Post on 18-Dec-2015
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org
Subject Leader Meeting5th April 2011
Joanna ConnCounty Science Adviser
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org
Successful science teaching
Objectives
• To review the ‘Successful Science’ document and consider it’s implications
• To explore the criteria for ‘good’ science lessons
• To begin to plan for the implementation of the new GCSEs and identify the actions for the department
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org
Successful Science key messages:
• Key factors in promoting students’ engagement, learning and progress were more practical lessons and the development of scientific enquiry skills
• Progress of students in science was good or outstanding in two thirds of schools
• Removing testing has encouraged engaging KS3 SOW• More higher-attaining students are studying separate
sciences, increased recruitment to post-16• Vocational courses had a positive impact on the motivation
and achievement of students • More rigorous monitoring and tracking have improved
planning
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org
Case studies
• Examples of ‘good’ lessons
• Examples of ‘satisfactory’ lessons
If you observed the ‘satisfactory’ lesson in your department. What feedback would you give to develop the teacher?
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org
Feedback
• Linking starter to rest of lesson
• Development of literacy skills – reading for information
• Development of key vocabulary
• Clear roles during group work
• More structure in group work
• Assessing progress of students - plenary
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org
New GCSEs
Things to note / think about: • Programme of Study stays the same• All exam boards have comprehensive documents outlining
the change process to make it easy if you are staying with the same board.
• How can we best prepare students for the new Controlled Assessments?
• How can we best prepare students for new-style exams and the 6 mark open-ended questions?
• Do you need new books/resources?• How do we ensure we are meeting all students needs?
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org
Teaching and learning in the new GCSEs
Avoiding the pitfalls:• Subject content changes
• Lack of practical work
• Not addressing the skills
• Death by worksheet
• Lack of interim assessments
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org
Teaching and learning in the new GCSEs
Outcomes of Triple science Network
project pupil voice:• Hands on practical
• Discussion in pairs
• Discussion in groups
• Teacher explanations
• Slower pace
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org
Teaching and learning in the new GCSEs
Implications of assessment changes:
• Long answer questions (4-6 marks)
• Controlled assessment: development of investigative skills
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org
Developing literacy in science
• Word level – scientific terminology and definitions
• Text level – reading, talking and writing
• Command words – describe, explain, suggest
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org
2010 GCSE Grade Criteria (Words)
Grade F
Pupils use limited scientific and technical knowledge, terminology and conventions
Grade C
Pupils use scientific and technical knowledge and terminology appropriately
Grade A
Pupils use scientific and technical knowledge, terminology and conventions appropriately and consistently
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org
2010 GCSE Criteria (Writing)
Grade F
Pupils can explain straightforward models of phenomena, events and processes
Grade C
Pupils use models to explain phenomena, events and processes. Pupils understand the limitations of evidence and develop arguments with supporting explanations
Grade APupils make effective use of models to explain phenomena, events and processes. Pupils evaluate information systematically to develop arguments and explanations taking account of the limitations of the available evidence.
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org
Specimen 2011 Exam Questions
• Handout:- OCR Foundation Paper B1C1P1
• How would you go about answering these questions? What are the ‘steps to success’?
• Choose one question and model the process
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org
Literacy activities
• Card sort – to develop a sequence for long answers
• Explanation grids - for definitions and modelling the construction of sentences
• Different text types: explanation, comparative, argumentation
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org
Point Evidence Explanation
e.g.• As can be seen in the graph…• This is because…
e.g.• Climate change is affecting the ice at the poles• This has been shown by satellite images• This is evidence that the temperature of the water
is increasing due to increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org
Controlled Assessments
Skills• Planning: devise methods, choice of equipment, accuracy
of measurements, dealing with risks
• Observation and processing data: collect data, calculate averages, correctly drawn graphs, range bars
• Conclusion and evaluation: correlation between variables, evaluate methods and quality of data
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org
Missions!
• Mission 1: Development of literacy skills through a topic in particular different types of writing (e.g. explanation and argument)
• Mission 2: Development of investigative skills (e.g. what is the question? What are the variables?)
• Mission 3: Curriculum pathways• Mission 4: Changes to resources
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org
Final mission!
Leading transition
What are the….
• Short term issues (Summer term)
• Mid-term issues (Autumn term)
• Longer term issues (2012-)
for the department with regard to KS4
courses?