GTAQ News

Book review - The Future of the Urban Fringe

Tue, 26 May 2020 06:07:37 GMT

What is a peri-urban area?

"The non-urban areas adjacent to or surrounding metropolitan settlements" . Those areas that are vitally important to life in the city as we rely on these fringes for agricultural production and water resources, as well as the natural values of the landscape and environment; ecosystem services that are vital to all life and human wellbeing.

Written by Michael Buxton and Andrew Butt and published by CSIRO Publishing, is a timely publication for use in Senior Geography Unit 4 Topic 1. It discusses the challenges faced by the urban fringe of our growing cities encompassing spatial and temporal pattern. Part I looks at the concept of the 'peri-urban' landscape and the history of urban expansion in Australian, European and Canadian cities. There is a very significant focus on Australian towns and cities.

Chapter 5 is focused on regionalism in Australia. This chapter provides an excellent overview of the factors that have resulted in "concentrated capital city growth" in Australia as well as the changing land use resulting rural-residential development arising from the need for land close to the city, and the impacts on agricultural land in these areas.

The concept of liveability is covered in Chapter 6, including sections on sea level rise, climate change, and bushfire risk. This chapter is also largely focused on Australian places with an introduction to understanding of how liveability is measured and understood.

Part II provides five chapters wholly focused on peri-urban issue in the Australian context. Chapter 8, 'Population change in peri-urban Australia' , examines Australia's population geography utilising statistics from the 2016 Census and case studies for South-east Queensland(SEQ), Melbourne; Sydney-Newcastle and Adelaide. Including a series of population change maps and data the topics include age and migration, commuting and work, housing and households.

The remainder of Section II examines vulnerability and threats to Agriculture; the importance of biodiversity and natural resources in the peri-urban area and in the final chapter the importance of spatial planning in the peri-urban regions. Case studies in spatial planning include SEQ and Melbourne's peri-urban area.

The information is written in a very accessible style, suitable for senior students, or as a teacher resource. It is a succinct and relevant text for senior geography in Queensland.

Available in paperback form from CSIRO Publishing is worth every cent of the $ 59.99 retail price.

Released in April 2020 it is available for purchase through CSIRO or as an ebook through various eRetailers

Story Maps

Fri, 07 Jun 2019 04:29:44 GMT

Story Maps are a great way to combine your maps with narrative text, images, and multimedia content to create compelling, user-friendly artefact. There are various formats you can use to create a map. a tour, a narrative suited to your content. The gallery contains some great geographical examples. My current favourites are A World of Forests and A World of Forests Atlas; Stormwater A-Go-Go, and Age of Humans: The Living Land.

Check out the Gallery https://storymaps.arcgis.com/en/gallery/#s=120

Create an ArcGIS account https://www.arcgis.com/home/createaccount.html

Choose your template and get started https://storymaps.arcgis.com/en/app-list/

1 Million Women for Climate Change Action

Fri, 22 Apr 2016 07:29:45 GMT

Using the G20 resources to deliver the Australian Curriculum

Tue, 19 Aug 2014 03:39:43 GMT

Who should attend

P–12 teachers wanting to integrate the QCAA G20 resources into their classroom.

Outline

The workshop will focus on:

· showcasing the QCAA G20 resources, e.g. G20 map, virtual field trip, teaching and learning activities and videos.

· identifying the links between the QCAA G20 resources and the curriculum, e.g. Australian Curriculum: Geography, Studies of Society and Environment Essential Learnings, Economics Senior Syllabus 2010, Geography Senior Syllabus 2007

· demonstrating and modelling how the QCAA G20 resources can be integrated into teaching and learning activities and planning.

This professional development workshop has relevance to elements of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers: one, two, three, five and six.

The workshop will form the basis for a video that will be accessible for teachers in rural and regional Queensland schools.

Cost

This workshop is offered at no cost to registered participants.

Dates and venues

Code	Area	Date	Time	Venue
GTW03	Brisbane North	28 Aug 14	3:30 pm – 5 pm	Kedron Wavell Services Club 375 Hamilton Road (entrance via Kittyhawk Drive), Chermside
GTW10	Brisbane Central	1 Sep 14	3:30 pm – 5 pm	QCAA South Brisbane Level 7, 154 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane

Agenda/program

Time	Activity
3:15 pm	Registration
3:30 pm	Welcome and introduction · Showcase of QCAA G20 resources
4 pm	Using QCAA G20 resources in the classroom · Using the G20 resources to develop effective teaching and learning for the different phases of schooling: · Early years · Middle primary · Lower secondary · Upper secondary
5 pm	Close

Registration

Register as early as possible because workshops may be cancelled or combined if insufficient registrations are received. Please check that you have received confirmation of your registration via email from QCAA. Contactevents@qcaa.qld.edu.au if you do not receive a confirmation email. Only registered participants may attend this workshop.

