1. Geography Teacher Educators’ Conference, Brighton 27-29 January 2006
Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography
Nick Hopwood
Definition
Pupils’ conceptions of geography are those ideas, beliefs, and opinions that are brought to bear when they experience, talk about, and think about school geography.
They may be descriptive or evaluative in nature. They need not be geographical or specific to geography.
Geography Teacher Educators’ Conference, Brighton January 2006

2. Four non classroom-based techniques
Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography
Methodology
School A:
Bart & Lisa
Interaction
Three
14-week fieldwork phases
School B:
Matt & Sara
Observation
Documents
School C:
Jenie & Ryan
Interview
Four non classroom-based techniques
Concept mapping
Geographical questions
Supplied photo elicitation
Self-directed photography
Geography Teacher Educators’ Conference, Brighton January 2006

3. Geography Teacher Educators’ Conference, Brighton 27-29 January 2006
Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography
Bart
Descriptive
Evaluative
Geography is about a variety of different things
Everything in geography relates to land
Geographers ask questions: Where? Why? What opinions?
Not about the future
Learning and knowledge are important
I appreciate activities and experiences that help me learn
Learning why things happen is interesting
There is no point learning about the future
Geography Teacher Educators’ Conference, Brighton January 2006

4. Geography Teacher Educators’ Conference, Brighton 27-29 January 2006
Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography
Lisa
Descriptive
Evaluative
Geography is about people-environment relationships
Geographers study different opinions
Geography is about what might happen
Geography is green and environmentally friendly
I like studying how people affect the environment and I think environmental issues are important
Geography is important because it helps people - with knowledge (holiday destinations), skills (map reading), and planning (futures)
Geography Teacher Educators’ Conference, Brighton January 2006

5. Geography Teacher Educators’ Conference, Brighton 27-29 January 2006
Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography
Population board game
The task: Pupils had studied fertility and were asked to create a board game that explained either the UK’s ageing population structure or Tanzania’s wide-based population pyramid
Bart
Lisa
My game is about Tanzania and it’s all about how people affect the environment: more babies means more buildings which means more trees are cut down and more cities built
I’m interested in these things
I liked doing the game because it made learning fun
My game explains why there are so few children in the UK
Learning fertility rates isn’t that good because they change.
Geography Teacher Educators’ Conference, Brighton January 2006

6. Bart and Lisa interpreted this task in strikingly different ways
Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography
Migration timeline (1)
The task: Pupils had studied push and pull factors which cause migration. They were shown an example of a migration timeline on a sheet, and were asked to construct their own version. It could be fictional or based on a real life migration
Bart and Lisa interpreted this task in strikingly different ways
The meaning of these experiences to Bart and Lisa only became apparent through interviews with them afterwards
Geography Teacher Educators’ Conference, Brighton January 2006

7. Geography Teacher Educators’ Conference, Brighton 27-29 January 2006
Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography
Migration timeline (1)
Bart: “I did this one because it would be more helpful if it had actually been a real event, if it had actually happened… We were doing the holocaust in history so I put that in there, it was facts from history that explained why they moved.”
Born into a Jewish family
1930
1932
Hitler came to power
Hitler did not like the Jews
After years of racist comments, decided to move
Moved to Britain for freedom
The Brits were not anti-Jewish so they stayed
Got a good job and healthcare $
Geography Teacher Educators’ Conference, Brighton January 2006

8. Geography Teacher Educators’ Conference, Brighton 27-29 January 2006
Year 9 Pupils’ Conceptions of Geography
Migration timeline (1)
Lisa: “This is showing what could happen to someone from another country, if they were poorer what can actually happen… it’s relevant to geography because it can show you what might happen and how it might work out.”
Steph’s ancestors moved*
Steph’s mum gets a cleaning job and her dad gets a good job at an airport
Steph was born
They move to a three bed house in Middlesex
Steph’s twin brothers were born
*From the Dominican Republic to the UK. Her family had quite a bit of money (well they were richer than most people and they wanted better jobs)
Geography Teacher Educators’ Conference, Brighton January 2006