www.agta.asn.au

Ge graphiaGeographia is the national newsletter of the Australian Geography Teachers’ Association Limited. DECEMBER 2009

Occasional Newsletter of The Australian Geography Teachers’ Association Limited

In this issue.. Agta Board Meeting 103 October 2009

AGTA Board Meeting 104 1 This is an incredibly busy time for Geography The Board Meeting also encompassed the Australian Capital Territory – a lot of things are happening including the Annual General Meeting of AGTA. Election National Geography Curriculum. In terms of the and appointment of the board was ratified: AGTA Geo Careers Website 2 National Curriculum, at this meeting we will be AGTA Website • Chair – Malcolm McInerney investigating in full what has happened in the Geography’s Big Week Out past, AGTA’s work to date towards the National • Deputy Chair – Grant Kleeman Curriculum, and what we propose for the future. Towards A National Geography 3 • Secretary – Rebecca Nicholas A welcome to delegates from the ACT – Carol Curriculum For Pogson ( Grammar School) and • Treasurer – Rob Berry Karen Tuhan (Alfred Deakin High School), who • Elected Directors – Stephen Cranby, Nick AGTA Conference 2011 4 are looking at re-establishing a Geography Hutchinson, Margaret McIvor, Emmy Terry Keys To Geography Edition 2 Association in the ACT. • Public Officer – Jeanna Kriewaldt Ensuring Quality Teaching 5 In Geography Arc Linkage Project Australian Capital Territory Snippets • AGTA is seeking Google Sponsorship for the Australian Geography 6 In establishing themselves in their formative conference. Although not big in sponsorship Competition year(s), delegates from the ACT proposed that Google may be willing to provide some support Asia PacificR egional they be accepted as a sub-branch of the GTANSW. for the Association. Geography Olympiad As such ACT delegates would not fulfill a director’s • GTAV will coordinate the AGTA Awards – role but would be invited to attend board congratulations and thank you to South National Education Forum 7 meetings. This option is still to be confirmed Australia for coordinating this important activity National Geographic World by the ACT branch as an alternative option is over the past three years. Championship to become an incorporated association. AGTA will invite one delegate from the ACT to attend • A GeoCareers Brochure has been developed Institute of Australian 8 the next Board Meeting at a non-director level. to promote the website. Delegates are asked to Geographers (IAG) Council Meeting The ACT branch may also opt to send a second promote this widely at this time when students delegate to the meeting at their own cost. are looking at their future options. Affiliate News - TAS 9 Affiliate News - QLD Capitation • Membership – invoices are sent out Currently, capitation fees are $13.20 (including on 31 October 2009. Affiliates Affiliate News - SA 10 GST). AGTA has become more visual and has should identify total membership taken a lead role with the National Curriculum. including students to determine Affiliate News - NSW 11 At the federal level, Government is only interested the number of Geographical in talking to peak bodies. Three options were Education Journals required by Affiliate News - WA 12 discussed - no change; small increment; CPI affiliates. Affiliates who wish to provide the Journal to Affiliate News - VIC 13 indexation. A letter will be sent to affiliates to determine the direction to be taken informing complimentary members (e.g. Life Members) must pay an Teaching Australia 14 them of that fees be increased to $15.00 affiliation fee for these members. Geographical Education (including GST). A special General Meeting will be conducted at the next Board Meeting to be held in May 2010, to address the issue of capitation. GeographiaAGTA’s

GeoCareersAGTA’s Geography’s GWebsiteeoCareers www.geocareers.net.au The 2009 Geography’s Big Week Out will be held Website in (Perth, Rottnest Island and Scarborough) from 7 to 11 December. A high-scoring male and The GeoCareersHE GeoCareers website is a website ‘user friendly’ is a ‘userresource friendly’ for resource female student in each State and the combined learning aboutfor learning geographical about careers. geographical The website careers. contains The Territories, who are in Year 11 or lower, have website contains resources and case studies of resourcesT and case studies of young people who have studied accepted places, as have the next highest male and young people who have studied geography at school geographyand see at a schoollink between and see whata link theybetween learnt what in geographythey learnt female student – a total of 16 students. It is worth in geographyand what theyand what do in they their do job. in their The job.main The sections main sections of the noting that 9 of the 16 students are from outside of thewebsite website include: include: capital cities (although 3 board at capital city schools). Australia’s team to the 2010 International MeetMeet a Geographer a geographer People who have studied geography are highly sought Geography Olympiad, 29 July - 4 August in Taipei, People who have studied geography are highly sought after after in a wide range of careers for the special skills and will be selected from this Big Week Out. in aknowledge wide range theyof careers bring. for In the this special section skills you and can knowledge read about theythe bring. interesting In ths section and rewarding you can read careers about in the which interesting people who andhave rewarding studied careers are employed. in which people This sectionwho have includes studied profiles are employed.of people This working section outdoors,includes profiles indoors, of helpingpeople workingpeople, outdoors,engaged indoors, in environmental helping people, care, engages sharing in knowledgeenvironmental with care,others sharing and knowledge undertaking with research. others and undertaking research. Studying geography StudyingWhether Geography you are a student or enrolled Whetherin a tertiary you are institution a secondary such school as a student university or enrolled or college in a this tertiarysection institution will assist such you as a finduniversity the right or college course. this It section includes willlinks assist to you State to find and theTerritory right course. education It includes departments, links to State curriculum authorities and tertiary institutions offering Agta Website and territory education departments, curriculum authorities geography. The main changes made to the website have and tertiary institutions offering geography. Resources been the inclusion of a new section devoted to ResourcesA range of resources that help students make decisions the AGTA 2011 conference in . Graphic A rangeabout of their resources future that career help include:students make decisions files and supporting material have been provided about• Career their future pamphlets career include: by Mark Manuel to enable an initial structure to be designed and populated with information. • Online resources • Career pamplets This will become an increasingly important • Online• Geospatial resources careers section of the website providing information for • Geospatial careers • Job search indexes participants, publishers and sponsors. Mark will • Job search indexes provide Rob with updates during the lead up to • Volunteer work. • Volunteer work the conference. ThisThis is a isgreat a great website website for students, for students, their teachers, their teachers, career career counsellors and subject/career selection personnel. A new section providing links to Web 2.0 counsellors and subject/career selection personnel. geography websites has also been added. This will provide a portal to a number of useful blogs, wikis, nings, forums, discussions and other participatory web applications that support geography Geocareers Website teaching both in Australia and overseas. Other changes to the website include updates to Only minor changes and revisions have been be made to each of these sections and if the news section, Board members, affiliate details, made to the GeoCareers website. Invitations to necessary, refined as the website extends its resources and the AGTA 2008 conference section. submit profiles have been sent, however, as yet scope. Please forward suggestions of people Updates have also been made to Geographia, response rates have been low despite follow-up who might be approached to submit a profile the national geography curriculum website, letters being sent. Each affiliate was asked at to Rob as there are still many career areas we standards for geography teaching and details the last AGTA Board meeting to make would like to include. Please send the person’s of affiliate conferences. Please advise Rob of any a special effort to send Rob Berry a list of name, their email address and current area of changes to these details as they become known. people who might be invited to submit a employment to Rob ([email protected]). It is most important that affiliates forward profile for publication. Rob will then contact each person nominated details of changes when these occur so that and provide them with a standard proforma At present the major sections include Meet the relevant pages can be updated. The listing and agreement sheet. a Geographer, Studying Geography, Using of state conferences has been updated (where Geography and Resources. Additions will such details are known) with links to each state association’s website. page 2 Geographia

