WJEC AS/A Level GCE 2016 Geography Fieldwork

AS Level Overview
A Level Overview
Fieldwork Overview
Fieldwork Skills
Field Study Options

AS Level Component	Changing Landscapes	Changing Places
Weighting	60%	40%
Marks	120	80
Key areas of Content	Section A: Changing Landscapes Either Coastal or Glaciated Landscapes Two compulsory structured questions with data response Section B: Tectonic Hazards One compulsory structured question with data response and two extended response questions Section C: Challenges in the 21st Century One compulsory extended response question drawing on both Components 1 and 2, with resource material	Section A: Changing Places Two compulsory structured questions with data response Section B: Fieldwork Investigation in Physical and Human Geography Three compulsory structured questions with data response on fieldwork and the learner's own fieldwork investigation
Optionality	Optionality in Section A	Optionality in Section B
Skills	Topic-specific	See Fieldwork skills
Fieldwork		Fieldwork questions in Section B
Synopticity
Question styles	See Key areas of Content	See Key areas of Content

A Level Component	Changing Landscapes and Changing Places	Global Systems and Global Governance	Contemporary Themes in Geography	Independent Investigation
Weighting	20.5%	27.5%	32%	20%
Marks	82	110	128	80
Key areas of Content	Section A: Changing Landscapes Either Coastal or Glaciated Landscapes Section B: Changing Places	Section A: Global Systems Water and Carbon Cycles Section B: Global Governance: Change and Challenges Processes and patterns of global migration and global governance of the Earth's oceans Section C: 21st Century Challenges	Section A: Tectonic Hazards Section B: Contemporary Themes in Geography Four optional themes: Ecosystems Economic Growth and Challenge: India or China or Development in an African Context Energy Challenges and Dilemmas Weather and Climate	From Components 1 and 2 or the optional themes in Component 3
Optionality	Section A Optionality	None	Section B optionality
Skills	Topic-specific	Topic-specific		Fieldwork skills
Synopticity
Question styles	Two compulsory structured, data response questions and one compulsory extended response question in Sections A and B	Sections A and B: two compulsory structured, data response questions and one compulsory extended response question Section C: One compulsory extended response question drawing on both Components 1 and 2 with resource material	Section A: one compulsory extended response question Section B: two essay questions chosen from the four optional themes	Project 3000-4000 words

Our field studies for the new WJEC 2016 AS and A Level GCE Geography courses cover the Fieldwork and Geographical skills, including data manipulation and statistics, that students need. We support students in the development of their Independent Enquiry Question, choice of methodology and the carrying out of their Primary Data collection. Students will be provided with links to secondary data, including census information, newspaper articles and local websites and blogs.

We provide schools in advance with:

a fieldwork methodology student 'tool kit' of sampling and statistical methods and example worksheets tailored to our range of field studies
detailed background to our studies
links to census data and other relevant research material
a list of the syllabus themes that link to the studies.

A typical A Level group will undertake 2/3 human and physical studies that lend themselves to a wide range of hypotheses linked to the syllabus themes. Students then develop their own Individual Investigation titles.

WJEC AS level

Fieldwork skills will be assessed in Section B: Fieldwork Investigation in Physical and Human Geography. The specific elements of fieldwork which are required within AS Level Geography are outlined in the Fieldwork Skills tab.

Students will use a variety of relevant quantitative, qualitative and fieldwork skills to:

investigate geographical questions and issues
interpret, analyse and evaluate fieldwork data and evidence
construct arguments and draw conclusions in relation to their own fieldwork experience

Fieldwork is required to be undertaken for at least 2 days including both human and physical geography.

WJEC A Level

Assessment of fieldwork skills will be within the Independent Investigation component only. The specific elements of fieldwork which are required within A Level Geography are outlined in the Fieldwork Skills tab.

Students will use a variety of relevant quantitative, qualitative and fieldwork skills to:

investigate geographical questions and issues
interpret, analyse and evaluate data and evidence
construct arguments and draw conclusions.

Fieldwork is required to be undertaken for at least 4 days including both human and physical geography.

The six stages of the enquiry process

The enquiry process forms the framework for application of the fieldwork and geographical skills. Knowledge and understanding of the six stages will be developed overall through the fieldwork and each of the days undertaken may focus on some of the aspects of the six stages; that is all the geographical skills involved in the enquiry process need not be undertaken on the fieldwork days. The aim should be to build by the end of the fieldwork a holistic understanding of the six stages.

