Barcelona Field Studies Centre

Edexcel IGCSE Geography Fieldwork

Barcelona Field Studies Centre offers a range of field studies designed to meet the fieldwork criteria of the Edexcel IGCSE Geography syllabus (2017). The studies will also help develop students' knowledge and understanding of a broad range of geographical concepts included in the specification content.

The field studies are supported by our Geography IGCSE Fieldwork Opportunities Handbook.


Barcelona Field Studies Centre Geography Fieldwork Opportunities Handbook

Specification Requirements

Edexcel IGSCE examines students' understanding of fieldwork through Section B of Paper 1 (Physical Geography) and Paper 2 (Human Geography). Students must have completed fieldwork in one Physical Geography topic and one Human Geography topic – Barcelona Field Studies Centre offers a choice of field studies under both topics. You can also include additional studies to maximise students' experience of learning syllabus content through real-world situations.

Each fieldwork activity meets the seven-stage enquiry process (as outlined in Appendix 6 of the specification). There will be some preparation work and follow-up work required at school – materials will be provided to support this.

If you opt for a 'Taught' course, an evening follow-up session will be included. This will review the day's fieldwork activities and assist students to analyse and evaluate their findings.

Content

Primary data collection includes at least one quantitative and one qualitative technique. Secondary data collection includes the use of at least two different secondary data sources for your chosen environment – these will be provided.

Different sampling strategies will be introduced as appropriate to the study. Students will also learn about health and safety in the field. The studies will provide the opportunity for students to acquire a range of practical skills and cognitive enquiry skills.

Edexcel IGCSE Field Study Options

Select at least one opportunity from a Physical Geography topic and a Human Geography topic listed under the 'Core Field Studies', plus other opportunities to further your students' understanding as desired. There are some locations which are used for different studies but we recommend you do not conduct two studies with different foci in the same area as there will be some similarities.

Core Field Studies

Physical Geography

1. River Environments Fieldwork Opportunity – River Tordera (changes in river channel characteristics)

Location

River Tordera – visiting four contrasting sites

Geographical enquiry (from the syllabus)

Investigation of river processes and form through primary and secondary fieldwork evidence

Aim

To investigate changes in river channel characteristics from source to mouth

Description

Students will visit four sites on the River Tordera to investigate how the river changes as it moves from source to mouth

Primary data collection

Quantitative

Channel measurements: river velocity, width, depth, channel cross-sectional area, gradient and bed load

Qualitative

Annotated field sketch and digital photographs to show channel changes

Secondary data provided

A GIS topographic map and data for study catchment

2. Coastal Environments Fieldwork Opportunity – Sitges Coast (coastal processes and form)

Location

Sitges Coast

Geographical enquiry (from the syllabus)

Investigation of coastal processes and form through primary and secondary fieldwork evidence

Aim

To investigate beach profile and sediment characteristics

Description

Students will undertake a shoreline-to-cliff foot/sea-wall transect to investigate coastal processes and form. This study will also support understanding of a retreating coastline, the coast as a natural system and its processes, coastal landforms and potential conflict at the coastline.

Primary data collection

Quantitative

Beach profile: length, height and slope of beach

Sediment: size and shape of material along the transect

Qualitative

Annotated field sketch of coastal features and digital photographs to show variations along a stretch of coast

Secondary data provided

Local geology map, local aerial map, map of dominant wave direction, local secondary data on coastal change

Human Geography

3. Rural Environments Fieldwork Opportunity – Priorat (changing use of rural environments)

Location

Priorat

Geographical enquiry (from the syllabus)

Investigating the changing use of rural environments through primary and secondary evidence

Aim

To investigate the rural rebranding of Priorat

Description

Students will explore how Priorat has changed from being an area experiencing rural decline to a famous wine region with associated wine tourism

Primary data collection

Quantitative

Environmental quality survey, structured questionnaire, index of residential decay, perception survey, index of services and amenities, placecheck survey

Qualitative

Annotated photographs showing evidence of change, interviews with local shopkeepers

Secondary data provided

Census data, background information on change in Priorat including social and economic development, the construction of a wine technology park, the environment impact, immigration and village services

4. Rural Environments Fieldwork Opportunity – Catalan villages (changing use of rural environments)

Location

Four Catalan villages in the Barcelona region

Geographical enquiry (from the syllabus)

Investigating the changing use of rural environments through primary and secondary evidence

Aim

To investigate the socio-economic changes in a selection of Catalan villages

Description

Students will visit four villages located between 40 and 115 kilometres from Barcelona to investigate if Cloke's index of rurality can be applied to villages in the Barcelona region

Primary data collection

Quantitative

Environmental quality survey, price of a convenience item, index of services and amenities, structured questionnaire, investigation of transport links

Qualitative

Annotated photographs showing evidence of change, interviews with businesses (e.g. shopkeepers), evidence of change and cohesion/conflict and function

