Recontextualising Geography in Education

Dr. Mary Fargher spent a long career teaching geography in London schools and sixth form colleges before moving into geography teacher education and completing her PhD at University College London, Institute of Education, London, UK. Mary leads and teaches on the MA Education (Geography) lectures on the MA Education and contributes to the PGCE Geography and Undergraduate Geography programmes at UCL. She is currently researching the role of web-based GIS (geographical information systems) in constructing geographical knowledge in school geography. As a member of the Geography Education Research Collective (GEReCO with UK IGU-CGE), Mary works to promote geography education both nationally and internationally.

After teaching geography in schools and sixth form colleges for nine years, Dr. David Mitchell moved into geography teacher education and research at University College London, Institute of Education, London, UK where he also gained his doctorate. Initial teacher education has been a central part of his work as a tutor, subject leader for geography and programme leader, educating teachers as they begin their careers in London schools. His area of research interest is the geography curriculum and particularly the teacher’s role and agency to enact a forward-looking geography curriculum in challenging times. As a member of the Geography Education Research Collective (GEReCO with UK IGU-CGE) David collaborates with a wider community of educational researchers with a shared interest in how a progressive approach to knowledge in different subject disciplines can enhance a child’s education.

Dr. Emma Till is Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of Winchester, UK. Before joining the university, she worked as a classroom teacher and senior leader in a range of primary schools across South-East England and also spent time teaching in South-East Asia. Emma’s research interests are primary teacher generic and subject-specific teacher identity, geography education and phenomenology. She was awarded her PhD in March 2018 for her thesis entitled ‘Being a geographer: Towards an understanding of Primary Teachers’ Constructs of Subject Specific Identity.’ Emma also works as a member of the Geography Education Research Collective (GEReCO with UK IGU-CGE) to promote geography education both across the UK and internationally.