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Creation
of Synoptic Resources to develop synoptic
skills in students studying
A level Biology and A level Human Biology |
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School:
Bede Sixth Form College, Teesside |
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Fellow: Richard Spencer
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Email: raspencer@ntlworld.com, ras@bede.ac.uk
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Project Aim: |
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To create A level Biology &
Human Biology resources which help students
to: |
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revise
knowledge and understanding of a wide
range of topics; |
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revise in a variety
of ways; |
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become more familiar with and more
confident about answering questions
containing different topic areas; |
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link different topic areas themselves; |
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practise higher order skills such
as data analysis, application of knowledge
and synthesis; |
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appreciate the complex and fascinating
inter-relationships between different
areas of Biology. |
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Rationale: |
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Students studying A level Biology/Human
Biology complete 5 different topic units examined
in January and June of their first year programme
(AS course) and in January and June of their
second year programme (A2 course). The linear
nature of the course helps students to chunk
their revision and to become confident in
their knowledge and understanding of different
topic areas. However, students do find it
difficult to prepare for the synoptic exams
at the end of the course. There are two reasons
for this: firstly, there is a lot of information
to revise from previous units (some of which
has not been revisited for up to 18 months);
secondly, students are unfamiliar with questions
which draw together ideas and concepts from
different areas of Biology. |
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Outcomes: |
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3 resources have been created: |
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“Circle of Life” -
themed around the Nitrogen cycle. |
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“Bewitched”
- themed around cystic fibrosis
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“All to Pot” –
themed around cannabis. |
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Each resource is divided into 3 parts: |
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Self
study booklet, which includes
a content map showing links between
the overall theme and the topics covered.
The booklet includes stimulus material
and questions to answer set at different
thinking levels. Students complete the
booklet for homework in preparation
for revision lessons. |
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Answer sheet,
which provides the students with a mark
scheme for the questions. Students mark
the questions in class, and ask further
questions about areas they found difficult
or need further help with. |
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Activities booklet,
which includes an activity map showing
links between the overall theme and
the activities available. Activities
include video clips, eGames, demonstrations,
practicals, visual summaries, essay
plan templates, songs, dances, simulations,
revision games, virtual tours and thinking
templates. Some activities are done
as a whole class, but there is much
flexibility and choice for the students
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Evaluation: |
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As the resources are designed for end-of-course
revision, two of the resources have been used,
with the third one due for issue at the end
of this week. So far, students have been enthusiastic
about the two resources completed. They found
them useful in providing framework for revising
AS and A2; they have found them interesting
and have particularly enjoyed the use of lesson
time for revision activities. They appreciated
the wide range of revision activities on offer,
the flexibility to choose what they wanted
to do and the fun! |
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Students will be asked to evaluate
the resources more formally when they have
completed the final resource, using a structure
based on de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats.
The evaluations will be analysed and presented
on June 9th. Watch this space! |
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Photograph attached: “Meiosis
Square Dance” from “All to Pot”
Used to revise the stages of meiosis and
to demonstrate the results of non-disjunction
during anaphase I, leading to polysomy and
polyploidy. |
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