Biology 2014 assessment for preliminary Syllabus reference number Syllabus weighting Dates due (may be changed) 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 A Local Ecosystem Patterns in Nature Life on Earth Evolution of Aust. Biota Total % 21% 29% 25% 25% 100% Ecosystem excursion Practical & process test Museum excursion Prac book Homework Assignment Tues Feb 25th Friday March 21st Tues April 8th On going (last day Friday Apr 4th) Friday May 2 20 24 20 24 8 10 10 20 8 14 14 28 Total % 20 32 24 24 100 Excursions: There are two very important excursions for this part of the course. Attendance is compulsory. 1. Salt pan creek – planned for Tuesday Feb25th, all afternoon. No cost to students at this stage. Worth 20%. 2. Australian Museum, Tuesday 8th April for work on Life on Earth and Evolution of Australian Biota, 12.30 – 4.30 pm. Cost will be approx $8 + train fares. Worth 20% Homework Assignment: This covers a large part of the syllabus that cannot be covered in class work and so is compulsory and given an assessment mark (28%) Other Homework will be given in class and via the Wiki, where answers will also be posted. Homework handed in will be marked and feedback will be given. Lab prac books: Every student will be given preliminary prac book. This is (at least in part) assessable so must be your own work. DO NOT LEND YOUR PRAC BOOK! Text books: You will need a text book! A common one we use is Heinemann Biology by Mudie and Brotherton which covers both prelim and HSC course. Other text books provided they are on the current HSC course, eg Biology in Context (Spectrum), Jacaranda HSC Biology, Focus on Biology, are equally good. XL is good if your English is not good and for revision WIKI – HSC Bankstown has a wiki which you can look at to see assessments, homework and other important information. You do not need a password, just internet access on your computer. Lockers are available free of charge. You need to provide your own lock. Lab. 97805590 Staff room 97805591 (has voice mail) Email – (teacher’s) firstname.surname@tafensw.edu.au Overall program for Biology 2014 Term 1 All of preliminary, many classes involve compulsory practical work from Patterns in Nature. Excursion for A Local Ecosystem. Museum Excursion for Life on Earth and Evolution of Australian Biota. Term 2 Maintaining a Balance (+ prac & process test) Blueprint of Life (most) (including open ended investigation report, due 3rd term) Weeks 5 to 9 on HSC module Search for better health.to be held on Tuesdays 3 pm to 5 pm Term 3 Blueprint of Life (last part) Term 4 HSC exams Option (Communication) (+Test) Trial HSC, usually in week 7 Weeks after trial finishing off: Search for better health and revision FAQs on preliminary 1. Does Preliminary assessment count towards HSC? NO 2. Do I have to pass preliminary? YES, but you may have already done so (eg at high school) 3. What is the pass mark for preliminary? 50% 4. Do I get a mark for preliminary, or just pass or fail? You will be given a mark and it will be used for your RoSA (Board of Studies record of your achievement) 5. What if I miss an excursion? You will need a good excuse and be expected to do make-up work 6. Are all pracs marked? No, you will be told which ones will be marked when you do them 7. What if I think I’m failing preliminary? See a teacher before the end of term. We will make sure that you don’t. 8. Do I need a text book? YES