Teaching and learning
AS
In teaching Science in Society you will probably use a wider range of approaches to teaching and learning than are common in other science classes. Read more...
A2
Many of the activities suggested for the A2 topics use the range of techniques already familiar from the AS course. At A2, students build on these skills so they can analyse longer texts, produce more sophisticated arguments and research an issue efficiently.
Read more...
AS Teaching and learning
In teaching Science in Society you will probably use a wider range of approaches to teaching and learning than are common in other science classes.
Science in Society is different because it aims to help students understand how science works and to provide them with the skills needed to participate as citizens in debates on topical science. The course therefore expects students to develop their abilities across a wider range of concepts and skills than they use in most traditional science classes.
These include the ability to express an opinion supported by evidence and to critically evaluate arguments used by others. This means that as teachers we need to let go some of our control to allow open-ended discussion, whilst still taking responsibility for ensuring that learning takes place.
This section of the site provides advice on some relevant teaching techniques like 'small group discussion', 'role play' or 'keeping Science in Society topical'. It provides advice on developing specific student skills including argument skills and the ability to analyse and evaluate a media story about science. It introduces and provides links to Learning Skills for Science, LSS, activities.
This is a set of ideas that have been successful with classes. For each there is a brief outline of the suggested method and links to activities which use it.
| Student skills | Teaching techniques |
|
Discussing sensitive or controversial issues Keeping Science in Society topical How to link the three strands of the specification |
The approach to teaching and learning suggested on this web site assumes that teachers will not be experts in the scientific topics but will, with the aid of the resources provided, be able to support and facilitate student learning.
Many of the activities suggested for the A2 topics use the range of techniques already familiar from the AS course. AS Science in Society students have learned to analyse unfamiliar information, to express opinions supported by evidence and to critically evaluate arguments used by others. They have developed these skills in a variety of ways including discussion, debate and role play as well as by working through some of the Learning Skills for Science activities on this site.
At A2 they will build on these skills so that they can analyse longer texts, produce longer more sophisticated arguments and research an issue efficiently. However they will also be introduced to new ways of working, in the case studies and in the problem based learning activities that are a part of every topic.
In each of the six schemes of work we not only offer a range of activities that are similar to, or a natural development from, the activities in the AS programme but also include two significant additions that are designed to help students rise to the challenge of the A2 course:
- a structured episode of problem-based learning expected to last for two or three hours of class time.
- one case study in the style of a Unit 4 exam but designed to teach part of the topic and featuring the evaluation of a range of related documents, including a scientific paper, using ideas about how science works.
| A2 |
Printer-friendly version