A Level Practical and Maths Skills Through Fieldwork: EDUQAS, AS/A Level Biology

Day 1

Morning

Arrive Midday

• Students greeted by FSC staff.
• Welcome talk and Centre tour.
• Pre-course meeting with FSC staff and teachers.
• Allocation of wellies/waterproofs.

Afternoon and Evening

Introduction to Ecology (AS/A).

Students will:

• Carry out immersive activities to connect them to local habitats.
• Practice observational and sampling skills and pose relevant ecological questions needed in good field investigations.
• Investigate the taxonomy, ecology and adaptations of some common species.
• Agree on class and individual course objectives.

Day 2

Morning, Afternoon and Evening

Biodiversity and Classification (AS/A).

Students will:

• Use random sampling methods to assess the biodiversity of a named habitat (Specified Practical Work).
• Consider how biodiversity can vary spatially and over time and investigate some of the influencing factors.
• Consider wider human impact such as climate change on this habitat.
• Build upon their knowledge of phylogenetic classification and modern techniques for identification.
• Consider anatomical, physiological or behavioural adaptations of key species.
• Use a range of data analysis methods.

Day 3

Morning, Afternoon and Evening

Populations, Ecosystems and Succession (A).

Students will:

• Use non-random sampling methods to investigate the distribution and abundance of organisms in a habitat (Specified Practical Work).
• Understand the principles of primary and secondary succession, pioneers and climax community in either a lithosere, hydrosere or psammosere.
• Consider the need of effective management of the conflict between human needs and conservation.
• Carry out a biological drawing of a named organism.
• Further develop taxonomic skills and explore adaptations of key species.
• Use a range of data analysis methods.

Day 4

Morning, Afternoon and Evening

Energy and Ecosystems (A).

Students will:

• Measure the abundance of different organisms from different trophic levels within a named ecosystem (freshwater, marine or terrestrial).
• Use primary and secondary data to quantify efficiency of transfer, gross and net production and construct pyramids of biomass
• Further develop taxonomic skills and explore adaptations of key species.
• Use a range of data analysis methods.

Day 5

Morning

Populations and Variation (A).

Students will:

• Investigate continuous variation in a named species (Specified Practical Work).
• Consider how genetic and environmental factors produce variation between individuals.
• Carry out a Student’s t test on the results.

Afternoon

Depart at Midday

• Review of the course.
• Signposting further actions and opportunities with the FSC and beyond.
• Final farewell from FSC staff.

Please note: to ensure safe and quality learning experiences for students, the timetable may alter depending on weather conditions and local factors at centres.

Specification Links

Practical and Maths Skills

Practical Activity Groups

As well as through completing three pieces of Specified Practical Work, there will be multiple other opportunities to practice apparatus and techniques (esp. a, e, h, k and l) and to cover the key practical skills that students will be directly assessed on in their exams.
These skills will be integrated and contextualised into the whole day themes dependent on the habitats and species available.

Practical Endorsement

There will be multiple opportunities to assess all 5 CPAC skills areas through the completion of the Specified Practical Work and during other practical activities, including those CPAC areas that require demonstration of individual competency and some degree of choice (e.g. CPAC 2).
Students will be encouraged to use IT for data collection and analysis and to carry out referenced research (CPAC 5).

Maths and Stats Skills

The course will cover a wide range of maths and graphical skills and can cover the following statistical tests: Student’s t test, Correlation Co-efficient and Chi squared test.
The days that these tests work best with will depend on the available habitats and species at each Centre.
Students will also calculate the Simpson’s Diversity Index.

• Develop personal skills
• Have fun
• Be inspired by a passion for the subject
• Build friendships