Geographical Inquiry on Tropical Rainforest and Water Supply

Attended this workshop during the Humanities Educators' Conference by Andrew Turney on Geographical Inquiry in the Outdoors. We went to MacRitchie Reservoir to explore on the topic " water supply - "how clean is our waterway or waterbody?"

"Where am I?" personal and group evaluation

Testing water quality

water testing kit

Sketching the reservoir - annotation of the activities 

GI planning for Teachers 

1. Completion of RAMS 2 months before fieldwork

2. Notification of PUB 1 month before fieldwork - email to PUB_learning_Trails@pub.gov.sg the details - site, date, time, school, level, no. of students, teacher-student ration, teacher-in-charge and contact

Information of the learning trails available on www.abcwaterslearning trails.sg

3. collection of field packages from PUB for the conduct of fieldwork

4.Issuing and collection of consent forms

5. Logistics - first aid kits, booking of bus, field equipment (clipboards, nulon ropes, pail, water testing kit),. students to bring own camera

6. Print GI log, photo and map of the waterway prior to start of GI

Lesson 

1. Students to generate questions to unpack and understand inquiry question, go through with students attributes of water quality and explain the importance of consulting reliable source.
2. Ensure that students are clear of own as well as groups' responsibilities and roles, apply what they learnt on information literacy and identify secondary data useful to GI
3. Quiz students on key terms related to GI on the topic of water and give instructions on use of water test kit
4. Draw and annotate field sketch and annotate photograph
5. Brief students on fieldwork, attire and conduct, issue and collection of consent forms, ensure logistics are completed and the students to submit GI log and group's progress check form
6. Teacher to bring along emergency contact, first aid kit, distribute GI log, fieldwork equipment and clipboard. 
7. Check on student progress - data collection, field sketch, photo-taking. Ensure return of equipment 
8. Recorders share data collected on master recording sheet or online platform. Task students to analyse results
9. Guide students to organise and present data - explain data meaningfully, draw comparisons and identify relationships to arrive at reasoned conclusion.
10. Guide students to describe and explain limitations as well as suggest ways to improve GI. Students given 2 more weeks to submit powerpoint presentation, Group GI log, Personal reflection.

Using Google Earth for Geography Inquiry

Attended the workshop by Paul Cornish on the use of Google Earth for Geographical Inquiry during the Humanities Educators' Conference 2012. Would definitely try this out - maybe for Kalimantan but need to find the resources first. Definitely good for self-directed and collaborative learning.
You can find out more from http://www.gecpd.com/p/ga-conference-2012.html

Rosewood Enquiry

Multimedia Geography through Google Earth from Paul Cornish

Embedding

Google Earth is constantly connected to the internet and constantly ‘streams’ satellite images. This gives the opportunity to create a ‘window’ in a place mark, and view photos, video and listen to audio hosted on other sites through the use of simple HTML code. 

Embedding Photos

From Flickr.com (photo sharing website):

1. In GE, create a place mark
2. Find the photo you want to use and  click ‘Share’
3. Copy the HTML code
4. Paste into the place mark
5. Name the place mark  accordingly and add text
6. Snapshot view

Embedding Video

From Youtube or Vimeo (video sharing websites):

1. In GE, create a place mark
2. Find the video you want to use and  click ‘Share’ and then ‘embed’
3. Copy the HTML code
4. Paste into the place mark
5. Name the place mark accordingly and add text.
6. Choose angle and snapshot view

Embedding Audio

From Audioboo.fm (audio sharing website):

1. Use the Audioboo website to search for audio or create your own using the iPhone app.
2. In GE, create a place mark
3. Find the audio and click ‘embed’    
4. Click ‘more options’ and choose ‘if all else fails’
5. Copy the HTML code
6. Paste into the place mark
7. Name the place mark accordingly and add text
8. Choose angle and snapshot view

Snapshot View

A snapshot view enables Google Earth to zoom into a pre-chosen angle to show video, photo or audio files

 1. Choose the angle and altitude for your place mark

2. Either right click on the file in the ‘places menu’ or right click on the    

    place mark

3. Click ‘snapshot view’