What does the new Geography specification offer?

1. WJEC AS/A Level GeographyPreparing for the New SpecificationRGS London INSET Tuesday 20 November 2007David Burtenshaw – Chair A level GeographyRaye Scott – Subject Officer Geography and World Development

2. 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

3. What does the new Geography specification offer? For students we offer: • 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

4. Overview of the specification

5. AS UnitsAn emphasis on dynamic systems of change in physical and human environments

6. Unit G1: Changing Physical Environments • Content • Two Themes: • Investigating climate change • Investigating tectonic and hydrological change • Assessment • Three compulsory structured questions, one of which tests research/fieldwork

7. 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

8. A2 UnitsOptional choices from contemporary themesA wide choice of themes for individual researchA reflection on sustainable futures

9. 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

10. Unit G3: Contemporary Themes and Research in Geography Content Section B One Research Theme from: • Geography of Crime • Deprivation • Geography of Disease • Environmental Psychology • Leisure and Recreation • Microclimates • Atmospheric and Water PollutionGeography of Retailing • Rivers • Small-scale Ecosystems Assessment One two-part essay question

11. Unit G4:Sustainability Content Four Themes: • 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 Decision-Making Exercise

12. UNIT 1 CHANGING PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS Theme 1 – Investigating Climatic Change Two themes Theme 2 – Investigating Tectonic and Hydrological Change

13. 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

14. UNIT 1 CHANGING PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS What are the world’s major climates and how do they relate to biomes?

15. UNIT 1 CHANGING PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS This is an introductory section that is designed to provide basic background knowledge rather than detailed analytical explanation

16. UNIT 1 CHANGING PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS Climate change is not a recent phenomenon and has occurred in cycles in the past. What are the temporal patterns of climate change?

17. UNIT 1 CHANGING PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS Students should display knowledge of the cyclic nature of climatic change over both the long term and short term.

18. UNIT 1 CHANGING PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS http://whc.unesco.org/documents/publi_climatechange.pdf In the past climate change has had an impact on people

19. UNIT 1 CHANGING PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS What are the causes of climate change Students should gain knowledge of the evidence used to demonstrate climate change

20. UNIT 1 CHANGING PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS Early arrival of butterflies demonstrates impact of climate change By Michael McCarthy, Environment Editor Published: 22 May 2007

21. UNIT 1 CHANGING PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS Understand the mechanisms that result in climate change - human

22. UNIT 1 CHANGING PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS Understand the mechanisms that result in climate change - physical eobglossary.gsfc.nasa.gov/Study/Volcano/

23. UNIT 1 CHANGING PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS Red areas in this image of southern Florida show locales susceptible to a five-meter rise of sea level. Yellow areas denote urban locations. What are the issues resulting from climate change? Students should examine the consequences of climate change

24. UNIT 1 CHANGING PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS

25. 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.