SACE Stage 2 Outdoor Education cheat sheet

Weighting: the Folio is a school-assessment component worth 30% of the Stage 2 Outdoor Education grade.

Evidence base: folio tasks draw on the student's own outdoor participation, planning records, skill practice, and reflections.

Assessment link: each folio task is judged against the SACE assessment design criteria and performance standards for the subject.

Performance standards: school assessment is reported on an A-E scale, with A describing excellent evidence and E limited evidence.

Decision rule: group evidence is valid only when each student's individual contribution can be identified.

Risk-management evidence: hazard identification, likelihood, consequence, controls, and emergency response form a complete risk assessment.

Reflection rule: a reflection is assessment evidence when it explains what changed in the student's knowledge, skill, or decision-making.

Primary evidence: field notes, logs, and plans generated during or near the activity are stronger than later reconstructions.

Weighting: the Outdoor Journey is a school-assessment component worth 40% of the Stage 2 Outdoor Education grade.

Core evidence: planning, participation, navigation, campcraft, risk management, teamwork, environmental impact, and reflection.

Decision rule: assessment evidence must relate to the actual journey, including adaptations made when conditions or plans change.

Route planning: a route card records legs, bearings, distances, estimated times, checkpoints, and escape options.

Risk controls: controls are recorded against each hazard and are matched to likelihood and consequence.

Emergency planning: the plan identifies communication methods, emergency contacts, evacuation routes, and first-aid responsibilities.

Teamwork evidence: role allocation, communication, and conflict resolution are assessable when linked to specific journey events.

Environmental rule: minimal-impact practice includes durable surfaces, waste removal, protection of water sources, and respect for wildlife.

Weighting: the Investigation is the external assessment component worth 30% of the Stage 2 Outdoor Education grade.

External status: the Investigation is marked outside the school and must be the student's individual work.

Structure: a focused research question, context, method, evidence, analysis, conclusion, and evaluation of limitations.

Decision rule: the research question must be answerable using the evidence the student can realistically collect or access.

Primary data: field measurements, observations, and surveys are collected first-hand for the investigation.

Secondary data: published reports, statistics, and research provide context and comparison but must be referenced.

Quality checks: reliability concerns consistency, validity concerns measuring the intended variable, and accuracy concerns closeness to the true value.

Conclusion rule: the conclusion answers the research question and states uncertainty or limitations without adding new evidence.

Academic integrity: all sources, data, and assistance must be acknowledged.