SYSTEMS OF KNOWLEDGE
The
Project
Booklet
MATSEC Examinations Board
University of Malta
Guidelines and General Instructions
1. Systems of Knowledge is an obligatory component of the Matriculation Certificate.
2. Systems of Knowledge is an interdisciplinary subject taught and assessed at
Intermediate level.
3. Systems of Knowledge is assessed by means of the Systems of Knowledge Project
Portfolio which carries 40% of the global mark and an end-of-course written examination
which carries the remaining 60% of the mark. A pass mark in the examination is required.
The marks of the examination are added to those obtained in the Project only if a pass mark is
obtained in the written component of the examination.
4. The Systems of Knowledge Project Portfolio involves a task which should at least span
over a time period of 20 hours. The project marks are to be completed and reported to
MATSEC by a date stipulated by the said institution, issued in the time-table which can be
accessed through the MATSEC website.
5. The Systems of Knowledge Project Portfolio should reflect the knowledge, attitudes,
values, and skills as identified in the Syllabus which can be accessed through the MATSEC
website.
6. The Systems of Knowledge Project Portfolio has to illustrate the relationship of Science
and Technology with one or more of the following modules: Responsible Citizenship,
Aesthetics and the Environment.
7. The Project Portfolio should include the following four components:
a. The project. This may take the form of an artefact or an activity. The process of the
project has to be corroborated by evidence such as photographs, designs, articles,
documents, interviews, models or any other form of evidence depending on the
nature of the project;
b.The journal. It must include “an entry for each activity”, which must be developed in
an analytic, descriptive, and reflective manner;
c.The project booklet. It must include the following sheets duly filled in:

