National Qualifications - Sciences

December 22nd, 2010

Another new Higher Physics Resource! ‘The Standard Model’

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Comments: none Tags:  : Categories Higher Physics, National Qualifications, Scottish National Qualifications, Uncategorized, resources

In the 1970s, physicists developed a theory called ‘The Standard Model‘ which gives us a remarkable insight into the fundamental structure of matter in the Universe. The ‘Standard Model’ describes the twelve basic building blocks of the universe (called ‘fundamental particles’) and also looks into the ‘fundamental forces’ governing these particles.

A set of teachers notes to support teachers with the delivery of this modern content within the ‘Particles and Waves’ unit of the new CfE-inspired Higher Physics can be found on the National Qualifications page and also on the NQ Physics Glow group.

We hope you like them!

December 22nd, 2010

Chemistry Open-Ended Question Christmas Challenge!

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Comments: 1 Comment Tags:  : Categories Higher Chemistry, Higher Sciences, Open-Ended Questions, Scottish National Qualifications, Uncategorized

OK Chemistry Teachers - here’s a little Christmas challenge to get you in the mood for teaching ‘open-ended questions’ in the new CfE-inspired Higher Chemistry!

All you have to do is to watch the video-clip above from a ‘CSI:Miami’ episode entitled ‘Dissolved’ (you’ll soon see why it got that name!) and then try to answer the open-ended question below! Remember that there are many correct answers, and the purpose is to get you to exercise your thinking skills! Have fun!

An internet discussion board on ‘Bad Chemistry’ has an entry referring to the TV drama ‘CSI: Miami’.

‘Last night’s episode showed the deceased victim floating in a swimming pool contaminated with sodium hydroxide. The concentration was high enough to eat through glass. When the CSI guys realised it was an alkali, they needed to neutralise it to retrieve the body, so they sent one of the team to the local grocery store for vinegar. They proceeded to pour the vinegar from four litre jugs into the pool, dropping the pH from 13 to exactly 7.0 – all within a few seconds, and without any stirring!’

Using your knowledge of chemistry, comment on whether the events described in CSI: Miami could take place.

December 22nd, 2010

New Higher Physics Resource: Special Relativity

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The ‘Our Dynamic Universe’ unit of the CfE-inspired Higher Physics contains a brand-new topic on ‘Special Relativity’. Special Relativity is a complex scientific theory which was developed by Albert Einstein in 1905. One of its key conclusions is that the speed of light is constant for all observers in the universe!

The inclusion of this conceptually difficult piece of modern physics within the new CfE-inspired Higher Physics curriculum is both inspirational and challenging to teachers and students. In order to support teachers with the delivery of this new content, an extensive set of teachers notes have been produced by LTS.

This resource can be found on the National Qualifications website, and also in the NQ Physics Glow Group!

Happy reading!

December 22nd, 2010

New Higher Chemistry Resource: Functional Groups in Complex Molecules and their effect on Physical Properties

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Comments: 1 Comment Tags:  : Categories Higher Chemistry, National Qualifications, SQA, Scottish National Qualifications, Uncategorized, resources

Check out an exciting new set of resources to support the ‘Consumer Chemistry’ and ‘Periodicity, Polarity & Properties’ units of the new CfE-inspired Higher Chemistry. The resource consists of an interactive PowerPoint presentation which could be used to introduce the concepts involved, plus a sample set of pupil problems, with associated answers.

The resources support learners and teachers with a new style of exam question which the SQA will include in the CfE-inspired Higher Chemistry. This new question style requires students to identify key functional groups within complex organic molecules, and then to link the presence of certain functional groups to the molecule’s physical properties. Physical properties such as solubility, melting and boiling point and viscosity are included.

The resources can be found both on the National Qualifications website and on the NQ Chemistry Glow Group, and could be used to support aspects of the current and the CFE-inspired Highers in Chemistry.

Let us know if you find them useful!

