Work is coming in for this project...
Sunday, 18 June 2017
Sunday, 11 June 2017
Samso: an energy efficient island
Samso is an island off the coast of Denmark. I saw a nice infographic shared on social media last week, which has been sitting in the 'to do something with' pile for a while.
It is setting the pace for the use of renewable technologies apparently, and there were several stories shared about the place this week.
It may be worth exploring further as a possible place context for students to explore.
This article contains more information.
The infographic came from this nicely designed website.
A 10 year plan evaluation.
It is setting the pace for the use of renewable technologies apparently, and there were several stories shared about the place this week.
It may be worth exploring further as a possible place context for students to explore.
This article contains more information.
The infographic came from this nicely designed website.
A 10 year plan evaluation.
GI Learner Meeting
Mr. Parkinson spent 4 days in Romania earlier this term meeting with colleagues from the partner schools which the school is involved with for the GI Learner project.
Here's the school on Google Earth.... Quite different to King's, but a very interesting school...
Here's the school on Google Earth.... Quite different to King's, but a very interesting school...Saturday, 10 June 2017
Tuesday, 30 May 2017
UK County Word Cloud project
I've made quite a few word clouds of places over the years... they are a nice way to capture the thoughts of a group of people on a place, or something else... There are plenty of ways of making them, including WordFoto (one of my favourites), Word Art, Wordle (of course) and Tagxedo... (and that's just a few from many...)
Earlier today, I made a word cloud of Cornwall to go along with a writing project which I had started to develop. This was made with WordArt (formerly known as Tagul) and was based on the thoughts of around 40 people on Facebook and Twitter who shared about 250 words describing the county.
It occurred to me that it would be good to construct the UK (each of the counties) and put them all together to make a huge word cloud construction of the UK. At first, I thought I might just work my way around the country, starting with Cornwall and moving onto Devon. I started this process, and have some words in hand for Devon already.
I realised this would take me quite a long time to do (although it would be quite good to think about each county in turn...)
Instead, I worked out a method using a Google Form which would allow for anyone to choose any particular county. The responses to the form are then placed into a spreadsheet, which can then be filtered, and organised appropriately, and this will help to construct the set of word clouds in due course, which will then be added onto a county outline shape.
This is also going to be helpful to provide some guidance for those who might be putting together an entry for this year's Young Geographer of the Year competition by providing ideas for the physical, human and cultural geography of the UK's counties...
I will let this form run for a few months - I won't have time to construct the word clouds until the summer holidays, so will leave it for about 8 weeks and keep reminding you that it's around.
Thanks also to those who have already retweeted and shared the form.
You can enter your ideas into the form below, or go to the form separately here.
Earlier today, I made a word cloud of Cornwall to go along with a writing project which I had started to develop. This was made with WordArt (formerly known as Tagul) and was based on the thoughts of around 40 people on Facebook and Twitter who shared about 250 words describing the county.
I realised this would take me quite a long time to do (although it would be quite good to think about each county in turn...)
Instead, I worked out a method using a Google Form which would allow for anyone to choose any particular county. The responses to the form are then placed into a spreadsheet, which can then be filtered, and organised appropriately, and this will help to construct the set of word clouds in due course, which will then be added onto a county outline shape.
This is also going to be helpful to provide some guidance for those who might be putting together an entry for this year's Young Geographer of the Year competition by providing ideas for the physical, human and cultural geography of the UK's counties...
I will let this form run for a few months - I won't have time to construct the word clouds until the summer holidays, so will leave it for about 8 weeks and keep reminding you that it's around.
Thanks also to those who have already retweeted and shared the form.
You can enter your ideas into the form below, or go to the form separately here.
Saturday, 27 May 2017
Wednesday, 17 May 2017
Saturday, 13 May 2017
Meeting Tayna
Mr Parkinson met Tayna, who stars in the Fairtrade Fortnight materials which we use, at the GA conference over the Easter break. Here's one of Tayna's videos..
My Next Fairtrade Adventure (for 7-11 yrs) Part 2 from Fairtrade Schools on Vimeo.
This is the second part of My Next Fairtrade Adventure for 7 to 11 year olds.
Tayna, a student from North London, travels to Kenya to find out how climate change is affecting tea farmers and how Fairtrade can tackle some of the effects.
Here they are in a selfie taken by Tayna...
My Next Fairtrade Adventure (for 7-11 yrs) Part 2 from Fairtrade Schools on Vimeo.
