Geography teachers as Strategic decision makers:

1. Geography teachers as Strategic decision makers: Clare Brooks Institute of Education, University of London

2. Some issues … • “Stories” told through narratives • Vocabulary to discuss geography • Macro v Micro

3. Mesosystem School Culture Including: ethos, community, policies, challenges, responses Personal Culture Including: family, beliefs, class, gender, race, school experience, community, home environment Microsetting Education Culture Including: paradigms, preferred approach, motivation, experience, practice, research, funding Teaching Practice Geography Culture Including: paradigms, degree experience, areas of interest, research, external agendas, research, funding Geography Education Culture Including: interpretation of how geography and education are combined, own experience, department ethos, research, funding Macrosystem Culture in its broadest sense

4. School Geography Education Personal Education Geography Cultural maps … Teaching Practice

5. Themes to emerge … Being “good” at geography at school. People - • Family • Gurus • Students Geographical Perspective Travel Context

6. But each teacher is unique … • Decision making influenced by their values • Teachers act strategically • Teachers use their geographical knowledge strategically and selectively • Making links with other geographical knowledge • Appeal to students’ personal geographies • Reflecting upon teachers’ own experience

7. So, how do teachers use their subject knowledge? • Strategically • In line with their values • (about teaching • and about geography) • SYNOPTIC CAPACITY