Towards a National Geography Curriculum for Australia

The Australian Geography Teachers’ Significant Timelines Association (AGTA), Institute of Australian The following ACARA timeline will give an idea of the 2009-2011 progression with the writing process Geographers (IAG) and Royal Geographical for the national geography curriculum. Naturally, the time-line may change as time goes by but at this Society of (RGSQ) collaborated stage these are the dates, events and milestones ACARA has mapped out for the process: on a project, Towards a National Geography • October - December 2009: The next phase is curriculum. The writing to be accompanied Curriculum for Australia. to write the initial advice paper for the national by a consultation process for the scope and geography curriculum. sequence document. Writing will be The aim of the Project was to develop a joint • National Forum to be held in Term 1 2010 conducted in two 10 week blocks - scoping statement to inform the rationale, content, in as ACARA will move to Sydney in sequence for content description K-10; structure and organisation of the forthcoming December. • September 2011 - content description; national curriculum in geography. The Project • February 2010 national Forum to gather performance standards and elaborations was led by a Steering Committee: Malcolm responses to the Initial Advice Paper. finalized. McInerney, Chair, AGTA; Kathryn Berg, Secretary, • In March 2010 ACARA will be advertising • End of December 2010 - Draft Document RGSQ; Nick Hutchinson, AGTA; Alaric Maude, for writers. will be published. IAG; Lucie Sorensen, RGSQ. Two experienced • February - March 2010 – Development • Beginning of 2011 – Consultation process. educators, Rob Berry and Roger Smith, were of the Shape of Australian Curriculum: • January - June 2011: Course writing in line contracted to assist in the work of the Project, Geography Paper. with the final scope and sequence document with Lucy Rahaley contracted to give advice • April 2010 – National consultation on the Shape for the national geography curriculum. on primary school aspects. of Australian Curriculum: Geography Paper. • July 2011 – Publication of the final national • June 2010 – Release of the final Shape of geography curriculum. There was wide consultation with the geography Australian Curriculum: Geography Paper. • January 2012 – Implementation of the community, starting with a meeting in Caloundra, • June - December 2010 – Appointment of National Curriculum. coinciding with AGTA’s biennial conference. writers and an advisory group to develop This was followed later in the year by meetings the scope and sequence for the national in Adelaide, , Melbourne and Sydney. Input from these meetings, from over 125 responses to the online survey, from examination and it was not possible to send a draft of the final ACARA is developing an internal position of Australian and selected overseas syllabuses, report out to organisations for their feedback paper to address issues in geography including and from an extensive literature survey, resulted before submitting it. The report was therefore possible strands, possible senior courses, ICT and in a Background Report. This Report was the submitted with the disclaimer that it represented spatial technology, equity issues and crossover subject of more consultations, with feedback the view of the Steering Committee. ACARA between science and geography. AGTA will have from written responses and from eight meetings has made it clear that its remit is to write the a significant role in working towards putting – in the four cities above, plus Canberra, Darwin, curriculum content descriptions and elaborations. geography back into schools. Launceston and Perth. Based on the Background ACARA will work in an ongoing collaboration with AGTA encourages all Australian geography Report, feedback from the meetings and their the jurisdictions and professional associations teachers to keep informed of the ACARA process own extensive reading the Steering Committee to meet the needs of teachers and students. via their website at http://www.acara.edu.au and wrote the paper Towards a National Geography This situation has prompted the Steering take advantage of the opportunities provided by Curriculum for Australia. Committee to develop a submission to the ACARA and geography teachers’ associations to Federal Government requesting funding to In early June the Steering Committee found feed comments and ideas into the process. that the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and ensure that the new geography curriculum will ACARA has not mandated hours for any subject – Reporting Authority (ACARA) timeline for the be supported with appropriate and adequate this has been stated within the Curriculum Design development of the geography curriculum had teaching resources and professional learning Paper. Possible hours are given to guide writers been brought forward from what the Committee opportunities for teachers across Australia. AGTA, only. Schools are using the writers’ hours as an had been anticipating. The Committee took the IAG, RGSQ would join with other geographical indication to plan for the implementation of the decision that in order to maximize the influence organizations in this proposed project. to work discipline. Certification will belong to the states. of the Project, the final report should be sent to on this submission have been taken from the ACARA by 16 June. This entailed intensive work Towards a National Geography. page 3 Geographia

Agta Conference 2011

Theme GEOGRAPHY GOING NATIONAL Venue: Scotch College,

Scotch College is an independent, Social Events co-educational day and of Registration, welcome, drinks and BBQ on approximately 900 R-12 students. The College Sunday 9 January 2011; Tuesday: eating is set on adjoining campuses encompassing Out in Adelaide; BBQ and AGTA Cup Games; over 20 hectares. Set at the foot of the Mount Pre-Conference winery Tour on Sunday Lofty Ranges, it is only eight kilometers from to the McLaren Vale; post conference event the Central Business district in Adelaide. We are in Adelaide is the TOUR down UNDER. pleased to announce that at this early stage, Dr Rita Gardner, Director of the Royal Geography Accommodation options are currently being Society in London has agreed to be our keynote explored – budget accommodation – 60-80 speaker. Considering the experience her society single beds available at the Scotch Boarding and the UK Geography Association have had House for $40.00 per night including cooked with the UK National Curriculum, her talk should or continental breakfast. Alternative options be very influential in our implementation work include: Caravan Parks sites and cabins; with national geography in Australia. Much, Beachside Parks; Hotels and Apartments much more will be communicated about this – details will be provided at a later date. exciting geographical education event Timeline in coming months. Sept 09: Fax out to all Secondary Schools: Program Outline 50 expressions of interest so far from GTAV and Fax out. Monday 10 January 2011 Oct 09: Website development flyer to – National Curriculum; Keynote plus workshops. Affiliate Journals. Call for presenters through Tuesday 11 January 2011 flyer and website – Fieldtrip Day 1 Jan/Feb 10: Fax out flyer and program Wednesday 12 January 2011 brochure/booklet tostate journals. – Fieldtrips Day 2 Feb/Mar 10: program finalized with abstracts. Thursday 13 January 2011 April 10: Registrations open via website. – National Curriculum; Keynote, panel discussion Oct 10: Early bird registrations close. plus workshops; Conference dinner and close. Nov 10: All registrations close. Jan 11: Pre-conference Tour.

