Year Level: | |
Industry Focus: | |
Technologies used: | |
Max Students: | 50 |
Duration: | 9.30am-2.30pm |
Booking Eligibility: | Open only to KIOSC partner schools |
Introduction:
In this program, students will develop and apply key Science Inquiry Skills to prepare for VCE studies, in line with Victorian Curriculum F-10. This program has pre/post work elements for teachers and students to engage with.
- Pre-work: Students will be given a series of scientific posters as stimuli. They will be asked to select one to critique.
- Post work: Students will be required to complete a discussion and conclusion to complete the poster critique.
Program Overview
Workshop 1: Variables and Experimental Design
Focus:
- Understand and apply the concept of independent, dependent, and controlled variables.
- Develop investigable questions and hypotheses.
Activities:
- Introduction: Discuss why variables matter for reliability and validity.
- Hands-on Task: Students examine sample experiments and identify variables.
- Design Challenge: In small groups, students create an experimental plan for a chosen question, clearly defining variables and controls.
Learning Intentions:
- I can identify and classify variables in an experiment.
- I can design a fair test with appropriate controls.
Success Criteria:
- Variables are correctly identified and justified.
- Experimental design is clear, logical, and testable.
Workshop 2: Data Collection and Visualisation
Focus:
- Collect accurate data and represent it using appropriate visual tools.
- Understand discrete vs. continuous and qualitative vs. quantitative data.
Activities:
- Data Gathering: Students learn how to conduct different types of data.
- Data Classification: Sort data into types and discuss implications for analysis.
- Visualisation Task: Use digital tools (e.g., Excel, Google Sheets) to create tables and graphs (bar, line, scatter).
- Discussion: How different visualisations affect interpretation.
Learning Intentions:
- I can collect and organise data systematically.
- I can choose appropriate visualisations for different data types.
Success Criteria:
- Data is accurately recorded and classified.
- Graphs and tables are correctly formatted and labelled.
Workshop 3: Conduct an experiment (post work opportunities from this activity)
Focus:
- Pre-work: Critique a scientific poster (aligned with VCE AOS 3 standards).
- Reproduce the experiment at KIOSC and communicate findings. (post work write up)
Activities:
- Poster Analysis: Review sample posters for strengths and weaknesses (clarity, data presentation, scientific language).
- Experiment Reproduction: Students replicate the experiment at KIOSC, collect new data, and compare results.
- Poster Creation: Prepare a scientific poster using conventions (title, aim, method, results, discussion, conclusion).
- Presentation: Share posters and provide peer feedback.
Learning Intentions:
- I can evaluate the quality of scientific communication.
- I can present findings using accepted scientific conventions.
Success Criteria:
- Poster includes all required sections and uses correct terminology.
- Data and analysis are clearly communicated.