Transcript SUMMARY OF ASSESSMENT This specification is divided into a

WJEC AS/A Level Geography
Preparing for the New
Specification
RGS London INSET
Tuesday 20 November 2007
David Burtenshaw – Chair A level Geography
Raye Scott – Subject Officer Geography and
World Development
What does the new
Geography specification
offer?
For teachers we offer:
• Clear specification structure and teachers’ guide
and online teaching materials
• Choices for teaching contemporary themes
• Opportunities to vary teaching strategies
• Clear assessment criteria
• Accessible specialist advice and guidance from
approachable WJEC staff
• Quality of INSET – free professional
development
• Reliability of examining
What does the new
Geography specification
offer?
For students we offer:
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Choice and flexibility for independent research
and out-of classroom work
Relevance of study to their everyday lives
A clear picture of their place in a dynamic and
interdependent world
Opportunities to develop their own attitudes
and values and the skills needed to become
responsible and knowledgeable citizens
Overview of the specification
GCE Geography Specification
G1: Changing Physical Environments
G2: Changing Human Environments
G3: Contemporary Themes and Research in
Geography
G4: Sustainability
AS Units
An emphasis on dynamic
systems of change in
physical and human
environments
Unit G1: Changing Physical
Environments
Content
Two Themes:
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Investigating climate change
Investigating tectonic and hydrological change
Assessment
Three compulsory structured questions, one of
which tests research/fieldwork
Unit G2: Changing Human
Environments
Content
Two Themes:
• Investigating population change
• Investigating settlement change
Assessment
Three compulsory structured questions, one of
which tests research/fieldwork
A2 Units
Optional choices from
contemporary themes
A wide choice of themes for
individual research
A reflection on sustainable
futures
Unit G3: Contemporary Themes
and Research in Geography
Content
Section A
Two Themes from:
• Extreme Environments – Desert and Tundra
• Landforms and their management – either
Glaciers or Coasts
• Climatic hazards
• Development
• Globalisation
• Emerging Asia – China or India
Assessment
Two essay questions, one of which tests the chosen
physical theme and one which tests the chosen human
theme
Unit G3: Contemporary Themes
and Research in Geography
Content
Section B
One Research Theme from:
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Geography of Crime
Deprivation
Geography of Disease
Environmental Psychology
Leisure and Recreation
Microclimates
Atmospheric and Water Pollution
Geography of Retailing
• Rivers
• Small-scale Ecosystems
Assessment
One two-part essay question
Unit G4:Sustainability
Content
Four Themes:
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Sustainable Food Supply
Sustainable Water Supply
Sustainable Energy
Sustainable Cities
Assessment
Pre release material in December and May prior
to the examination for a structured DecisionMaking Exercise
UNIT 1 CHANGING PHYSICAL
ENVIRONMENTS
Theme 1 –
Investigating
Climatic Change
Two
themes
Theme 2 –
Investigating
Tectonic and
Hydrological
Change
UNIT 1 CHANGING
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS
Theme 1 – Investigating Climatic
Change
Thrust of the unit is to provide students
with a knowledge and understanding of the
following elements of climate change:
• Temporal patterns of change
• Evidence for change
• Causes of change
• Impacts of change
• Strategies to address change
UNIT 1 CHANGING
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS
What are the world’s major climates
and how do they relate to biomes?
UNIT 1 CHANGING
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS
This is an introductory section that is designed
to provide basic background knowledge rather
than detailed analytical explanation
UNIT 1 CHANGING
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS
What are the temporal patterns of climate
change?
Climate change is not a recent phenomenon
and has occurred in cycles in the past.
UNIT 1 CHANGING
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS
Students should display knowledge of the cyclic nature
of climatic change over both the long term and short
term.
UNIT 1 CHANGING
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS
In the past climate change has had an impact on people
http://whc.unesco.org/documents/publi_climatechange.pdf
UNIT 1 CHANGING
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS
What are the causes of climate change
Students should gain knowledge of the evidence used to
demonstrate climate change
UNIT 1 CHANGING
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS
Early arrival of butterflies
demonstrates impact of
climate change
By Michael McCarthy,
Environment Editor
Published: 22 May 2007
UNIT 1 CHANGING
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS
Understand the mechanisms that result
in climate change - human
UNIT 1 CHANGING
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS
Understand the mechanisms that result in climate
change - physical
eobglossary.gsfc.nasa.gov/Study/Volcano/
UNIT 1 CHANGING
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS
What are the issues resulting from climate change?
Students should examine the consequences of climate change
Red areas in this image of southern
Florida show locales susceptible to a
five-meter rise of sea level. Yellow
areas denote urban locations.
UNIT 1 CHANGING
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS
UNIT 1 CHANGING
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS
Students should also show understanding of the impacts of climatic
change on human activity and society. This could include impacts on
economic, demographic and social features.