WJEC GCSE Geography B - Developing a Fieldwork Enquiry for 2015
The 6 available titles for the 2015 award are published on the
WJEC website at:
http://www.wjec.co.uk/index.php?subject=59&level=7&list=docs
&docCatID=24
Please note...............They are different from the titles available
for the 2014 award as required by the regulatory bodies in
England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
WJEC GCSE Geography B - Developing a Fieldwork Enquiry for 2015
Theme
Generic Enquiry Task
Key Question
Page in Specification
Investigate the factors that help to
create a sustainable residential
community.
4.3
Investigate the management of a
rural area under pressure from
visitors.
5.4
2
Investigate the factors that create
variations in weather/climate in a
local area.
1.1
16
2
Investigate the physical and human
factors that cause rivers to flood.
4.4
18
2
Investigate variation of coastal
processes and landforms along a
defined stretch of coast.
3
Investigate the impact of primary
economic activity on people and
the environment.
1
1
5.1
5.2
3.1
15
15
19
21
WJEC GCSE Geography B - Developing a Fieldwork Enquiry for 2015
Strategies to support the development of the task ......
The next few slides suggest a range of strategies that will enable each centre
to develop the task:
 When planning the fieldtrip, carefully consider the range of techniques and
technologies available to your candidates. You want them to have as wide
a range as possible.
 Similarly, consider the data they will collect and how they will be able to
present it. You should promote the notion of a range of techniques, but
equally you should encourage the idea that the technique is fit for purpose.
WJEC GCSE Geography B - Developing a Fieldwork Enquiry for 2015
Strategies to support the development of the task ......
 Do consider giving all of your candidates some secondary
data in a research folder.
 Do not over-burden your candidates with too much
supporting secondary data, or material that is too complex
e.g. information taken from complex professional or
scientific documents.
WJEC GCSE Geography B - Developing a Fieldwork Enquiry for 2015
Strategies to support the development of the task ......
 Do allow candidates the opportunity to be independent. This is an important
feature of the higher levels of the new assessment criteria in the
strengthened specification.
 Perhaps posing an additional focused enquiry question to be investigated.
 Perhaps deciding on sampling methods and strategies.
 Perhaps adding their own questions to whole class questionnaires.
Encouraging them to select the data they want to process.
 Asking them to selecting appropriate presentational techniques.
Asking them to suggest ideas if the investigation were to be extended.
WJEC GCSE Geography B - Developing a Fieldwork Enquiry for 2015
Improving marks for APPLICATION (AO2) in the Enquiry
Geographical
Theories?
Geographical
Concepts?
Links to case
Studies?
Asking questions
about
geographical
futures
WJEC GCSE Geography B - Developing a Fieldwork Enquiry for 2015
Improving marks for APPLICATION (AO2) in the Enquiry
Have you thought about why you are doing this enquiry?
What is the concept or theory that underpins the enquiry?
What do you expect to find, given the work you have undertaken
on this topic?
Is there going to be a predictable pattern or trend? How do you know?
WJEC GCSE Geography B - Developing a Fieldwork Enquiry for 2015
AO2 Application - At higher levels the candidate is able to...
 make links between the place studied and other locations.
 apply their K & U of the specific place studied in the Fieldwork
Enquiry to their wider geographical K & U of geographical ideas /
concepts / theories / models / issues.
contextualise their findings to pose wider geographical questions
related to geographical futures
WJEC GCSE Geography B - Developing a Fieldwork Enquiry for 2015
Creating a structure to support candidates carrying out the
investigation – AO2 and AO3
Introduction......Methodology........Results.......Conclusion........Evaluation
1) Which big ideas were we testing?
2) What did we find?
3) How do we explain these results?
4) How does this compare to our big ideas?
5) How reliable and valid is our work?
WJEC GCSE Geography B - Developing a Fieldwork Enquiry for 2015
Encouraging candidates to show a wide range of skills - AO3
What additional
data should I
collect beyond the
base data?
How can I be selective to
ensure the data I present
remains focused on the
investigation?
How should I
present my data?
How can I best evaluate the
methods used to collect the
data? Is the data strong
enough to reach firm
conclusions?
WJEC GCSE Geography B - Developing a Fieldwork Enquiry for 2015
Encouraging candidates to show a wide range of skills - AO3
 Do candidates have any choice about data collection techniques
and technologies?
 Is the notion / value of data selection promoted / encouraged?
 Do they have the opportunity to identify ways that the
investigation could be improved if repeated?
Are candidates encouraged to use their own ideas for data
presentation?