A NEW SOUTH WALES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING SCHOOL CERTIFICATE ASSESSMENT TASK

UNDERTAKING FIELDWORK

Geography is fieldwork. It is getting out of the classroom and doing work in the field. As stage 5 Geography students you are required to examine ONE of the contemporary geographical issues affecting human elements of the Australian environment and investigate its spatial and ecological dimensions. Your topic is Coastal Management.

There are 6 steps to completing this assignment.

1.        Develop a research action plan. 
2.        Prepare a survey.
3.        Attend the field trip.
4.        Gather and process all of the relevant data.
5.        Present an oral report on your findings.
6.        Demonstrate active citizenship.

Task 1. Develop a research action plan.

The first step in undertaking fieldwork is deciding how you plan to collect the information in the field. You will need to include a combination of primary and secondary sources of information.

Primary sources of information include the information that you collect through observation, questionnaires, surveys, photographs, mapping, and measuring and recording data. Your investigation should be based on primary sources of information. Much of this can be done on your Cronulla fieldtrip.

Secondary sources of information present information that someone else has collected and interpreted. You can use these to supplement your own findings. For example, you may use information provided by government departments, such as the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Department of Land and Water Conservation, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology or your local council. Information from newspapers, magazines, television documentaries, books and the Internet is also available to you.

In 300 - 400 words explain how you plan to gather information on the topic. You win need to research where you can obtain secondary sources and explain how you will collect primary information.

Task 2. 
Prepare a survey to distribute. Survey writing is difficult and takes time to produce. When writing your survey of 20 questions you must make your questions clear to the reader.

Task 3.
Gather and process the relevant data. This step involves putting the research plan into action. Go to the library, distribute the surveys, take photos, conduct the interviews and organise relevant newspaper articles. Simply gathering the information is not enough - it is important to draw out what is relevant and to organise it in a coherent manner, that is, process the data.

This would include: 

1. Distributing, collecting and collating the survey results (these may be collated using graphs, tables or point form summaries).
2. A copy of any interviews with the main points highlighted.
3. A hand-drawn map of Cronulla with a border orientation, legend, title, scale (BOLTS).
4. Relevant materials with specific points highlighted, annotated or summarised.
5. A collection of relevant articles with specific points highlighted, annotated or summarised.

It is important to realise that not all of the information you planned to collect will be readily available. Some organisations will not return phone calls, send out information or have the information you require. Not everyone will want to complete or return the survey. This is the nature of research. You may have to reconsider your action plan and develop alternative methods to collect the desired information.

Complete an 800 - 1000 word report on your findings. Include pictures, drawings and your completed surveys. You must carefully consider the issue and the alternative solutions regarding the management of our coastlines. Outline the benefits and problems associated with several of the solutions in place and those suggested by your research. Is there a better alternative that combines different elements of a number of proposed solutions?

Task 4. Communicate research findings. 
Your findings will be presented to the class in the form of an oral report of 2 minutes in length. You should use palm cards and you may use visuals to enhance your information.

In communicating the research findings it is important to refer to the information that has been gathered and processed. Use the tables, graphs, maps, photos and interviews to substantiate your findings. Not only are they relevant they will also add interest and colour to any presentation.

Task 5. Demonstrate active citizenship. 
Demonstrate active citizenship by doing something to address the problems associated with coastal management. This will increase other people's awareness of the issue. Write a letter of 300 - 400 words outlining your concerns about coastal areas to a stakeholder in its management e.g. Local Member, Councillor, Local Media.

WILLIAM V - GEORGES RIVER COLLEGE - HURSTVILLE BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS