NSWTSCN403A
Analyse the relationships between Australia's geology and its unique biota
Assessment Methods
Copies of these notes and other resources are kept at http://begatafetpc.wikispaces.com/Science
Assessment will be through 3 Standard Assessment Events (SAEs) – SAE 1, SAE 2, SAE 3.
All SAEs must be completed over the agreed period of time, and submitted at the set time.
SAEs (except those done under exam conditions) must be accompanied by a completed Student
Declaration acknowledging that the work is that of the student. This is to be signed by the
learner and counter signed by the teacher.
Where word limits are indicated material that exceeds the word limit will not be considered in
the marking.
SAE 1: Scientific Report
30% of final mark
Due End of Term 3 (Friday 2nd October 2009)
The scientific report will be of an experimental investigation into the effect of a geological
factor which impacts on Australia’s biota. It must be presented in scientific report format and
must include:
 Coversheet
 Contents page
 Introduction – aim, background
 Method
 Results
 Discussion
 Conclusion
 References
 Appendices for supporting information such as calculations
 a draft ie a copy of the report in its preliminary stages that clearly reveals the
progress/refinements made in arriving at the final report. This draft will be the only one
that is permitted to be annotated by the teacher, and must be signed and dated by the
teacher
 Log of the investigation
 Page numbering
 Diagrams and graphs (if appropriate) included in the body of the report
The report length should be a maximum of 1,500 words. The word count does not include
coversheet, contents, appendices, draft, diagrams, graphs, log or reference list.
Material that exceeds the word limit will not be considered
Conditions
 Only one draft may be submitted to one teacher
 Learners should have access to model/exemplar reports. This will be at
http://begatafetpc.wikispaces.com/Science


The report must be completed over the agreed period of time and submitted in Week 10.
The report will be locally marked and centrally verified.
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SAE 2 : Portfolio
Total for 2 items is 30% of final mark
The portfolio consists of two items. Both due by Friday 20 Nov 2009
Item 1:case study report on the impact of an introduced species on a natural ecosystem
15% of final mark
This item must be an in-class written assessment. Learners will be given 60 minutes to complete
this in-class written assessment. Learners may bring notes of no more than 100 words to class
for this assessment.
Item 2:case study report of a local area study, examining and accounting for the
relationships between the local area and the underlying geology to an endemic organism
15% of final mark
This item must be a combination of in-class and take-home work. The length should not exceed
1000 words – diagrams, graphs and reference lists are not counted in the word count. Material
that exceeds the word limit will not be considered.
Conditions
 Only one draft of Item 2 may be submitted for feedback to one teacher
 Learners should have access to model/exemplar reports.
 The portfolio is to be completed and submitted by Week 16.
 The portfolio will be locally marked and centrally verified.
SAE 3: Final Examination
40% of final mark
The exam will be 2 hours duration with an additional 10 minutes reading time.
The final exam covers all the content of the unit.
The final examination is held during the formal examination period in Week 18 (Week begins
30/11/09). The date and time of the examination will be published on the official TAFE
Examinations Timetable.
Conditions:
The final examination is centrally set, centrally marked and centrally verified.
Learners must have access to a calculator
Learners may bring into the exam, one A4 sheet of paper with hand-written notes on both sides
Critical Aspect of Evidence
1. Examine the geological structure and history of
the Earth with a focus on Australia
2. Analyse the relationships between the geological
structure and the diversity and uniqueness of
Australia’s biota
3. Design, conduct and report on a practical
investigation in to a geological factor which impacts
on Australian biota
4. Evaluate and report on factors which impact on
Australia’s biota
Assess
ment
tool
SAE 3
SAE 2
Embraces the following Elements of
competence, Performance Criteria and
Required Knowledge and Skills
Element 1
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Element 2
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
SAE 3
SAE 1
Element 3
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
SAE 2
Element 4
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
SAE 3
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RESOURCES
Internet sites
There are many sites with information relating to the content of the Investigating Australia module. The
following are recommended.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/Continents.shtml
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/developing.html
This site shows how the theory of plate tectonics developed. There are good graphics and other relevant
links.
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/geo/egeo/animations/ch2.htm
Some animations on the evidence on continental drift
http://www.austmus.gov.au/palaeontology/factsheets/index.htm
The Australian Museum site has a range of relevant sites. This one is a palaeontology site that has fact
sheets and links relating to topics including dinosaurs, biodiversity, Australia’s lost kingdoms, fossil birds,
prehistoric Australia and fossils.
http://www.abc.net.au/science/ausbeasts/
http://www.abc.net.au/ozfossil
The ABC science sites are all interesting and informative. They include all aspects of “Ausbeasts” and a
geological history of Australia. These sites also contain useful links to other sites.
http://www.micrecol.de/soil.htm
http://www.kcpt.org/olin/menu.html
These are just two of the many sites which cover soil experiments.
http://www.csiro.gov.au/
This site has many links to topic area in this module.
http://www.nccnsw.org.au/
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW website has information on the topics of climate change,
bushfires, native vegetation, water, forests, state parliament and urban bushland.
http://www.dipnr.nsw.gov.au/nvrig/cma.html
The Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources has information on catchment
management authorities, native vegetation, maps and many other topics.
http://environment.gov.au/
The Australian government provides this website as a portal to all relevant sites pertaining to the
Australian environment.
