Geosciences - Programme subject in programme for Specialization in General Studies (GFG1-01)

Laid down as a regulation by the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training on 6 February 2006, as delegated in a letter of 26 September 2005 from the Ministry of Education and Research pursuant to the Act of 17 July 1998 no. 61 relating to primary and secondary education (Education Act) Section 3-4 first paragraph.

Gjelder fra: 2006-08-01T00:00:00 +2

Gjelder til: 2022-07-31T00:00:00 +2

Purpose

Geosciences is concerned with the basic elements of natural environments, such as bedrock, loose masses, air and water. These are natural resources that play fundamental social and economic roles in local and global society. Norway’s natural resources ensure the country’s sound economy, and Norway is a major contributor to research in the geosciences.

Today, earth, air and water are influenced by human activity to such a great degree that the natural biotope is deteriorating or threatened with destruction. Extreme climatic and weather conditions and natural disasters can take many lives, leaving enormous destruction behind and leading to great human, social and economic suffering. Competence in preventive work and early warning systems is fundamental to local and global perspectives. The programme subject shall give pupils insight into this field, giving them a better grasp of international environmental debates and discussions on sustainable development.

Research in the geosciences and the exploitation of geosciences resources often involve difficult ethical challenges. Environmental debates present observations with a degree of reservation and uncertainty. The programme subject shall give pupils an understanding of discussions surrounding research methods and the validity and uncertainty of their findings. One objective of the programme subject is to help individuals understand that trustworthy early warning methods do, in fact, exist and that international cooperation is necessary for getting the most out of early-warning systems and for preventing damage. The programme subject shall also give the pupil an understanding of how early warning systems for forecasting threats to climatic and weather situations in Norway are constructed. Teaching in the subject of local, national and international geoscientific conditions shall provide knowledge about the geosciences and the importance of evaluating and understanding news articles and discussions on sustainable development and geopolitical policies.

In the subject of Geosciences, individuals shall gain experience in research methods used in the natural sciences through independent activities in their local community. The programme subject may help create a basis for further study in one or more subject areas of Geology, Geophysics or Natural Geography.

Structure

Geosciences is comprised of three programme subjects: Geosciences 1, Geosciences 2 and Geosciences X. Geosciences 1 and Geosciences 2 are built up so that one can choose either subject, independent of the other. Geosciences X is especially designed for pupils at level Vg2 who choose Mathematics as a programme subject. Only Geosciences 1 and Geosciences 2 provide complete specialization.

Geosciences 1 and Geosciences X have three main subject areas in common: A changing earth, Natural disasters and The Tools of Geosciences. Geosciences 1 also comprises the main subject area Geosciences Research.

These programme subjects have been structured into main subject areas, for which competence aims have been formulated. The main subject areas complement each other, and should be viewed in relation to one another.

Overview of the main subject areas:

Programme subject	Main subject areas
Geosciences X		A changing earth	Natural disasters	Tools of geosciences
Geosciences 1	Geosciences research	A changing earth	Natural disasters	Tools of geosciences
Geosciences 2	Geosciences research	A changing earth	Climate change	Geoscientific resources

Main subject areas

A changing earth

Geosciences X and geosciences 1

The main subject area is concerned with how rock types and land forms are created. The subject discusses natural process that lead to changes to rock types, land forms and the atmosphere. The main subject area also covers the fact that these changes occur along a time scale that stretches from billions of years after the earth's formation up to the hours and minutes of local weather phenomena.

Geosciences 2

The main subject area is concerned with water currents in the seas and oceans and how these affect the climate. Furthermore, the focus is on ongoing natural process that lead to changes in the seas, oceans and the atmosphere. The main subject area also covers the subject of climatic changes that might be caused by human beings.

Natural disasters

The main subject area is concerned with how natural disasters affect nature, society and human beings. It also involves the consequences of natural disasters and how they are presented in the media. The main subject area also covers organized initiatives during natural disasters, such as early warnings, preparedness and physical measures, and the significance of international cooperation and assistance efforts.

Tools of geosciences

The main subject area is concerned with practical work with the different tools used in the geosciences. Maps and surveying are discussed here, as well as digitalized maps and Global Position Systems (GPS). This main subject area also covers Geography Information systems (GIS) and other background information, such as statistics, satellite images, radar plotting, weather maps and weather forecasting.

Geosciences research

Geosciences 1

The main subject area is concerned with experiments and research related to geoscientific conditions within a chosen area outside of Scandinavia. The interrelationships between the environment, natural conditions and resources are a part of this main subject area.

Geosciences 2

The main subject area is concerned with current research within the geosciences. It focuses on investigation of the conditions in a geotope. The term ‘geotope’ in the main subject area is used to signify a delimited geographic area and to describe characteristic conditions of bedrock, land forms, water, loose masses and local climates in this area. The main subject area also is concerned with how weather reports are prepared.

Climate change

The main subject area is concerned with climate change following the last Ice Age, the extent to which latest climate changes are caused by natural processes, or whether these are caused by human beings. Climate change in polar areas and the consequence of this are central themes in this main subject area.

Geoscientific resources

The main subject area is concerned with how society can utilize rock types, loose masses, water and the atmosphere. It focuses on how rock types and loose masses can be used as raw materials for industry, road construction and building and construction. It also is concerned with earthly resources as sources of energy. Technologies that use solar energy, thermal energy from the earth, air and water, and wind or wave energy are important parts of this main subject area.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours are given in 60-minute units:

Geosciences X: 84 teaching hours per year

Geosciences 1: 140 teaching hours per year

Geosciences 2: 140 teaching hours per year

Basic skills

Basic skills are integrated into the competence aims for this course in areas where they contribute to the development of and are a part of the basic subject competence. In the Geosciences programme subject, basic skills are understood as follows:

Being able to express oneself orally and in writing in Geosciences involves describing experiences, observations and gathering information by using the concepts and terminology from geosciences. It also means relating critically to information collected from geosciences and formulating hypotheses that can be investigated further. It also means being able to argue for solutions, and give feedback.

Being able to read in Geosciences involves extracting, interpreting and reflecting on texts from newspapers, professional journals, books and the Internet, as well as being able to read and understand different kinds of maps. It will also be important to understand reasoning and scenarios, and evaluate the quality of geoscientific information.

Numeracy in Geosciences involves using figures, making calculations, registering, working with and presenting results form measurements taken. It means using graphs, tables and statistics that result from geoscientific research based on mathematical models. It also means being able to understand concepts such as scenario, prognosis and probability.

Being able to use digital tools in Geosciences involves gathering, registering and preparing information, and presenting results with digital means. Furthermore, it means using animation, simulations, digital maps and digital navigation systems.