Review of Geography Level 3 achievement standards
Subfield Social Science Studies
|
Domain |
Id |
Subject reference |
|
Geography |
90701-90707 |
Geography 3.1-3.7 |
The Ministry of Education and the Secondary Education Group Assessment business unit of NZQA have completed a review of the achievement standards listed above that were registered in October 2003.
New Registration date November 2005
Date new versions published November 2005
Planned review date March 2008
Summary of review and consultation process
This review is part of the planned cycle of review that takes place after the first year of use of the achievement standards.
· Initial feedback and comments were collated from teachers/schools, moderators, examiners, markers, material developers, and other stakeholders.
· This information was reviewed by a subject expert panel and recommendations were made in March 2005.
· The recommendations were sent out for full consultation to secondary schools, tertiary institutions, and others in the education sector, in April/May 2005.
· Feedback from this full consultation has informed the changes described below.
Main changes resulting from the review
In all achievement standards - the definition for the term analyse has been amended to read as analyse means to examine and explain the component parts and their relationship to determine.... This is to clarify the step up from the explanation that is required for Level 2.
Title
· The title has been changed to emphasise that the analysis is of the natural processes rather than the geographic environment.
· Interacting has been removed from the title, as the interaction of processes is only one part of the analysis and by being in the title, it was over emphasised and not always appropriate. (See Explanatory Note (EN) 4)
Credit value
The credit value has increased from 3 credits to 4 to better reflect the teaching and learning time. (See notes for AS90704, Geography 3.4)
Achievement Criteria
The criteria have been amended to align with the change to the title.
Explanatory notes
· EN 4 - the nature of the geographic environment has been amended to read as 'the size and extent of the geographic environment and the natural features of this geographic environment.'
- The wording of the second bullet point has been changed to read as natural processes that operate (and may interact).. to better reflect the intent of the term of interacting natural processes.
- The last bullet point has been amended to read as human actions that modify natural processes, and the outcomes.
· EN 5 - the definitions of analyse, spatial variation have been changed, and the terms and natural features and temporal variations have been defined.
Credit value
The credit value has increased from 3 credits to 4 to better reflect the teaching and learning time required for this achievement standard. (See notes for AS90704, Geography 3.4)
Explanatory notes
· EN 2 - amended to be consistent with Level 2, by clarifying that the settings refer to one New Zealand setting and one overseas setting, and that only one setting is required for achievement while two settings are required for achievement with merit and achievement with excellence.
· EN 5 - the spatial variations definition has been changed to clarify the way the term can be interpreted.
Title
The title has been modified to read as Explain the contribution of geography to planning and decision making processes. This is to reinforce that the intent of this achievement standard is for the analysis of the processes rather than the issue itself.
Achievement Criteria
The criteria have been reduced to two criteria for each achievement grade - the first criterion to analyse the planning and decision-making process, the second requiring an explanation of the contribution of geography to the process. The reason for this is to make the focus on the processes rather than the issue. This also makes Geography 3.3 distinct from 3.6.
Explanatory notes
· EN 2 - altered to clarify that the learning for this achievement standard will be developed in the context of one New Zealand local or regional example. The reference for the settings has been deleted from this EN and added to EN 3.
· EN 4 - definitions for the terms explain, planning and decision-making processes and evaluate have been added. The definition of analyse has been amended.
Credit value
The credit value has been reduced from 6 to 4 and thereby increasing the value of Geography 3.1 and 3.2 from 3 to 4 credits. This reflects the teaching and learning time needed in relation to all three achievement standards (Geography 3.1, 3.2, and 3.6). The number of credits is reflected in reduced assessment tasks for Geography 3.4.
Explanatory notes
· EN 5 - the first bullet point has been amended to refer to Level 3 rather than Year 13.
· EN 6 - the term indigenous has been added to be consistent with all the other Level 3 achievement standards.
Title
The title has been amend to include and present for consistency with the equivalent achievement standard at Level 1 and 2.
Achievement Criteria
· The first criterion has been amended to emphasise the carrying out of the research with the process for the research defined in EN 5.
· The second criterion has been changed the term apply to select and discuss...
· The third criterion has been altered to make explicit the requirement to evaluate the process and findings of the research.
Explanatory notes
· EN 4 - added to define consultation. This is to ensure learners do receive guidance and make explicit the teachers' and learners' roles in this process.
· EN 5 - Geographic research process has been outlined and what is to be included in the report detailed.
- The planning and collection of data has been clarified
- Definitions of evaluate and critically evaluate have been added to make explicit the requirements for the each grade of achievement.
Achievement Criteria
In the second criterion the term analyse has been changed to explain.
Explanatory notes
· EN 2 and 3 - amended to clarify the context.
· EN 5 - minor changes have been made to the terms analyse and geographic nature.
- The word 'perspectives' has been removed for the second bullet point as this requirement is covered in EN 6.
- The definition of evaluate has been changed from strengths or weaknesses to strengths and weaknesses.
- Explain viewpoints has been clarified.
- Fully justified has also been defined to ensure expectations for this criterion are clear. This definition ensures consistency with Level 2.
· EN 6 - Treaty of Waitangi claims and environmental issues have been deleted as they are not Māori concepts and different concepts have been added.
Achievement Criteria
The first two criteria have been combined because it was considered it is not possible to analyse patterns without processes. This brings the change in line with amendments made to the Level 2 achievement standards.
Impact on Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP)
None.
Impact on existing qualifications
None.
Impact of changes on NCEA Exclusions List
None.
Summary of main changes to achievement standards' Ids, classification, titles, levels, and credits
The following summary shows the changes made to the achievement standards as a result of the review. All changes are in bold.
Key to review category |
| |
A |
Dates changed, but no other changes are made - the new version of the standard carries the same Id and a new version number | |
|
B |
Changes made, but the overall outcome remains the same - the new version of the standard carries the same Id and a new version number | |
|
C |
Major changes that necessitate the registration of a replacement achievement standard with a new Id | |
|
D |
Achievement standard will expire and not be replaced | |
Subfield Social Science Studies
Domain Geography
|
Id |
Title |
Level |
Credit |
Review Category |
|
90701 |
Analyse a geographic environment, focusing on the interacting natural processes Analyse natural processes in the context of a geographic environment |
3 |
3
4 |
B |
|
90702 |
Analyse a cultural process |
3 |
3 4 |
B |
|
90703 |
Analyse the role of geography in planning and decision-making Explain the contribution of geography to planning and decision-making processes |
3 |
3 |
B |
|
90704 |
Select and apply skills and ideas in a geographic context |
3 |
6 4 |
B |
|
90705 |
Carry out geographic research with consultation Carry out and present geographic research with consultation |
3 |
3 |
B |
|
90706 |
Analyse a contemporary geographic issue and evaluate courses of action |
3 |
3 |
B |
|
90707 |
Analyse a geographic topic at a global scale |
3 |
3 |
B |