Humanities Geography

Description

The study of Geography is a structured way of exploring, analysing and understanding the characteristics of places that make up our world. Geographers are interested in key questions concerning places and geographic phenomena: What is there? Where is it? Why is it there? What are the effects of it being there? How is it changing over time and how could, and should, it change in the future? How is it different from other places and phenomena? How are places and phenomena connected?

Students explore these questions through fieldwork and investigation of a wide range of secondary sources. These methods underpin the development of a unique framework for understanding the world, enabling students to appreciate its complexity, the diversity and interactions of its environments, economies and cultures, and the processes that helped form and transform them.

Students explore the patterns of population change, movement and distribution, and how governments, organisations and individuals have responded to those changes in different parts of the world. Students study population dynamics before undertaking an investigation into two significant population trends arising in different parts of the world. They examine the dynamics of populations and their economic, social, political and environmental impacts on people and places.

Year 11 Geography is not required to complete Units 3 and 4 Geography.

Area of Study

Unit 3: Changing the Land

Focuses on two investigations of geographical change: change to land cover and change to land use. Students investigate two major processes that are changing land cover in many regions of the world: Deforestation, and melting glaciers and ice sheets.

Students investigate the distribution and causes of these two processes. They select one location for each of the processes to develop a greater understanding of the changes to land cover produced by these processes, the impacts of these changes and responses to these changes at different scales. Students use fieldwork to study the phenomenon at a local scale. They investigate the scale of change, the reasons for change and the impacts of change.

One - Land cover change: Students undertake an overview of global land cover and changes that have occurred over time. Students investigate two major processes that are changing land cover: melting glaciers and ice sheets, and deforestation. They analyse these processes, explain their impacts on land cover and discuss responses to these land cover changes in two different locations in the world – one location for each process. Students evaluate two different global responses to the impacts of land cover change, one global response for each process.

Outcome One: On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse processes that result in changes to land cover and evaluate the impacts and responses resulting from these changes.

Two – Land use change: Students select a local area and use appropriate fieldwork techniques and secondary sources to investigate the nature, processes and impacts of land use change. This change may have recently occurred, be underway or be planned for the near future.

Outcome Two: On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse land use change and evaluate its impacts.

Area of Study

Unit 4: Human Populations: Trends and Issues

In this unit students investigate the geography of human populations. They explore the patterns of population change, movement and distribution, and how governments, organisations and individuals have responded to those changes in different parts of the world.

Students study population dynamics before undertaking an investigation into two significant population trends arising in different parts of the world. They examine the dynamics of populations and their economic, social, political and environmental impacts on people and places.

One – Population Dynamics

Students undertake an overview of world population distribution and growth before investigating the dynamics of population change over time and space. Through the study of population dynamics students investigate growth and decline in fertility and mortality, together with population movements. Students study forced and voluntary, and internal and external, population movements and how they can be long term or short term. Students develop understanding of the Demographic Transition Model and its applications, and the Malthusian theory of population. Outcome One: On completion of this unit students should be able to analyse and discuss population dynamics on a global scale.

Two – Population Issues and Challenges

Students undertake investigations into two significant population trends that have developed in different parts of the world: a growing population of one country and an ageing population of another country. Students place these trends and resulting issues and challenges in their world regional context. Students investigate issues arising from each population trend, the challenges that arise in coping with the issues, and their interconnection with population dynamics. They evaluate and compare the effectiveness of strategies in response to these issues and challenges. Outcome Two: On completion of this unit students should be able to analyse, describe and explain the nature of significant population issues and challenges in selected countries and evaluate strategies in response to these.

Assessment- chosen from

Unit 3

• Structured Questions (Compulsory)

• Fieldwork Report (Compulsory)

• Analysis of Geographic Data (Compulsory)

• Research Report

• Case Study

Unit 4

• Analysis of Geographic Data (Compulsory)

• Structured Questions

• Research Report

• Case Study

• Multimedia presentation

Pathways

Various Bachelor courses such as: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Environments, Bachelor of Environmental Science (see relevant Universities for details).

• Climatologist

• Architect

• Diplomat

• Environmental Impact Analyst

• Engineer

• Geologist

• Geomorphologist

• Hazardous Waste Planner

• Hydrologist

• Meteorologist

• Military Planner

• Natural Resource Manager

• Tourism Developer

• Urban/City Planner

History: Revolutions

Description

In Units 3 and 4 Revolutions students investigate the significant historical causes and consequences of political revolution. They consider the interplay of major ideas, events, individuals and popular movements in the lead up to the revolution.