December 16th, 2010

Physics CPD on Open-Ended Questions in South Ayrshire

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Comments: none Tags:  : Categories Higher Physics, National Qualifications, Open-Ended Questions, SQA, Scottish National Qualifications

Open-ended questions in the new Higher Physics were the topic for a CPD session held at Marr College, South Ayrshire on the 14th December 2010. The session allowed physics teachers to consider the benefits and challenges offered by incorporating these questions into the curriculum.

The ‘open-ended questions teacher’s guide’ housed on the NQ website was the basis of the core activities during this session. We’d love to hear your thoughts and comments!

December 15th, 2010

Developing Skills within new National Qualifications

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’Building the Curriculum 4′ (the skills framework) states that every learner is entitled to the opportunity to develop skills for learning, life and work. This entitlement extends right through from the early years to the senior phase.

As a result, one of the greatest challenges facing the Qualification Design Teams (QDTs) is to ensure that skills development is given a high priority within the new National 4/5 qualifications. Which skills are key within each subject, how will they be assessed, and how can teachers be supported in delivering these skills?

The process of skills development within the new CfE-inspired Higher Sciences was spotlighted at a recent meeting of QDT reps. It was noted that key ’generic’ skills were embedded throughout the course, but delivered within a specific scientific context. For example, numeracy skills were more particularly described as ‘skills of processing and analysing scientific data’; literacy skills were ’skills of writing an effective scientific communication’; communication skills included ‘carrying out effective-web-research’ or ‘producing an investigation report as a video/ scientific poster/ report/ etc’; higher-order thinking skills were promoted through the use of ‘open-ended questions’…

A number of the latest Higher Science resources supporting skills development were used to illustrate the types of support which might be provided by LTS for N4/5 qualifications. The Powerpoint Presentation used is available in the ‘presentations’ page on the National Qualifications Glow group under the heading ‘LTS/SQA Joint Event SKILLS’.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on how skills should be delivered in the new NQs!

December 15th, 2010

LTS/ SQA Joint Event for QDT reps

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Comments: none Tags:  : Categories National Qualifications, Scottish National Qualifications

LTS and SQA jointly hosted an event for LTS representatives on the Qualifications Design Teams for National 4 & 5.

The meeting was held at the SQA offices at ’The Optima’ building at Robertson Street in Glasgow on 14th December 2010. Esther Cairney (LTS) and Roddy Gillespie (SQA) updated the meeting on the latest news and developments in the process of developing new National Qualifications at National 4 & 5 level. Some very fruitful discussions took place within groups around the positives and the challenges of designing new qualifications.

A ‘spotlight’ session on the development of skills within new National Qualifications (as described by ’Building the Curriculum 4′) was also given by Mairi Campbell (LTS). This spotlight session focussed on the development of skills within the new Higher Sciences. More on that in a later post!

December 15th, 2010

Biology Resources - News!

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Comments: 1 Comment Tags:  : Categories Higher Biology, Higher Sciences, National Qualifications, Scottish National Qualifications, Uncategorized, case studies, resources

LTS have commissioned teachers to produce a variety of resources to support the new Highers in Biology and Human Biology. These resources will include;

* Teacher Support Notes

* Associated Learner Activities

* a range of exciting, topical ’Case Studies’ supporting the development of key scientific skills

The support notes will cover all areas of both Higher courses, with a particular focus on new content. These resources are now reaching first draft stage and should be available on the LTS NQ Biology page early next year. Early versions of these resources have already begun to appear on the GLOW NQ Biology page.

Watch this space for more information!

December 10th, 2010

National Qualifications Team now tweeting!

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The National Qualifications team at LTS is now also sharing the very latest news updates about developments in National Qualifications on Twitter. Why not follow us there?

Thoughts, suggestions and comments always welcome!

December 10th, 2010

New NQ Facebook page

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The National Qualifications team at LTScotland wants to keep you updated ! To get the latest news on new resources, access useful weblinks, or hear about the latest developments in National Qualifications, why not add us as a friend on Facebook?

Look forward to seeing you there!