First Meeting of Hertfordshire GA Branch

Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting last night.  It was a really positive start to what I hope will be a successful branch of the GA.  Those who volunteered to help will meet in the next few weeks and discuss the next steps so I will keep you posted.

Minutes of first Hertfordshire GA Meeting 30 April 2008

 The following were given as ideas for future events:

• Regular meetings to discuss good practice and student involvement
• World wise quiz – organise a question master.  Organisers send questions.  Aimed at Yr 9 and 10.  Enfield already doing this.  Richard Gill is the person to contact.  You can apply for the World wise Challenge – fieldwork with a competitive edge.  Possibility of Herts. uni as a venue
• Primary – smooth transition from Ks2 – KS3.  Lose interest?  Regular meetings would iron out this problem.  Claiming back the time as a primary teacher – not just numeracy and literacy etc.  Want flexibility in the curriculum- follow children’s interest / topical events
• But non-specialists sometimes want a framework – lack subject knowledge.
• Geography Matters, Shift Happens etc – promoting geography/inspiring / etc
• Resources (esp. fieldwork equipment) kept here – use Simon Balle as a hub.  One evening a week come to Simon Balle to use resources
• GIS – use Google Earth, but it’s hard for a lot of people to do anything more.  Need to expand our knowledge and understanding of GIS.
• Promoting 6^th form conference – uni.  Twilight sessions – venue/jobs/etc cause problems.  University lectures deliver topic specific talks, Chief Examiners etc
• Local fieldwork
• Running the branch – 4 full members to be a committee and need to have specific roles – Chair, Treasurer and Secretary.