New online Australian Curriculum geography resources

Sun, 23 Feb 2014 10:54:51 GMT

Asia Ed resources

http://www.asiaeducation.edu.au/curriculum_resources/geography/geography_cr.html

Understanding and teaching the Australian geography

Sun, 23 Feb 2014 10:52:57 GMT

Primary school teachers have a very significant role in

the teaching of geography in Australia, because they

will be responsible for seven of the nine years in which

the subject will be compulsory in probably the majority

of schools. However, they may be unsure what this

subject is all about, as few will have done more than a

minimal study of geography at the tertiary level. The aim

of this book is to help them understand the Australian

geography curriculum that is about to be implemented

across the nation, and feel confident in teaching it.

Chapter 1 explains geography as a subject, discussing why it is in the curriculum and highlighting

concepts and ways of thinking relevant to the primary school years. It also outlines what

geography contributes to a primary school education. Chapters 2 and 3 address each of the two

strands in the geography curriculum – Knowledge and Understanding, and Inquiry and Skills – and

show how the strands are structured. They also identify the key progressions from Foundation to

Year 6 that teachers and curriculum planners should be aware of, provide suggestions on how to

link geography content with related material in mathematics, science and history, and explain how

geography contributes to the development of the cross-curriculum priorities of Asia, Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures, and sustainability.

The rest of the book has a chapter on each year from Foundation to Year 6. These contain:

a discussion of each of the content descriptions in the two strands, and their elaborations.
comments on any problems in interpreting and teaching the content descriptions and

elaborations, along with ways of solving them.

explanations of what some of the content means.
suggestions on the order in which the content prescribed for the year could be taught and on

ways of combining or rearranging it.

suggestions on ways of integrating the teaching of the two strands.
links with the curriculum for other subjects.
tables on the relationship between content descriptions and Achievement Standards, and

comments on how to interpret some of words in the Standards.

The author, Alaric Maude, is a retired Associate Professor of Geography at Flinders University in

Adelaide, South Australia. He was the Lead Writer and Writing Coach for the Australian geography

curriculum.

The book may be ordered online from the publisher, Hawker Brownlow, at hbe.com.au, code

HB1710. The price is $35.95.

Tour Builder Makes It Easier Than Ever to Create Google Earth Tours

Wed, 13 Nov 2013 11:20:58 GMT

Google Earth is a great tool for students to use to explore the world. Building tours in Google Earth and Google Maps is one of my favourite activities for students to do to tell a story. It can take a while to understand all of the nuances of creating tours in Google Earth. Fortunately, Google recently introduced Tour Builder which makes it easier than ever to create tours in Google Earth.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/freetech4teachers/cGEY/~3/LxbwPlbTYts/freetech4teachers~Tour-Builder-Makes-It-Easier-Than-Ever-to-Create-Google-Earth-Tours.html

New resources in the MEMBERS' section

Wed, 11 Sep 2013 12:12:28 GMT

Members are able to access some great new teaching resources in the Members section.

Simply LOG IN to access them

Create Your Own Geography Game With “GeoSettr”

Fri, 31 May 2013 03:38:38 GMT

You can now create your own GeoGuessr game at GeoSettr (Thanks to Google Maps Mania for the tip).

By the way, I’ve made a couple of other additions to that games list:

You can create a Mission Map Quest game here, and a Google Maps scavenger hunt at Terra Clues.

New World Vision Resource

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:30:01 GMT

Australia's Engagement with Asia: Indonesia

Case studies in water, food, urbanisation and human wellbeing

Australia's engagement with Asia: Indonesia is an engaging and easy-to-use teaching resource that supports the Australian Curriculum: Geography. It includes six DVD chapters with related texts and worksheets developed by World Vision and the Australian Geography Teachers Association.

It directly addresses two cross-curriculum perspectives: Sustainability and Asia and Australia's engagement with Asia.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO RESOURCE

Geo Learn: 21st Century Learning Activities for Geography and SOSE

Wed, 15 May 2013 05:18:48 GMT

Geo Learn: 21st Century Learning Activities for Geography and SOSE

Website for registration:

http://plaustralia.com/

Flyer can be found here:

http://plaustralia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Geo-Learn-2013.png

New AGTA site launched

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 03:22:04 GMT

The new AGTA website has been posted at http://www.agta.asn.au/ The site
contains the keynote presentations from the recent AGTA Conference in Perth.

The edited talks of Tim Costello, David Lambert, Peter Newman and Simon
Catlin are worth a look at
http://www.agta.asn.au/Conferences/conf2013/presentations/presentations_2013
.php - as well as the rest of the site. Thanks to Rob Berry, the AGTA
secretary for all his work on the new site.

