Guidelines

Guidelines for the tests during iGeo 2010

The iGeo Task Force wishes to lay down the topics for iGeo 2010 well in advance to enable both the organisers, and the team leaders and participants to properly prepare for the 2010 Olympiad.

The topics/themes for the Written Response Test and the Multi Media Test are very similar to the ones we used for the tests of iGeo 2008. On the basis of the experience of 2008 we suggest more specific guidelines for the Fieldwork Exercise.

The suggested topics/themes from which the questions in the Written Response Test and Multi Media Test of iGeo will be chosen are:

1. climate & climate change

2. hazards & hazard management

3. resources & resource management

4. environmental geography & sustainable development

5. landforms, landscapes & land use

6. agricultural geography & food problems

7. population & population change

8. economic geography & globalisation

9. development geography & spatial inequality

10. urban geography, urban renewal & urban planning

11. tourism & tourism management

12. cultural geography & regional identities

Required skills:

13. map skills

14. inquiry skills

15. graphicacy skills (read, analyse and interpret images, photos, statistics, graphs)

The Written Response Test:

- consists of 6 topics (about 20 – 25 min. per topic)
about issues that are geographically and socially relevant,
that require topical and applied geographical knowledge and geographical skills
and deal with physical and human geography, preferably integrated

- each topic consists of 4 – 5 questions,
partly open-ended questions and partly multiple-choice questions and/or matching questions; questions that involve the manipulation of data (eg from tabular to graphic form) will be included.

- each topic has several resource materials such as maps, photos, graphs, statistics.

-  the choice of the 6 topics from the list of 12 is made by the committee that designs the test

-  there is a balance between physical and human geography in the test.

We expect the participants to show they can apply their knowledge in concrete regional contexts and use geographical skills; we do not intend to test only the theoretical geographical knowledge of participants about the topic. The contexts can be presented by maps, figures and graphs.

Examples of previous tests will be available on the iGeo website.

The Multi Media Test consists of:

- 40 items (about 1 - 2 min. per item, depending on complexity of source material)
about issues that are geographically and socially relevant,
that require topical and applied geographical knowledge and geographical skills
and deal with physical and human geography, either separately or integrated

- each item consists of a map and/or digital photo, film or graph and a short question

- the question is a multiple-choice question with 4 options

-  the test will cover all 12 topics from the list

-  there is a balance between physical and human geography in the test.

For the Multi Media Test we are looking for questions that require basic geographical thinking skills. The idea is to ask the contestants to analyse information in maps, diagrams or photographs. Thus, the Multi Media Test is not intended to test the ability of the contestants to reproduce geographical facts but to test their skills in geographical analysis.

Another reason to stress skills instead of knowledge, is the fact that the geography curricula in the participating countries vary considerably. So testing geographical skills that form the core of practically every curriculum is more appropriate than asking questions about isolated geographical facts.

Our ideal is to have a computer-based Multi Media Test so that all participants can manage their own time during the test. If that is not possible in 2010 we will both project the questions on a big screen as well as provide all participants with a copy of the test questions + resource material.

Examples of previous tests are available on the iGeo website.

Fieldwork Exercise

We have not previously formulated general guidelines for the Fieldwork Exercise. The big differences between fieldwork exercises during the past few Olympiads urge us to do so.

We propose the test be in the form of a problem-solving exercise. A geographical problem-solving exercise requires a good understanding of the nature of the area concerned. A mapping exercise of that area forms a good basis for that understanding. The mapping exercise we did in the 2008 iGeo in Tunisia had a good reception. If we combine this with the problem-solving approach of the fieldwork of iGeo 2006 in Brisbane we arrive at a format that requires participants to apply a variety of geographical skills. It will also be helpful in presenting geography as a challenging and relevant school subject that helps us deal with real problems of the world of today and tomorrow.

Format for the Fieldwork Exercise 1

The Fieldwork Assignment consists of:
1. Observation and mapping

2. Analysis of spatial issue in fieldwork area including additional data gathering

3. Problem-solving exercise leading to a proposal including a spatial plan or map

Step 1: a mapping exercise of (a part of) the fieldwork area

Skills that are required during the mapping exercise are:

1. observe

2. name the observed phenomena

3. locate the phenomena on the map

4. use appropriate graphic symbols

5. describe the phenomena in the map key, use scale and orientation
Students could for instance be provided with a base map and asked to add information to it using proper cartographic skills.

Step 2: in the fieldwork area there is a (real or hypothetical) spatial problem that will be presented to the participants. The case relates to physical and/or environmental planning. The case/problem will be introduced and documented to the participants as well as the procedures and conditions for working on the problem-solving exercise. This can be done in a number of ways: a presentation, a workshop, short excursions to the fieldwork area (or a similar area), gathering additional data in the field, etc.

Step 3: on the basis of the mapping exerciseand the analysis of all the information about the case, the participants have to design a spatial plan (map) that tackles the problem presented, and give an explanation of the choices made. The explanation needs to show that the participant has understood the nature of the problem and made connections between the properties/qualities of the fieldwork area and the suggested spatial plan. In the explanation the use of graphic material (images, photos, graphs, statistics) is preferred over lengthy texts. The map (spatial plan) is mandatory; the choice of the nature of the additional information is up to the participants.

The criteria for marking the final product will be explained to the participants beforehand.
The following products will be marked:
- the result of the mapping exercise: a map of (a part of) the fieldwork area
- the result of the problem-solving exercise: it includes a short analysis of the nature of the problem, objectives of the proposal, visualisation of the proposed solution in the form of a map or plan, an explanation and underpinning of suggested plan/measures/activities.
- the visualisation of the plan (for instance in the form of a poster)

Required skills:

1. mapping skills (read, analyse, interpret and produce maps)

2. inquiry and problem solving skills

3. graphicacy skills (read, analyse, interpret and produce images, photos, statistics, graphs)

A draft of these guidelines was sent to members of the International Board of all countries that participated in iGeo 2008 for comments during a 2 month period from May – July 2009.
They were formalised by the iGeo Task Force on September 15, 2009, thus providing the iGeo Task Force and the local organiser of iGeo 2010 sufficient time to design challenging tests and fieldwork exercise, and all team leaders time to prepare their participants for these tests and fieldwork.

Thank you very much for your valuable input. We wish all success in preparing for iGeo 2010.

On behalf of the iGeo Task Force of IGU

Henk Ankone (co-chair)     

Netherlands, Sept. 2009

NB: separate guidelines for the conditions during the tests as well as procedures for marking will be formulated and send to members of the International Board of all countries that participated in iGeo 2008 for comment.
(c) www.geoolympiad.org - Onderwijscentrum VU - Joop van der Schee