- December 22nd, 2010
New Higher Chemistry Resource: Functional Groups in Complex Molecules and their effect on Physical Properties
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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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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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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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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!
- November 23rd, 2010
Calling all Aberdeen/ Aberdeenshire Physics teachers
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Roy Pearson (LTS) and John Sharkey (SQA) will be giving a presentation on latest developments and resources for the new CfE-inspired Higher Physics to an Institute of Physics meeting at Aberdeen University on Thursday 25th November 2010.
IOP members and/or interested Physics teachers are invited to come along to the Meston Building at 6.30 pm.
Many brand-new support materials for the new Higher Physics are in production. For a sneaky peak check out the Glow Group!
- November 11th, 2010
New Higher Biology Resource - PCR Case Study!
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A fantastic new resource is now available on the NQ Biology Glow group to support students and teachers of the new Higher Biology. The resource is a case study of the Polymerase Chain reaction (PCR) and gives learners the opportunity to carry out the PCR experiment, as well as looking at applications of PCR in modern biology. Furthermore, the resource provides an opportunity for learners to develop their problem-solving skills in relevant, topical contexts through analysis of PCR data related to forensics and disease-screening .
The resource will also appear shortly on the Biology page of the National Qualifications website. Watch this space!
- November 9th, 2010
Biology Teachers share bright ideas!
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Approximately 30 Scottish teachers commissioned by LTS to produce materials to support the new Biology/ Human Biology qualifications met at the Optima Building in Glasgow on 8th November 2010. The purpose of this meeting was to share ideas and good practice, and to establish the characteristics of a fantastic resource to support both learners and teachers.
The meeting was supported by representatives from Abertay University, The University of the West of Scotland and Edinburgh University, as well as SSERC and SQA. All of these participants gave valuable input and perspective to the discussions.
Geoff Morgan (SQA Qualifications Design Consultant, Biology) gave a very interesting presentation on the use of ‘case studies’ in Higher Biology which stimulated lots of great discussions within the group.
Some excellent materials which have already been produced were showcased during the meeting, highlighting the high standard of resources being produced.
The meeting was highly successful and allowed teachers to establish links between resources, as well as sharing innovative ideas and good practice.
Watch out for these new resources appearing on the NQ Biology GLOW group and on the NQ website over the coming weeks!
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