Edition 2 We are now well into the process of revising has included collaboration in development Keys to Geography Keys to Geography for the second edition. of Olympics resources in 2008. 3. It is more efficient to review both products All major authors have kindly and generously in parallel as some workload can be shared. agreed to revise their sections by the deadline of 7 November. Bob Digby is supporting the Jeanna also negotiated a new contract for editing of the second edition. In addition others Keys to Geography (Edition 2) which ensured no have offered to write new sections. loss of entitlements for AGTA but which specifies the territory of the contract as Asia- Pacific. Proposal to produce a separate UK edition This means that AGTA has ownership of the word Since the May 2009 report, Jeanna Kriewaldt files to use as they wish outside the Asia- Pacific negotiated a proposal from Macmillan to develop region. AGTA, for example, could enter into an a UK edition which was subsequently revised arrangement with an organization to write for the twice. This proposal was put to the Geographical UK market developing figures to suit that market. Association and they chose not to proceed. This opens up the possibility to come to an There are still (at least) three reasons to produce arrangement with the Geographical Association Keys to Geography (UK) or another publisher and Bob will pursue this 1. AGTA has the potential to gain a new income once we have the Australian edition submitted. stream (UK population is approx 61 million) A full manuscript of the second edition will 2. This project may strengthen the relationship be delivered to MacMillan by 9 November between the Geographical Association which with publication by August 2010. page 4 Geographia

Ensuring Quality Arc Linkage Teaching in Geography Project In partnership the Australian Geography Teachers’ Association, Institute of Australian Strengthening standards of teaching Geographers, National Committee for Geography of the Australian Academy of Science, through linking standards and teacher Royal Geographical Society of Queensland, Geographical Society of learning: the development of professional and Royal Geographical Society of South Australia, a submission is being prepared to standards for teaching school geography. gain federal funding for a National Project to support teachers of the new geography Project Phase 1: curriculum led by the geographical profession. All case studies are now complete (11 altogether). The final case study was conducted Geography’s need for Australian Government The National Project will at Camberwell High School on Wednesday funding to support the implementation of the have the following objectives: 22 April. Stephen Cranby’s Year 9 class was new curriculum is greater than that of any other • Build the capacity of teachers to deliver the filmed as they used ArcMap. subject, for the following reasons: national geography curriculum through a Project Phase 2: • Geography will be a subject in every year variety of professional learning programs; from K-12; Teacher panel meetings (18 projected • Support teachers in their own classrooms altogether) have been conducted in 5 states • Many of those teaching geography have through the provision of high quality (VIC – 4 panels; NSW – 2 panels; QLD – 1 panel; limited formal training in the subject; resource materials linked to the national SA – 1 panel; WA – 1 panel). geography curriculum; • There is no national program to improve Without exception, teachers have commented teaching and learning in the discipline; • Develop communities of learning through on how useful they have found the panel which teachers can collaborate in continuous • Geography teachers students on topics and meetings in challenging their thinking about professional learning. issues that are fast changing and sometimes their own practice. contentious including environmental Three types of materials are being proposed: Teacher professional learning interviews: sustainability, climate change, diversity • Electronic handbooks on the aims and In conjunction with the panel meetings, individual and difference, global interdependence philosophy of the new curriculum and on and so on; interviews are being conducted with participating the methods of teaching it – primary and teachers. Interviews are directed at exploring the • The new curriculum is likely to require the secondary. links between activities directed at developing teaching of digital technologies and most • Substantial modules for teachers on content teaching standards (i.e. activities engaged in by teachers have had no training in these and ideas of each of the topics in the panel members and their post-panel reflections) technologies. curriculum, with suggestions for teaching and teacher professional learning. It is anticipated that the project will address strategies. three priority areas: materials for teachers and Towards Project Phase 3: • Units of work teachers can use in their students on the new curriculum; professional It is anticipated that a draft set of standards for classroom. learning programs for teachers; and a website the accomplished teaching of school geography as a focus of a nationwide leaning community AGTA endorses the support of this proposal will be available in late December 2009. Drawing of geographers. for the national geography curriculum project. on the interview data and field notes, analysis Documents are currently being finalized in of the links between teaching standards and conjunction with partners. teacher professional learning is planned to inform the final design of the website. Our energies will also be directed to conceptualising and designing the final website.

Actions 1. Early next year we will ask affiliates to circulate details of the draft standards and invite feedback from members. This is part of the in kind contribution agreed at the start of the project.

2. Affiliates to consider: • including a brief launch of the standards in their annual conference in 2010. • offering workshops on Geography standards.

page 5 Geographia

National Geographic Channel Australian Geography Competition

The final number of students participating Catholic College; SA Pembroke School; and there was a “sell-out” crowd of students, in the 2009 Competition was 87,060 from TAS Taroona High School; Vic Melbourne High teachers and other invited guests, including some 802 schools. This compares to 89,586 School; WA Hale School. of the other prize-winning students from Sydney. students from 819 schools last year. AGTA Chair Malcolm McInerney spoke at the Final. Final for under 16s The questions in the Final covered a large range Each student receives a detailed results sheet The Final for under 16s was held in Sydney with of topics: landforms, islands, cultural geography, and a certificate in one of four categories – High the eight student finalists also spending the Australian towns, etc. Another round used Distinction, Distinction, Credit, and Participation. preceding weekend there. The weekend program pieces of clothing – modeled by students from Winners of states and territories and very included sea rafting in Chowder Bay, and dinner Ryde Secondary College – to support questions high-scoring students across Australia each at King Street Wharf followed by the new Star celebrating the International Year of Natural Fibres. receive a special certificate and a book prize. Trek movie in Imax format. Sunday was to be the The prize-winning senior students also receive highlight with whale-watching from a sailing medals. Excluding participation in Geography’s boat. It was certainly memorable, but not for the The results of the Final were: Big Week Out, prizes for 2009 were awarded to 15 right reasons, with most of the students getting • First Nick Montgomery, students in the junior division, 31 students in the seasick. Still the sail out through the heads was intermediate division and 9 students in the senior very enjoyable, until the rough weather hit. division. School prizes are based on the scores of • Second Tim House, the school’s top five students under 16 years old The Final for under 16s was held for the first Normanhurst Boys High School, Sydney time at Foxtel Studios, and filmed, which added and the top five 16 and over. In 2009 the school • Third James Gillard, another layer of complication. It was again prizes were awarded to: ACT Canberra Grammar , Canberra School; NSW Sydney Boys High School; Qld Ryan compered by Jacinta Tynan of Sky News

