|
Time for a shake up!!!
Lots of new and exciting things coming... There are new syllabuses on their way - some, many years overdue...so things are changing. Bear with me while I reorganise and start archiving old resources. In the short-term the old website can be found by clicking on "Blog" above.
If you've got feedback, ideas or suggestions about what you want to see here, let me know by messaging me on Twitter (see right). |
Louise Swanson
Deputy Principal at a Sydney high school. Coordinating author of the Geoactive text book series (7-10), and upcoming Powerful Geography (11-12). |
Latest posts...
|
Differentiation with Chat GPT - First Steps
One of the challenges of teaching is ensuring that your lessons are designed in a way that supports the learning of the all the students in your class. In the average classroom you might differentiate for high potential students, lower ability students, and EAL/D students. What role can AI play in supporting differentiation? Let's assume you already have a lesson planned for students .... Read more... |
|
|
Report Writing - ChatGPT experiment
It's that joyful time of the semester again where everyone is setting and marking a lot of assessments and writing junior reports. Tensions are high, patience is low and sleep is something we catch up on during the weekends. Many classroom teachers are writing reports for close to 200 students. While teachers are more than capable to writing their own comments, it is a repetitive task - often commenting many times on the same tasks or skills, and it can be hard to come up with original comments particularly towards the end of the reporting cycle.... Read more... |
|
|
Fieldwork - Reef Survey - Curriculum Links
There has been growing recognition of the Great Southern Reef as an excellent case study for Year 10 Environmental Change and Management and Year 12 Ecosystems at Risk. It could also be used in the new Stage 6 syllabus for the new Year 12 Ecosystems and Global Biodiversity topic. Read more... |
|
|
Fieldwork - Reef Survey - Student Activities
Depending on the types of activities you are going to do (and how often you will be doing them) you might like to invest in underwater slates or clipboards. This means that while students are snorkelling they can be taking notes - perhaps about their location, types of organisms, or number of species observed or a particular... Read more... |
|
|
Reducing Teacher Administration
It has been great to hear a change in tone and implied respect in the few bits of communication we have had regarding education with the recent change of state government. It has been a long time since we have had communication that didn't feel like we are being reprimanded, misled or gaslighted.... Read More... |
|
|
Fieldwork - Reef Survey - Preparation
Pre-Fieldwork Activities Students (and teachers) will need to undertake a swimming assessment at a local pool to ensure they are competent swimmers. Organise a qualified dive instructor to guide the class Detailed risk assessment ... Read More... |
|
|
Fieldwork - Reef Survey - Where to Snorkel
A good spot for a first snorkel is Clovelly because it is directly in front of the Surf Life Saving Club, it is a fairly contained area, and in most cases in is quite calm. You can pretty much count on seeing a groper. This is a good introduction site. A couple of other good sites around Sydney where you are likely to see a variety of aquatic organisms are .... Read More... |
|
|
Successfully Running a Whole School Team
Whole school teams provide a good opportunity for teachers to engage in ideas and projects outside their faculties. You can access expertise beyond your immediate colleagues, you can share you ideas more broadly and feel like you have an impact beyond your own classroom. Yes, it involves extra work, but other than faculties, whole school teams are some of the most important... Read More |
|
|
Another Year...
The Michael Leunig cartoons over the last week have definitely captured my mood about returning to work after school holidays, so I’m going to share a few goodies... Read More... |
|
|
AGTA Conference 2022
The Australian Geography Teachers Association held the AGTA Conference this week in Hobart. The AGTA Conference is usually held every two years, and was meant to take place last year, but was delayed due to COVID. The key highlights for me were: A Plenary session with Simon Kuestenmacher, Director and Co-founder of... Read More... |
|
|
Gardening Below the Surface - Operation Posidonia
As part of National Science Week, the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) held sessions to raise public awareness about the fragile nature of seagrass meadows. Although this event was promoted as a Science event, it had clear links to the Geography syllabus - both the Year 10 Environmental Change and Management topic and the Year 9 - Biomes topic. SIMS is located on Chowder Bay Rd, Mosman Read More... |
|
|
Balmain Foreshore Project - Introduction
the Balmain Foreshore Project is an initiative to provide a more specialised program involving more challenge and differentiation to extend and engage students in our Enrichment class. It involves the development of a cross-curriculum unit of work, incorporating critical thinking and focusing on research and hands-on application of research to rehabilitate a section of Balmain foreshore on school grounds. Read More... |
|
|
Designing an Action Research Project
Action Research is an inquiry process which examines a particular problem or issue, puts a series of actions in place and reflects upon the implementation of the action to determine success or failure. Action Research allows us to engage current research, but is mostly focused on improving practice in our own local setting. According to DEC Action Research guidelines the process is made up of four main stages: planning, acting, observing and reflecting. Planning involves identifying an issue, examining similar projects and secondary sources, developing questions and methods.... Read More... |
|
|
Finding Your Purpose
I had decided with absolute certainty that I was leaving teaching and education all together. I was tired, deflated, done. Overburdened by the struggles with the system, the structures, the administration, trying to do everything with nothing, and the politics. Just done. I have been contemplating this for a while, but the idea was cemented in the past 6 months. However, this last week was a revelation. I found a purpose again. I'm writing this for the many teachers that I have spoken to that are tired, that are thinking of leaving the profession, that have had enough. Hold on. Read More... |
