Welcome to the index page for Perspectives in Geographical Education

Professional Development in Secondary Geography Home

From this page you can access material on perspectives in contemporary geography. The word 'perspectives' has a particular meaning in the pages that follow. Click here to make sure you understand how we use this word. From March 2003, material on the following perspectives will be available:

To go to the pages containing the material you want to explore, click on the relevant perspective name from the list above. To leave this page click on the 'back' button of your browser, or click on 'close' or 'exit' from the File pull-down menu.

The text relating to each perspective is organized into eight sections and each section can be read and understood independently. Ultimately there will be links between perspectives (for example, Marxism and post-Fordism), an extensive consolidated bibliography and a glossary of key terms. The websites given with the commentaries on perspectives have been available since February 2003.

The initial implementation of the site was undertaken at the Institute of Education, University of London in November, 2001. The contributing developers were Lex Chalmers and Paul Keown from the University of Waikato in New Zealand, and Ashley Kent from the Institute of Education in London. Colin McLeay wrote the text on globalisation. Lex Chalmers (lex@waikato.ac.nz) is the contact for comments.

The text is written for the intelligent 'lay reader'. We intend it to be appropriate for teachers of secondary geography, not for the geography classroom. Chalmers, Keown and Kent (2002) have argued for the use of the internet by geography teachers coming to terms with 'perspectives'. We note the case made by Bell and Gilbert (1996) for the use of internet forums to facilitate social, personal and professional development.

Bell, B and Gilbert, J (1996) Teacher Development: A Model from Science Education. London, Falmer Press.

Chalmers, L, Keown, P and Kent, A (2002) Geography and Perspectives: Opportunities for Teachers Using the Internet. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education. 11 (2).