The Humanities – Geography Assessment Map – Sample at Level 4
For Level 3, please see The Humanities Assessment map.
Land use case study
Context
In an assessment task focusing on environmental sustainability, students were asked to investigate a local site, undertake fieldwork and produce a report. The report was expected to outline the geographic characteristics and explain how use of the site affects the environment, discuss possible conservation strategies for the sustainability of the site and examine the benefits of different conservation strategies and their likely effects on different groups. Students used a variety of geographic techniques to present their findings.
The fieldwork activity was undertaken during a day at the site. Students could work in groups to plan and gather data but were expected to complete the report individually. Additional sessions totalling approximately seven hours were given to complete the task – one session in pre-fieldwork activities and six sessions in post-fieldwork activities (developing the report).
The elements of the Geographical knowledge and understanding standard addressed by the task are:
(Students) use geographic language to identify and describe the human and physical characteristics of local and global environments depicted by different kinds of maps …
Students recommend ways of protecting environmentally sensitive areas in a sustainable way.
(Students) compare the various ways humans have used and affected the Australian environment.
The elements of the Geospatial skills standard addressed by the task are:
… students use atlases, … to accurately describe the distance, direction and location of places. They identify features from maps …
(Students) research, collect, record and describe data obtained through field study surveys and measurements to form conclusions about the use of resources.
(Students) draw sketch maps of their neighbourhood using simple mapping conventions such as title, scale, north point and legend.
Stimulus
Students were provided with a task outline and advice on how to begin their research. In addition, the following table was provided to help students organise their information.
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Content
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How to present it
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Location of the environment and its geographical features.
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A map showing its location within the State or within Australia.
Written explanation – at least 30 words.
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Geographical characteristics of the environment.
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Sketches or photographs describing its geographic characteristics.
A detailed map of the site with geographic characteristics labelled or shown on a legend.
Written explanation – at least 60 words.
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How people use the environment.
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A map showing how people use the site, with a legend to identify different land uses.
Sketches, photographs or a table listing your observations could also be included.
Written explanation – at least 60 words.
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How the way that the place is used affects the environment.
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A map that describes the impact of people’s activities on the environment. This could be done as an overlay (using tracing paper layers to show different aspects).
Sketches, photographs, graphs could also be included.
Written explanation – at least 60 words.
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Things that could be done or are being done to use the land in a sustainable manner, the benefits of these strategies and how these might affect different groups.
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A chart or table listing what has been done and/or could be done to help conserve the environment, how these would enhance different aspects of the site, groups affected and how.
Photographs or sketches could also be included.
Written explanation – at least 60 words.
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Sample
The following sample illustrates the kind of response that students typically produce when they have achieved the elements of the standard addressed by this task.
Land use case study
View text version.
Annotation A
Geographical knowledge and understanding – Level 4
- Presents a map and written description identifying the location and introduces some geographic characteristics of the Mt Buninyong site. The map employs some of the geographic conventions of border, orientation, legend, title, scale and source (BOLTSS).
Element of the standard
(Students) use geographic language to identify and describe the human and physical characteristics of local and global environments depicted by different kinds of maps …
Geospatial skills – Level 4
- Presents a map and written description identifying the location and some geographical features of Mt Buninyong.
Element of the standard
... students use atlases, … to accurately describe the distance, direction and location of places. They identify features from maps …
View text version.
Annotation B
Geographical knowledge and understanding – Level 4
- Describes various activities undertaken by people who use the Mt Buninyong site.
- Uses a map to illustrate the geographic characteristics of the Mt Buninyong site and the activities undertaken by people.
- Shows the impact of people on the site through inclusion of management zones.
- Identifies that conservation measures are in place. Addresses mapping conventions.
Elements of the standard
(Students) use geographic language to identify and describe the human and physical characteristics of local and global environments depicted by different kinds of maps …
(Students) compare the various ways humans have used and affected the Australian environment.
Geospatial skills – Level 4
- Draws a map of the Mt Buninyong area using geographical conventions.
Element of the standard
(Students) record and describe data obtained through field study surveys and measurements to form conclusions about the use of resources.
View text version.
View text version.
Annotation C
Geographical knowledge and understanding – Level 4
- Recognises the environmental impact people have on the site.
- Considers the effect of people who live at Mt Buninyong as well as the effect of visitors to the site.
- Considers the impact of using this environment and therefore the need for conservation measures to sustain this environment for the future.
Element of the standard
(Students) compare the various ways humans have used and affected the Australian environment.
Geospatial skills – Level 4
- Draws a maps of the Mt Buninyong area using geographical conventions.
Elements of the standard
(Students) draw sketch maps of their neighbourhood using simple mapping conventions such as title, scale, north point and legend.
(Students) record and describe data obtained through field study surveys and measurements to form conclusions about the use of resources.
View text version.
Annotation D
Geographical knowledge and understanding – Level 4
- Identifies and explains existing strategies to manage and sustain the local environment.
Element of the standard
Students recommend ways of protecting environmentally sensitive areas in a sustainable way.
View text version.
Annotation E
Geographical knowledge and understanding – Level 4
- Uses a table to consider what has been done at the site and what could be done to conserve the Mt Buninyong environment for the future.
Elements of the standard
(Students) use geographic language to identify and describe the human and physical characteristics of local and global environments depicted by different kinds of maps …
Students recommend ways of protecting environmentally sensitive areas in a sustainable way.
Annotation – Whole of sample
Geospatial skills – Level 4
- Conducts field work at Mt Buninyong, gathers and presents data on geographic features and environmental sustainability and presents conclusions.
Element of the standard
(Students) research, collect, record and describe data obtained through field study surveys and measurements to form conclusions about the use of resources.
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