Asia Pacific Regional Geography Olympiad

Australia participated for the first time Patrick Mackenzie and Nicole Filling were in an Asia Pacific Regional Geography awarded the two silver medals. Ikeda Yuta Olympiad at APRGO 09, held in Tsukuba, from Japan won the gold. Alex Lawson and Japan, from 1 to 6 August 2009. Pace Huxley were the next two students below the cut-off line for bronze medals. The fact that Countries taking part were Australia, Japan, all four Australian students performed so well Mexico and Taiwan. Australia’s team was selected meant that Australia had the highest combined from students who competed in the senior team score. level of the 2008 National Geographic Channel The Olympiad tests were challenging tasks: Australian Geography Competition, a multi-media quiz, stimulus-based written via Geography’s Big Week Out: responses and a fieldwork test. The fieldwork test • Nicole Filling focused on changes to various localities resulting Geelong College from the opening of a new rail link, the Tsukuba Express. This gave the students the opportunity • Pace Huxley to explore several areas – from historic temples to downtown Tokyo to a rural village. Other parts • Alex Lawson of the program included visits to Mt Tsukuba Brisbane Grammar School and the Geographical Survey Institute. Tsukuba • Patrick Mackenzie, Tokyo Christ Church Grammar School, Perth

The team was accompanied by Kath Berg and Margaret McIvor. As well as being responsible for the students, the leaders’ roles include setting and marking questions in the tests, and for Kath, English editing of the tests. page 6 Geographia

National Education Forum

National Geographic World Championship

Australia participated in the 9th National Geographic World Championship held in Mexico City from 11 to 16 July 2009.

This international contest, held every two years, is organised by the National Geographic Society. The teams taking part in 2009 were: Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovak Republic, Taiwan, United Kingdom and USA. This is fewer teams than in previous years, as a result of a combination of the global financial crisis, swine flu and visa problems.

Each team consists of three students. Australia’s team was selected from students who excelled in the intermediate levels of the 2008 and 2009 Australian Competitions. The first-placed student from each Final and one of the second-placed students (chosen by a 75-question decider) made up the team:

Chair, Malcolm McInerney attended the National Education Forum • David Giles, Pembroke School, Adelaide in Sydney in October and met with leaders in other teacher associations (2nd in 2008) and discussed issues facing associations and the possibilities for • Nick Montgomery, Melbourne Grammar School co-operation. Malcolm identified the following as relevant (1st in 2009) points/information/perceptions in regards to AGTA: • Miguel Vera-Cruz, Fort Street High School, Sydney (1st in 2008) • Letter has been sent by the NEF to process and were crucial to professional Australia performed very creditably, coming Julia Gillard’s office re: implementation learning of teachers at all stages. The sixth, in a field where the top teams were of National Curriculum. No reply as yet. point was made that it is important reasonably close. The score range was 56 to NEF will be following up with the letter. that a synergy is created between 136, and Australia scored 112. This result is associations and jurisdictions now • Ministers should also get the satisfactory as Australia chooses to design its that the responsibility and funds for submission or reference to the fact that national competition to match Australian needs, implementation of national initiatives AGTA’s submission has been sent to the not to maximize our chance of winning in this such as the national curriculum has Federal Minister because under National international competition. In the Final for the top been devolved to states via the National Partnership the jurisdictions will be three teams, Canada was the convincing winner, Partnerships. Peter promised to take up responsible for implementation. with the United States coming second just one this issue with DEEWR and Barry McGaw. point ahead of Poland. • Nicole Panting from DEEWR talked • Peter Hill, ACARA CEO, geography about the Improving Teacher Quality The National Geographic Society put on a great teacher and still passionate about the National Partnerships. Members of NEF program for the students. Highlights included discipline of geography. Peter sees at the meeting made it clear that in each time spent in the historic centre of Mexico City National Curriculum as an opportunity to state the associations played the key and among the step pyramids at Teotihuacan. get a national approach with curriculum role in professional development and Following the World Championship, the and for curriculum to be a conduit to learning. Australian team (minus Nick who had to return to address teaching and learning. Melbourne) stayed a few extra days and travelled • As an ex-member of GAWA, Peter Hill with the Taiwanese team to Oaxaca in southern also made it clear the associations had Mexico. We also visited some of the villages in a key role to play in the implementation the area famous for their handicrafts and the archaeological sites of Monte Alban and Mitla.

page 7 Geographia Institute of Australian Geographers (Iag) Council Meeting

At the Annual meeting Malcolm McInerney met journal. It seems electronic journal is the way (and RGSQ) on the project and are keen to with geography academics from around Australia to go to improve readership and dispersal. support the initiative in any way possible. and had the opportunity to inform academic They are happy to be signatures to the Federal • Alaric Maude has written an article on the geography leaders responsible for IAG activities submission and will consider the edited ‘Towards a National Geography Curriculum’ about the work of AGTA and in particular the promotion strategy and ‘Ambassadors’ proposal. project for the next IAG ‘Geographical ‘Towards a National Geography Curriculum’ Research’ journal. • One study group is planning to go to project and the ACARA National Geography web 2.0 technology to encourage discussion. Curriculum process. Malcolm invited IAG Council • The IAG will place the PowerPoint presentation The IAG website has the ability to be interactive to participate in the action plans of AGTA over and journal article on their website to inform this technology. AGTA could investigate the next few years. In particular the proposed their membership of the National Geography for its website to improve interactivity and ‘Ambassadors’ program. Curriculum work of the ‘Towards a National communication to members. AGTA also needs Geography Curriculum’ project and ACARA. Relevant points/information/perceptions to look at the member’s only aspect of the in regards to AGTA • The ‘Ambassador’s program is an ideal IAG website. opportunity to develop a proposal to the IAG • The IAG Council produces an excellent because for it to be successful the university publication titled, ‘Geographical Research’. geography department must be heavily The refereed journal is published 4 times a involved in supplying the young people year and has very healthy readership (mainly to be ambassadors. electronically now) across the world. They have had some interesting issues with their publisher • Half of the meeting was dedicated to the Wiley. We can learn quite a bit from their ‘Towards a National Geography Curriculum’ streamlined process and it would be worth us project report and the submission to the talking to the two retiring editors about their Federal Government. The meeting was very process and distribution strategy for the IAG impressed and positive about AGTA’s work

