curriculum descriptors
SOCIAL SUBJECTS (ACCESS 1)
INTRODUCTION
Candidates who are working within Access 1, for whom a complete Access 1 unit is
not appropriate, will focus on Learning targets and their related Success Criteria at an
Experiential, Awareness or Participation stage. Examples of targets are outlined in
the descriptors that follow. These descriptors have been organised under the
appropriate Access 1 unit title and then grouped using the Performance Criteria as the
Learning targets.
Each unit at Access 1 forms part of a set of units which are linked to a particular
Access 2 unit.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Social Subjects at Access 1 comprises four units:
Social Subjects: Deciding – Demonstrating Knowledge
Social Subjects: Deciding – Reaching a Decision
Social Subjects: Organising and Presenting Information – Organising
Social Subjects: Organising and Presenting Information – Presenting
For candidates working within Access 1, examples of Success Criteria have been
described for the units on Deciding and on Organising and Presenting Information, as
these units provide a range of useful targets for candidates at this stage of learning.
RATIONALE
These units aim to highlight and extend the candidate’s experience through
developing knowledge and understanding of aspects of a Social Subject topic or issue.
The skills of decision–making will be developed in the Deciding units, enhancing
self–esteem and confidence. Through a variety of experiences and practical–based
activities, candidates can become familiar with a range of basic concepts and skills
relating to social subjects. The aspect of a topic or issue chosen should be of interest
to individual candidates and incorporate aspects from the social subjects of
geography, history and modern studies. In the Organising and Presenting Information
units, candidates will be able to communicate what they have learned to others.
CONTENTS
Candidates should be given the opportunity to experience interesting contexts through
which the units may be achieved. They are not required to study specified content.
The aspect of a topic or issue chosen should be of personal interest.
Social Subjects: Curriculum Descriptors (Acc 1)
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Access 1 Unit: Social Subjects: Deciding – Demonstrating Knowledge
Outcome: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a selected issue or aspect
of a topic
This unit enables candidates to be involved in selecting an aspect of a social subjects
topic to be studied and learning something about the topic chosen.
Access 1 Unit: Social Subjects: Deciding – Reaching a Decision
Outcome: Reach a decision about the selected issue or aspect of a topic using
information which has been gathered
Candidates are encouraged to select information that is relevant to the issue or aspect
of a topic studied and to make a decision about the issue/topic based on that
information.
Access 1 Unit: Social Subjects: Organising and Presenting Information –
Organising
Outcome: Organise information to address an issue or aspect of a topic
In this unit, candidates will gather and organise information related to a chosen issue
or aspect of a topic, prior to presenting it.
Access 1 Unit: Social Subjects: Organising and Presenting Information –
Presenting
Outcome: Present information in relation to an issue or aspect of a topic
Candidates will present appropriately information which has been previously gathered
relating to a chosen issue/topic.
UNIT: DECIDING – DEMONSTRATING KNOWLEDGE
Outcome: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a selected issue or aspect of
a topic.
PC (a):
Learning target: The reasons for exploring the issue or aspect of the
topic are explained clearly.
Success Criteria
P: Participates, with support, in explaining a reason for selecting an issue/aspect of a
topic for study.
A: Demonstrates awareness of the selected issue or aspect of a topic.
E: Actively experiences involvement in discussion of the reasons for selecting the
issue/aspect of the topic.
PC (b):
Learning target: Information is gathered which is relevant to the issue
or aspect selected.
Success Criteria
P: Participates, with support, by selecting some information relevant to the
issue/topic chosen.
A: Demonstrates awareness of some information relevant to the issue/topic chosen
E: Actively experiences activities involved in the selection of information relevant
to the issue/topic being studied.
Social Subjects: Curriculum Descriptors (Acc 1)
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UNIT: DECIDING – REACHING A DECISION
Outcome: Reach a decision about the selected issue or aspect of a topic using
information which has been gathered.
PC (a):
Learning target: The decision made is explained clearly.
Success Criteria
P: Participates, with support, giving a reason why the decision was made.
A: Demonstrates awareness of the appropriateness of the decision which was made.
E: Actively experiences involvement in the making and explaining of a decision
about an issue/topic.
PC (b):
Learning target: Relevant information is used appropriately in making
the decision.
Success Criteria
P: Participates, with support, in using relevant information to help in the decision
making process.
A: Demonstrates awareness that relevant information can be used to help with
decision making.
E: Actively experiences involvement in the use of relevant information to help
decision making.
Range statement
The issue or aspect of a topic studied should relate to two underlying concepts
selected from the table which follows (one from each of two columns).
Geography
Change
Conflict
Co-operation
Diversity
Interdependence
Location
Spatial patterns
Sustainability
Technology
History
Change
Conflict
Co-operation
Cause
Consequence
Continuity
Debate
Difference
Evidence
Similarity
Modern Studies
Change
Conflict
Co-operation
Equality
Ideology
Needs
Participation
Power
Representation
Rights and responsibilities
Evidence
Evidence should be based on one issue or aspect of a topic and can be provided
through classwork of a kind appropriate to the student.
Evidence may take the form of written (by teacher/lecturer) or oral reports, individual
or group displays, short responses to questions
Social Subjects: Curriculum Descriptors (Acc 1)
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UNIT: ORGANISING AND PRESENTING INFORMATION – ORGANISING
Outcome: Organise information to address an issue or aspect of a topic.
PC (a):
Learning target: Information which is gathered is relevant to a selected
issue or aspect of a topic
Success Criteria
P: Participates in gathering information that is appropriate to the selected
issue/topic.
A: Demonstrates awareness that information being gathered is appropriate to the
selected issue/topic.
E: Actively experiences involvement in the gathering of information appropriate to a
selected issue or aspect of a topic.
PC (b):
Learning target: The information is organised in a way which relates
clearly to underlying concepts
Success Criteria
P: Participates, with support, in organising information in a way which is
appropriate to the underlying concepts.
A: Demonstrates awareness of organisation as information is processed.
E: Actively experiences involvement in organising information appropriate to the
selected underlying concepts.
UNIT: ORGANISING AND PRESENTING INFORMATION – PRESENTING
Outcome: Present information in relation to an issue or aspect of a topic
PC (a):
Learning target: The information presented is appropriate to a selected
issue or aspect of a topic
Success Criteria
P: Participates in presenting information which is appropriate to the selected
issue/topic.
A: Demonstrates awareness that relevant information is being presented.
E: Actively experiences involvement in presenting information which is relevant to
a selected issue or aspect of a topic.
PC (b):
Learning target: The presentation of the information is clear and
relates accurately to underlying concepts
Success Criteria
P: Participates, with support, in presenting information clearly and accurately.
A: Demonstrates awareness of the need to present information clearly.
E: Actively experiences activities involved in presenting information clearly and
accurately.
Social Subjects: Curriculum Descriptors (Acc 1)
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Range statement
Candidates should be given the opportunity to experience contrasts such as different
media and different ways of organising and presenting information. The information
which is organised and presented may relate to any social subjects issue or aspect of a
topic, but it should deal with two underlying concepts chosen (one from each of two
columns) from the following:
Geography
Change
Conflict
Co-operation
Diversity
Interdependence
Location
Spatial patterns
Sustainability
Technology
History
Change
Conflict
Co-operation
Cause
Consequence
Continuity
Debate
Difference
Evidence
Similarity
Social Subjects: Curriculum Descriptors (Acc 1)
Modern Studies
Change
Conflict
Co-operation
Equality
Ideology
Needs
Participation
Power
Representation
Rights and responsibilities
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Social Subjects: Curriculum Descriptors (Acc 1)
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