Geography Short Course

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What is it?

The Geography Short Course has been authored by the Geographical Association.

The course comprises a series of challenges, covering topics such as physical processes; food, energy and waste; and tourism. The topics offered have been chosen on the basis that most will not have been taught at Key Stage 3. It is about real places. Much of it uses the student as a starting point. It is about their place in the world – how they live in it, how it is changing for better and for worse and about their future in it. It will be about broadening their horizons so they get a sense of seeing the bigger picture through social, economic and environmental lenses.

The flexibility of ASDAN's Short Courses means they can be carried out in a variety of settings, over a time period to suit the individual or co-ordinating centre (up to 60 hours). Challenge descriptions can be interpreted and adapted according to the situation.

This Short Course can be completed using the student book or is available for learners to complete online through the ASDAN e-portfolio system. Learners log in to complete challenges, record skills development and upload evidence. Tutors can view learner progress and sign off work, leaving feedback as needed.

Who is it for?

Young people of all abilities, mainly aged between 13 and 19 (as well as adults and younger learners, where appropriate).

Because Short Courses are multi-level, the focus is on completing challenges and skills development according to individual ability, rather than attainment at a specific level. 

Facts and Figures

  • Flexible, multi-level programme
  • Internally moderated
  • Accredits 10-60 hours of activities
  • Can count as up to 3 of the credits needed to achieve the Personal Development Programmes
  • Can count as up to 6 of the credits needed to achieve CoPE
  • Also offers progression to AoPE and Wider Key Skills

Requirements

Learners must present evidence of their activities in an organised portfolio or e-portfolio.

This will contain:

  • a record of challenges completed, with supporting evidence for each challenge
  • recording documents, showing how learners have planned and reviewed their activities
  • summary of achievement, highlighting skills development
  • personal statement

Course Content

The Short Course contains challenges across nine modules:

  • My place
  • Food, energy, waste
  • Physical processes
  • Sport and leisure
  • Holidays
  • Global interdependence
  • The BRICS
  • Big issues
  • Why do people move?

Each learner will need their own copy of the Short Course student book or an e-portfolio login – this contains the challenge content and recording documents. Tutor notes, including guidance for every challenge in the student book, are available for registered ASDAN centres to download for free from the Members Area.

Download sample pages from the Geography Short Course student book.

Supporting Resources

A free set of downloadable tutor notes to support the Geography Short Course containing guidance for each challenge and suggested resources are available to centres registered for Short Courses in the members area.

A quick guide to Short Courses is also available to support the delivery of all ASDAN Short Courses. This document offers advice and guidance for tutors, including a step-by-step guide to delivery.

Additional resources to support Short Courses can be downloaded from theOrb – ASDAN’s Online Resource Bank. Resources available include witness statements, activity logs, lesson plans, worksheets and examples of evidence.

Getting started

For centres new to ASDAN, your first step is to complete the centre registration form. Current ASDAN centres need to ensure that the Short Courses are added to their centre's registration.

Following registration, you will be able to purchase your books and access additional resources and guidance via the members area of this website. ASDAN also provides introductory training workshops and can arrange in-house training.

ASDAN members area

Once your centre is registered with ASDAN for Short Courses, you can find further information and resources in the members area. This section of the website contains all the essential documents, forms and updates that you will need to deliver your course.

There is no limit to the number of people from a centre who can register to use the members area. You can create a new user account using the online form. 

Certification

Once students' work has been internally moderated, centres can request certificates for successful candidates from ASDAN, using the form in the members area.

There is no external moderation for this programme, although ASDAN reserves the right to request samples of candidates' work for quality assurance purposes.

Costs

All student book, certification and registration prices shown below are per learner, unless otherwise stated.


Item Price
Short Course student book (one per learner) £8.50
Short Course e-learning login (one per learner) £8.50
Short Course PDF certificate Free
Short Courses printed and foiled certificate (optional, per learner, per Short Course £2.15

 

All prices valid from 1 September 2018 until 31 August 2019. Prices are shown exclusive of VAT. For details of prices from September 2019, please download the list of ASDAN course costs for 2019–2020. 

What next?

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