KES Geography Department Pilot Geography Blog

Archived

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 14:11:00 +0000

Just to confirm that there will be no more posts to this blog.
Thanks for your continued interest in the legacy of the OCR Pilot GCSE Geography blog, which still lives on in work carried out in classrooms.
Thanks for reading over the years.

4 years on....

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 15:16:00 +0000

It's now a few days short of four years since the last post on this blog....
The OCR Pilot Geography is of course no more...
There are also changes ahead for the OCR Specs that replaced it, not all of them welcomed by colleagues teaching the specification, but forced by OFQUAL in response to other pressures...

I've had a fascinating four years since then with my role at the Geographical Association, and now as a freelance geographer and author....
It's interesting to see that there's still interest in what we did back in 2006-8 here... around 30-50 visitors on most days...
You're all very welcome and I hope you find something of interest...

Last post...

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:17:00 +0000

This is the 679th post on this blog, and the last from me.

Hope you all have a good summer.

Keep an eye out on your travels for examples of sustainable transport solutions - take pics with your mobiles, pick up timetables etc.

Best wishes to KHCTC staff and students too.

Mrs. Clarke will now take over...

Best of luck with Year 11 - I will be checking in from time to time to see what you're up to...

Mister P

Big Huge Magazine Cover

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:49:00 +0000

Big Huge Labs is one of my top 10 sites.

We used the MAGAZINE COVER MAKER today to start to think about the cover for our coursework portfolio.

Here's my starter effort....

You might also want to read this post on the BBC NEWS website.

KES Car Parking Policy

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:33:00 +0000

I'll put this up here now so that you can have access to it when you need to...

This is the first piece of work that you will probably do next year, but I am putting it here now so that you can think about it over the summer, and also to save Mrs. Clarke a job.

Before you move on to this, you need to have done the research on the various forms of transport that we mentioned, and also consider the factors that put people off using the bus (and other forms of public transport) and how they can be overcome (think of the CARROT and STICK idea that we have discussed before)

These are some problems with the car parking provision at school. Are there any others ? Is this a realistic assessment ? Is it too pessimistic ?

There are some follow up activities to complete now:

A powerpoint will be available on the school network (and SLIDESHARE)

Velib problems ? and a Svalbard story...

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 09:29:00 +0000

We have been looking at the VELIB scheme in Paris.

Take a look at this useful SCRIBD document too, which contains a useful FAQ on the scheme. You need to consider whether this scheme could work in King's Lynn. If so, how could it be planned to work ? Where would you place the cycle stations ? What potential problems could there be ? How sustainable is the scheme ?

Read this article from the TIMES, which goes through some of the issues that the scheme is now facing.
Does this item focus on the good aspects or bad aspects of the scheme ?

What are the impacts of Velib on encouraging cycling ? Cycling deaths are apparently well down, and there have been a total of 27 million Velib trips.

Also thanks to SLN member Plene for pointing out THIS ARTICLE which has some useful information on SVALBARD: a good focus for an EXTREME ENVIRONMENT.
It starts:

It is forbidden to die in the Arctic town of Longyearbyen.

Should you have the misfortune to fall gravely ill, you can expect to be despatched by aeroplane or ship to another part of Norway to end your days.

And if you are terminally unlucky and succumb to misfortune or disease, no-one will bury you here.

Why do you think that might be ?

Deserts

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 17:50:00 +0000

May be the extreme environment of choice in some schools...

| View | Upload your own

Thanks to Alan Doherty for presentation via Slideshare

Car Sharing

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:24:00 +0000

While having a mooch in Sheffield yesterday, I saw this car. It was parked near the University, and the old Jessop's hospital (and the Henderson's Relish place).

It was in a bay marked CAR CLUB.

There was a website address called WHIZZGO on the side of the car.

If you follow the website link you will find lots of information about this particular online car club, and see that Sheffield is one of several cities where they have cars which can be borrowed by the hour (or for longer periods)

This is a nice idea for those people who don't want the running costs of owning a car.

