Dr Alaric Maude
The concept of powerful knowledge was introduced into educational debates nearly a decade ago by Michael Young, a British sociologist of education. He contends that the main purpose of schools is to teach knowledge that enables students to understand and think beyond the limits of their own experience, and describes such knowledge as ‘powerful’. His ideas have been controversial, but particularly influential in geographical education.
In this lecture Alaric will focus on the following types of powerful knowledge, which are derived from Michael Young’s many publications:
- The power of new ways of thinking
- The power to better explain and understand the natural and social worlds
- The power to apply knowledge to contexts and problems beyond the limits of one’s personal experience
These types of powerful knowledge become geographical when they are based on geography’s major concepts. The lecture explores the ways in which these concepts can produce powerful geographical knowledge, with examples that include research on Queensland.
Bio: Alaric is a long retired geography academic, after teaching at Flinders University for many years. In the past Alaric researched and taught about SEAsia and the Pacific, and then regional development in Australia. Since retirement in 2004, he has been Secretary of the Institute of Australian Geographers (2004-2012). Between 2009 and 2013, Alaric was Lead Writer and then Writing Coach for the Australian Geography curriculum being developed by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). Between 2013 and 2017, he was Chair of the National Committee for Geographical Sciences of the Academy of the Sciences, and led the production of a report on Geography: shaping Australia’s future. Alaric has published a number of articles for teachers on powerful geographical knowledge, sustainability, and geographical concepts.
Please note: If you have registered for the Zoom live stream the lecture link will be emailed to you closer to the lecture date. Also, please make sure your microphone and camera are turned off when you join the meeting. The lecture may be recorded as well.
If you have any questions, please email us at info@rgsq.org.au.
RGSQ premises: Level 1, 28 Fortescue St, Spring Hill, Qld, 4000
