Streamflow Model

This review of an early piece of computer software, created for the BBC, was featured in 'Teaching Geography'. It came out in 1986.

This product was a set of three programs: a simulation model for storm hydrographs, river data analysis package, and a statistical package. It was designed for 'A' level students.

The creators were Steve Hanstock, who was my own GCSE and 'A' level geography teacher at Wickersley Comprehensive and David Butcher, who was my tutor in my final year at Huddersfield Polytechnic. Tim Burt was my original tutor but left during the final year of my course. We have met each other periodically since, and he is still very active in the Field Studies Council.

Reference

“Software Reviews in Teaching Geography.” Teaching Geography, vol. 12, no. 5, 1987, pp. 232–232. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/23751771. Accessed 25 June 2021.

The review editor at the time was John Chubb.

Computer Assisted Learning in Geography

This book was first published in 1980 and written by CET in association with the GA.

It was written by Ifan D H Shepherd, Zena A Cooper and David R F Walker.

At this time, the GA was linked with the creation of GAPE: the Geographical Association Package Exchange.

At the time, this was coordinated by David Walker from the University of Technology in Loughborough.

The GA also had its Educational Computing Working Group, based out of Fulwood Road.

Charles Sweeten ran MUSE (Microprocessor Users in Secondary Education) in Oundle.

I used a quote from this book and some other elements when I was asked to write a chapter on educational technology for Routledge.

It's a quote from Page and Kitching's 1976 book: "Technical aids to teaching in higher education" and was the following:

"The teacher's traditional ally is a piece of chalk, and the closer any modern aid approaches this still indispensable material in some respects, the more likely he is to use it."

Learning Geography with Computers 1988

Made by MESU. This has now disappeared since I screen grabbed it a while back... this was an early film on the use of computers in classrooms.

First part of film:

Hypothesis Testing - Cleeve School, Cheltenham - Derek Plumb - 0'10" - 12'44"
Hold the Front Page - Worsley Wardley High School, Salford - Alan Szymanski 12'45" - 19'31"
Planning Tourism - West Hatch High School, Essex - Val Brett - 19'32" - 25'15"
Hydrology Fieldwork - ILEA Advanced Field Study Centre, Abergavenny - Mike Penny - 25'16" - 35'18"
Negotiating for a Game Park - Knowles Hill School, Newton Abbott - Doreen Bennett - 35'19" - 51'31"
Individual Studies - Cleeve School, Cheltenham - 51'32" - end



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microelectronics_Education_Support_Unit

Deryn Watson wrote a book in this area:

https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Learning_Geography_with_Computers.html?id=-T_OzQEACAAJ&redir_esc=y

1970s: ICT - the GA at the forefront...

In 1971, the GA joined the Standing Conference of School's Science and Technology (SCSST). This was concerned with the teaching of science and technology.

Computer software was increasing in availability and complexity and although it was expensive and of limited use, the potential was there for it to be used in the classroom. It took a while from here for it to gain traction, and when I started my training in 1986, there were still limited opportunities in many schools.
The GA started its GAPE initiative in 1978.
GAPE: Geographical Association Package Exchange.
The Geographical Package Exchange (GAPE) project enabled computer software to be produced, listed, reviewed and distributed. This was the forerunner of the ICTWG working group.
I have a number of books from this time, which will feature in future blog posts.


Peter Fox was particularly active at this time, and is still involved in the GA's ICT SIG and Education Group. Peter Fox and Andrea Tapsfield also wrote an important book on the use of technology, which will be featured in future blog posts.
I interviewed Peter for a chapter that I had been asked to write for the Routledge 'Debates in Geography Education' book and he told me more details of the support for GA members at that time.
Teaching Geography wasn't published until 1975, but when it was it included a regular feature on software packages with reviews.

Sources:
Hall, David, et al. “Computer Assisted Learning in Geography: The State of the Art.” Teaching Geography, vol. 10, no. 2, 1985, pp. 73–76. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/23751122. Accessed 1 July 2020.

Ron Johnston writing about Stan Gregory's career and links with the GA and ICT appearing:
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=kVtwDwAAQBAJ&lpg=PA90&ots=AHT4_XIJ21&dq=Geographical%20ASsociation%20Package%20Exchange&pg=PA87#v=onepage&q=Geographical%20ASsociation%20Package%20Exchange&f=false