Abbotsholme GCSE Chemists Pushing the Boundaries in Practical Assessments

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(Free-Press-Release.com) February 23, 2012 -- Members of the Abbotsholme Boarding School Year 11 triple award science group have been carrying out individual investigations as part of their GCSE assessment in Chemistry. Derived from the study of reaction rates, students have been given the responsibility to reflect on the work covered and identify an idea to develop further in order to produce a research project.

Having selected a reaction and focused on a particular aspect to investigate, students have needed to justify a strategy for the collection of data as well as explain their choice of equipment with reference to accuracy and precision. Preliminary experiments have been carried out to determine specific quantities for variables to be controlled as well as the range and interval of the independent variable.

The preliminary findings have then been used to explain the particular method employed and how it is designed to produce reliable and accurate data and lead to a valid conclusion.

The depth of research evident in some students’ work as well as the originality in choice of investigation has been impressive. Some of the initial ideas have had to be modified considerably as a result of the preliminary tasks but this in itself has been an excellent reflection on the students’ ability to evaluate their work. The commitment and competence in carrying out the investigations has been commendable.

Everyone is motivated by the goal of assessment success but the real reward in this activity has been to see students take responsibility for organising their work and setting their own targets, which have often extended the outcomes well beyond the confines of GCSE and hopefully will encourage some students to further their study of science.

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