Years 11–12
Full day program
9.00am–2.30pm
Big idea
Students examine the geographical processes that result in local land cover change and how these processes shape the identity of places.
Students:
- Use an inquiry approach and DPSIR systems thinking framework to carry out an investigation of a local land cover management challenge
- Discuss the methodology to be used, data required and appropriate methods for data collection
- Conduct a field study to collect primary data for investigation of a land management issue
Curriculum links
- Geography General Senior Syllabus 2019 (version 1.1)
- Unit 3 – Responding to land cover transformations
- Topic 2 – Responding to local land cover transformations
- 4.5.2 – Summative internal assessment (IA2): Investigation – Field Report (25%)
Program overview
Fieldwork investigations during this program focus on the impact and management of environmental issues such as weeds, erosion and urbanisation within the Bunyaville Conservation Park.
The following IA2 assessment objectives are explored during the Responding to Land Cover Transformations program:
- Explain geographical processes by describing the features, elements and interactions between biophysical and anthropogenic processes that shape the identity of places and result in land cover change
- Comprehend geographic patterns by recognising spatial and temporal patterns of land cover change at a local scale, identifying relationships and implications for people and places
- Analyse geographic data and information by selecting and interpreting fieldwork data to infer how patterns, trends and relationships represent a geographical challenge for the fieldwork location
Data collection
A number of locations and scenarios are available for data collection within the Bunyaville Conservation Park during the Responding to Land Cover Transformations program.
Students conduct field work at two locations to enable comparison between an area that has been impacted by a land cover transformation and a minimally-impacted area. At each site, students work in small groups of 3-4 to collect data along 50 m transect lines, where they:
- Gather information at three different points along each transect line using 5m x 5m quadrats
- Measure and record abiotic data using hand-held meters
- Investigate forest structure by determining leaf litter depth, ground cover, understory and canopy structure
- Collect soil samples and conduct soil testing and
- Calculate biodiversity using Simpson's Biodiversity Index
The collected data is shared with the whole class either at the end of the day (if time permits) or on return to school.
Opportunities also exist for students to use geospatial technologies during the field investigation, with a specific focus on use of the ArcGIS QuickCapture and Survey123 Apps for primary geographic data collection.
For this program you will need to refer to the relevant Curriculum Activity Risk Assessments.