Whilst talking about websites, we plan for the AGTA/ESA GeogSpace website
(containing materials to support the Australian Curriculum: Geography) to be
on-line some time in May - and hopefully the geography curriculum as well if
all goes to plan in May.

Mountains to Mangroves Program for Senior Geography Students.

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 04:11:39 GMT

This program is designed to assist teachers with

fieldwork for Theme 3 – focus Unit 6 Sustaining Biodiversity.

The excursion follows the route of the Mountains to Mangroves Wildlife Corridor from the D’Aguilar Ranges through to the mangroves at Nudgee Beach or Boondall Wetlands. The corridor includes the catchments of Albany Creek, Cabbage tree Creek and Downfall Nunda Creeks. It explores the issues surrounding Wildlife Corridors including real life management problems in an urban setting.

Teachers can book or find information on line by visiting the Bunyaville Environmental Education Centre website or for more information ring 3353 4356.

CATTANACH, Lisa

Bunyaville Environmental Education Centre

Ph: 3353 4356

New Credit Card Facility

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:02:06 GMT

The GTAQ Credit Card facility is up and going. You you want to pay via credit card follow the link below. Please ensure you use the INVOICE NUMBER as a reference.

CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS - CLICK HERE

Global Food Security: What does it mean for Australia?

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 06:42:11 GMT

Global Food Security: What does it mean for Australia?
Presentation by Dr Graham Bonnet, CSIRO

GTAQ members (and keen senior geography students) are most welcome to attend this presentation.

With the global population to reach around 9 billion by 2050, the demand for food is predicted to increase by at least 50%. The types of food demanded will also change, including an increase in animal products. This level of increase has been delivered in the past by agriculture. In the future more nutrients, water, land and energy consumption – key components of the previous increased productivity – will not be available. So how will we produce more from less, and what will this mean for Australian agriculture? The talk will also explore the competition for land between food production and climate mitigation and what potential changes to land use in Australia may look like.

Dr Graham Bonnett leads the Advancing Agricultural Productivity and Environmental Health research theme of CSIRO's Sustainable Agricultural Flagship. Its goal is to significantly increase agricultural productivity whilst maintaining the environment.

Graham comes from an agricultural background in England. He was awarded a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Agricultural Science (Crops), and a Doctor of Philosophy, both from the University of Leeds. After completing his doctorate, he worked on improving the quality of annual pasture at the University of Melbourne before joining CSIRO in 1993. He has worked since in Canberra, Townsville and for the past 10 years in Brisbane. In 2009 Graham was awarded the Queensland-Smithsonian Fellowship and he and his family spent five months at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama. Graham is a member of the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee that advises on the release of genetically modified organisms for trials and commercial purposes.

Graham cycles to work every day and has competed in several triathlons over the past 12 months. He is president of the Queensland Masters Badminton Association, and is in training for the Oxfam 100 km walk in June.

7.30pm Tuesday 7 May
RGSQ, 237 Milton Rd, Milton
Enquiries: Kath Berg, admin@rgsq.org.au, ph 07 3368 2066

2013 GTAQ Conference

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 03:58:32 GMT

Date claimer - 26th and 27th July

Information will be posted soon

A new Environmental Educational program

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 05:38:49 GMT

The savewater!^® Alliance has designed some fun educational activities in conjunction with its refillit campaign, that encourages each Australian to purchase and use a refillable water bottle.

As a special promotional offer each school that has ordered at least 50 refillit water bottles before 5.00pm on Friday 22 March 2013 (World Water Day) will go into a draw to win $1,000.

For more details and to download the educational resources go to www.refillit.com.au

The 2013 GTAQ Council

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 11:31:15 GMT

At our recent AGM the following people were elected to GTAQ Council

Office Bearers

President – Lerece Roberts

Vice President – Anne-Marie Gerlach

Treasurer – Kaye Schwede

Secretary – Shane Albertson

General Members

Mick Law, Bec Nicholas, Sandy Frismanis, Jarrod Richardson, Nina Holland, Elyse Chora, Alistair Purser

Co-opted Members

Russell Smerdon, Marg McIvor, Terri Bourke, Wendy Harte, Jackie Dunk

Annual General Meeting

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 23:14:47 GMT

Dear GTAQ members

The GTAQ 2012 Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 22 November 2012 at the RGSQ office at 237 Milton Road, Milton begining at 6:00pm.

All GTAQ memebers are invited (and encouraged) to attend and nominations for committee postions will be sort at this meeting. Please find attached a committee nomination form if you would like to nominate for postitions.

To register your attendence please follow this link.

Many thanks

GTAQ

Mt Isa PD

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 12:19:42 GMT

Get a simple, easy-to-follow introduction into the wonders of spatial technologies such as online GIS, Google Maps and Google Earth from an experienced classroom teacher. Spatial technologies are not only relevant to Geographers but make teaching Geography so much more fun.