HSC Geography Skills
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The following skills are specified by the HSC syllabus (p.15). Ideally they should be used to access and analyse the learning content throughout the course. Follow the hyperlinks for more detailed information about each skill.
The Basics: These skills are assumed knowledge from Year 10 Geography and you need to be able to complete these skills without difficulty. This powerpoint produced by the Geography Teacher's Association of NSW will provide a refresher. • Grid References and Area References • Contour lines and heights • Relief and local relief • Directions and Bearings • Determining the aspect of a slope • Latitude and Longitude Students learn to interpret maps by: • calculating the gradient of a slope as a ratio • calculating the vertical exaggeration of a cross-section • determining sight lines between two points • constructing a transect between two points and describing the changes along it • identifying spatial interaction and change using a variety of sources • describing patterns, relationships, networks, linkages and evidence of change within and between regions or areas • determining the density of a specific feature on a map • reading, constructing and interpreting choropleth maps • recognising the key features of changing pressure patterns on weather maps • designing and interpreting flowcharts. Students learn to analyse graphs and statistics by: • calculating the rate of increase or decrease between two points • estimating the value of proportional circles of different size using a key • estimating the value of particular segments in pie graphs of different size • identifying the three elements depicted in a ternary graph and the line scale of each • stating the ‘mix’ of elements at any point on a ternary graph • identifying clusters and patterns on a ternary graph • constructing and interpreting proportional divided circles • interpreting frequency distributions and diagrams • reading and interpreting logarithmic and semilogarithmic graphs • interpreting and analysing population pyramid data. Students learn to interpret photographs by: • orientating a photo to a map • estimating the scale of aerial photographs and satellite images • estimating the time of day at which a photograph was taken • calculating areas of land use as a ratio • identifying spatial associations, interactions and change • constructing a precis map from an aerial photograph or satellite image • using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to examine spatial and ecological issues. |