First Meeting

Second Meeting

Third Meeting

Marking Scheme
d. The essay (900-1100 words). The candidate must bring “together, in a reflective
manner, the experience he/she has been through”. Concurrently, candidates must
“demonstrate that they have a comprehensive understanding of the themes as
identified in each module.”
8. Candidates can present their work in either Maltese or English, according to their
preference. In either case, grammatical accuracy and language fluency are expected.
9. Candidates working on the Systems of Knowledge Project Portfolio should have at least
three meetings with an assigned tutor from their School, Centre or College who supervises
the compilation of the Project Portfolio and the progress being registered by the candidate.
10. A record of three of these meetings should be kept in the project booklet. During the first
recorded meeting, the candidate discusses his/her intentions and ideas with the tutor and sets
out a plan of action. The second meeting is of a review nature to check progress and iron out
difficulties. During the final meeting, the candidate presents his/her finished Project.
11. The mark awarded after moderation is final.
12. No part of the Project Booklet can be removed.
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STUDENT PROFILE – MATSEC COPY
(To be filled in and presented to the MATSEC Support Unit)
Please Tick where applicable:
School Candidate
Private Candidate
(Candidates not presented by the school will be treated as private candidates.)
Surname & Name of Candidate: _________________________________
ID No.: ___________________
Address: ___________________________________________________
Telephone Numbers: ____________ (home); _______________ (mobile)
E-mail: _________________________________________
The Project will be illustrating the relationship of Science and Technology
with the following module/s (Please tick accordingly):
Responsible Citizenship
Aesthetics
The Environment
Title of Project: ___________________________________________________
Description: ______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Proposed Tutor’s Name: _______________________________________
Tutor’s Comments: ________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
____________________
____________________
Candidate’s Signature
Tutor’s Signature
Approved by MATSEC:
______________________
MATSEC Rubber Stamp
School Rubber Stamp (if applicable)
MATSEC Examiner/s: _______________
_______________
Date:
_______________
3
Final mark (out of 40):
STUDENT PROFILE – SCHOOL COPY
Please Tick where applicable:
School Candidate
Private Candidate
(Candidates not presented by the school will be treated as private candidates.)
Surname & Name of Candidate: _________________________________
ID No.: ___________________
Address: ___________________________________________________
Telephone Numbers: ____________ (home); _______________ (mobile)
E-mail: _________________________________________
The Project will be illustrating the relationship of Science and Technology
with the following module/s (Please tick accordingly):
Responsible Citizenship
Aesthetics
The Environment
Title of Project: ___________________________________________________
Description: ______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Proposed Tutor’s Name: _______________________________________
Tutor’s Comments: ________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
____________________
____________________
Candidate’s Signature
Tutor’s Signature
Approved by MATSEC:
______________________
MATSEC Rubber Stamp
School Rubber Stamp (if applicable)
MATSEC Examiner/s: _______________
_______________
Date:
_______________
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Final mark (out of 40):
FIRST MEETING
During the First Meeting, candidates should discuss with their tutor how
they intend to proceed towards the accomplishment of their Project by
answering the following questions which should be used as guidelines
and form the basis for the project action plan.
1. What do you intend to do to achieve the objectives of this project?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2. Explain the connection between your project and your chosen area/s.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
3 What evidence do you intend to produce in support of your work?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
4. What do you intend to accomplish through this project?
a)
On a personal level: _______________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
b) On a community level (where applicable): _____________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
5. Describe briefly the scientific and technological aspect of your Project.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Candidate’s Signature: _________________
Date: _____________
Tutor’s Signature:
Date: _____________
________________
5
Project Task Record
(To be completed by the task overseer who cannot be a relative of the candidate)
Name of Organisation,
NGO/ other (if applicable)
Address of Organisation,
NGO/ other (if applicable)
Tel. No. of Organisation,
NGO/ other (if applicable)
Name and Surname of person
overseeing task
Tel. No. of person overseeing task
The candidate is to copy the sheet and attach it to the booklet for
additional Organisations visited.
Date:
____________________________
Duration of Activity:
Date:
____________________________
Duration of Activity:
____________________________
Overseer’s Signature:
____________________________
Overseer’s Signature:
____________________________
____________________________
Date:
____________________________
Duration of Activity:
Date:
____________________________
Duration of Activity:
____________________________
Overseer’s Signature:
____________________________
Overseer’s Signature:
____________________________
____________________________
Date:
____________________________
Duration of Activity:
Date:
____________________________
Duration of Activity:
____________________________
Overseer’s Signature:
____________________________
Overseer’s Signature:
____________________________
____________________________
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Date:
____________________________
Duration of Activity:
Date:
____________________________
Duration of Activity:
____________________________
Overseer’s Signature:
____________________________
Overseer’s Signature:
____________________________
____________________________
Date:
____________________________
Duration of Activity:
Date:
____________________________
Duration of Activity:
____________________________
Overseer’s Signature:
____________________________
Overseer’s Signature:
____________________________
____________________________
Date:
____________________________
Duration of Activity:
Date:
____________________________
Duration of Activity:
____________________________
Overseer’s Signature:
____________________________
Overseer’s Signature:
____________________________
____________________________
Main Task Overseer’s Comments:
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Overseer’s Signature: ___________________
Date:_______________
Candidate’s additional comments:
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Candidate’s Signature: ___________________
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Date:_______________
SECOND MEETING
During this meeting, the candidate should present this Project booklet,
backed up by samples of evidence (notes, photos, artefacts, etc.)
related to the project chosen, together with the Journal which should
contain reflections on the candidate’s activities/ experiences which will
then be used for the long essay.
Suggestions for improvement by tutor:
1. _________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________________
5. _________________________________________________________
Tutor’s Signature
____________________ Date: ______________
Candidate’s Signature ____________________ Date: ______________
THIRD MEETING
At this meeting the candidate should present the completed Project
Portfolio to the tutor who in turn should interview the candidate and
assess the portfolio according to the criteria outlined in the Marking
Scheme on pages 9 and 10.
Tutor’s comments:
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Tutor’s Signature
____________________ Date: ______________
Candidate’s Signature ____________________ Date: ______________
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MARKING SCHEME
Presentation and Content of Project Portfolio (Max. 25 marks)
–
Project Booklet
Action Plan and
Clarity of Objectives
(Max. 5 marks)
Reflective Journal
(Max. 10 marks)
Marks should be awarded according
to the relevance and depth with
which the pertinent questions in the
booklet are answered.
Detailed descriptions and links to the
evidence provided
In-depth analysis and reflection
Discussion of
Values
(Max. 6 marks)
Communication of
Ideas Including
Use of Language
(Max. 4 marks)iii
Interdisciplinarity
(Max. 5 marks)iv
Marks out of 4
Marks out of 6
Marks out of 4
Presentation
Variety of Experienceii
Long Essay 1000 words
(Max. 10
marks)
Second Meeting
Marks out of 2
Marks out of 3
Quality of Evidencei
Project
(Max. 10 marks)
First Meeting
Marks out of 3
Relevance of the values discussed to
the aim of the project
Marks out of 3
Marks out of 3
Marks out of 3
Depth of Analysis
Essay
structure
and
logical
development of arguments and ideas
Marks out of 2
Mark out of 1
Language use
Mark out of 1
Bibliography
Interdisciplinarity and
contextuality
Marks out of 3
Marks out of 2
Scientific facts
Marks out of 40
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Moderator(s): ________________________________
Moderated Mark
_______________________________
_______________________________
Moderation carried out on: _______________________________
i
All evidence presented needs to be selected with purpose and be relevant to the aim of the project. Evidence
selected (such as photographs, pictures, questionnaires, DVDs and recordings) need to be adequately referenced
and analysed in the project.
Photographs and pictures need to:
- abide by data protection regulations;
- be clear and of good quality;
- be adequately labelled;
- document progression of experience;
- show an understanding of the formal context of the project.
ii
Marks are awarded for the variety of first-hand experiences the candidate engages in to fulfil the aim/s of
his/her project, thus acquiring a more holistic experience.
iii
Care needs to be taken to follow the stipulated word limit for the Essay. A mark is deducted if the essay is
outside the 900-1100 word range.
iv
The candidate needs to demonstrate how his/her project intertwines science and technology with one or more
of the aspects below:
- experiencing what being a good citizen is;
- what it means to appreciate/create objects of aesthetic value;
- what it means to be responsible towards the environment.
When providing scientific facts, care must be taken to move beyond describing a particular process to
explaining the scientific principles behind the concept selected by the candidate. Rather than stating that a match
can produce fire, for instance, the candidate needs to explain how this is done.
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