Teacher guide Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, The first chapter gives a brief overview of Pacific Neighbours: Understanding the Pacific Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Some of these island nations the geographic, socioeconomic and cultural islands has been produced to help students are made up of thousands of micro-cultures. features of the Pacific island countries. It includes develop their knowledge and understanding important background information that will Structure and key concepts of the Pacific region, its history and geography, support the achievement of the learning Pacific Neighbours: Understanding the Pacific its political and social development, and its outcomes in the other five chapters which islands provides teachers with a variety of source people and their cultures. They will examine are structured around the learning emphases material and inquiry-based teaching activities to a range of issues that impact on the region, of Global Perspectives: A framework for global encourage students to develop their knowledge, consider Australia’s place and role in the Pacific education in Australian schools. understanding and skills and to consider their and explore opportunities to take action. own level of engagement with their Pacific Summary of chapter 1 This book is designed for students in Years 7–10 neighbours. Chapter 1 – Let’s get specific about the Pacific! in all states and territories of Australia. It aims Each chapter begins with a general summary and This chapter starts with an overview of the to develop the key concepts, processes (social, a list of key words, then includes a variety of texts, geographic, socioeconomic and cultural features historical and geographical inquiries), skills and tables, maps and graphs that can be explored of the Pacific island countries. Students will values that will enable students to gain a deep through three levels of thinking be given opportunities to observe, record and knowledge of the Pacific region. describe the social and physical environmental – ‘Thinking about’, ‘Thinking more deeply’ and Australia is geographically located in the patterns of activity. ‘Collecting our thoughts’. End-of-chapter activities Pacific region, and the Pacific island countries can be used to stimulate discussion around are our closestneighbours, so developing our the theme and explore possibilities for taking appreciation of the countries in our region is action. Teachers may integrate the content and a fundamental step towards fulfilling our role AFSSSE teachingactivities in their geography, history or as responsible global citizens. Arab Project economics curriculum, or select short sections Asia Pacific The countries of the Pacific Islands Forum, for deeper study, or allocate a particular country excluding Australia and New Zealand, are the main to small groups for investigation. Further information is available on: focus of thisbook: Cook Islands, Federated States www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/140 of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, www.agta.asn.au page 8 Geographia Affiliate News

these subjects are up for re-accreditation Present colleges are unlikely to join until there are TAS in 2009. Geography teachers submitted major improvements or a change in government Tasmanian Geography a strong recommendation that Geography (state election in March next year). be re-accredited in its present form until Teachers Association the introduction of the National Curriculum. Other Activities and Developments The present Geography syllabus has been Membership Similarly, a Statewide session for Geography re-accredited until the introduction of the Membership currently stands at 19 teachers teachers was held on Saturday 9th May in National Curriculum for Geography. Introductory (16 teaching Geography and 3 without a class this Launceston to discuss the background report foundation courses have also been written year) due to the increasing number of schools and on the National Geography Curriculum, chaired for SOSE syllabuses. The foundation course for colleges teaching Geography this year. As in 2008, by Rob and Roger. Out of the 19 members, Geography is called World and the Environment. I have made membership free to all Geography 10 were able to make the trip to Launceston. teachers in 2009 to maintain a viable membership There was also some time for teachers to share Issues or Problems base. I will continue to compensate financially by resources and ideas. The restructure of Post Year 10 education should charging a little more for any resources produced have allowed more opportunities for consultation Curriculum Developments in by AGTA. Members are now mainly from Year and interaction between the newly formed Post Year 10 – the major re-structure of TAFE 11/12 government colleges and private schools. Academies and the University of Tasmania. and Year 11 and 12 Colleges into Academies These are the only places where Geography is still That is one of the main purposes of it. However, and Polytechnics has occurred with all of TAFE and taught as a distinct subject. At government high overcoming the ongoing problems with the half of the colleges making the transition in 2009. schools where the Tasmanian Curriculum is taught restructure has resulted in very little time being The other colleges are now not likely to follow from Year 7 to 10, Geography is a part of a large available in 2009. until 2011. Many of the systems, such as , finance, group of subjects called Society and History. enrolment, attendance, student databases, Professional Development leadership structure and ICT were not ready at A Statewide PD session for Geography teachers the start of the year and this has led to ongoing was held on 10th March in Launceston to discuss problems all year, many of which still have not the future of Year 11 and 12 SOSE subjects, as all been rectified.

position of Year 10 in the curriculum, QSA Publications and Projects QLD Guidelines, learning about wikis, blogs and pod GTAQ has continued its promotion of the Geography Teachers casts, geocaching and sexing it up in the city discipline through the sale of AGTA posters. Association of Queensland with SIMCITY. Adjunct Professor in Urban Design Furthermore, the Brisbane City Council has invited (QUT), John Byre held the audience captivated GTAQ to collaborate with them to produce with his keynote address on the links between Membership materials. Michael Rohweder will represent GTAQ. urban design, sustainability and planning. Membership is similar to the corresponding By exploring the recent award winning Issues period for 2008. Membership continues to CPTED Guidelines he discussed strategies Revenue raising - This needs to be considered be relatively stable at 214 total members and recommendations to develop in the context of providing members with (as at 15 October 2009). supportive social environments. more professional development opportunities and resources – servicing members. Possible Professional Development • The hosted its highly membership rise at AGM. • Three GIS and spatial technology workshops successful Careers Day on the 24 July. This were held in 2009: Townsville, Gold Coast and day incorporates lectures and presentations Web site management - David Lergessner is Toowoomba. These sessions were subsidised for students about the huge range of careers currently managing the web site and updating by GTAQ to members and they were run by and options available to them at after a information however this may not be the case Contour - Education-Mick Law. Geographical course of study at school or in 2010 as David has flagged his desire for more university. Meegan has been approached travel in coming years. • GTAQ is hosted its State conference on 1st to organize the 2010 conference at the same August this year at the University of Queensland venue and rooms and caterers have already with the theme - Q150: been booked. • Past, Present and Future. The day was a huge Currently there are 299 schools studying success with close to a hundred delegates, Geography at senior level in 13 districts. SE Qld a range of trade and publisher displays, heaps makes up over half the numbers in total, with of opportunities to mix and mingle with Brisbane Central (29) and Sunshine Coast (29) colleagues as well as listen to some topical as the two largest individual districts. professional discussions. Areas included the

