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."

1977: Summer Workshop at Clare Hall

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