GeoSquishing

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:08:00 +0000

Keep an eye out for the summer competition that we are running at KES this summer.

It's called GEOSQUISHING.

Take a picture which looks as if you're squishing a landmark, building, landscape feature or geographical feature between either your fingers or two hands.

There is an e-mail address to send your digital images to.

The winner will have their image made into a mug or mouse mat.

Thanks to Emma J for the prize idea.

We look forward to your entries !

Bus Design Competition: A New Bus for London

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:29:00 +0000

Image from HERE.

London was famous for the Routemaster Bus.
It's the classic bus with the platform at the back with a spiral staircase to the upper deck, and the pole to hang onto as you jumped on and off, patrolled by a conductor who would spiral out a ticket with his (or her) machine. I remember on many occasions getting the night bus from Trafalgar Square back to Brixton and other boroughs...

Image by Flickr user metropilot, and made available under Creative Commons License

And then the Routemaster was removed from the routes - why ??
Apparently there were some issues with the design of the old bus... Do some RESEARCH on this.

Image by Flickr user Annie Mole, and made available under Creative Commons License

Now Boris Johnson, the new Mayor of London is keen to bring back the bus. He wants to phase out the 'bendy bus', and is keen to

This GUARDIAN article outlines the details.

The mayor said the Routemaster had been "fabulous" and its successor should seat at least 72 people and be "green" in terms of carbon dioxide emissions and red in colour.
More details in this BBC item too.

So head over to the COMPETITION WEBSITE, which is nicely designed: A NEW BUS FOR LONDON.
All the details and entry forms are available...

2 lessons to go...

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:23:00 +0000

OK. There are 2 lessons before the end of the year.
They are both in the computer room. You need to do the research for the first part of the magazine...

Next Friday you have an Army day...
Here's a movie on rising bollards...

Car Parking in London

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:17:00 +0000

Car Parking charges.

Hourly rate of parking:

Manchester £4.50
Liverpool £2.00
Central London: 20p an hour...

Why is parking in London so cheap, and how does this relate to the Congestion charge ?

Cycling Proficiency....

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:14:00 +0000

An excellent "Big Question" feature in 'The Independent', which looks at whether we are turning into a nation of cyclists.
There is a very useful graphic which shows the growth of cycling in London, but also points out the considerable gap that still exists between the average distance travelled by car compared to the bicycle.

Introduces an interesting idea of "liveability".

Also, starting this weekend is the world's greatest sporting event.

Sustainable Transport: the start of the next stage of the course...

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:51:00 +0000

Transport is defined as:
The MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE AND GOODS from one place to another.

Sustainability: What is the definition of this term ?

Put them together, and you get Sustainable Transport

So how would you define it ?

Is the car a sustainable form of transport ?

If not, why not ?

1. Research the following methods of transport:

a) Rickshaw - where have they been used, and which cities have they

b) Light Rail

c) Guided bus - this has been planned for North of Cambridge

d) Maglev - a short section of track has been laid in Shanghai between the airport and the city - how fast can it travel ?

e) Tram - the example of Sheffield and its SUPERTRAM network should be looked at - what other cities in the UK also have tram networks ? - produce a map to show those towns and cities which have introduced a tram network

f) Community bus - is there a local community bus scheme ? what is it called ? how does it work ?

g) Car pooling

h) Velib - bicycle hire scheme in Paris

Provide an example of an actual place where each of these have been used, and how successful the project has been (also try to identify any costs, and other issues involved in setting up the scheme)

The BUS is a more SUSTAINABLE form of transport. Why ?

2. Think through the various stages involved in taking a bus journey – try to account for every stage in the journey. Produce this in the form of a flow chart. I will get you started on this...

3. Now try to think of the different problems that could occur at each of the stages, which might put people off using the bus as a form of transport. Remember that not everyone is able bodied and has all their senses working 100%

4. Now try to come up with a solution to the problem that would encourage people to keep using the bus

Where do the following fit into this ?