http://www.deh.gov.au/index.html
The Department of Environment and Heritage site provides many links including information about
Australia’s unique biodiversity, policies, publications, State of the Environment reports, climate change
and threatened species.
http://editorial.australiangeographic.com.au
The Australian Geographic Society site has an archive section as well as more recent publications of its
journal. Although it does not provide full text articles, the contents enable you to determine the topics that
may be followed up.
http://acfonline.org.au/asp/pages/home.asp
The Australian Conservation Foundation’s site offers information and links to information about many of
the current issues facing Australia’s unique flora and fauna.
http://blackwellpublishing.com/ecology
This site provides access to abstracts of many of its scientific journals. There are also links to other
related sites.
http://blackwell-synergy.com/loi/aec
The Ecological Society of Australia has a journal called Austral Ecol. The abstracts for the peer reviewed
scientific journal can be viewed on this site.
http://www.abc.net.au/nature/australasia
Wild Australasia is the ABC website that accompanies the television/video series and hardcover book of
the same name. It aired in 2003 and has good information about Australia’s isolation and unique flora and
fauna.
http://geoscience.gov.au/bin/mapserv36?
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Geological maps from the NSW Department of Mineral Resources can be downloaded for free.
http://www.thebegavalley.org.au/21184.html
List of local flora by species with photos by Bega Valley residents Jackie Miles and Max Campbell
Local conservation management network http://www.thebegavalley.org.au/12108.html
Get on the free mailing list for news and facts on local conservation projects and techniques.
http://www.garnautreview.org.au/CA25734E0016A131/pages/all-reports--resources
has estimates of the effects of climate change on biota See 6.3.4
Reference books
Archer, M, Hand, S. and Gotdthelp, H. (1991) Riversleigh, Reed Books, NSW.
Biodiversity Series Paper No 2 Biodiversity unit Australia’s Biodiversity – an overview of significant
components in Bega Valley Shire Library 574.5 Aus
Busby, A.B., Coenrads, R.R., Willis, P. and Roots, D. (1996) Rocks and Fossils, Readers Digest (Australia)
Pty Ltd, NSW.
Lindenmayer, D (2007) On Borrowed Time Penguin Books, Camberwell Vic
About the uniqueness, threats to and conservation of Australia’s wildlife
In the Bega TAFE library.
Dawson, T (1995) Kangaroos, University of NSW Press, Australia.
Ellyard D Droughts and Flooding Rains - The weather of Australia Angus and Robertson 551.54 In Bega
Valley Shire Library
Flannery, T. (1994) Future Eaters, Reed Books, NSW.
Fullerton, T. (2001) Watershed – Deciding our Water Future, ABC Books, Australia.
Grant, T. (1995) The Platypus, University of NSW Press, Australia.
Griffiths, T. (2001) Forests of Ash, ABC Books, Australia.
Hume, I.D. (1982) Digestive Physiology and Nutrition of Marsupials, Cambridge University Press, New
York.
Lindenmeyer, D ed 2008 Ten Commitments
This book is in Bega TAFE Library
Reshaping the Lucky country’s Environment CSIRO Pub.
Morrison, M. and R. (1991) The Voyage of the Southern Ark, Ure Smith Press, NSW.
Recher, H, Lunney, D, and Dunn, I. (1986) A Natural Legacy, Pergamon Press, NSW.
Sexton, M. (2003) Silent Flood – Australia’s Salinity Crisis, ABC Books, Australia.
Smith, D. (1990) Continent in Crisis, Penguin Books, Australia.
Strahan, R. ed. (1983) The Australian Museum Complete Book of Australian Mammals, Angus and
Robertson, Australia
Tyndale-Byscoe, H. (2005) Life of Marsupials, CSIRO Publishing, Australia.
Vandenbeld J Nature of Australia – Portrait of an island continent
Collins 500.994 in BVSC library
Vickers-Rich, P and Rich, T. (1993) Wildlife of Gondwana, Reed Books, NSW. In Bega TAFE Library
White, M (1988) Greening of Gondwana, Reed Books, NSW.
White, M (1988) Australia’s Fossil Plants, Reed Books, NSW.
White, M (1990) Nature of Hidden World, Reed Books, NSW.
White, M (1998) Listen – Our Land is Crying, Kangaroo Press, NSW.
Willis, P. and Thomas, A. (2005) Digging Up Deep Time, ABC Books. Australia.
Videos
Australia – Eye of the Storm (2001)
Describes the powerful climate systems that batter Australia and how they affect weather, wildlife and
people on this island continent.
Echidna – The survivor (1995)
The Future Eaters
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Tim Flannery’s views on the prehistory and changes to Australia’s landscape, flora and fauna.
The Nature of Australia
There are six parts to this series which deals with Australia’s environment, past and present.
Platypus – World’s Strangest Animal (2003)
The Rise of Mammals
David Attenborough looks at marsupial prehistory, continental drift and mammals.
Silent Flood Parts 1 and 2 (2002)
The problem of salinity in Australia
There are many good videos that deal with global warming and climate change both in Australia and
throughout the world. Examples are:
Beautiful One Day, a 4 Corners program about the problems facing the Great Barrier Reef
What’s Up With the Weather? Deals with climate change and computer modelling predictions.
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