GEOGRAPHY (Advanced Higher)                                                  

This is a campus course taught in Column E at Perth Academy

What are the aims of this course?

The aims of Advanced Higher Geography are to develop the student’s geographical knowledge and skills and prepare the student for further geographical study at university.

What are the recommended entry levels for this course?

Students should have gained a good pass (A or B) in Higher Geography.

What content is included in this course?

q  Geographical Methods and Techniques cover the three skill areas of fieldwork/research techniques, geographical data handling, and map interpretation.

q  A Geographical Study involving researching a topic undertaken in the local area.  The student will be planning, collecting and processing information which is then analysed, interpreted and presented in an illustrated report.

q  A current Geographical Issue is selected by the candidate, from any region/country, to develop their critical thinking and ability to use a wide range of sources to analyse and evaluate evidence before reaching a valid conclusion.

What skills will I develop?

The successful student will develop a range of individual research and fieldwork skills. These will involve planning, time management, in-depth analysis, presentation and evaluation of material and methods.

Learners will develop high level skills which are transferable to other areas of study and which they will use in everyday life. The emphasis on the critical evaluation of viewpoints and sources of information, including maps will develop higher order thinking skills. Learners will progressively develop skills in literacy by report writing and essay writing and skills in numeracy through data collection, processing and the use of statistical techniques and geographical information systems (GIS).

What learning and teaching approaches will I experience?

While these do include class teaching and group fieldwork exercises, the emphasis is on personal responsibility for the student’s own learning.

How will I be assessed?

The Geographical Issue and Study are assessed externally and presented as a folio which is worth 100 of the 150 total marks awarded.  The remaining 50 marks are gained from an external exam based on fieldwork/research techniques, geographical data handling, and map interpretation.

What are the homework requirements?

The student will have to plan, research and write up reports on a variety of topics, at home, as well as complete exam-style questions.

What are the possible progression routes?

The Advanced Higher Geography Course is recognised as an entry qualification to employment, training, further and higher education. Relevant degree level programmes can include science, geology and social science. This Course, with its wide range of transferable skills, provides preparation for a diverse range of occupations and careers, such as town and transport planning, chartered surveying, renewable energy, development, tourism, land and water management, environmental consultancy, conservation, demography, housing and social welfare.