Our Starting Point

Getting back to School

Let's get ourselves back into "school mode". Thinking about what we do and how best we can learn. Also a review of safety in the lab and our rules we will have to make sure that we are all safe in the lab.

What is Energy?

The whole of the coming year will be based upon the study of energy. Although we tend to concentrate on mechanical, biological and thermal energy, other ones will be added and included as on a "just in time teaching approach" - teaching it when it is needed to move on through the coursework. 

A very important theme that recurs throughout the course is the Law of Conservation of Energy. 

We will be starting with mechanical energy and looking at quantifying it and seeing that certain measurable physical quantities (e.g. mass, speed, height, etc) impact energy.

Be Proactive and seek help when you need it

 

Extended Learning

You have access to lots of opportunities to get help in class, but it is also available outside of class too! You have experienced the extended learning sessions that are programmed during flexi-time. 

Each lesson I will start by reminding you about these times and where you will be able to find me. I have been allocated a room and will be looking after a group of students too.

The key is to seek help when it is needed and not put it off. Get the problem sorted out before it gets larger and harder to manage. 

Extend your Understanding @ Science Lab

You will remember that Mr. Manu offers Science Lab during certain break periods. This is an opportunity to seek help or simply find out more about something you are interested in. 

What is my role as a learner?

It's pretty easy really, like everything we do, you must decide how much to do. You should be able to decide how much effort and commitment you make to anything you do. If you take charge and do not enter the "blame game" when things don't go well, then you are moving towards being an independent learner. 

Try to adopt some or all of these behaviours inside (and outside) of the classroom.

Reminder: Formative or Summative?

There are lots of new terms and things to learn this year so I thought we could look at two terms that will appear and be said in class - formative or summative. You have been dealing with these terms for the past couple of years, so they should be familiar. 

A formative task is designed to introduce and practice the skills and understandings that will be assessed and reported upon. If you like they are practice sessions where you can learn, make mistakes, and then reflect upon how to fix those mistakes. Even though it is a formative task, you are expected to attempt and submit it on time. The feedback you get will help you when the summative task comes along.

A summative task is like the final of the Olympics. You have practised and readied yourself and now it's time to show all of your skills and understandings. This is where we see and assess what we have learned.

It is always best practice to try your best in all tasks both formative and summative. Just like when learning an instrument, a sport or any other type of skill - practice makes perfect!

The Starting Post

Welcome to the start of a brand new year.

Hopefully, we will be able to move on from the "Pandemic Games Year" that was with us. I really look forward to a year that we're more used to.

I will use the blog to keep you up to date with "what is current" and "what is planned". However, as we can change due to needs and new situations, this may be at times a little different from reality. 

It will be a great year and together we will learn all about energy in all its forms and the uses we make of it in societies. I am here to help you with your learning & understanding. We will be using blended learning for much of the course.

As we move through the course, skills and understandings will be added as needed. There are no units as such although we will be considering energy in terms of its mechanical impacts, effects on biological systems, and ways of transferring energy within the Earth's systems (air, water, land, and biology). 

Finally, we will link all of these concepts and ideas to examine the topical problem of climate change and its effects on life on Earth.