Ian Dixson

Head of HumanitiesThe High Arcal School

Applying GIS Year 9 Sustainable Development

“How might the negative environmental impacts of the High Arcal estate best be

reduced?”

How does this work in reality?

• ICT rooms booked on a rota basis for all Year 9 classes

• Geography department website acts as a repository for teaching and learning materials

• Pupils work through tasks in a supportive environment using GIS, websites and printed materials to support learning

Map work: locate and define High Arcal Estate using GISMO

Change

Citizenship

Count up the number of properties in different categories, enter into a spreadsheet and calculate waste produced in the area

Fieldwork

Consider how to reduce negative

impacts of an urban area

Rank changes to assess BEST way to reduce negative impacts

Differentiated worksheets to assist pupils in writing their conclusions

Conclusions:

•Addresses a variety of learning styles

•Introduced pupils (and staff!) to GISMO

•Used GISMO to support learning

•Has the wow factor

•Links to real life situations

•Includes Citizenship activities

•but….

Have lost access to ICT rooms due to introduction of half course ICT

Reverted to mixed ability teaching….this approach worked particularly well with top half of Year group

Was a lengthy project (half a term),,…,too long for some to sustain impetus

Way forward

Re-write as a shorter project linking to issues such as global warming

Try to regain access to ICT rooms

Consider how such projects can be included in a VTLE such as Kaleidos to support learning off-site.