SL Geography – Course Outline Grade 11

The IB SL Geography Course is divided into two sections – 3 Core Topics (totalling ca. 70
hours of teaching) and two Options (from 7 possibilities - totalling 60 hours). In addition
there are 20 hours devoted to the Fieldwork leading to the internal assessment component
which is linked to one of the options. The topics and options are outlined in the table below.

Syllabus component   Theory hours

Core Topic 1. Population distribution—changing population 23
Core Topic 2. Global climate—vulnerability and resilience 23
Core Topic 3. Global resource consumption and security 23
Option 1 Freshwater—drainage basins 30
Option 2 Oceans and coastal margins 30
Internal Assessment (Field-work based on Option 1) 20
    Total   150

Approximately 65% of the course is scheduled to be completed in grade 11, which includes
the Field work towards the Internal Assessment component (completed during the G11 field-
trip in June 2020). The Internal Assessment is completed and submitted in Semester 3 (in
grade 12).

The sequence of teaching of the course varies slightly from above, with some sub-topics being
taught out of sequence to generate more cohesive teaching units.

Teaching and learning.

Teaching in the course is largely devoted to the development of conceptual understanding of

geographical theory and the exploration of its applications with the active teaching of specific
skills. Students are expected to continuously review material covered in class, learn
vocabulary items and synthesize their understanding into note form. This is an expectation
that will not necessarily appear as homework on Veracross. Only specific occasional tasks
required for completion by the next lesson will be overtly recorded on Veracross.

Geography concepts

The “Geography concepts” model (figure 3) shows the six main concepts of the course, with
the four key concepts of place, process, power, and possibility at the centre and the
organizing concepts of scale and spatial interactions connecting them. Scale has both
temporal and spatial perspectives.

Places can be identified at a variety of scales, from local territories or locations to the national
or state level. Places can be compared according to their cultural or physical diversity, or
disparities in wealth or resource endowment. The characteristics of a place may be real or
perceived, and spatial interactions between places can be considered.
Processes are human or physical mechanisms of change, such as migration or weathering.
They operate on varying timescales. Linear systems, circular systems, and complex systems
are all outcomes of the way in which processes operate and interact.
Power is the ability to influence and affect change or equilibrium at different scales. Power is
vested in citizens, governments, institutions and other players, and in physical processes in the
natural world. Equity and security, both environmental and economic, can be gained or lost as
a result of the interaction of powerful forces.

Possibilities are the alternative events, futures and outcomes that geographers can model,
project or predict with varying degrees of certainty. Key contemporary questions include the
degree to which human and environmental systems are sustainable and resilient, and can
adapt or change.

Figure 3 . Geography concepts

Assessment.
IB Assessment.
The external assessment of the course consists of three externally marked written papers
totalling 75% of the grade and the Field Work Report (internally marked and externally
moderated) totalling 25%.

ISS Assessment. (Note - ISS reporting procedures are being reviewed)

Grades are continually calculated on Veracross from grades awarded to summative assessed
work. Assessment tasks are of four types:

Summative assessments. These are individual substantive written tasks taken under timed
exam-like. They can be in the form of essays, tests, case studies or similar.

Exams Exams are formal exams administered towards the end of the school, year and
assess all work completed to that date. In grade 11 the final exam will consist of two
papers; a multiple choice paper and a short and extended response paper.

Other Assessed tasks which do not fit in any of the categories above. This will include
minor quizzes and skill-based tasks.

All tasks will be awarded a percentage grade. The weightings of the different tasks as outlined
in the Academic Handbook are given in the table below.
Grade 11 Grade 12
Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 1 Semester 2
Summative 75% 25% 75% 25%
assessments
Other 25% 25% 25% 25%
Exam 50% 50%

The running grade as computed in Veracross will be reported as a percentage. These

percentages will be converted to a 1-7 grade at the end of each reporting period by applying
the grade boundaries as given in the academic handbook
Grade 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
% 0-13 14-29 30-42 43-55 56-66 67-79 80-100

Course Outline Grade 11.

The following section should be taken as a guideline - modification to the teaching plan will
be made as need be based on the progress of the class. It is expected that the three topic and a
substantial part of the first otion, as well as the field work, will be completed in grade 11
 The plan for teaching in grade 11 is outlined in the table below. Assessment tasks are given
as a guideline.

Unit Title Sub-topics Start Lesson Assessment

Date s
Topic 1. 1. Population and economic 2/9/19 15 2-3 x Quiz (O)
Changing development patterns End Unit test (ST)
Population 2. Changing populations and places Infographic/Poster
3. Challenges and opportunities (O)
1. Causes of global climate change 4/11/19 14 2-3 x Quiz (O)
Topic 2: 2. Consequences of global climate End unit test (ST)
Global change Data handling task
climate — 3. Responding to global climate (ST)
vulnerability change
and resilience
Topic 3: 1. Global trends in consumption 29/1/20 16 2-3 x Quiz (O)
Global 2. Impacts of changing trends in End Unit test (ST)
resource resource consumption Infographic/Poster
consumption 3. Resource stewardship (O)
and security

Option A: 1. Drainage basin hydrology and 30/3/20 15 2 Assessed Labs

Freshwater geomorphology (L)
(To be 2. Flooding and flood mitigation Bi-weekly Quiz (O)
completed in 3. Water scarcity and water quality 2-3 Miscellaneous
Grade 12) (G12) tasks (O)
and to 4. Water management futures (G12)
include pre
and post
fieldwork
Field Work 2/6/20 20 Formatively
- 5/6/20 assessed
End year 11/5/20 Paper 1 (E)
exam -15/5/20 Paper 2 (E)