Learning Area Leader: Mr Connolly
This study enables students to make critically informed comments on outdoor environmental issues, including asking questions about environmental sustainability and human connections to Country, both past and present. Students are able to understand the importance of change to environmental health from human or natural influences.
Career Paths / Future Directions
Resource Management, Agriculture, Business, Environmental Management & Research, Journalism, Local Government, Public Policy, Social Research, Teaching, Urban Planning & Development, Mining, Real Estate, Sustainability.
PLEASE NOTE:
Units 1 – 2
· Units 1 & 2 carry an additional fee of $900 approx. Fees and charges for activities are subject to change.
Units 3 – 4
· Units 3 & 4 carry an additional fee of $250 per student. Fees and charges for activities are subject to change.
Unit 1 – Connections with Outdoor Environments (Code: OUED11)
Description
This unit examines some of the ways in which Indigenous peoples and non-Indigenous peoples understand and relate to nature through experiencing outdoor environments. The focus is on individuals and their personal responses to experiencing outdoor environments.
Students are provided with the opportunity to explore the many ways in which nature is understood and perceived. Students develop a clear understanding of the range of motivations for interacting with outdoor environments, the factors that affect an individual’s access to experiencing outdoor environments and how they connect with outdoor environments.
Through outdoor experiences, students develop practical skills and knowledge to help them act sustainably in outdoor environments. Students understand the links between practical experiences and theoretical investigations, gaining insight into a variety of responses to, and relationships with, nature.
Areas of Study
· Our place in outdoor environments
· Exploring outdoor experiences
· Safe and sustainable participation in outdoor experiences
Outcomes
· Students will be able to analyse motivations for experiencing outdoor environments and plan to safely participate in specific outdoor experiences.
· Students will be able to explain factors that influence personal responses and access to outdoor experiences and interact sustainably with outdoor environments.
· Students will be able to evaluate strategies for safe and sustainable participation in outdoor experiences.
Assessment
For Outcome 1 and 2, at least one different task must be selected from:
· Case study
· Oral presentation which can include the use of multimedia and podcast
· Data analysis
· Written response to an issue
· Visual presentation such as a graphic organiser, concept/mind map, annotated poster or presentation file.
Outcome 3
A practical demonstration of key skills, with reference to outdoor experiences in addition to ongoing logbook entries of outdoor practical experiences.
Unit 2 – Discovering Outdoor Environments (Code: OUED22)
Description
This unit focuses on the different ways to understand outdoor environments and the impact of humans on outdoor environments.
In this unit students study the effects of natural changes and impacts of land management practices on the sustainability of outdoor environments by examining a number of case studies of specific outdoor environments, including areas where there is evidence of human intervention.
Students develop the practical skills required to minimise the impact of humans on outdoor environments. They comprehend a range of vocational perspectives that inform human use of outdoor environments. Through reflecting upon their experiences of outdoor environments, students make comparisons between outdoor environments, as well as develop theoretical knowledge about natural environments.
Areas of Study
· Understanding outdoor environments
· Observing impacts on outdoor environments
· Independent participation in outdoor environments
Outcomes
· Student should be to describe a range of understandings of outdoor environments and the effect of natural changes with reference to specific outdoor experiences.
· Students will be able to evaluate the impacts of humans on outdoor environments and associated management strategies, with reference to specific outdoor experiences.
· Students will be able to participate in a range of outdoor experiences safely and sustainably in an independent manner.
Assessment
For Outcome 1 and 2, at least one different task must be selected from:
· Case study
· Oral presentation which can include the use of multimedia and podcast
· Data analysis
· Written response to an issue
· Visual presentation such as a graphic organiser, concept/mind map, annotated poster or presentation file.
Outcome 3
A practical demonstration of key skills with reference to outdoor experiences in addition to ongoing logbook entries of outdoor practical experiences.
Unit 3 – Relationships with Outdoor Environments (Code: OUED33)
Description
The focus of this unit is the ecological, historical and social contexts of relationships between humans and outdoor environments in Australia. Case studies of a range of impacts on outdoor environments are examined in the context of the changing nature of human relationships with outdoor environments in Australia over 60,000 years.
Students consider several factors that influence relationships with outdoor environments. They also examine the dynamic nature of relationships between humans and their environment.
Students are involved in multiple experiences in outdoor environments, including in areas where there is evidence of human interaction.
Through these practical experiences, students make comparisons between, and reflect upon, outdoor environments, as well as develop theoretical knowledge and skills about specific outdoor environments.
Students undertake an independent investigation into the changing relationships with, and sustainability of, at least two different visited outdoor environments across both Units 3 and 4, which is assessed in Unit 4, Outcome 3.
Areas of Study
· Changing human relationships with outdoor environments
· Relationships with Australian environments in the past decade
Outcomes
· Students will be able to analyse the changing nature of relationships with outdoor environments between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians at a local and state level over time and evaluate the impact of environmentalism on political parties and/or policies.
· Students will be able to analyse factors that influence relationships between humans and outdoor environments in the last decade, and evaluate methods and processes used to influence relationships and decisions about the use of outdoor environments.
Assessment
A range of tasks taken from the following list:
· A written report: case study analysing collected primary and/or collated secondary data relating to a selected outdoor environment
· A media analysis relating to a selected outdoor environmental issue
· A visual presentation such as a graphic organiser, concept/mind map, annotated poster that includes both text and still images collected through the outdoor experience logbook.
Unit 4 – Sustainable Outdoor Relationships (Code: OUED44)
Description
In this unit students explore the sustainable use and management of outdoor environments. They observe and assess the health of outdoor environments and consider the importance of this health for the future of Australian outdoor environments and the Australian population.
Students examine the importance of the sustainability of human relationships with outdoor environments and the urgent need to balance human needs and the needs of outdoor environments. They investigate current acts and conventions as well as management strategies for achieving and maintaining healthy and sustainable Australian outdoor environments in contemporary Australian society.
Students engage in multiple related experiences in outdoor environments, conducting an ongoing investigation into the health of, and care for, these places. They learn and apply the practical skill and knowledge required to sustain healthy outdoor environments and evaluate the strategies and actions they employ. Through these practical experiences, students reflect upon outdoor environments and make comparisons between them by applying theoretical knowledge developed about outdoor environments.
As global citizens, students investigate how individuals and community members take action towards promoting sustainable and healthy outdoor environments and describe possible solutions to threats facing outdoor environments and their sustainability.
Students undertake an independent investigation into the changing relationships with, and sustainability of, at least two different visited outdoor environments across both Units 3 and 4, which is assessed in Uni 4, Outcome 3.
Areas of Study
· The importance of healthy outdoor environments
· The future of outdoor environments
· Investigating outdoor environments
Outcomes
· Student will be able to describe a range of environmental sustainability measures, analyse threats to outdoor environments and justify the importance of healthy outdoor environments for individuals and society, with reference to specific outdoor experiences.
· Students will be able to evaluate practices and strategies for sustaining outdoor environments, with reference to specific outdoor experiences.
· Students will be able to plan and conduct an independent investigation that evaluates selected outdoor environments.
Assessment
A range of tasks taken from the following list:
· A written report: case study or data analysis analysing generated primary and collated secondary data relating to a selected outdoor environment(s)
· A media analysis relating to a selected outdoor environmental issue
· Structured questions, including a combination of short answer and one extended response question
· An oral presentation that draws on practical experiences documented in the outdoor experience logbook.
Units 3 & 4 Assessment
Unit 3 Coursework = 20%
Unit 4 Coursework = 30%
Written Examination = 50%
Key Contact Learning Area Leader - Outdoor and Environmental Studies
Adian Connolly