Basic Geographical Principles for South Africa Training

Learning Outcomes

• Apply basic geographical concepts to interpret maps and spatial data relevant to South Africa.
• Analyze the relationship between physical geography and human activities in a local context.
• Evaluate the impact of geographical factors on resource distribution and land use.
• Demonstrate the ability to use coordinate systems and scales to locate places.
• Implement basic principles of map reading and navigation in practical scenarios.
• Apply knowledge of South African geography to improve operational planning and decision-making.

Target Audience

This course is ideal for administrative staff, entry-level managers, and professionals who need to apply basic geographical knowledge in their daily work or community activities.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment.

Course Outline

Practicals

Overview

Practical sessions provide hands-on experience with maps, GPS devices, and basic GIS software. Learners apply theoretical knowledge to real South African datasets, enhancing spatial thinking and technical skills.

Practical Activities

• Map Reading and Interpretation — Learners practice reading topographic maps, identifying features, and calculating distances and bearings using a compass. (3h)
• GPS Field Exercise — Using handheld GPS units, learners navigate to waypoints, record coordinates, and create a simple track log. (3h)
• GIS Software Basics — Using QGIS, learners load shapefiles, create a simple map with layers (e.g., roads, rivers, towns), and perform a basic spatial query. (3h)
• Spatial Analysis Case Study — Learners analyze a South African case study (e.g., locating a new school) using map overlays and buffer analysis. (3h)

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.

Practical Assignments — 30%

Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.

Daily Exercises — 20%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.

Final Test — 50%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.

Final Total

Component	Out of	Weight
Practical Assignments (rubric-scored)	100%	30%
Daily Average (multiple choice)	100%	20%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice)	100%	50%
Final Total	—	100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

How it works

• Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
• Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
• You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
• If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.

Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates	Discount
5	3% off
10	6% off
15	9% off
20	12% off
25	15% off
30	18% off
50	30% off
75	35% off
100	40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.