6. Media and audio visual aids

Media educational broadcasts are a very useful resource for geography work. Both television and radio programmes for schools come with professional and usually detailed teachers’ notes and often with relevant worksheets.

Programmes should be used as a resource, not the rationale, for the unit of work. Television can help particularly in the provision of up-to-date material on distant places, both UK and wider world. Watch out for programmes which help locality studies. Ideally teachers should preview programmes.

Programmes should be recorded to provide a resource bank and to facilitate appropriate use.
It may only be appropriate to draw on one or two programmes from a series. Take care to choose only
those which supplement or form a focus for some part of pupils’ work. Sequences can be
chosen from a programme to make a particular point.
Often the best use of a programme is made by seeing or listening to the programme once then replaying
key sequences to reinforce an idea. Pupils can interact with the material,
having been guided by the teacher to focus on particular aspects or answer specific questions.
Small group viewing and listening can be used for further differentiation.
Don’t forget that the pause or freeze-frame button can be very useful in clarifying parts of the programme.

Useful programmes

Our World, Key Stage 1, Channel 4.
Geography - Start Here, Key Stage 1 and 2, Channel 4 renamed Geography Junction 7-11 in 1995/6.
Search, Key Stage 2, Channel 4.
Environments, Key Stage 2, Channel 4.
Going Places, Key Stage 2, Channel 4.
Watch, Key Stage 1, BBC.
Landmarks, Key Stage 2, BBC.
Zig Zag, Key Stage 2, BBC.
Geography Junction 7-1, Key Stage 2, Channel 4.

Individual programmes from a wider range of series can complement your work; check the programme titles and synopses.

BBC’s Teaching Today series, prepared for in-service training, has issued a video comprising two programmes on Key Stages 1 and 2 primary geography. There is a further one on Environmental Education in primary schools. The videos have an accompanying booklet to help headteachers or co-ordinators who wish to use them with the whole school staff for school focused staff development.

Videos entitled ’Rivers’ and ’Settlements’ are now available from:

Gogglebox Resources for Learning Ltd, 19 Park Drive, Heaton, BRADFORD, West Yorkshire, BD9 4DS Tel: (01274) 544155 Fax: (01274) 549391, at £8.50 including postage and packing. ’Rivers’ is now available on CD-ROM.

Many educational television programmes are listed in the Places and Themes sections later, under the country or theme they help develop.