Calendar revised

Branch AGM plus focus on Electives and the Exams (Charles Hayes) and the Future of Geography at Junior Certificate (Peter Lydon) at Waterford Teachers centre at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday November ^23rd 

A teachers insight into Junior Certificate by Tara Fitzharris at Wexford Teachers centre (Enniscorthy) on January 16^th 

Copper Coast fieldwork (full day) led by Tina Keating...left over from last year on February 25^th .  €10 deposit (refundable) to confirm place by 10^th February.

Making maps with (1) Richard Kirwan ex OS (If maps could speak), (2) Lidar with Pat Healy and (3) GeoFis...an update. Venue: Kilkenny Castle on March 3rd  .

Classroom activities for exploring resources and economic activities (PDST)on  March 6^th in Waterford and March 15^th  in Wexford teacher’s centre.

April 21^st : Fieldwork for those who have not already attended inservice (Wexford/ PDST)
 PDST (Professional Development service for teachers)

Annual Conference

Check out details for the Annual Conference here.

Dates are October 21st and 22nd in Galway.

SE Branch AGM

The South East branch of the AGTI

will hold their AGM in the Waterford Teachers Centre

on Thursday November 18th at 7.30.

Rocks and the Rock Cycle: a presentation from Tina Keating, the Geologist with the Copper Coast Geopark who will explain the resources available to Secondary level teachers and their classes. Click here for a link to their excellent resources. In March we plan to run a field trip to the Copper Coast as a follow up.

Wind Energy: a case study of a windfarm on an old mine site by Mr Jim Dunne. Lisheen mines will provide you with a good example for the Economic Elective. Check out this link to discover where this site is.

The meeting will conclude with a discussion on the marking scheme used for the Fieldwork Investigation

Geography teachers for Leaving Certificate 2011 should be aware of the changes in the prescribed list:
1. Geomorphic process of transportation and / or deposition in a fluvial or coastal environment.
2. Human interaction with the geomorphic processes in a glacial or coastal or fluvial or karst environment.
3. A study of how land-use affects traffic flow patterns in a local area.
4. Analysis of a waste management strategy in a local area.
5. Fifty years of population – a local demographic study.
6. The changing economic landscape in a rural or urban setting.

The 2012 list has also recently arrived and thrown up some interesting changes!!!
1. A study of one landform evident on the Irish landscape formed by geographic processes.
2. Study the relationship between economic activity and traffic flow in a local area.
3. Analyse the change in land-use patterns from the Central Business District (CBD) outwards in a local area over time.
4. Water pollution: a study of a local stream or river.
5. Demographic change in a local setting.
6. A survey of the distribution of economic activities past and present in a local area.

AGTI National Conference

The 2010 National Conference of the AGTI will be held in the Design Centre, Kilkenny and Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle.

Friday 1st October 2010

• Design Centre, Kilkenny
  
• Registration from 7.30pm
• Opening of Conference at 8.00pm
• Guest Speaker: Mr. Jack Burchaell 'The Landscapes of Kilkenny'
• 
  
• 

Saturday 2nd October 2010

• 9.00am: Registration in the Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle
• 9.30am - 10.30am: Primary Resources in the South East: A Case study of Lisheen Mines, Mr. Jim Dunne, Lisheen Mines
• 
• 10.30: Tea & Coffee

• 10.45 - 12.00 pm: Parallel Session

a. CSO - SAPMAP and the 2011 Census, Deirdre Cullen, CSO

b. Walking Tour of Kilkenny, Pat Tynan

• 12.00 - 12.30: AGTI AGM
• 12.30 - 2.00pm: Tour of Period Rooms
• 1.00pm - 2.00pm: Lunch in the Design Centre Kilkenny
• 2.00pm - 3.00pm Parallel Session

a. 'The Geographical Investigation: What's not to love?, Sue Honan

b. Walking Tour of Kilkenny, Pat Tynan

• 3.15pm - 4.15pm: Human Interaction with River processes in the South East, Vincent Hussey, Senior Engineer, Hydrometric Section, OPW
• 

• 4.15pm: Plenary Session

Post Marking Review
Other issues

Scoilnet maps

The NCTE are running a course on Scoilnet Maps consisting of two modules. the first of these will cover the basics and the second will be more advanced. This is a great opportunity to refresh the skills many of you gained whilst doing the initial inservice training.
These modules will take place on March 2nd and March 9th at the Waterford Teachers Centre. The course tutor will run be Niall Moynihan.
All schools have been circulated but if you do not get the booking form, ring the Waterford Teachers Centre on 051-311000. The deadline for booking is February 24th.
The manual is available on the Scoilnet website.

Forthcoming AGM

The 2009 Annual General Meeting will be held on December 9th at 7.30 p.m. in the Waterford Teachers Centre.
We hope to spice up the meeting with some guest speakers. We are not going to focus this year on the ever frustrating Leaving Certificate exam. Instead, we have lined up two of the book companies to give presentations on their Junior Certificate product and how best to use them. The Educational Company will give some ideas on their digital resources and the Folens hope to encourage Eddie Gilmartin along to suggest how to make best use of his textbook. Both companies presented at the full AGM of the AGTI in early October but most people missed it!

For an insight into Edco Digital browse their website

Folens produce Earth Matters is a three year textbook that covers all elements of the Junior Certificate Geography course for Higher and Ordinary levels. The textbook is accompanied by a workbook. There is a teacher's CD available for teachers and the textbook will be available online as a teacher's resource.

Peter Lydon will also introduce how he works with Blogs in Transition Year. For a sneak preview check out his website

Looking at Geography

The next meeting is provisionally set for 26th February at Waterford Education Centre.
The main speaker will be Domnall Fleming, senior departmental inspector. He will discuss the recent inspectorate report: Looking at Geography. You can download the report in advance if you wish.
We will also have a final chance to look at the most recent draft of the AGTI Constitution and nominate 2 representatives to the forthcoming EGM.