Geography
Unit 1 & 2
Course Description
The study of Geography is a structured way of exploring, analysing and understanding the characteristics of places that make up our world. Geographers are interested in key questions concerning places and geographic phenomena: What is there? Where is it? Why is it there? What are the effects of it being there? How is it changing over time and how could, and should, it change in the future? How is it different from other places and phenomena? How are places and phenomena connected?
Unit 1: Hazards and disasters
In this unit students study a wide range of hazards and disasters including: volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, avalanches, fire and pests, disease epidemics, oil spills, chemical disasters and nuclear explosions. Students seek to understand the nature of these hazards and disasters and gain insight into the impacts that these natural and technological phenomena have on society and the environment. Students then evaluate the effectiveness of a range of responses to selected hazards and disasters. Case Studies include: Nepal Earthquake 2015 , Japan Tsunami 2011, Mt St Helens Volcanic Eruption 1980, Chernobyl Nuclear Explosion 1986, as well as infectious diseases such as Malaria and Ebola.
Outcomes - On completion of this unit students will be able to:
analyse, describe and explain the nature of hazards and the impacts of event at a range of scales.
analyse and explain the nature, purpose and effectiveness of a range of responses to selected hazards and disasters.
Assessment Tasks
Structured questions
A case study
Exam
Unit 2: Tourism
In this area of study students examine the characteristics of tourism, the location and distribution of different types of tourism and popular tourist destinations around the world. They analyse factors affecting different types of tourism such as overpopulation, technological advancements (jets/high speed trains/internet), and over commercialisation. Students support this investigation with contrasting examples from within Australia and elsewhere in the world in countries such as Thailand, Fiji, Rwanda and France. In VCE Geography, students investigate, in detail, the impacts of the tourism industry in St Kilda, Melbourne on an excursion using appropriate fieldwork techniques and developing investigation and reporting skills. Another focus is to understand the local, national and global responses to tourism to ensure a sustainable industry now and into the future.
Outcomes - On completion of this unit students will be able to:
analyse, describe and explain the nature of tourism at a local, national and global scale.
analyse and explain the impacts of tourism on people, places and environments and evaluate the effectiveness of strategies for managing tourism.
Assessment Tasks
Structured questions
Case study
Field Study Report
Textbook requirements:
None
Resources/Requirements:
School laptop provided in School Bundle
A4 Exercise Book & pens
Additional Costs: