ALT 3: Design (Leaving Cert CASD): Revision Notes
ALT 3: Design
What is ALT 3 about?
ALT 3 focuses on designing nature-based experiences that help people connect with the natural world around them. This task is all about understanding how nature and people are interconnected and creating meaningful experiences that highlight these relationships.
In this Applied Learning Task, you'll explore how nature functions as commons - shared spaces and resources like land, soil, water, and air that belong to everyone. You'll also investigate natural resources such as fossil fuels, minerals, and renewable energy sources, and how they impact our lives.
The concept of "commons" refers to resources that are shared by a community rather than owned by individuals. Understanding this concept is crucial for recognising how environmental decisions affect everyone, not just those in power.
The main goal is to create an experience that allows others to connect with nature in their local area. You'll base your design on your own experiences with nature and use research data about your surroundings. Through this work, you'll develop a deeper understanding of how the physical and living environment connects to political, economic, and social systems, as well as human wellbeing.
Key learning areas
Understanding local issues and power dynamics
You'll investigate local issues that affect people, power, and place in your community. This includes examining which groups have influence and which don't when it comes to environmental decisions.
You'll also study how governments, powerful groups, or companies can either block, delay, or enable climate action. It's important to look at alternative approaches and solutions that might be more effective or fair.
Understanding power dynamics is essential because environmental decisions often reflect who has influence rather than what's best for the community or environment. Pay attention to whose voices are heard and whose are marginalised in these discussions.
Data analysis and evidence-based conclusions
A crucial part of this task involves analysing both primary and secondary data to understand patterns and relationships. Primary data is information you collect yourself (like surveys or observations), while secondary data comes from existing sources (like government reports or research studies).
Understanding Data Types:
Primary Data: Information you collect directly through your own research methods such as:
- Surveys and questionnaires
- Interviews with community members
- Direct observations of natural spaces
- Photographs and field notes
Secondary Data: Existing information from reliable sources including:
- Government environmental reports
- Academic research studies
- NGO publications and data
- Media coverage of local environmental issues
You'll learn to draw meaningful conclusions from this evidence and use it to inform others about the connections between nature and political, economic, and social systems.
Creating nature-based experiences
The practical element involves preparing an experience that allows people in your community to connect with nature in their surroundings. This experience should be based on your research and designed to educate and engage others.
What you should be able to do
1. Analyse contemporary dilemmas
You'll examine current issues related to land and nature use in Ireland, focusing on how different groups have varying levels of power in determining outcomes. This might include conflicts over land development, conservation efforts, or resource extraction.
2. Analyse data effectively
You'll work with both qualitative data (descriptive information like interviews or observations) and quantitative data (numerical information like statistics or measurements) to identify patterns and relationships in your research.
Worked Example: Combining Data Types
When researching a local wetland area, you might collect:
Quantitative data:
- Water quality measurements (pH levels, pollution indicators)
- Visitor numbers to the area over different seasons
- Species count surveys
Qualitative data:
- Interviews with local residents about their connection to the wetland
- Observations of how people interact with the space
- Historical accounts of changes to the area
By combining both types, you get a complete picture of both the measurable impacts and the human experiences connected to this natural space.
3. Communicate findings appropriately
You'll learn to organise and present your research in ways that suit different purposes and audiences. This includes using proper terminology and choosing the right format (written reports, presentations, visual displays) to share your investigative findings effectively.
4. Design participatory experiences
The culmination of your work will be designing a participatory experience that's informed by your research. This experience should help people recognise the benefits of connecting with nature and enhance their relationship with the natural environment.
Assessment tips
Critical Success Factors:
- Document your research process - keep clear records of your data collection and analysis methods
- Connect local to global - show how local issues relate to broader environmental and social challenges
- Make it practical - ensure your designed experience is actually feasible and engaging for your target audience
- Use evidence - support all your conclusions and design decisions with solid research and data
- Think about impact - consider how your experience might genuinely change people's relationship with nature
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- ALT 3 is about creating meaningful connections between people and nature through well-researched, participatory experiences
- You need to analyse both the power dynamics affecting environmental decisions and the data that supports your findings
- Your final design should be based on solid evidence and aimed at enhancing people's relationships with their natural surroundings
- Focus on local issues while understanding their connection to broader environmental and social systems
- Effective communication of your research and findings is just as important as the research itself