The GTANSW 2018 professional learning focus is on literacy, geographical inquiry skills, pedagogy and spatial technologies in the geography classroom.
Keynote by Brian Miller – Literacy in Geography
Brian is an independent educational consultant specialising in instructional leadership, academic literacy and executive teacher coaching.
Brian has filled many educational positions in his career:
English/History/ESL teacher; Senior Education Officer 1 in Literacy and SEO 2 in Training and Development DoE; Senior Lecturer at the University of Western Sydney in the Secondary Teacher Education Program; DP and Principal; Director Department of Education’s Leadership & High Performance Directorate where he authored the Leading Teaching & Learning Module (Principal Credential), the Instructional Leadership Reflection Tools and Leadership Development Initiative; Secondary Principal Council member of the Quality Teaching Council; Deputy Chair of the Initial Teacher Education Committee and Chair of the Moderating and Consistency Committee which oversaw all applications for higher accreditation.
Workshop presenters:
Lorraine Chaffer – Young, People, Places and Livability: An Approach to Inquiry Learning
Lorraine is President of GTA NSW, Bulletin Editor, Geography Consultant and Author. She has 37 years teaching experience and is currently developing resources for the new Geography Syllabus K–10, assisting schools in programming, creating fieldwork opportunities and using creative pedagogies to develop deep knowledge and understanding to effectively teach the new K–10 Syllabus and Stage 6. Lorraine has a passion for physical Geography and developing new teaching resources.
Melinda Rowe – Marking HSC responses
Melinda has taught a range of HSIE Subjects with 17 years’ experience including Geography and Business Studies in both Government and non-Government schools. She has worked at Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School for thirteen years and was a HSIE coordinator for nine years. Melinda has marked HSC Business Studies for six years and has recently joined Geography Teachers Association Council. She is currently studying a Masters of Gifted and Talented at UNSW.
Cindy Picton – Taking Geography Outdoors
Cindy is the Principal of the Dorroughby Environmental Education Cente.
Staff members from Dorroughby Environmental Education Centre discuss ideas in which you can incorporate geographer’s tools and skills into authentic geographical inquiries, either by booking the centre or organising your own excursions/incursions. Brainstorm ways to take Geography outdoors and utilise our amazing local sites.
Skye Rodgers – Using GIS in the Geography Classroom
Skye is a Geography, History and English teacher from Queensland, as well as the Education Program Manager for Esri Australia.
Skye is working with schools across Australia to implement spatial technologies into the Geography classroom using applications through the free ArcGIS in schools program.
Sharon McLean – Pens and Maps Integrating Literacy and Geography Tools – for those new to Geography tools and skills
Sharon has taught in a variety of boys and girls secondary schools teaching History and Geography and has been at Saint Ignatius’ College for thirteen years and the Head of Geography for ten years. During her teaching career, she has been the Convener of the NSW Catholic Trial Examination Committee and also a member of the Geography Teachers Council where she has also holds the position of Vice-President.