Develop a matrix of use/effectiveness, for example: Learning activities and School-assessed Coursework (SAC) Unit 3: Changing the land The significance of changes to land cover and use has grown in conjunction with the spread and growth of people across the world and the consequent demand for resources. On a global scale students investigate three major processes of land cover change, their nature and impact, and people’s responses to these changes at local, national and global scales. At the local scale, students focus on the more immediate land use changes of a selected location. The two types of land changes also operate in different time scales. Generally, land cover change takes place over significant lengths of time; in some cases it may not be recognised within a human lifespan. Land use change occurs over a relatively short period of time, within a few years, but easily within a human lifespan. When looking across both areas of study at the characteristics and interconnections of changing the land, students should focus on recognising and understanding the function and contribution of the processes bringing about the changes. They need to be similarly aware of and questioning the role of people in contributing to, mitigating, and responding to these changes.
Unit 3, Area of Study 1: Land use change Outcome 1 – Structured questions Performance Levels Descriptor Teacher Comment Very Limited Limited Clear Well developed Sophisticated Identification and description of the geographic characteristics of the selected area, noting its location, current land use and other natural and human geographic characteristics. Very Limited Limited Clear Well developed Comprehensive Identification and description of the interconnection of the selected area with its surrounding region. Very Limited Limited Clear Well developed Comprehensive Identification, description and explanation of the processes leading to the land use change of the selected area, including the nature, scale and time sequence of change. Very Limited Limited Appropriate Detailed Insightful Explanation of the reason/s for the resulting land use change in the selected area, considering the influence of the geographical characteristics of the selected area and surrounding region. Very Limited Limited Appropriate Detailed Insightful Explanation of the influence of individuals, organisations and planning strategies on the resulting land use change in the selected area. Very Limited Limited Satisfactory Well developed Thorough Explanation and assessment of the positive and negative impacts of the land use change on the environment, and economic and social conditions in the selected area and surrounding region. Very Limited Limited Satisfactory Well developed Thorough Interpretation and analysis of maps and other geographical data and information in the development of descriptions and explanations. Assessment Mark range (1–10) (11–20) (21–30) (31–40) (41–50) NOTE: The two tasks for Unit 3 Outcome 1 together are assessed out of a score of 50. Scores should be adjusted accordingly. Unit 3, Area of Study 2: Land cover change
Unit 4, Area of Study 1: Population dynamics Outcome 1 – Analysis of geographic data Performance Levels Descriptor Teacher Comment Very Limited Limited Clear Well developed Sophisticated Analysis of maps and other geographical data and information of world population distribution and characteristics to develop descriptions and explanations (of birth rate, death rate, infant mortality rate, fertility rate and life expectancy patterns). Very Limited Limited Clear Well developed Comprehensive Identification and description of patterns of world population growth since the 1700s and projected changes in the twenty-first century. Very Limited Limited Some Well developed Comprehensive Identification, description and analysis of the nature of population structures as a measure of population characteristics at a point in time and over time. Very Limited Limited Appropriate Detailed Insightful Assessment of the usefulness of the five stage Demographic Transition Model in interpreting population structures and other population characteristics. Very Limited Limited Satisfactory Well developed Thorough Assessment of the relevance of Malthusian theory and its explanation of population growth and sustainability. Very Limited Limited Satisfactory Well developed Thorough Identification, description and explanation of the main types and causes of population change since the 1950s. Very Limited Limited Satisfactory Well developed Thorough Identification, description and explanation of the types and causes of population movements and their contribution to population change and sustainability. Very Limited Limited Satisfactory Very good Sophisticated Explanation of the similarities and differences in population dynamics and population structures within and between countries with different economic and political conditions and social structures. Assessment Mark range (1–8) (9–16) (17–24) (25–32) (33–40)