· Heavy rainfall

· Bus full by the time it gets to your stop

· Electronic information boards

· Kneeling bus

· Bus shelters

· Oyster cards

· Pre-payment tickets

And..... relax......

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:49:00 +0000

They think it's all over....
It is now...

Any thoughts ?

Last minute reading...

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:34:00 +0000

...on cheap T Shirts
BBC NEWS MAGAZINE article and little iPlayer video
Relates to tonight's PANORAMA programme.

A final Tony Cassidy contribution...

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:56:00 +0000

If you get an A*, you owe Tony a pint....

| View | Upload your own

We will use an edited version of this, where we look at OUR PLACE, and also Svalbard rather than Antarctica...

Exam tomorrow...

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:52:00 +0000

Do a few last minute bits of revision tonight
Get a good night's sleep - don't stay up late
Don't forget to bring your equipment with you tomorrow
Set the alarm clock before you go to bed
Eat breakfast !

So don't forget: DGDSE....

And don't forget FUGIS either....

Good luck to all KES students, and good luck to all Kirk Hallam students !!

Final few days of revision...

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:15:00 +0000

Enjoy your weekend, but try to do a few short revision sessions...
Use the blogs
Play Tony's Apprentice mega-quiz

What's so special about Bristol ??

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:32:00 +0000

Special prize for the first KES student to tell me....
Clue: it has something to do with the work you'll be starting the week after the exam is over...

Welcome to Mrs. Clarke - new blog author...

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:35:00 +0000

I gave Mrs. Clarke an intensive training course yesterday (well, 5 minutes...) and she has posted her first blog post. Mrs. Clarke will be keeping up the blog next year in my absence, and reminding you of the various deadlines. Remember that the Year 11 work is already on the blog in the relevant months (scroll to the bottom of the right hand column...) and also all labelled accordingly.

Here's a nice transport cartoon I came across recently, showing how the transport we use changes with age...

Don't forget to check Tony's blog for the latest and last help with revision....

New post

noreply@blogger.com (cmclarke) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:22:00 +0000

Testing this new post

Stripy icebergs...

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:53:00 +0000

These pictures arrived in e-mail attachment today - they're obviously doing the rounds... Anyone know what causes the stripes to happen ?
Post a comment below KES pupils....

As Svalbard melts away (a possible future...) is this going to be a more common sight ?

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:06:00 +0000

This BBC NEWS article is quite useful....

Greenland

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Parkinson) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 20:01:00 +0000

Greenland has a very cool flag...
Of course it's not called Greenland by everybody: Kalaallit Nunaat...
It is an amazing place, and the Wikipedia article has some very useful information.

There is a GREENLAND statistics site here.

Here are some questions for this section of the Pre-Release booklet.
The focus is a place called NUUK. This is also known as Godthab.
Here is the climate information for NUUK.

Why not go here on HOLIDAY. There are quite a few YOU TUBE videos too...

Use this in relation to the work in the booklet...

Location	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Nuuk	-4.4	-4.5	-4.8	-0.8	3.5	7.7	10.6	9.9	6.3	1.7	-1.0	-3.3	1.74	Mean Daily High
	-10.1	-10.6	-10.6	-6.1	-1.5	1.3	3.8	3.8	1.6	-2.5	-5.8	-8.7	-3.89	Mean Daily Low
	39	47	50	46	55	62	82	89	88	70	74	54	756	Precipitation

Here are the questions:

1. What is the precipitation in Nuuk in June ? (1)
2. What is the temperature range in Nuuk ? (2) (for this you need to subtract the lowest temperature from the highest - don't forget that there may be some negative values involved here...)
3. List 6 reasons why tourists might visit Greenland.
4. What makes Greenland an extreme environment ?
5. How might Greenland change in the future ?
6. What was your example of an extreme environment ?
7. Describe how 3 different groups of people are making use of Greenland.
8. Name one group of people who live in Alaska in a sustainable way.

Public thanks to Tony Cassidy again for sending me a very nice FUGIS document to use with this final week of preparation.