page 9 Affiliate News

WILKINS Award / EDEN Prize • The Eden Prize that focuses on sustainability SA The Wilkins Award was presented for the second • 30 Years of service to GTASA Geography Teachers year to students with a particular focus on environmental studies. In addition the GTASA was An open session on the progress towards the Association of South Australia able to manage the running and awarding of the National Curriculum at the annual conference. first Eden Prize since the 1960’s. This was awarded Membership Updates in the GTASA journal of the progress to a Year 10 student in a Government School who towards the National Curriculum. Membership currently stands at 123. wrote an essay on “How to make the world a more As anticipated there were more members sustainable place”. Curriculum Developments that subscribed for the conference. New SACE is slated to begin teaching Year 11 in Malcolm McInerney has been instrumental in 2010. The current Y10 cohort is completing the Professional Development reinstating the award and linking it to the work Personal Learning Plan and Year 12 teaching will GIS training was held over two days and of the GTASA. occur in 2011. All subjects in Year 12 must have conducted by Mick Law of Contour Education 30% external assessment and no assessment with the support of the GTASA. GTASA provided Publications and Projects component will be used to moderate another publicity to members and sent flyers to schools. Study Guide- the editors are hard at work e.g. exam performance will no longer be used The training was hosted at Pembroke School with revising the last edition and giving it a new look. to moderate school assessed work. use of the computer network and facilities. Publication date will be early in term 1 2010 to ensure that students have full access In Year 12 all students will do a Research Project GTASA Annual Conference was held May 14 on any topic (worth 10 pointssemester subject) and 15 with the theme “Resourceful Geography”. to the advice on the two external assessments. plus 4 subjects ( grouping of subjects has been It was well attended with a variety of attendees GTASA has decided not to include the exam from abolished) In Year 12 the TER will be calculated from Government and Independent schools as 2010 as many teachers prefer to use this as their on their 3 best subjects /20 plus the best of either well as some student teachers. The conference trial exam later in the year. their 4th subject, or ½ the 4th subject and the incorporated a repeat program to allow attendees Map Kit – progress has been made on the Research Project. to attend as many of the workshops as possible. production of a new Map Kit to follow the A popular choice of workshop focused on the success of the Goolwa Map Kit which is now There is general tension and nervousness from relatively new Year 12 Course. As SA enters a new sold out. Subject to demand GTASA may conduct the Geography teaching fraternity (in fact all phase next year with the introduction of the new another print run next year. It is anticipated that senior teachers in SA) as the new curriculum SACE, GTASA is expecting teachers to seek further publication will be in early term 1 2010. is moving towards the use of Performance support in the teaching of senior Geography. Standards which is a major shift in pedagogy. Fieldwork sessions were conducted on the Year 12 Geography Student Night – was organised The SACE board of SA has actively sought afternoon of the second day which enabled all by Rita Shepherd in conjunction with the assistance from all the Subject Associations in participants to engage in practical fieldwork. Key University of Adelaide. Again it was a great success order to develop support materials for the new note speakers included Graeme Hugo on migrants with the event booked out and very positive course. As GTASA is a volunteer organisation it has and remittances as a development strategy and comments coming from all attendees. A series been difficult for teachers to allocate time to this. Alan Nobel on the flexibility offered by Google. of short presentations was given by some of the University lecturers that linked to the examined It is anticipated that enquiries to the website will At the conference there was also a session on topics of the Year 12 syllabus. increase exponentially early next year as teachers the work of the steering committee regarding come to terms with the new course and seek the progress of the National Curriculum for • Professor Graeme Hugo-New Global Migration: affirmation from their colleagues. Geography. Conference participants were able Some Implications for Australia Numbers in Year 12 Geography are stable at to ask questions and get a better understanding • Dr Douglas Bardsley-Geographers Responding this stage. However the New SACE does not of the process and anticipated outcomes. to Climate Change require students to select language rich subjects Conference feedback was positive and GTAS have as well as quantitative subjects and so there is made plans to run the conference a little later in • Dr John Tibby-Water Resource Issues in the anticipation that some subjects will see a big Term 2 next year at the end of May 2010. Lower Murray Darling Basin drop in numbers at Year 11 and Tear 12. Regional Support – Clive West, a long term Their presentations are available to download Languages are particularly vulnerable as well as member of the GTASA Executive travelled to on the GTASA website. the humanities generally. It is likely that we may Clare to provide a PD session for teachers on Action for Promotion of Geography initially see a drop in numbers. the teaching of geography in the Middle Years. • People who have signed onto the GTASA He showed them some simple lesson plans and With the advent of the New SACE some schools updates list via the website continue to be shared resources. that offer the IB program are seeing an increase in sent regular information updates. uptake. Once metropolitan school has seen a shift DD HARRIS Award • The GTASA Conference several awards have to 50% of the cohort opting for the IB program. The annual DD Harris award for excellence in been presented: GTASA may see members seeking assistance in geography teaching was awarded to Greg Way and the teaching of IB geography in the future? we also acknowledged long service to the GTASA • The Wilkins Prizes for student Environmental from Fran Slater with a special award for her years of Action involvement with the GTASA executive. • DD Harris Awards for Excellence in Geography Teaching page 10 Geographia

event was the HSC Exam Review meetings held valuable support. Further activities related to NSW at St Ignatius College and Merewether High water will be conducted over the next 18 months Geography Teachers Association School in Newcastle. These well-attended as a result of our successful Water for Life funding gatherings were followed by a series of application. Sue Field has taken a leadership role of New South Wales Geography skills workshops held in Sydney in this element of the GTA’s program. (Leichhardt), Wollongong (Dapto) and Newcastle The GTA has had another successful year, Early in Term 3 the GTA held two professional (Wallsend). Again these activities were highly especially in terms of the scope of its professional development activities for members. The first popular, especially with those teachers of development program. of these, a collaboration with the DET, was a Geography without an academic background broadcast to remote DET schools on the topic: in the subject. Membership Origins of the continent from an Aboriginal GTANSW has 400 fully paid-up members. The achievements of last year’s HSC students perspective. This provided an opportunity for We still hope to secure a total membership of were recognised at an awards ceremony held at students and teachers to speak with and listen 500 by the end of 2010. It is the GTANSW’s Sydney’s Intercontinental Hotel. The teachers of to Bob Randall, an Aboriginal Elder and traditional intention to send out the membership renewal the top 10 candidates in HSC Geography also owner of Uluru. Bob has been awardedthe forms for 2010 in mid-November. This will bring had their achievements celebrated. honour of Indigenous Person of the Year. He is forward our principal income flow. Membership well known for his singing and song-writing, but Towards the end of first term, the GTA held a fees now provide the Association with an income more recently for the DVD Kanyini explaining well-attended forum on the National Geography base of approximately $70,000.00. the Aboriginal connection to the land. The Curriculum at its base in Leichhardt. This forum is second major event was the Association’s Annual Global Education an important element in the development of the Conference at Parliament House in Macquarie The GTA has been associated with AusAid’s National Curriculum for Geography. The outcome Street. The theme of the conference was: Future Global Education initiative for two contractual of the consultation process is the publication of Challenges for Australia. Bob Randall was one of periods. Dr Sue Bliss has managed the project a position paper: Towards a National geography the keynote speakers at the conference talking over this time and is to be congratulated on its Curriculum for Australia, the latest version of about reconciliation in Australia and issues for the tremendous success. The strength of the program which can be accessed at: http://www.ngc.org. Mutijulu community at Uluru. Also contributing is, in no small measure, due to Sue’s passionate au/ The paper is an initiative of the Australian was Malcolm McInerney and Lucie Sorensen commitment to the ideals of Global Education. Geography Teachers’ Association Ltd. (AGTA), the (the National Curriculum), Professor Nicholas Royal Geographical Society of Queensland (RGSQ), The GTA will continue to be an active supporter Klomp (Environmental Sustainability) and Ed and the Institute of Australian Geographers (IAG). of Global Education. We will receive $16,000 a year Santow (Human Rights). Sarah Menassa, Sue Field to support a range of Global Education initiatives Term 2 featured a series of workshops on and Sharon Mclean are to be congratulated on including a GE issue of the Geography Bulletin. Engaging Students in Geography (Years putting together such an excellent conference 7-10). These were held in Sydney (Taronga program. Thanks also to all the members of Geography Bulletin Zoo), Newcastle (Catholic Education Office), Council who helped out on the day. The GTA has The Geography Bulletin continues to be the Wollongong (Nan Tien Temple) and Canberra also been supportiveof the project to develop a principal means by which the Association (Indonesian Embassy). Sue Bliss and Sue Field set of national standards for Geography teachers. communicates with, and supports the work of, coordinated these well-received activities. The final events for 2009 will be the Association’s its members in schools. The design of the journal Also in Term 2 was a Leadership Conference, Governor Arthur Phillip Fieldwork Awards and continues to evolve and costs have been reduced a joint initiative with the Economics and Business a workshop at Olympic Park: Water: Making a substantially through more competitive pricing, Studies Association, The Conference was held difference coordinated by Sue Field. aligning the print run to the number of members at the Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College in and moving the design process to the PTC. While the size of GTA’s program has expanded North Sydney. Sarah Manassa, ably assisted by We hope to further reduce the cost of producing significantly in recent years there are, I believe, other Council members, coordinated this very the journal in coming months. a number of issues that need to be addressed. successful activity on behalf of the GTA. These include: The amount (and in some instances the quality) Towards the end of Term 2 the GTA held its of the material submitted for publication has • not allowing the program to become too annual HSC Student Lecture Days in Wollongong increased. Upcoming issues of the journal will closely identified with a small group of (University), the Central Coast (Brisbane Waters focus on water and values education, with a contributors; Secondary College), Sydney (St Andrews College) supplementary focus on Global Education issues. and Newcastle (Callaghan College). More than • ensuring that the program is not too Sue Field will edit the water issue and has 400 students attended the lectures, which narrowly focused; volunteered to edit two issues in 2010. were well received. Lorraine Chaffer, Rod Land, • the need to involve the younger members David Hamper, Chris Tanna, Aaron Williams all of Council in the delivery of the professional Website contributed to the program of lectures and Keith development program; and The Association’s website, ably managed by Hopkins, John Lewis, Ray McCosker and Cath Martin Pluss, continues to be upgraded and made Donnelly helped facilitate the activity. A big thank • ensuring that we meet the challenge of more accessible. This ongoing process will be you to all those involved. supporting the introduction of the National made a priority in 2010. Curriculum for Geography. The final activity of the first half-year was a Professional Development Initiatives workshop focusing on Warragamba Dam as a The GTA’s year got off to a busy start with a range Fieldwork Location. Sue Field coordinated this new of professional development activities. The first initiative and Susan Bliss and Pam Gregg provided