Sequence and enquiry questions	Geographical skills
1. Context and planning – what is the geographical enquiry process?	Prepare to investigate a geographical question in the field; make and justify decisions on the task including data collection methods and how to use them; define and refine the research question(s) that underpin the context of the field investigation; risk and ethical issues.
2. Data collection – how is data and information (evidence) collected?	Acquire field data (primary) and relevant literature (secondary data / information) pertinent to the research question; observe and record in the field and understand the theory / context for the research question, using quantitative and qualitative methods and field (primary) and secondary data / information.
3. Presentation and display – how is the collected data and information presented?	Process a range of field and any relevant secondary data / information using quantitative and qualitative methods in order to lead to appropriate analysis.
4. Analysis and interpretation of findings – how can the evidence be analysed?	Interrogate (interpret and analyse) data / information from field (primary) data, and, as relevant, secondary data / information; describe patterns, trends, relationships; apply knowledge and understanding of geographical knowledge, concepts and processes and theory to specific evidence collected to understand field observations.
5. Conclusion – what conclusions can be drawn and how do these relate to the initial aim of the enquiry?	Synthesise findings to draw conclusions based on evidence and theoretical research.
6. Evaluation of the whole investigation – what evaluative techniques should be applied to the enquiry process?	Critically reflect on every stage of the whole investigation in order to appreciate the strengths and limitations of the primary and secondary data, links to original question; note strengths and limitations (accuracy, validity and reliability) and anomalies and /or errors or misuse of data; evaluate the methodology including, if relevant, sampling techniques; suggest improvements for further research.

To prepare for each of their fieldwork activities, learners should be given opportunities to:

pose geographical questions
consider appropriate data collection methodologies
design survey strategies before they go on field visits.

In considering and collecting appropriate raw data / information collected in the field (primary data / information), learners should be guided to observe and record by:

taking measurements and surveys, including questionnaires, observations and interviews
making images, including field sketches and photographs
obtaining raw census material
obtaining information from GIS.

Learners should also be guided towards sampling techniques, coding, timing and frequency as appropriate. In order to understand the theoretical or comparative context of their research question(s) learners also need to be guided to collect secondary information as appropriate. After their various fieldwork activities, learners should be given opportunities to:

consider appropriate methods of data / information presentation
reflect on their fieldwork findings by processing data
analyse patterns and trends and draw conclusions
evaluate techniques and the various fieldwork activities.

The descriptions in the table below specify the level of independence required by students at different stages of their investigation.

Investigation stage	Level of independence	In Practice
Exploring focus	Collaboration allowed. Students may discuss together, and with their teacher, ideas and research for appropriate geographical questions.	Students have a free choice of investigations focusing on any of the compulsory or optional content and they may be provided with a range of themes from the specification. Research literature should be referenced within the written report.
Title of the investigation, focus of investigation (sub-questions), purpose of investigation.	Independent work	Students must provide a clear justification and contextualisation of how their enquiry will help them to address their title and explore their theme.
Devising methodology and sampling framework	Collaboration allowed	Students may collaborate when planning and selecting methodologies / sampling strategies
Primary data collection	Collaboration allowed	Primary data collection may be carried out individually or in groups.
Secondary data collection	Independent work	Students select secondary sources of data on their own.
Data/information presentation	Independent work	Students select and use appropriate data presentation methods on their own.
Data analysis and explanation	Independent work	Students select and use appropriate data analysis techniques and independently interpret and analyse the results.
Conclusions and evaluation	Independent work	Students evaluate the findings of their investigation and reach a balanced and supported conclusion on their own.

WJEC AS Level Geography

Geographical skills in equal weighting of quantitative and qualitative skills are required for GCE AS learners and the following list indicates those selected for study for Components 1 and 2 in this specification. All the skills need to be addressed within Components 1 and 2 but not all will apply to fieldwork.

AS Level Quantitative skills to collect data through numerical measurements

1. Cartographical information:

longitude and latitude
map coordinates including grid references and area references
distance and area
direction
scale

2. Number and statistical calculations:

sampling, including random, stratified, systematic and the ability to identify sources of error in data, measurement errors and misuse of data
totals
percentages
fractions, proportions and ratios
data sets (small to large) including crowd-sourced and big data (characterised by volume, velocity and variety)
frequencies
densities
scales of measurement
measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode)
measures of dispersion (range, inter-quartile range)
measures of correlation, including a scatter plot, estimated lines of best fit and Spearman Rank

3. Cartographic and graphical material:

isoline and isopleth maps
choropleth maps
dot maps
flow diagrams and maps
proportional symbols
graphs, including scatter, line, bar, triangular, logarithmic, bipolar
pie charts
population pyramids
cross-sections and long profiles
rose / star / radial diagrams
Lorenz curve

4. Digital and geo-located data:

geospatial technologies including aerial photographs, digital images, satellite images, geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), databases

AS Level Qualitative skills to collect data through non-numerical techniques

5. Cartographical information for:

landscape system identification
land-use identification
risk assessment

6. Cartographic and graphical material:

mental maps
GOAD plans
Ordnance Survey maps (1:25 000 and 1:50 000)

7. Digital and geo-located data:

geospatial technologies including aerial photographs, digital images, satellite images, geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), databases
field sketches

8. Textual and visual sources:

interview material including coding
images
factual text
discursive / creative material
oral histories

WJEC A Level Geography

Geographical skills in relation to both an equal weighting of quantitative and qualitative skills are required for A level learners and the following list indicates those selected for study for all components in this specification. All the skills need to be addressed within these components but not all will apply to fieldwork.

A Level Quantitative skills to collect data through numerical measurements