Environmental Systems and Societies IB Standard Level

Environmental Systems&Societies IB (Standard Level

ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS AND SOCIETIES (SL)

International Baccalaureate

Campus: Cheadle and Marple (24.02.09)

This course is offered as part of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. You will take 3 Higher Level subjects and 3 Standard Level subjects and complete components in Theory of Knowledge, Creativity Action Service and an Extended Essay.

Course overview

The prime intent of this course is to provide students with a coherent perspective of the interrelationships between environmental systems and societies; one that enables them to adopt an informed personal response to the wide range of pressing environmental issues that they will inevitably come to face in real life.

Key topics covered in ESS:

The ecosystem

Human population, carrying capacity and resource use

Conservation and biodiversity

Pollution management

The issue of global warming

Environmental value systems

How you will learn

You will learn through class discussion, group work, field work, individual research, lab work, data collection and analysis on fieldtrips and the interpretation of graphs, maps and photographs. The systems approach provides the core methodology of this course. Students attention will be constantly drawn to their own relationship with their environment and the significance of choices and decisions that they make in their own lives. It is intended that students develop a sound understanding of the interrelationships between environmental systems and societies, rather than a purely journalistic appreciation of environmental issues. The teaching approach will be conducive to students evaluating the scientific, ethical and socio-political aspects of issues.

How you will be assessed

External Assessment: written papers, 3 hours (80%)

Paper 1 - 1 hour (30%)

Paper 1 is made up of short-answer and data-based questions. 45 marks

Paper 2 - 2 hours (50%)

Paper 2 consists of two sections, A and B.

In section A, students will be provided with a range of data in a variety of forms relating to a specific case

study. Students are required to make reasoned and balanced judgments by analysing this data.

In section B, students are required to answer two structured essay questions from a choice of four.

65 marks

Internal Assessment: 30 hours (20%)

Internal assessment in environmental systems and societies comprises a series of practical and fieldwork activities that are undertaken as part of the practical scheme of work.

42 marks

Special entry requirements

Standard college entry criteria for I.B., normally 6 GCSEs at Grade B or above in appropriate subjects. A grade B or above in Science and Geography/Geology if you have taken these.

What students say about the I.B.

The I.B. is challenging yet great fun it educates students for success beyond school or college

I think I.B. students are much better prepared for University, as they have good time management skills and really know how to learn

Other useful information

There will be an annual residential fieldtrip. We will join the AS Geology and Environmental Science students for a week in Iceland in June.