MasterClass in Geography Education: Transforming, Teaching and Learning

Year 2016, Volume: 6 Issue: 2, 199 - 206, 31.08.2016

margaret Mackintosh

Abstract

In his exhibition ‘The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman’ at the British Museum in 2011-12,
Grayson Perry observed:

‘I Have Never Been To Africa: When I think of Africa I feel guilt and fear. I only have the
impression of a continent brought to me by old photographs, stories, the TV news and
artefacts I encounter. This, I imagine, is not the ‘real’ Africa. That is in someone else’s
head.’

When we teach about Africa most of our pupils will also be able to say ‘I have never
been to Africa’, as can many teachers. Before starting a unit of work with an African link
it’s often appropriate, especially at primary school level, to discover, to research, what ‘is in
someone else’s (each pupil’s) head’ and to plan teaching accordingly. So when I was asked
to review this book it was with Perry’s comment in my head. If I were embarking on a
Master’s research project in geography education, how guiding, helpful or important would
this book be? Would it help me theoretically, philosophically and practically, with initial
planning, to pose my research question, with method and methodology and with controlling
the scale of my research, as well as completing the task? 

Keywords

Graham BUTT

References

• Morgan J. and Firth, R. (2010). ‘By our theories shall you know us’: The role of theory in geographical education, International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 19(2), 87-90.