Mount Kenya university

School of Education

Department of Humanities

Unit Name: Subject Methods in Geography

Unit Code:BET 3211
Lecturer: Dr. Ruben Kenei

Name
Registration No

1.Agai Kerubo.
BEDA/2021/95667

2.Maryama Mohamed Dadow BEDA/2022/30081

3.Wanjala Juma.
BSNE/2021/95464

4.Olonde Bob.
BSNE/2021/95896

5.Solomon Baya.
BEDA/2021/94614

Task

1.State and explain the various records kept by the geography teacher in his/her
classroom.
2.Explain the qualities of school records
3.Explain the importance of keeping records in the school
1.State and explain the various records kept by the geography teacher in
his/her classroom.

A geography teacher typically maintains various records in their classroom to aid

in teaching and managing student progress.

Attendance Record: The attendance record helps the teacher keep track of
student attendance on a daily basis. It provides information on which students
are present or absent during each class session and helps the teacher monitor
student attendance patterns.

Gradebook: The gradebook is a comprehensive record of students' academic

performance. It includes information such as assignments, quizzes, tests, projects,
and other assessments. The teacher uses the gradebook to record and calculate
grades for each student, providing a clear overview of their progress.

Lesson Plans: Lesson plans outline the teacher's instructional objectives,

activities, and materials for each class session. They serve as a roadmap for the
teacher's daily lessons, ensuring the content is delivered effectively and in line
with the curriculum.

Class Schedule: The class schedule provides an overview of the daily or weekly
timetable, including the time slots allocated for different subjects. It helps the
teacher and students stay organized and aware of upcoming topics or events.

Student Information Sheets: These sheets contain important details about each
student, such as their name, contact information, emergency contacts, and any
relevant medical or special needs. They are essential for communication with
parents/guardians and for catering to individual student requirements.

Maps and Visual Aids: Geography teachers often maintain a collection of maps
and visual aids to support their lessons. These materials can include world maps,
country maps, topographic maps, globes, atlases, and photographs. They help
enhance student understanding of geographical concepts and facilitate
discussions.
Progress Reports: Progress reports provide a summary of students' academic
progress over a specific period. They may include information about grades,
attendance, behavior, and comments on individual student performance.
Progress reports are typically shared with parents/guardians to keep them
informed about their child's progress and areas for improvement.

Field Trip Records: If the teacher organizes field trips to explore geographical
features or cultural sites, they maintain records related to these outings. This
includes permission slips, transportation arrangements, student attendance, and
any incident reports or observations made during the field trip.

Resource Inventory: Geography teachers often have a variety of instructional

resources, such as textbooks, reference books, DVDs, online resources, and
teaching aids. Keeping an inventory helps the teacher manage and track the
availability of these resources, ensuring they are accessible to students when
needed.

2.Explain the qualities of school records

School records refer to the official documents and information maintained by

veducational institutions to record and track various aspects of students'
academic and personal information. These records are crucial for administrative
purposes, educational planning, assessment, and providing necessary support to
students. The qualities of school records can vary slightly depending on the
educational system and institution, the qualities include

Accuracy: School records should be accurate and reflect the correct information
about students, including their personal details, enrollment status, attendance,
grades, and any disciplinary actions. Accurate records are essential for making
informed decisions about students' educational progress and needs.

Completeness: The records should be comprehensive, containing all relevant

information related to a student's academic journey within the institution. This
includes enrollment forms, transcripts, report cards, standardized test scores,
attendance records, health records, and any special education or individualized
education plans.
Timeliness: School records should be updated and maintained in a timely
manner. Any changes or updates to a student's information, such as address,
contact details, or academic progress, should be promptly recorded to ensure the
records are current and reflect the most recent information.

Confidentiality: School records contain sensitive and private information about

students and their families. Therefore, maintaining confidentiality is crucial.
Access to these records should be restricted to authorized personnel, such as
school administrators, teachers, and counselors, who have a legitimate need to
access the information.

