No Climate Change Education in our schools?

The debate around climate change in the science curriculum rages on in the press with a letter published in yesterday’s Guardian and signed by a number of educationalists.

This is response to the news that climate change is to be dropped from the national curriculum.

My immediate and emotive response to this is that the government has this wrong and must immediately change their policy and include climate change within the science curriculum.
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Education for Uncertain Futures

Attended the RSA’s Education for Uncertain Futures event last night. Some good speakers, but left me thinking whether the debate was focused too much on how education is delivered and not enough on what education should provide for young people facing an ‘uncertain future’.

What would I want from an education if I were to start again and does our education system deliver this?

- enough skills so I know that I can compete in a tough job market (or at least a good start in this regard)

- personal growth both as an individual and as part of a team or community

- the knowledge and skills to be able to keep myself healthy

- the opportunity to learn and develop my actions so that they are in tune with a more sustainable world

- develop a close group of friends, whom I can rely upon

- learn to value myself

- develop my creative outlets

What would you want from life and education to face our future, uncertain or otherwise?

Inspiring youth in the Alps

Very excited to be a part of the New Leaders in Sustainability expeditions this year. The expeditions aim to inspire primary school pupils to engage in sustainability and what it means for them on a personal, team and global basis.

You can follow their progress on their expedition website. Digital Explorer is working with the teams to see how we can develop their ability to communicate their experiences and become role models for the wider school community.

The expeditions will be using Digital Explorer’s [de] blogs platform.

Ed Stafford book launch

Great to see Ed Stafford enjoying the success he deserves at his book launch in London on Tuesday. Any teachers looking to engage students in the rainforest, would be advised to get hold of a copy for their pupils.

Ed’s book is available on Amazon and he is currently undertaking a national speaking tour.

Ed was kind enough to be part of the launch for the Digital Explorer Academy with a live chat from the Amazon to students at the London Zoo rainforest exhibit.

Planting seeds…

When I run a project, I never really know what’s going to happen. Like a lot of people I imagine, I promise a whole load of things to funders without really knowing what the outcomes of the project or expedition will be.

With the final episode of the Pakistan episode launched last week, it’s time to celebrate the achievements of the young people as they start on their journeys and to thank all the funders, supporters and collaborators who made this possible.

Special thanks to the financial backers of the project, who put their faith in us to deliver something. I hope that they have watched the video below and are proud of what they have allowed to happen.

Now the long journey to find the funding for the next one…

A day in Edinburgh for Google Earth

Great to be up with the Scottish Council of Independent Schools this month in Edinburgh and have the chance to work with a great group of geography (and science!) teachers.

A few pointers for the attendees and anyone else interested in using Google Earth and GPS in the classroom:

• the basic and advanced manuals are available for download
• there’s also a manual on how to use a variety of ICT tools for doing School Grounds Projects (see the bottom of the page
• check out the blog for a range of different resources and ideas, including the post ’40+ ideas on using Google Earth and Maps in the classroom’
• Digital Explorer produced resources for the RGS on using Google Earth
• and if that’s not enough, we have form and assembly resources from our recent expedition to Pakistan

Do be in touch if you need any other advice

New Pakistan resources launched

Digital Explorer has recently launched a series of resources aimed at assemblies and tutor/form time. The resources are part of the Journey to Pakistan 2010 Expedition and are being released on a weekly basis along with a new video from the expedition.

The first episode (above) focuses on the ideas of Pakistan that the student team who were on the expedition before they left, with the second episode looking at the impact of the media on our perception of other countries. All the resources, will appear on the Offscreen Expeditions Teachers page.

In addition to the classroom resources and videos, teachers and pupils can read the students’ blog, make comments and vote in weekly polls.

Google Earth climate change map unveiled

The Google Earth layer prepared for the FCO and Met Office is featured on Channel 4 News. It is the most complex Google Earth layer that Digital Explorer has created to date and we are very proud that it has got such exposure.

We look forward to the layer being used in classrooms across the world to inspire young people to make a difference and seize the opportunity to develop green enterprise and technologies.

The layer can be downloaded from the FCO website.

Changing young lives

Great email from a student from the Emirates who came on our Offscreen Expedition in 2008… Makes it all worthwhile!

The Offscreen Expedition was a big turning point in my life. Since then, so much has changed. Before, I was a careless and reckless young guy with no real interest in what was happening in my life. Just before I was due to leave for the UK, I considered dropping out, but for no particular reason other than I didn’t think it would be exciting. But from the first moment in London I knew that I had been wrong. When I saw the rest of the group waiting at Heathrow Airport, my fears and reservations turned to excitement and anticipation.

It was my first time away from home. I used to lose my temper quickly, and to be mad the entire time. I addition, I used to think that I am right all time, but with a team of Stiffin, Jimmy, Aya, Robert, and all the guys changed in my life. It was not a tour or a vacation; it was a journey that I have to learn from it as much as I can because it will not happen again. Jimmy was a kind of a tuff leader; like a Commander in the army, but I learned how to manage my time from him. Also, he gave me an Inspiration how to respect people time. Stiffen was a much different; a unique man with all of these art talents. I got to understand from him who I can deal with the different kinds of people even I do not like them, and how I can get the people to my side. All the other guys I got something special from them even the other students.

Here I am now, in the United States; a student who represent myself, my family, my country, and also my Offscreen Expedition. When I got the chance to talk about something special in my life I always talk about my Offscreen Expedition, and how my life changed since I had it. On the other hand, the expedition was a start for I where I am now, and a start for studying abroad. I owe the Expedition all my life and I will not forget ever those days.

Mohammed
Terre Haute, USA
Feb, 26, 2010

Using ICT effectively in Geography

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