessions throw light on, the trainee geography teacher’s personal geography at the start of the training year, does it matter if most of their geographical experiences are outside the formal UK education system that they are striving to enter as professionals? If most geography is learnt outside the formal education system how can we equip the novice geography teacher to build upon and extend the pupils personal geographies? Most worrying, how can we secure the future of geography in the curriculum if it appears mainly learnt ‘in the world’?

Are personal geographies a good thing? Should they be

encouraged?

Are personal geographies a good thing? Should they be

encouraged?• Assumption at start of PhD that they are a good thing!

• Matrix handout

• Assumption at start of PhD that they are a good thing!

• Matrix handout

Are there ‘Permitted’ and ‘Censored’ personal

geographies?

Are there ‘Permitted’ and ‘Censored’ personal

geographies?• Discussion• Discussion

What factors affect the use of personal geographies in the

classroom? 

What factors affect the use of personal geographies in the

classroom? 

Trainees views after 5 weeks Trainees views after 5 weeks 

• The group question, What strategies will you adopt on Block A in order to effectively use the personal geographies pupils bring to your classroom?, Handout

• The group question, What strategies will you adopt on Block A in order to effectively use the personal geographies pupils bring to your classroom?, Handout

Where am I now April 2010?

Where am I now April 2010?

• ‘personal geography’ as a floating signifier

• Researching techniques for analysing discourse (I am resisting tendency to find patterns)

• ‘personal geography’ as a floating signifier

• Researching techniques for analysing discourse (I am resisting tendency to find patterns)