1GEO - Level 1 Geography - Mātauranga-ā-Whenua
Course Description
Teacher in Charge: Ms A. King.
Geography, or mātauranga-ā-whenua, is the study of the natural environment as the home of people.
We investigate how environments, nga taiao, are shaped, including coastal, tectonic and climate processes. We explore at a variety of scales including global climatology and biomes; tectonics, earthquakes, and volcanoes in Aotearoa New Zealand; Tropical Cyclones in the Pacific and local coastal processes in Tasman Bay.
Students can participate in outdoor learning in Tasman Bay or our Kaikoura camp. They learn to think spatially by using maps, visuals, inquiry, fieldwork, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to interpret our world. Through geographic thinking learners develop understanding of patterns, processes, peoples’ perspectives, interactions, and change.
Students gain transferable skills in
- Field trips and methods for collection of information outside the class
- Teamwork and independent thinking
- A holistic worldview
- Analytical skills, including cultural, statistical, and geo-spatial analysis including Google Earth and ArcGIS
- Practical application of concepts including environment, perspectives and sustainability
- Ability to design and carry out research projects
- Ability to communicate visually, verbally and in writing
- Synthesise different viewpoints and types of information
Pathway
• Tourism
• Foreign affairs and development agencies
• Environmental science and conservation
• Companies using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Emergency and defence services including army, navy, air force, police etc…
• Local authorities and town planning
• Public service including education and health
• Research and policy
• People-focused positions, like tourism, teaching or human resources
Credit Information
You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.
This course is eligible for subject endorsement.
External
NZQA Info
Geography 1.1 - Demonstrate understanding of the spatial distribution of a phenomenon and its impacts on place
NZQA Info
Geography 1.2 - Explore an environment using data
NZQA Info
Geography 1.4 - Demonstrate understanding of decision-making in response to a geographic challenge in the wider Pacific region
Pathway Tags
Mining Engineer, Survey Technician, Historian, Outdoor Recreation Guide/Instructor, Surveyor, Fishing Skipper, Urban/Regional Planner, Emergency Management Officer, Meteorologist, Miner/Quarry Worker, Mine/Quarry Manager, Driller, Geologist, Environmental Scientist, Environmental Engineer, Ranger, Landscape Architect, Geophysicist, Policy Analyst, Secondary School Teacher,