Classroom Spotlight | AP and DP Geography at BIS

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The AP Human Geography course and the DP Geography course are two geography courses available for students at BIS. Though both are rigorous in nature each course offers its own distinct content, styles, and necessary skills. Both courses allow for interactive classrooms and student-led experiences to fuel the minds of our young learners. Mr. Luke Wilmot is the teacher of both classes.

DP Geography

DP Geography is a more traditional course that encourages students to look at the world through many different lenses over a period of two years. Covering content that ranges from climate change and how to mitigate it to how countries can benefit from leisure, sport and tourism has allowed students to critically reflect the ideas they had about the world they live in.

In class, students have created advertisements to sell/warn people in developing countries about the positives or negatives of microfinance and small loans. They also created diaries that reflect the lives of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa. Outside of the classroom, students have used the school grounds to draw important diagrams and models for the whole school to see. Students have also ventured out to Shanghai to conduct research for their IA coursework, interviewing people to gather primary data for their investigation. All this builds into the inclusive nature we try to provide for each student in the I&S department.

AP Human Geography

AP Human Geography is a one-year course takes away the traditional aspects of geography like river formation and how volcanoes work – focusing solely on how and why humans have changed the landscapes we live in. In this unit we have looked at topics like population and migration. They asked questions as to why people in far reaching parts of the world speak the same language and why these same people eat different foods. In class, students have created and annotated population pyramids, designed Columbian Exchange-menus, and completed a myriad of exam style questions to prepare the students for their final exam in May. To ensure the students have a rounded learning experience they are given access to the content ahead of class and are required to pre-read and take notes at home. This allows for a more inclusive classroom as the students can address concerns and misunderstandings with the teacher before class.

As the exams approach the students will begin to create a revision plan. From here they will use their resources from past classes to refresh their knowledge and understanding. For highest efficiency students have case-study diaries, Cornell notes, and end of unit one sheets, as well as access to past papers and daily videos in the AP.

Both classes provide a student-centered approach to learning that without the student’s hard work and determination would not be possible. Every day they come to class seeking the new content and the new challenge. One that will begin to help them achieve their future life goals.

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