What is it and why should I do it?
VCE Outdoor and Environmental Studies is concerned with the ways humans interact with and relate to outdoor environments. ‘Outdoor environments’ covers environments that have minimum influence from humans, as well as those environments that have been subject to different levels of human intervention. The study enables students to make critically informed comment on questions of environmental sustainability and to understand the importance of environmental health, particularly in local contexts. enables students to critically analyse different human relationships with outdoor environments and their subsequent effects, including socio-ecological issues at local and national levels. This provides students with the knowledge and skills to participate in, and contribute to, contemporary society by supporting and creating solutions for the future health of outdoor environments.
Through its cross-disciplinary approach to studying outdoor environments, the study informs a range of future pathways, including formal study and involvement in areas where knowledge of, and interaction with, outdoor environments is central, such as natural resource management, nature-based tourism, conservation advocacy, outdoor leading and guiding, environmental research and policy, education and agriculture.
What will I do in class?
Outdoor experiences suited to this study are: a range of guided activities in areas such as farms, mining/ logging sites, interpretation centres, coastal areas, rivers, mountains, bushland, forests, urban parks, and state or national parks. Activities undertaken could include bushwalking, cross-country skiing, canoe touring, cycle touring, conservation and restoration activities, marine exploration, and participation in community projects.
How much homework will I have?
Expect 30-45 minutes per night, though this may vary slightly in preparation for major Learning Tasks.
How do I satisfactorily complete the unit?
Both Units 1 and 2 are based off a major assessment. This task is a journal or report demonstrating links between theoretical content studied and practical experiences undertaken based of the unit of work completed.
Students will also have to complete an additional assessment which is a choice of: a case study, an oral presentation including the use of multimedia and podcasts, data analysis, structured questions, written responses, including essays and web discussion forums.