|
|
Ashbury - Responses to Change
Peace Park development - A community protest was held on 30 May 2022 to protest the development of a parcel of land adjacent to Peace Park. The event included guest speakers and was attended by local politicians. 30 Trevenar Street Ashbury is a rectangular parcel of land, of 6,688 sq metres located in the bottom south-west section of Peace Park. The parcel of land was originally owned by the state government, but was given to Ausgrid. When Ausgrid decided to sell... Read More... |
|
|
Ashbury - Changes Impacting a suburb
The following changes are currently taking place, or have been proposed or discussed in the past 12 months or so: - the development of the Canterbury Racecourse Masterplan - the moratorium on development of the racecourse has recently expired, the existing racecourse car park is likely to be decommissioned, - heritage restrictions of Ashbury are being reviewed.... Read More...www.hsieteachers.com/home/ashbury-nature-of-changes-taking-place |
|
|
Ashbury - Location and Character
The suburb of Ashbury mostly developed from the 1870s to the 1840s. Over 200 items in this area are Heritage listed and most of the suburb, and part of Croydon Park are included in the Ashbury Heritage Conservation Area. It is thought that parts of Hurlstone Park will also be incorporated into the AHCA. An "item" could be a house, commercial site, factory, monument, etc. The suburb, including its streetscapes, layout and architecture is... Read More... |
|
|
Picture Books WW1 - Soldiers of the King
Sometimes a gem just falls into your lap. While cleaning out my parents house to move we came across this picture book in amongst some family memorabilia. My grandfather was born in the early 1920s, so we think it must have belonged to one of his older brothers or sisters. This book is part of the Father Tuck's "Patriotic Series" and appears to have been published in 1917. It provides descriptions of various roles within the British Army with beautiful illustrations accompanying it... Read More... |
|
|
WWII Recollections and ANZAC Resources
As a family we are lucky that my Pop audio recorded some of his life story including his experiences in PNG during WWII. The video below is an excerpt of these recordings with some photographs taken at the time of him, some of his fellow soldiers and family members. In the lead up to ANZAC Day this year, a number of organisations have shared some great resources. The Poppy Field Project has released an interactive infographic which shows war fatalities in the 20th century using different sized poppies. Information can be interrogated by continent, by sorting by size of conflict, and by displaying particular time periods.... Read More... |
|
|
Picture Book Review: Strange Animals of the Sea
If you are looking for a great picture book to introduce primary students to marine environments you can't go past "Strange Animals of the Sea". This picture book was release in the early 1990s by the National Geographic Society as one of the National Geographic Action Book series. The content is factual but simple, but it is really the visuals that make this a stand out.... Read More... |
|
|
Tourism - Are we loving Venice to Death? - Part 2
The COVID-19 pandemic, and it's impact on global tourism since that post has resulted in a new range of impacts and an opportunity for reassessing the nature of tourism on the island. The pandemic has resulted in months of empty shops, restaurants and hotels. As Venice begins to open with some slight changes (more takeaways, outdoor dining, etc) a broader review of tourism on the island must be considered.... Read More... |
|
|
Canterbury Racecourse Development - Community Consultation
Concerns have been raised regarding the development of a Canterbury Racecourse Masterplan by Canterbury-Bankstown Council, with claims that at this early stage of planning, successive steps have been put in place to limit consultation. The Council has recently held a Community Voice Panel, and is due to hold another on 24 March. Local residents had to apply to be part of this process... Read More... |
|
|
Online Learning - From Crisis Teaching to E-Learning
What is crisis teaching? Crisis teaching involves implementing a rapid change to lesson delivery methods to meet a short-term educational need in a time of crisis. As we head into Week 1 of Term 3, many students and teachers have been in some form of lockdown or isolation for around 4 weeks. The prospect of maintaining quality teaching and learning while looking after our own mental and physical health during the COVID pandemic is a challenge at best... Read More.... |
|
|
Australian Bushfires 2019-2020 - Cartoon Interpretation
Cartoons are a form of visual representation of ideas, views and concepts. It is important that students develop skills in interpreting cartoons. Interpreting cartoons involves knowledge of the context of the cartoon, identifying different issues being explored in the cartoon, identifying the techniques used by the artist, and considering the views or opinions that the artist is trying to convey... Read More... |
|
|
Australian Bushfires 2019-2020 - Lakes Innes and Port Macquarie
Fires around Port Macquarie, Lake Cathie and Lake Innes began in November 2019. As of 21 January the Crestwood Drive, Port Macquarie fire had burnt out 3572ha, while the connected Lindfield Park rd, Port Macquarie fire had burnt out 859ha. The Lake Innes Nature Reserve was home to a flourishing koala colony. Between 350 and 600 koalas are believed to have died in the fires around the Lake Innes area. The image on the left is a screenshot of the RFS Fires... Read More... |
|
|
White Island
On 9 December 2019, Whakaari, or White Island in New Zealand erupted while 47 people were on the island. It is located 48 km off the coast of New Zealand’s North Island. 47 people were on the island at the time of the eruption. 21 people were killed and 26 people suffered injuries including severe burns and inhalation burns. Whakaari/White Island is one of New Zealand’s most active volcanoes... Read More... |
|