The consequences have a profound effect on the political and social structures of the post-revolutionary society and the students consider how continuity and change were experienced by those who lived through revolutionary movements. Students evaluate historical interpretations about the causes and consequences of revolution and the effects of change instigated by the new order.

The students will focus on the French Revolution in Unit Three and the Chinese Revolution in Unit Four.

Areas of Study

One: Causes of the Revolution

Students analyse the long-term causes and short-term triggers of the revolution and evaluate how significant ideas, events, individuals and popular movements contributed to the outbreak of revolution.

Outcome One: On completion of this unit students should be able to analyse the causes of revolution, and evaluate the contribution of significant ideas, events, individuals and popular movements.

Two: Consequences of the Revolution

Students analyse how the consequences of the revolution resulted in dramatic and wide reaching social, political, economic and cultural change, progress or decline. The students also consider the challenges experienced by the New Society and how this sometimes resulted in a compromise of revolutionary ideologies as the leaders became more authoritarian.

Outcome Two: On completion of this unit students should be able to analyse the consequence of the revolution and evaluate the extent of continuity and change in the post-revolutionary society.

Assessment

• Analysis of historians’ views

• Analysis of Historians’ Interpretations

• Extended Response

• Historical Inquiry

Units 3 and 4 are taken as a sequence and achievement will be based on the following:

• Unit 3

•

Pathways

VCE history is relevant to students who wish to pursue formal study at tertiary level as well as providing valuable knowledge and skills for an understanding of the underpinnings of contemporary society.

Global Politics

Description

Global Politics is the study of the political, social, cultural and economic forces that shape interactions between states and other global actors in the contemporary world. It examines the interconnectedness of the contemporary global political arena and the impact of globalisation on culture, sovereignty, human rights and the environment.

It examines the nature and power of key global actors and the types of power used by an Asia-Pacific state to achieve its national interests. It considers global ethical issues including human rights, people movement, development and arms control and explores the nature and effectiveness of global responses to crises such as climate change, armed conflict, terrorism and economic instability.

Area of Study

Unit 3: Global Actors

In this unit students investigate the key global actors of contemporary global politics through an in-depth examination of the concepts of national interests and power as they relate to the state, and the way in which ONE Asia- Pacific state uses power to achieve its objectives.

One: Global actors

In this area of study students investigate the key global actors of contemporary politics. They analyse the aims, roles and power of such global actors and the way in which ONE Asia- Pacific state uses its power.

Outcome One: On completion of this unit students should be able to evaluate the power of key global actors and assess the extent to which they achieve their aims and are able to challenge state sovereignty.

Two: Power in the Asia - Pacific

In this area of study students examine the way in which a specific Asia- Pacific sate uses its power to pursue its national interests, and explore the factors that have shaped that state’s national interests in the last 10 years.

Outcome Two: On completion of this unit students should be able to analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of the use of various types of power by a specific Asia- Pacific state in pursuit of its national goals.

Unit 4: Global Challenges

In this unit students investigate key global challenges facing the international community in the 21st century. They examine and analyse the debates surrounding TWO ethical issues that are underpinned by international law. They then evaluate the effectiveness of responses to these issues. Students also explore the context and causes of global crises and consider the varying effectiveness of responses and challenges to resolving them.

One: Ethical Issues and Debates

In this area of study students examine debates about TWO global ethical issues including human rights, people movement, development and arms control.

Outcome One: On completion of this unit students should be able to analyse the debates relating to the chosen global ethical issues and evaluate the effectiveness of the global actors’ responses to these issues.

Two: Global crises

In this area of study the students investigate the causes of TWO global crises including climate change, armed conflict, terrorism and economic instability. Students discover that the causes of these crises may be cyclical and the responses at times exacerbate the original crises.

Outcome Two: On completion of this unit students should be able to analyse TWO contemporary global crises and evaluate the effectiveness of global actor’s responses to these.

Assessment

• Short answer responses

• Essays

• A case study

• An extended response

Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority will supervise the assessment of all students. The Students’ level achievement will determined by:

•

•

Pathways

The study of politics prepares students for tertiary or vocational education and training study, as well as broadening students’ knowledge and participation in key political issues.

Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority will supervise the assessment of all students. The students’ level achievement will determined by:

•

•

The study of politics prepares students for tertiary or vocational education and training study, as well as broadening students’ knowledge and participation in key political issues.