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