A letter from Chris Durbin was published in the January 1997 issue of 'GA News' (No. 46)Chris worked for some time with the BBC on a series of programmes in the futuristic sounding 2000 series e.g. Japan 2000 (an excellent series) and Brazil 2000, both of which were on heavy rotation in my classroom around that time. Cue the big telly being wheeled in from the office and the curtains being closed...
Chris was also one of the co-founders of the SLN Geography Forum which was behind a great deal of the innovative practice that started to be shared into the early 2000s. I've mentioned SLN Forum in a previous post. This was the Staffordshire Learning Network. It was co-founded with Kate Russell, and Andy Holt.
The SLN Geography Forum began on 7th Sept. 1999 when Chris Durbin posted the first message. A week later he replied to his own message. On 16th Sept. Kate Russell posted her first message - no-one replied! That same day, the first of the local Staffordshire teachers, Richard West, posted a message. Chris Durbin provided the only reply. On the 21st Sept. Kate had a second try - no-one replied!
Chris was also one of the co-founders of the SLN Geography Forum which was behind a great deal of the innovative practice that started to be shared into the early 2000s. I've mentioned SLN Forum in a previous post. This was the Staffordshire Learning Network. It was co-founded with Kate Russell, and Andy Holt.
I know that there will be many teachers whose practice was influenced by this bulletin board, and will remember the supportive atmosphere it engendered.
I had a chance to meet Chris at the GA Conference in Canterbury, 2004, where he was presenting, and also met up at a later GA conference as well which Chris attended.
From the SLN Wiki:
The SLN Geography Forum began on 7th Sept. 1999 when Chris Durbin posted the first message. A week later he replied to his own message. On 16th Sept. Kate Russell posted her first message - no-one replied! That same day, the first of the local Staffordshire teachers, Richard West, posted a message. Chris Durbin provided the only reply. On the 21st Sept. Kate had a second try - no-one replied!
Chris now lives in the Netherlands, and would normally be travelling in his role inspecting schools around the world.
An article on SLN in TES provides this quote on its evolving nature:
"is a bit like a shanty town - it grows and changes with the people who do things".
References
References
SLN Wiki Page: http://geolinks.pbworks.com/w/page/11412793/FrontPage
The Forum link now tries to sell you Hemp Oil
https://www.tes.com/news/staffordshires-learning-net-unites-geographers-world-wide-web
Memories of SLN are welcome - I am sure there are many teachers of a certain age who remember being part of this community.
Memories of SLN are welcome - I am sure there are many teachers of a certain age who remember being part of this community.
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