Global Perspectives (AS Level only)

Overview

Global Perspectives and Research is an interdisciplinary course which aims to teach students to analyse and more deeply understand the world around them. It also has a reflective and metacognitive element. It is designed in particular to develop research, critical thinking, reasoning, problem solving, communication, analysis, reflection, and teamwork skills.



Students will take AS Global Perspectives over two years, with 2 hours of dedicated lessons per week. This will allow students to develop essential skills for life and further education as well as gaining a highly regarded qualification.

AS Global Perspectives and Research.mp4

Course Content

Students have a great deal of freedom to select their own areas of research and develop these, provided they connect to at least one of these broad global themes:


  • Alternatives to oil

  • Architectural priorities

  • Artificial Intelligence

  • Arts in an international context

  • Biodiversity

  • Changing national identities

  • Climate change

  • Cultural heritage

  • Endangered cultures

  • Ethical foreign policies

  • Ethics and economics of food

  • Gender issues

  • Genetic engineering

  • Global economic activity

  • Impact of the internet

  • Industrial pollution

  • International law

  • International sport

  • Medical ethics and priorities

  • Migration and work

  • Political systems

  • Religious-secular divide

  • Rise of global superpowers

  • Standard of living/quality of life

  • Sustainable futures

  • Technology and lifestyles

  • Tourism

  • Transnational organisations (e.g. UN, EU, NATO)

  • Transport

  • Urbanisation

Assessment

Component 1: Written Exam (30% of AS Level grade)

  • 1hr 30 minute exam

  • Questions based on two sources asking students to analyse and evaluate the arguments, evidence and perspectives.

  • No specific required content - skills based


Component 2: Essay (35% of AS Level grade)

  • 1750-2000 word essay

  • Students choose their own title connected to any of the global topics, research different perspectives on this and analyse these to reach a conclusion. Students must also critically evaluate the sources they have used.


Component 3: Team project (35% of AS Level)

  • Individual presentation (recorded) and 800 word reflective paper

  • Teams of 2-5 students identify a local problem with global relevance and use research to propose workable solutions.

  • Focus is on research, presentation skills, teamwork, and self reflection.

Progression

The course offers good opportunities to develop meaningful skills for further education, employment, and life, for a broad range of student aspirations. These skills and the work they do to demonstrate these (especially in components 2 and 3) will support student’s university applications and CVs. The focus on global issues will support students in becoming well-rounded citizens.


The Team Project component of this course can be taken alongside Project Purpose

This course cannot be taken together with Independent Project Qualification (IPQ)


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IBA8CJQz6BMkQQlmekvshEM5_x_asQ4l/view?usp=sharing