Introduction This unit looks at visualisation as it relates to mathematics, focusing upon how it can be used to improve learning. It will also identify ways in which to make more use of visualisation within the classroom.
References 5 Conclusion I hope this unit has made clearer what a business manager can do to impact positively on the school and its core function of teaching and learning as we move forward into a changing future. You may now find it helpful to revisit your job description and the notes you made in Activity 1. Equally, through some of the new developments that are taking place in society, the school itself will need business management in order to best position itself to help pupils, parents and communit 4.1 Where to find support There is a range of tools available to support you, including: The DfES financial management standard [accessed 26 January 2007]. See especially the guidance on the role of bursar [accessed 26 January 2007].
Teachernet school finances webpage [accessed 26 January 2007].
Schools Audit Commission [accessed 26 January 2007].
DfES Value for money [accessed 26 January 2007].
Go to Ac 4 Putting plans into action In part, the business manager can and should be an ‘educational resource manager’. By having someone who concentrates on areas such as administration, facilities management or human resources, it allows others to focus on teaching. When I applied for the post of business and community manager, the advertisement specified that the successful candidate would have ‘an empathy and understanding of comprehensive education’. The head explained after my appointment that he did no 2.1 Looking forward Because it is easy to explain things looking backwards, we think we can then predict them forwards. It doesn't work, as many economists know to their cost. The world keeps changing. It is one of the paradoxes of success that the things and the ways which got you where you are, are seldom the things to keep you there. If you think that they are, and that you know the way to the future because it is a continuation of where you 1 A revolution in schools The school we are in today will not be the school we are in tomorrow. This is especially apparent when the government's Extended Schools and Every Child Matters agendas for English schools are added to the mix, together with remodelling and the changes to the 14 – 19 phase. For details of the bursar's key role in this process visit Bursar's role in remodelling [accessed 26 January 2007].
Admittedly, there is no ‘one size fits all’ business manager (or bursar) role. The position a 2 Creative communities and ICT
We oppose ‘any prophetic pedagogy which knows everything before it happens, which teaches children that every day is the same, that there are no surprises, and teaches adults that all they have to do is repeat 1.4 What is creativity? All people are capable of creative achievements in some areas of activity, provided the conditions are right, and they have acquired the relevant knowledge and skills … creative possibilities are pervasive in the concerns of everyday life, its purposes and problems … creative activity is also pervasive … creativity can be expressed in collaborative as well as individual activities, in teamwork, in 1.1 Creating creativity Read the poem below, ‘The Hundred Languages of Children’ by Loris Malaguzzi (translated from the Italian by Lella Gandini). Consider how the school curriculum and environment may or may not encourage creativity in children. Do you agree or disagree with the statements expressed in the poem? Note down your thoughts or the thoughts of your group so you can review them as you continue to work through this unit and engage with some of the debates on creativity. References 5 Summary and conclusion In this unit we have considered questions surrounding the future of school geography. This may at first seem an odd question, but it is salutary to remember that the advocates of geography had to work very hard to make the case for the subject's place in the English National Curriculum. As the unit sought to show, even if we can agree that geography has an important role to play in schools, opinions vary as to the purpose of the subject: Is it a 3 A diversity of views Another vital strategy for survival (or for the justification of survival) is for geography teachers to teach well. Given the wealth and range of lively material available to geography teachers and the richness of life in the real world, it ought to be rare for a geography teacher not to be able to interest or stimulate students in some part of the subject on its own merits (Walford, 2001, p. 238) 2 The purposes of geography in schools The evidence shows that students who study geography through their school lives become some of the most employable people in our society. The organisation [the Geographical Association] comments: ‘Surely all parents would wish their children to engage with a subject that improves their life chances and helps them to develop an informed concern for the world and an ability and willingness to take positive action, both l 1 Visions of geography: an introduction In considering the image which best reflects your ‘vision’ of geography, perhaps it is the volcano, which is a testament to the ‘awe and wonder’ of the natural world? Or is your vision to help young people make sense of the gross inequalities that exist in the world? Geography teaching is also about providing young people with the skills that help them fit into the demands of an increasingly globalised economy. There is the argument that geography teaching is at its best when it Learning outcomes The learning outcomes of this unit are: review some of the recent debates about the place of geography in the school curriculum; consider the different aims of geographical education; links for further study 4.1 Geography as a medium of education Geography is what geographers do. (Anon) Aren't we all geographers now? (Buttimer, 2004) Define history. Now define geography (Gritzner, 2004) Charles Gritzner supplies us with one of t 2 The subject discipline Click 'play' to watch the file
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