VCE+Environmental+Science

**RATIONALE ** Environmental Science provides the opportunity for students to understand the structure, function and diversity of natural ecosystems on this planet and evaluate the impacts of human activities on them. Students examine strategies to maintain and protect the ecological health of the environment while meeting the needs and desires of the human population. Environmental Science investigates the interactions between natural and human systems. This study examines the application of environmental science to ecologically sustainable development and environmental management. Students should understand the values and attitudes that underpin environmental decisions and reflect on effective ways for modifying behaviour of individuals and groups for positive environmental outcomes. **AIMS ** This study is designed to enable students to: **UNIT 1: The Environment **
 * ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE **
 * Understand the structure, function and diversity of ecosystems
 * Investigate the impact on the environment of societal values and descisions
 * Develop practical laboratory and field skills for describing and monitoring the environment and its state of ecological health
 * Examine human impacts on ecosystems and investigate ways to minimise them
 * Understand the concepts and principles of environmental science
 * Investigate the role of science in the management of the environment
 * Develop a critical perspective on environmental science
 * Undertake activities that contribute positively to the sustainability of the environment.

This unit focuses on the environment and its components. The function of ecosystems and the interactions in and between the ecological components will be investigated. The unit presents opportunities to consider the effects of natural and human-induced in ecosystems. **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;"> The Areas of study: ** <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">The Earth’s structure may be classified into four major categories: hydrosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. This area of study examines the process occurring within the spheres of the Earth and the interactions that occur in and between the ecological components of each major category. <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">The Environment is not static but undergoes continual change. It can be changed by natural or human-induced factors. Students use scientific data and processes to examine environmental change. <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">The characteristics of ecosystems are varied and subject to change. The changes within ecosystems can be short or long term, cyclic or random and caused by natural or human-induced factors. **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Outcomes ** **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Assessment tasks ** **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 23.32px;">ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ** **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">UNIT 2: Monitoring the Environment **
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Ecological components and interaction
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Environmental Change
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Ecosystems
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">On completion of this unit the students should be able to identify and describe the components and natural processes within the environment.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">On completion of this unit the students should be able to analyse one human-induced environmental change and options for remediation.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">On completion of this unit the students should be able to explain the flow of energy, nutrient exchange and environmental changes in ecosystems.
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">fieldwork and reports
 * 2) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">oral presentations
 * 3) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">practical activities
 * 4) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">practical reports
 * 5) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">reports (multimedia and/or posters)
 * 6) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">tests

<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">This unit focuses on the characteristics of environmental indicators and their use in monitoring programs. Environmental indictor data will be defined, collected and interpreted. **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Areas of study ** <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Environmental indicators are physical, chemical, biological or socioeconomic measures that best represent the key elements of a complex ecosystem or environmental issue. Environmental indicators for an ecosystem are investigated and the data interpreted. <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Environmental indicators are critical for analysing and reporting on the quality of the environment and in managing the maintenance of ecological functioning systems. A local environmental issue is in investigated and monitored using environmental indicators. The use of environmental indicators by a variety of government agencies or corporate organisations is also investigated. **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Outcomes ** **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Assessment tasks **
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Environmental Indicators
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Using Environmental Indicators
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">On completion of this unit the students should be able to explain the nature of environmental indicators for pollution and ecological health of ecosystems.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">On completion of this unit the students should be able to investigate and report on a local example of environmental degradation or environmental issue, using an appropriate monitoring program.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">On completion of this unit the students should be able to analyse the scientific basis and use of standards for environmental indicators for pollution control and ecological health of ecosystems.
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">fieldwork and reports
 * 2) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">oral presentations
 * 3) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">practical activities
 * 4) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">practical reports
 * 5) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">reports (multimedia and/or posters)
 * 6) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">tests