Case Study: Enhancing the Teaching of Earth Sciences with ERA Video Resources
The Educational Recording Agency (ERA) is committed to supporting educators and making learning more accessible for students through its comprehensive streaming platform. With access to a vast array of content from the BBC and Channel 4, ERA provides high-quality audio-visual resources that benefit teachers and students across the UK.
Teacher Testimonials:
Dawn Windley, an earth sciences teacher at Thomas Rotherham College, shares her experience of using ERA to enrich her teaching. She primarily utilises the platform to raise awareness of environmental issues, favouring up-to-date 10-minute clips on topical subjects. A frequent user of Countryfile resources, Dawn appreciates their relevance and timeliness for her A-level Environmental Science classes.
Dawn explains, “I mainly use the site for raising awareness of environmental issues – so I like up-to-date 10-minute or so clips of topical issues that have been reported. Countryfile resources are very topical and up to date for my A-level Environmental Science. Many of these I have already watched myself on TV.”
In addition to environmental science, Dawn teaches A-level Geology and relies on more traditional clips from renowned BBC series like Planet Earth. She has developed worksheets based around these clips, which effectively demonstrate complex concepts with striking visuals. This approach not only aids in teaching but also keeps students engaged.
"My college recently binned my video player – hence my more recent need to retrieve older clips that I had on VHS tapes. I find digital material can engage the students when they are fed up of listening to me! I also share links with them so they are able to watch in their own time," Dawn notes.
A recent example of ERA’s impact in Dawn’s class involved a lesson on climate change. Dawn used a Countryfile clip on the latest climate change research to introduce the topic. Students were asked to watch the clip as homework and come prepared with questions and observations for the next class. This approach not only provided students with up-to-date information but also encouraged them to engage with the material actively, fostering a deeper understanding of the subject.
Jonathan Newton, a geography teacher at Holly Lodge High School, echoes Dawn’s positive sentiments about ERA. He finds it fantastic for supporting Geography at KS3, GCSE, and A-level, using the platform in various ways with different classes. He widely uses Ade Adepitan’s Africa series to introduce the continent to Year 9 students, challenging their preconceptions.
Jonathan shares, "ERA has been fantastic for finding relevant material to support Geography at KS3, GCSE, and A-level. I have used it in many different ways with different classes. It really helps to consolidate learning for topics such as plate tectonics. I regularly use clips such as Iain Stewart talking about earthquakes as there are few people who explain it as well."
Recently, Jonathan was able to set his A-level class a homework assignment involving pre-watching material on the 2011 London riots. This pre-watching task provided a basis for an in-depth class discussion on the social and geographical factors that contributed to the riots. Jonathan highlights the range of ERA’s content, finding clips to support many topics.
“The breadth and scope of ERA’s content have been invaluable this term – it’s possible to find clips to support almost any topic. It also has the benefit of using high-quality programmes from the BBC and others, rather than the mixed output you can get from YouTube. Plus, the lack of adverts is refreshing. There is a great range of archive programmes as well, allowing me to be reunited with classic documentaries that I haven’t seen since we had them on VHS in the early days of my career,” Jonathan adds.
Analysis and Conclusion:
The experiences of Dawn and Jonathan highlight the versatility and efficiency of ERA’s streaming platform. By providing current and relevant content, ERA supports teachers in addressing contemporary environmental issues and teaching complex subjects like geology. The platform’s digital nature ensures that educators can move away from outdated media formats and engage students more effectively through visual and interactive content.
ERA’s platform plays a crucial role in modernising the educational experience for both teachers and students. The breadth and scope of its content, combined with high-quality programmes and the absence of adverts, make it an invaluable resource for geography teachers. Dawn and Jonathan’s cases demonstrate how ERA can efficiently and engagingly deliver curriculum content and stimulate student interest in critical geographical and environmental topics.
Lesson Plan Examples:
1. Introduction to Climate Change (A-level Environmental Science)
- Resource: Countryfile clip on the latest climate change research.
- Activity: Assign the clip as homework. Students watch the clip and prepare questions and observations.
- Class Discussion: Begin the next class with a discussion based on students’ questions and observations.
- Follow-up Activity: Students work in groups to create presentations on different aspects of climate change, using additional ERA resources for research.
2. Understanding Earthquakes (KS3 Geography)
- Resource: Iain Stewart’s explanation of earthquakes.
- Activity: Play the clip in class. Students take notes on key points.
- Class Exercise: Discuss the clip’s content and its implications. Use ERA’s resources to show real-world examples of recent earthquakes.
- Homework: Assign students to research a recent earthquake and present their findings in the next class.
By following these examples, other teachers can effectively incorporate ERA’s resources into their lessons, enhancing student understanding and engagement in geographical and environmental studies.