Clipbank Geography series. Rocks - Limestone and Quarrying. Farming - Factors Affecting Farming and Diversification. Tourism - Comparative Case Studies. Rivers - Landforms and Management. Coasts - Landforms and Management. 4Learning pound;35.25 each
These innovative TV-Roms contain between 30 and 45 minutes of clips taken from various 4Learning videos. The clips are digitised so they will run on PCs or Macs and can also be projected on to whiteboards for whole-class teaching.
Although the quality of the video clips is slightly inferior to the standard video, the beauty of these products is in the inclusion of a whole host of supporting resources, such as maps, still images, useful web links etc.
The text information is enhanced by a hypertext-activated glossary, which students will find invaluable. There are lesson plans on each TV-Rom and a wide variety of tasks for students to work on. The tasks themselves are sensibly differentiated at three levels. The designers have thought hard about how the product will be used and there is good integration with PowerPoint and word-processors via the copy button. The content is well-pitched at the 11 to 16-year-old age group and it is this - combined with its approach to people and the environment, and the contrast between more and less economically developed countries - that makes it a valuable resource at KS3 and GCSE.
* Geographical Eye Over Europe - Video. 4Learning, pound;19.99
This video comprises seven programmes featuring a range of issues and case studies from Spain, Portugal, Germany and Romania. As in previous Geographical Eye videos, numerous personal stories reinforce the narrative. There is good use of animation and an attempt to balance positive and negative images of the locations featured.
This series is especially strong on the issue of migration, both to and within the continent, and these case studies will be valuable at KS3 and GCSE, as well as in teaching about citizenship.
Once again, this video is well supported by comprehensive Net Notes on Channel 4‘s website, giving background information for each episode and several activities. The result is a series that features several fresh and unusual case studies. Nevertheless, although interesting and well produced, the subject matter in this video could be seen as tangential to the usual programmes of study for 11 to 14-year-olds.
Peter Home is head of geography at Clifton College, Bristol