Security: School records should be stored securely to prevent unauthorized

access, tampering, or loss of data. This may involve implementing secure digital
systems, using password protection, encryption, or physical measures like locked
cabinets or restricted access to paper records.

Longevity: School records are typically required to be retained for a specific

period, as mandated by educational authorities or legal regulations. It is
important to ensure that the records are preserved appropriately, whether in
physical or digital format, to ensure their long-term availability and integrity.

Organized and searchable: School records should be well-organized and

structured in a way that facilitates easy retrieval and searching of information.
This may involve using standardized formats, unique identifiers (such as student
IDs), and implementing appropriate record-keeping systems or software.

They must be available when needed School records are not personal property
of anyteacher or even the Head teacher to be k kept at his own house or to be
taken away from school just anyhow. They are properties of the school and must
be kept in school always hence proper security must be provided for them.

They must be used to take appropriate actions: Each record has a purpose as
such appropriate record must be used to take appropriate decisions and actions.
For example, in identifying the most punctual student, attendance register is the
most appropriate record to consult.For some decisions and actions more than one
record may be consulted.
They must be original: School records must contain what is going on in the
school not just copying what was going in another school. This is why the school
records are unique to each school. School records are not imagined or
fictionalized; they are records of realities on ground in

Record storage :They must be kept safe from excessive humidity and heat that
can spoil them: They must be kept in good conditions for many generations to see
and read. Adequate security must be provided for the school records so that they
can be easily retrieved in good and perfect conditions the school at any time.

3.Explain the importance of keeping records in the school.

Administrative Efficiency: Proper record-keeping enables efficient management

of administrative tasks within a school.Therefore, it allows for the systematic
organization and retrieval of important information, such as student enrollment
data, attendance records, academic performance, disciplinary actions, and health
records. Access to accurate and up-to-date records ensures smooth operations
and facilitates decision-making processes.

Legal Compliance: Schools are legally obligated to maintain various records to

comply with local, state, and federal regulations. These records may include
student enrollment forms, medical information, immunization records, consent
forms, and special education documentation. Keeping these records ensures that
the school meets legal requirements and safeguards the rights and well-being of
students, staff, and parents.

Academic Planning and Evaluation: Records play a vital role in academic

planning and evaluatio seen. By maintaining records of student performance,
assessments, and progress reports, educators can monitor individual and group
achievements, identify areas needing improvement, and develop targeted
strategies for academic support. Records also facilitate the evaluation of teaching
methodologies, curriculum effectiveness, and the overall educational program.

Individualized Learning and Support: Detailed records enable teachers and

administrators to gain insight into each student's strengths, weaknesses, learning
styles, and special needs. This knowledge is invaluable in tailoring instruction
and providing personalized support to meet the diverse needs of students. Access
to comprehensive records allows educators to develop individualized education
plans (IEPs) for students with disabilities or create interventions for struggling
learners.

Parental Communication: Accurate and accessible records enhance

communication between schools and parents. Parents can stay informed about
their child's academic progress, attendance, behavior, and involvement in
extracurricular activities. Records provide a basis for parent-teacher conferences,
progress reports, report cards, and discussions about a student's overall
development. They foster transparency, collaboration, and parental involvement
in their child's education.

Historical Reference: Records serve as a historical reference for schools. They

document the institutional memory, capturing important events, policies, and
changes that have occurred over time. This historical data can help schools track
long-term trends, compare data across years, and make informed decisions based
on past experiences.

Research and Analysis: Records are valuable resources for educational research
and analysis. Aggregated data from multiple records can be used to identify
patterns, assess the effectiveness of educational interventions, and inform policy-
making. Analyzing records can contribute to evidence-based decision-making and
the continuous improvement of educational practices.

Accountability: School records provide a means of accountability for both

students and staff by documenting attendance,grades , behavior and other
relevant information.Schools can hold students accountable for their actions and
ensure that teachers are effectively delivering instruction.

Reference

British journal of psychology research

Manga,S.D(2010)

Ozingi,A.O(1997)