Aims of the Department
A Geography Department field trip
Subject Specific Skills
As a result of studying the content, candidates should acquire and develop a range of subject specific as well as general skills:
- Skill in selecting and extracting relevant data from sources such as:
- books, journals, reports, the media, maps at a range of scales, statistics, censuses, graphs, photographs, satellite images, people, information stored in an IT format.
- Skill in collecting data in the field using techniques including:
- field sketching, land use mapping, questionnaires, interviews, environmental assessments;
- the use of simple instruments and equipment for measuring and recording such as soil testing kits, clinometers, measuring tapes, compasses, an automatic weather station, cameras, tape recorders.
- Skill in interpreting data by:
- identifying patterns, trends and relationships in data such as:
- OS maps at a variety of scales;
- atlas maps, route maps and plans, thematic maps (for instance maps showing weather, geology, land use, population and economic data);
- ground and air photographs and satellite images;
- graphs (including bar, line, scatter and triangular graphs) and other ways of representing statistical data such as histograms, pie charts and star charts;
- identifying bias, meaning and purpose in media sources, promotional material, cartoons.
- Skill in using evidence, analysing and synthesising data, to reach conclusions and to evaluate critically their own findings and those of others.
- Skill in communicating the outcomes of their work in geography by:
- representing data in a variety of map and graphic forms;
- drawing sketch maps and field sketches;
- using geographical vocabulary;
- writing reports and discussing their findings with others.
- Skill in planning their own geographical investigations by drawing upon the skills listed above and by identifying appropriate questions and strategies.
Programmes of Study
