Dr. Chang's Teaching Log

Monday, August 28, 2006

First session with the PGDE Geography Class

I started the class by asking them to describe what they expect a Geography teacher to be. This was to help them map their personal epistemology about teaching Geography. What surpirsed me was that it helped me map my own! The trainees come with very broad and diverse expectations (which is not uncommon) but I can sense that they are very keen to learn about being a Geography Teacher. What I learnt most from the activity was that I had not really internalise the fact that they are just fresh Geography graduates. While I have a sense of that, the activity helped me internalise this fact. I realise there is a long road to helping them become effective Geography teachers but I am inspired by their attitude.

The class was 3 hours long but they perservered and all I can say is that this is a good start.