page 11 Geographia

• GAWA collaborated with the Curtin University 800 delegates and provides an opportunity for WA of Technology School of Agriculture and teachers to hone their Geographic Information Geography Teachers Environment Muresk Campus to produce a Systems expertise. Broadsheet. This was presented as class sets to Association of • http://www.walis.wa.gov.au/forum/teachers_ all conference participants, providing detailed stream/professional-development-program- data and stimulus material to support the Membership outline/ Stage 2B Mixed Crop and Livestock Agriculture The Association is robust and strongly supported context. Eloise Paust and Norman Snell are Resources/Publications by its membership, which remains stable at 250. to be congratulated for their efforts. Most schools in the state that offer Geography • Hazards, Impacts and Responses by Norman are members. Issues and factors relating to the • There was also an array of fieldwork Snell has sales of 2212 and has had to be introduction 52 new courses for Year 11 and 12 opportunities with direct links to all the reprinted. have caused a reduction in Geography student Geography WACE stages. Michael Bourke from • Sustainable Planet by Tamara Boyer has sold numbers. the Department of Fisheries demonstrated the 2134 and is about to be reprinted. links and resources to support the Stage 2B • With the new course invigilated for the first Professional Learning Course. Peter Monks, Director of Planning and time next year, the last edition of A Student’s • Cheryl O’Connell convenor of the Professional Development for the City of Perth, dealt with Guide to the Geography TEE, compiled by Development Committee organised the Stage 3A planning issues for the city whilst, Alan May. Winter Solstice Professional Development Sue Martin from Penrhos College, undertook commencing with a breakfast at Hillary’s an excellent and practical fieldtrip for the • The Curriculum Council has stated they will be Boat Harbour and then on to the Fisheries Stage 1 Course. Phil Houweling shared his producing resources to develop standards in Department facilities nearby. A relatively technological expertise with practical GIS all areas which may impact on GAWA’s revision new education centre called The Naturaliste in the field and lab. book publication. This text has been a relatively Marine Discovery Centre is incorporated stable revenue stream for the Association. The • Prior to the conference, a small group of within the facility. The facility is a useful Association will be considering how to support teachers met with Jeanna Kriewaldt and resource for those schools studying the course revision for the new Western Australian Sarah-Louise North to complete the Stage 2B Course –renewable resources and Certificate of Education (WACE) exam. consultation process for the joint AGTA and sustainability. Melbourne University project that is looking • To support Geography teachers as they • GAWA was represented at the June ‘Promoting to develop National Geography Standards. become familiar with the WACE Course, GAWA Society and Environment Conference’ held at The consultation and construction of these is about to publish our new Stage 3 text: Our the Constitution Centre of Western Australia. standards will assist our Geography teachers in Global Future: Planning for Cities and Climate Phil Houweling from John Calvin Christian guiding professional development and ensure Change, written by Kathryn Ford and Norman School and Denise Moore from Penrhos a profile at a national level. Snell. College ran sessions to promote best practice • GAWA presented the final round of TEE revision in the subject and foster Geography teaching • GAWA Exam Papers - In January GAWA seminars North and South of Perth, Bunbury and Geography skills in lower secondary years. Council made the decision to produce and Esperance to approximately 365 students. Their contribution was well received Trial Examinations. With limited resources to support the new course the decision was by approximately 70 attendees. • In September, Cathy Henkel writer, producer to produce a broadsheet and exam paper for and director of the Burning Season, met • The highlight for the year has been our annual the Stage 2 course and a ‘swansong’ Mock with GAWA representatives to discuss her Conference themed “In a Brave New World”. TEE exam for the trusty E code. The Bulletin film as a relevant resource for all stages of The first keynote speaker Richard Weller, the new Geography Course. It is hoped Professor of Landscape Architecture, UWA, • Under the guidance of Editor Anne Tumak, the that the film will be introduced at the AGM. Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Visual GAWA Bulletin in its new form has been well Planning is underway for the AGM be held at Arts, spoke of a visionary plan for Perth through received. There has been a greater emphasis on the Perth Zoo to combine with a screening the use of his research and subsequent book; the provision of classroom teaching resources, of the Burning Season. The date is yet to Boomtown 2050: Scenarios for A Rapidly articles and the publication of useful websites be confirmed but is typically scheduled for Growing City. Charles Johnson, Executive and events. November. Planner – Special Projects for the Office of · Website - The new GAWA website is nearing the Director General, was the second keynote • This year GAWA was invited to join in the completion. The web convenor, Rob McFarlane, and complemented the visionary reflection organisational committee of the teacher has the template GAWA hopes to have it of Professor Weller with the actual planning stream for the WALIS (Western Australian ready for an official launch at the AGM. In the and modeling input that has derived Perth Land Information System) Conference 12 meantime, the current site has a high degree Directions 2031: New Spatial Framework – 13 November 2009, Perth Convention and of currency and will continue to do so until the Plan for the development of the Perth Exhibition Centre. This is a premier event for replacement is ready. & Peel Regions. the spatial science community with around page 12 Geographia

