A-level Biology: Practical endorsement Catherine Witter Autumn 2015 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. Follow us on Twitter @AQACPD.

Structure of the session During the session there will be: a brief overview of the Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC) strands and suggestions about how to prepare suitable assessment resources examples of how to track student progress against the CPAC strands (whole cohort/class teacher/student level) great resources that other schools have created will be shared the opportunity to seek expert advice both from ourselves and each other about the 12 core practical activities, that cover the apparatus and techniques an insight into what to expect during a monitoring visit Slide 2 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. Follow us on Twitter @AQACPD.

Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC) Follows written procedures Applies investigative approaches and methods when using instruments and equipment Safely uses a range of practical equipment and materials Makes and records observations Researches, references and reports Slide 3 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Assessment of the CPAC in practice – some ideas CPAC worksheets and student exemplars Slide 4 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

The safety element in CPAC 3 Slide 5 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Planning experiments for assessment Slide 6 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

How are you assessing your students’ practical skills? Slide 7 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Example of a student’s lab book Slide 8 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Student or teacher in-class tracking exemplar - 1 Slide 9 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Student tracker exemplar - 2 Slide 10 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Many teachers are adapting the AQA tracker Slide 11 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Some use of SIMS Slide 12 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Ask questions, make comments or share your concerns Slide 13 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Time for a 5 minute break Slide 14 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

A-level Biology – 12 core practical activities In addition to the five Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC) there are a number of Apparatus and Techniques which must also be addressed. Slide 15 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

The 12 core practicals Can be covered over the two years and are flexible in that they can be adapted by teachers. These are class practical lessons and examination conditions are not required – remember some of the techniques will be unfamiliar at first and so teachers should feel happy to provide a lot of guidance if necessary. Slide 16 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Why should teachers do more than 12 practicals? There is a minimum requirement of 12 core practical activities to be offered to students, however: some techniques need more practise you can provide increased opportunities for students to develop a mastery against the five CPAC areas Some students may be absent when you deliver the practical practical work works to underpin teaching and learning, helping students to fully grasp the harder theoretical concepts practical work should be embraced fully and students should not be limited to practical skill development – it is simply too important Slide 17 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Sharing our ideas – core practical activities Slide 18 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Sharing networks If you want to get involved, email your details to: sciencepracticals@aqa.org.uk Slide 19 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

The monitoring visit Slide 20 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Feedback Please use the short online questionnaire to give us your feedback on today’s training. Thank you. Slide 21 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Thank you We are an independent education charity and the largest provider of academic qualifications for all abilities taught in schools and colleges. Our aim is to enable students to realise their potential and provide teachers with the support and resources they need so that they can focus on inspiring learning.   aqa.org.uk Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. Follow us on Twitter @AQACPD.