New Advanced Higher Subject Implementation Events Geography:

Unit Assessment at Advanced Higher

Background

April 2012

April 2013

Ashbrook Report

Background

Reduce levels of over assessment

Reduce duplication of assessment

Clarify the relationship between Unit and Coursework assessment

Background Clarify the relationship between Unit and Coursework

assessment

Geographical Skills

1.1 Identifying an appropriate complex geographical topic for research

A.Justify the choice of a complex geographical topic to research

Not assessed in the Question Paper

AH UnitsUnit Outcomes and Assessment Standards

Making assessment judgements Project Question Paper

Geographical Issues

1.1 Summarising a wide range of viewpoints on a complex geographical issue

C. Summarise a wide range of viewpoints on the complex geographical issue.

Not assessed in the Question Paper

Geographical Skills 4.2 Analysing a map or map-based diagram to reach a valid conclusion

G. Reach reasoned conclusions supported by a range of evidence

Candidates will be expected to reach conclusions from evidence supplied in all questions

Geographical Issues

1.3 Reaching a reasoned conclusion supported by evidence

E. Reach reasoned conclusions supported by a wide range of evidence

Candidates will be expected to reach conclusions from evidence supplied in all questions

AH Geography Units Geographical Skills Unit

Learners who complete this Unit will:

1 Develop independent geographical research skills

2 Apply a wide range of research methods and fieldwork techniques

3 Apply an appropriate statistical technique in a geographical context

4 Apply an appropriate mapping technique in a geographical context.

Geographical Issues UnitLearners who complete this Unit will:

1 Critically evaluate viewpoints using evidence from a wide range of sources relating to a complex, current geographical issues

Unit Assessment – Recap Flexible and open Assessment Standards and Evidence

Requirements in Units

Greater range of techniques and methodologies for assessment – encouraged

Assessments can be designed to provide evidence across more than one outcome

More opportunities to gather naturally occurring evidence – assessment as part of learning and teaching

Unit Assessment Support Purpose

• Assess your candidates

• Adapt for your own assessment programmes

• Help you develop your own assessments

your own assessments

Unit Assessment Support at Advanced Higher – Approaches

Unit Assessment Support Packs consists of two documents

Package 1

•Geographical Skills – Portfolio approach – mix of physical and human contexts

“….the use of naturally occurring evidence…”

•Geographical Issues – Unit by Unit -Context of issue:‘Is the use of police in Brazil’s favelas having a positive impact on the urban population?’

Unit Assessment Support at Advanced Higher – Approaches

Unit Assessment Support Packs consists of two documents

Package 2 •Geographical Skills – Portfolio approach

- Human context (plus one physical gathering technique)“An analysis of land use patterns in a gentrified inner city area.”

•Geographical Issues – Unit by Unit - Context of issue:‘Should the building of a gasification plant in Dovesdale, South Lanarkshire be given the go ahead?’

Unit Assessment Support at Advanced Higher – Approaches

Unit Assessment Support Packs consists of two documents

Package 3 •Geographical Skills – Portfolio approach

– Physical context (plus one human gathering technique)“An analysis of soil and vegetation along two transects with differing aspects”

•Geographical Issues – Unit by Unit - Context of issue:“Gold mining in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park”

Assessment Support Packages

Each document includes:

Advice on task/prompts

Examples of possible candidate responses

Advice/examples of using evidence to meet multiple

Assessment Standards

Exemplar candidate Task(s)

Unit Assessment Support

Geographical Skills/Issues

Supports development of the skills necessary for the Project

(Study) + (Issues)

Evidence from discrete tasks

Evidence from combined tasks

Advice and Guidance on meeting each Assessment Standard

Workshop 1Unit Assessment

Using the materials provided, in small groups of 2-3, discuss: Identify subject-specific topics for discussion

Workshop Aims To understand the assessment and evidence requirements of Unit

Assessment To consider a range of ways of generating evidence for the Unit

Assessment Support provided

Using the materials provided, in small groups of 2-3, discuss: Definitions of skills and descriptions of minimum competence Avoiding over-assessment (e.g. using one piece of evidence to meet

multiple Assessment Standards) Alignment of Outcomes/Assessment Standards within the Units? Relationship between Outcomes/Assessment Standards and

Project/Question Paper 

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