Secondary data provided

Local census data, newspaper report on Spanish rural change, topographic maps and aerial photos of the villages

5. Urban Environments Fieldwork Opportunity – El Raval, Barcelona (changing use of inner city environments)

Location

El Raval, Barcelona

Geographical enquiry (from the syllabus)

Investigating the changing use of central/inner urban environments through primary and secondary evidence

Aim

To investigate how successful the urban regeneration schemes have been in the El Raval district of Barcelona

Description

Students will visit four sample zones to investigate the regeneration in the old inner city district of El Raval

Primary data collection

Quantitative

Environmental quality survey, residential decay survey, perception survey, new business and economic activities survey, price of a convenience item

Qualitative

Annotated photographs, interviews with local stakeholders (e.g. shopkeepers, University students)

Secondary data provided

Local census data, aerial photos, local crime map, evidence of graffiti, local newspaper reports

6. Urban Environments Fieldwork Opportunity – Pedralbes to El Raval transect, Barcelona (changing use of central/inner urban environments)

Location

Transect from Pedralbes to El Raval, Barcelona

Geographical enquiry (from the syllabus)

Investigating the changing use of central/inner urban environments through primary and secondary evidence

Aim

To investigate change in urban land use and environmental quality

Description

Students will visit six sites on a transect from the suburbs to the inner city in Barcelona

Primary data collection

Quantitative

Environmental quality survey, land use survey

Qualitative

Annotated photographs

Secondary data provided

Census data on average family income by district, map of distribution of foreign nationalities in Barcelona, health inequalities data

7. Urban Environments Fieldwork Opportunity – 22@ in Poblenou, Barcelona (changing use of central/inner urban environments)

Location

Poblenou area of Barcelona

Geographical enquiry (from the syllabus)

Investigating the changing use of central/inner urban environments through primary and secondary evidence

Aim

To investigate the urban rebranding strategies in the Poblenou district of Barcelona

Description

Students will visit the Poblenou district which has been transformed from an old industrial district with toxic beaches, to a centre for new technologies with a remodelled seafront

Primary data collection

Quantitative

Environmental quality survey, land use survey, structured questionnaire

Qualitative

Annotated photographs, investigation of business functions, building observation

Secondary data provided

Historical images, local newspaper report

Other Field Studies

These studies will provide an opportunity for students to deepen their knowledge and understanding of other areas of the syllabus.

8. Hazardous Environments Fieldwork Opportunity (Physical Geography) – Garrotxa Volcanic Natural Park

Location

Garrotxa Volcanic Natural Park

Syllabus content

  • Causes of volcanic and earthquake hazards, including the role of plate boundaries and hotspots.

  • Reasons why people continue to live in areas at risk from hazard events.

It also provides a case study of preparation for earthquakes (warning and evacuation, building design, remote sensing and GIS).

Description

There are a number of locations which you can choose to visit including volcanoes, historic lava flows, an active fault line, volcanic quarries and a volcano museum.

9. Economic Activity and Energy Fieldwork Opportunity (Human Geography) – Poblenou, Barcelona

Location

Poblenou, Barcelona

Syllabus content

  • Factors affecting the location of economic activity in each economic sector and how these factors can change over time.

  • Reasons for the changes in the numbers of people employed in each economic sector, including the availability of raw materials, globalisation, mechanisation, demographic changes and government policies.

  • Positive and negative impacts of economic sector shifts

Description

Students will explore the renewal of an old industrial quarter into a technological district (22@) in the Poblenou district of Barcelona.

Edexcel IGCSE Example Fieldwork Programme

The programme outlines an example Edexcel IGCSE Fieldwork Programme for four days.

This is an example programme. All programmes are fully customisable and there are other activities which can be added to your stay.

Edexcel IGCSE Example Fieldwork Programme

Day 1

Arrival in Barcelona

Airport pick-up and 2.5 hour orientation tour of the city

Evening: Welcome, briefing on Health and Safety and context setting for the following day's fieldwork

Evening meal

Day 2

Breakfast

Full day: Physical Geography Fieldwork Opportunity

Select from River Tordera or Sitges Coast

Evening: Two-hour follow-up session to review the day's fieldwork activities and support students in analysing and evaluating their data. The session will also set the context for the following day's fieldwork

Evening meal

Day 3

Breakfast

Full day: Human Geography Fieldwork Opportunity

Select from Priorat, Catalan villages, El Raval, Pedrables to El Raval transect or 22@ in Poblenou

Evening: Two-hour follow-up session to review the day's fieldwork activities and support students in analysing and evaluating their findings. The session will also set the context for the following day's fieldwork

Evening meal

Day 4

Breakfast

Full day: Additional Field Study

Select an additional study to enhance students' syllabus understanding (Garrotxa Volcanic Natural Park or Poblenou) or an additional core field study

Evening follow up session, as appropriate

Evening meal

Day 5

Departure and airport drop-off

For further information or if you have an enquiry, please contact us

Course availability

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