Australian Geography Competition - Results The John Forrest Awards are yet to be finalised. One official sample for each stage will be have been sent to schools for the National At the planning committee meeting in January, produced for release in February next year. Geographic Channel Australian Geography strategies to better promote this award will be There are concerns about the lack of time to Competition with. I was delighted to have been considered. GAWA hopes to align it to the new consider the implications of the exam on course able to present awards to winners to a number course so that it can be completed as part of the development. of students from both private and public schools. teaching and learning program. It will focus on the provision of a purposeful assessment with The Big Week Out (BWO) is being hosted by practical application of the Geography course. GAWA in 2009 and 2010. Mike Fazio and the BWO Committee are currently engaged in developing Issues a fantastically rich and diverse Geography With the implementation of the new WACE program for the week. Geography Course and its first external exam

next year, there is considerable tension about the composition of the exam.

GAGE Award for Geographic Excellence • Developing a second publication is a VIC The Association was also celebrating the GAGE Geospatial Skills book for junior secondary Geography Teachers Award for excellence in Geographic education students. This publication is also aimed Association of Victoria being given to Geoff Patterson. Geoff has been at assisting teachers without Geography a quiet achiever of the Association. GTAV was background. We also plan for more publications next year. Since the last AGTA meeting the Association delighted to recognize Geoff’s achievements. has been busy celebrating its 50th birthday. • Increasing the range and offerings of the Resources/Publications Professional Learning program in 2009, Professional Development The GEP with the support of the GTAV has as an additional service to teachers. Over 100 Geographers attended a dinner to been successful in tendering for delivering celebrate the GTAV 50th birthday celebrations Aus Aid programs over the next three years. • Developing more GIS professional learning held concurrently with the Annual Conference The GTAV also tendered with a University for an activities. extensive assessment project which covering dinner. One significant speech on the occasion • Engaging with the Royal Botanic Gardens Geography, PE and Thinking Processes. Although was the speech inaugural GTAV President, Melbourne to develop a GIS fieldwork activity unsuccessful, GTAV felt that the experience Alex Lyne. Significantly, Alex will celebrate his on the renewed Guilfoyle’s Volcano. This is a gained was worth the effort. 100th birthday on October 23 . His speech was re-establishment of an old relic in the Royal remarkably informative and brought the odd tear Conversations with VCAA, the organization Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. The site has been to many. This occasion was also marked by the responsible for senior courses and exams buried and “lost” over many years and is now production of the “The First Fifty Years” booklet has indicated that they will not consider a in the process of being re created as a water which chronicled each decade, highlighting course review until the National Curriculum is storage area and sustainable garden exhibition. key challenges of the Association at that point implemented. Under normal circumstances the GTAV is delighted to be in partnership with the in time. We thanked two key people with these GTAV earns considerable funds in the first year of RBG and hope that this is the start of closer events: Rob Berry and Geoff Patterson. The a new course as a result of increased professional links. Out of this initial partnership will come next edition of the Oral History for GTAV has learning and the production of a new senior more fieldwork activities for teachers and been finished and will be in print by the end of text. This will create a gap GATV finances. As a students. The written materials produced from the year. This will be an important resource for consequence the Association has been cost this partnership will also be co branded, RBG Geographers and those interested in curriculum cutting expenses and reviewing the manner and GTAV. in the future. in which it services teachers. • Contemplating putting the GTAV News on Approximately 300 people attend the GTAV To circumvent this loss of expenditure, some line and membership access and rights to annual conference in August. Student lectures innovative strategies are being implemented: our website are being investigated. were popular with over three hundred attendees. In November GTAV is hosting a VCE Conference • Producing a supplement to the current senior and hope that 100 teachers will participate textbook. This will have two chapters; one in this activity. on population change and the other on the Murray Darling Basin. These represent the compulsory units at year 12.

page 13 Geographia NEXT MEETING: May 2010 Melbourne Victoria Teaching Australia

Teaching Australia is in flux awaiting Points for associations to consider: DEEWR to make decisions on its future. • Ensure clarity of purpose: Defining the mission to have staff? With staff the Board moves from Hence the meeting was not as action of our association – plus five or six objectives to management to governance. Having staff based as previously. Too many unknowns achieve the Mission. should be money making in potential. meant that no decision could be made in • Make practical plans with objectives linked to • Constitution should be easy, understandable, relation to creating an on-going teacher ‘activity based costing’ budgets and financial up-to-date and reviewed regularly (5 years at association network. reports. least). Constitution does not have to be a micro-manager! ACARA continues to not see their role as • Should the structure of the association be a implementing national curriculum. ACARA federal body with separate state and territory • Consider the size (9-12), composition (non- is saying that the associations will have a associations compared to single-entity national teachers?), balance between fresh ideas and key role in implementation and providing associations? This would reduce duplication of institutional memory and term limits (yearly professional learning. resources, be national in membership, enable elections). pooling of resources and gain economies of • Develop a marketing strategy to recruit new Malcolm sees the key action being to work scale. Board members. with NEF to investigate possibilities for the • What is the correct level of equity and hence future of association networks. • To attract members, find out what they need. profit required to attain this? Be strategic, spend if required or plan to increase cash-flow if not. • Being commercialised as an association is not a dirty word! Is a means to develop cash-flow • Can we afford not to have staff? Can we afford and service members.

Geographical Education

Volume 22 Volume 23 Geography Teaching Standards in Australia Nick Hutchinson and Malcolm McInerney are In 2010 the theme noted in earlier reports will the revised theme for 2009 volume 22 of the main people looking after the development be: Geography in Australia’s national curriculum Geographical Education. This volume will be of this year’s Geographical Education, with Office and a number of papers from different writers timely as we move towards having standards for Logistics the publishing of the journal. It is has already been received for next year’s journal. teachers in a range of discipline areas – especially anticipated that the journal will be published More for review are always welcome! ones that are already announced in the new and distributed during January 2010. Opportunity is available for jurisdictions (affiliates) national curriculum. Geoffrey Paterson will be editing editor of the to provide a snapshot of the National Curriculum Volume 22 will build on the papers in volume book reviews and other learning resources in from a state perspective. 21 on Australia’s national curriculum. So as aform that section of the journal as usual. of national curriculum is released, so too will a form of teaching standards be available for use (albeit with slightly different timeframes).

Registered Address Postal Address 503 Burke Road PO Box 2066 Camberwell South Camberwell West VIC 3124 VIC 3124 www.agta.asn.au