This is the second part of My Next Fairtrade Adventure for 7 to 11 year olds.
Tayna, a student from North London, travels to Kenya to find out how climate change is affecting tea farmers and how Fairtrade can tackle some of the effects.
Here they are in a selfie taken by Tayna...
Sunday, 23 April 2017
ArcGIS Online now free for all schools
We have been using ArcGIS Online in school for several years now, and ESRI UK have kindly given us a free subscription for the last few years so that we can share our work.
At the end of the Awards presentation at this week's GA Conference Stuart Bonthrone, the MD of Esri UK stood up and made an announcement which was in some ways inevitable after events previously in the USA, and also very welcome.
Stuart announced that from immediate effect, ArcGIS Online will be free to all UK schools.
Under the heading of "The Science of Where", Stuart then played a short video featuring the inspirational work of Thierry Torres and colleagues at Dover Grammar School.
If you want to know more, and sign up your school, head for the ESRI UK Schools page.
I also had the chance to meet Steve Richardson, who is being employed to produce new resources and materials for teachers to encourage more use of the tool in classes.
There are already over 60 resources available, with plenty more to come.
Finally, check out the GeoMentors programme, which pairs up schools with GIS professionals.
Sign up your school now
At the end of the Awards presentation at this week's GA Conference Stuart Bonthrone, the MD of Esri UK stood up and made an announcement which was in some ways inevitable after events previously in the USA, and also very welcome.
Stuart announced that from immediate effect, ArcGIS Online will be free to all UK schools.
Under the heading of "The Science of Where", Stuart then played a short video featuring the inspirational work of Thierry Torres and colleagues at Dover Grammar School.
If you want to know more, and sign up your school, head for the ESRI UK Schools page.
I also had the chance to meet Steve Richardson, who is being employed to produce new resources and materials for teachers to encourage more use of the tool in classes.
There are already over 60 resources available, with plenty more to come.
Finally, check out the GeoMentors programme, which pairs up schools with GIS professionals.
Sign up your school now
Saturday, 15 April 2017
Wild Writing
A Padlet produced by Helen Caldwell as part of the DLAB Erasmus project. Ideas for Wild Writing.
On Tuesday, Mr. Parkinson will be leading a CPD session for all Y1-6 staff on ideas for Outdoor Learning.
On Tuesday, Mr. Parkinson will be leading a CPD session for all Y1-6 staff on ideas for Outdoor Learning.
Tuesday, 11 April 2017
Plasticide
Fairphone - a smart smartphone alternative
The product has conflict-free minerals and the supply chain is followed carefully.
Find out more here.
Year 8, prepare to learn more about this item as you start the Summer term.
Sunday, 9 April 2017
Following Mark around the world
This is a journey which we will be following at King's Ely.
In August 2007, Mark Beaumont set off for a solo cycle around the world, aiming to set a new world record. Between the 5th of August, and the 15th of February 2008, he had an amazing adventure.
Since then, Mark has worked following the baton relay around the world, and also did an incredible solo cycle from the north to south of Africa in just 41 days.
Mark is now planning to cycle around the world in 80 days. Here is the planned route.
You can follow the journey via live tracker from the website.
This is a picture of Mark at the finish line in Paris after his first round-the-world trip.
Image by Val Vannet
Mark is currently warming up by cycling around the UK in 14 days. Here's the route, and you can follow him on social media and in various other ways, including on Strava.
Chapeau....
Some resources to come once Mark's round the world challenge gets underway...
In August 2007, Mark Beaumont set off for a solo cycle around the world, aiming to set a new world record. Between the 5th of August, and the 15th of February 2008, he had an amazing adventure.
Since then, Mark has worked following the baton relay around the world, and also did an incredible solo cycle from the north to south of Africa in just 41 days.
Mark is now planning to cycle around the world in 80 days. Here is the planned route.
You can follow the journey via live tracker from the website.
This is a picture of Mark at the finish line in Paris after his first round-the-world trip.
Mark is currently warming up by cycling around the UK in 14 days. Here's the route, and you can follow him on social media and in various other ways, including on Strava.
Some resources to come once Mark's round the world challenge gets underway...
Friday, 31 March 2017
Beyond these 4 walls
Preparing for a session I'm leading after the Easter break...
This is the view of Ely Cathedral from the Old Palace garden.
Image: Alan Parkinson
This is the view of Ely Cathedral from the Old Palace garden.
Sunday, 19 March 2017
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