Australian secondary school students' entitlement to a comprehensive geography education is vulnerable. This study investigates the extent to which Geography is being delivered across Australia by analysing survey data from 270 schools on geography teaching hours, mode of delivery, fieldwork, and senior provision. Nationally, Geography averages 54…

In the Australian state of Victoria, the city of Melbourne endured the world's longest number of lockdown days, with severe government health orders and travel restrictions in place for extended periods of 2020 and 2021. In common with others, we found the provision of field teaching in introductory geology, structural geology, and volcanology,…

This paper describes the results of an action research project undertaken as a partnership between Macquarie University and Geography teachers from an independent school in regional New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The project focused on the teaching of river landforms and processes, a component of the Biophysical Interactions topic in the NSW…

The idea for this paper emerged from a recent qualitative investigation which examined the ways in which six Australian primary teachers conceptualised geography and geography teaching (Preston, 2014b). A finding of this research was a strong correlation between the breadth of geographical understandings and the years of experience and age of…

There is an expectation that Australian teachers engage professionally in all aspects of teaching and learning, including engagement with teaching networks and broader communities. This paper reports on a partnership between a teacher educator and an environmental educator who set out to expand pre-service teachers' professional knowledge,…

Acquisition of language concepts by pre-service teachers (PSTs) is likely influenced by university coursework and field experiences, but little research has examined how. Knowledge of phonics and phonological awareness and confidence to teach reading were surveyed among primary PSTs at one New South Wales university, most in second year following…

The notion of employability is gaining importance as an essential outcome of many degrees in institutions of higher education throughout Australia. This paper aims to determine the effects of an Exercise Science course, which includes elements of both career development learning and work-integrated learning, on six dimensions of employability -…

Pre service teachers are required to engage in Supervised Professional Experiences (SPEs) during their Education Programs. The opportunity to participate as a member of school communities, interact with students and demonstrate knowledge gained during their coursework is generally met with enthusiasm. However, research suggests that pre service…

Problem-based learning (PBL) is one of a suite of strategies based on the premise that placing students at the centre of the learning process ultimately improves skills, knowledge and understanding. To date, however, there remain relatively few reports on the application of PBL within geography curricula. This paper traces the evolution of a PBL…

Field trips have long been central to geography, but have been subject to assessment of the role of the "field" in teaching. At the same time, academics face barriers to running field trips. Distance education and enhanced educational access for non-metropolitan students represented such an obstacle at an Australian university. These…

This research paper reports the findings from an international survey of fieldwork practitioners on their use of technology to enhance fieldwork teaching and learning. It was found that there was high information technology usage before and after time in the field, but some were also using portable devices such as smartphones and global…

Explains the equipment and procedure necessary to conduct a successful field study of birds. Lists books, periodicals and recordings helpful in bird study and outlines a series of activities that students can conduct with birds. (GS)

Provides a description of the geological history of the Naracoorte area of South Australia, and outlines how an excursion to the Naracoorte caves can be used to teach major ideas in biology. Background information including questions and activities are suggested. (JR)

Describes classroom activities and field experiences organized around evidence of seasons, daily changes, and time-dependent processes. (WRM)

Advocates the establishment of a field study center in South Australia for the training of primary and secondary school teachers in the methods of conducting field studies. (JR)