A Level year 2 BiologyEdexcel B

Ecosystems and Practical Fieldwork

3 days

This three day course for A level students covers A level year two content for the Edexcel B specification. Ecology topics which students often find difficult in exams will be covered comprehensively, with a focus on topic 10: Ecosytems.

Students will complete core practicals 15 and 16. They will build on their AS skills, use a variety of practical apparatus and techniques and carry out both the core practical activities.

Teachers will have the opportunity to assess their students on the Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC) while FSC field teachers handle the laboratory requirements of the practicals.

Please visit http://www.field-studies-council.org/outdoorclassroom/

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DAY MORNING AFTERNOON EVENING

1 Arrive Midday

Students will be greeted by FSC staff, with a welcome talk followed by a brief tour of the Centre and the local area.

Outline of the Course

Allocation of wellies/waterproofs.

Ecosystems and Energy

Students will investigate a woodland or rocky shore ecosystem and the organisms that live within it. They will investigate how ecosystems are supplied with energy, exploring how plants trap and use light energy. They will consider the interactions between organisms and the environment within an ecosystem, and collect data to calculate a species diversity index and an appropriate statistical test. They will complete Core Practical 11: Investigate the presence of different chloroplast pigments using chromatography.

Advanced Field Surveying

The emphasis of this inspiring session is to introduce students to advanced field surveying skills that they would not otherwise have the time to do at this level of study. All FSC Centres have long term monitoring projects and an extensive range of surveying equipment. Students may use the latest digital technologies to locate and monitor the Centre’s bat populations or light trap to monitor moths within the area. Opportunities exist to investigate local ponds using ‘torching’ to observe newts or use Longworth traps to estimate the local population of small mammals. The ethical frameworks behind animal surveying will be covered and further opportunities to be involved in local and national societies will be introduced.

2 Ecosystems and Sampling: Core Practical 15

Students will work within an outstanding ecosystem close to the Centre and carry out Core Practical 15: Investigate the effect of different sampling methods on the estimates of the size of a population taking into account the safe and ethical use of organisms. They will use appropriate equipment to investigate the effect of different sampling methods on the estimates of the size of a population. They will be introduced to a range of ecological methods and techniques used to assess abundance and distribution of organisms.

Core Practical 16 - Planning and Research

This is an opportunity for students to take ownership of their learning and work individually on an investigation which interests them, building on the knowledge and skills they have acquired during the week. They will plan their investigation, selecting the most appropriate equipment and methods, identify the variables to be controlled and how to control them.

They will consider safety issues, identifying hazards and assessing the risks of working in the selected habitat. Many of the Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC) competencies can be assessed while the student is at the Centre.

3 Core Practical 16 - Data Collection and Recording

Students will carry out their investigation, using the most appropriate equipment and methods, and controlling key variables. They will work safely, assessing the risks of working in the selected habitat and making adjustments where necessary. FSC field teachers will support visiting staffs’ CPAC assessment of their students.

Depart at Midday

A final farewell from FSC staff as the students depart at midday.

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

A Level year 2 Biology: Ecosystems and Practical Fieldwork 3 daysExample Course Timetable

Mathematical skills will be embedded throughout the field course, using real-world contexts and data sets. Students will have the opportunity to select and use an appropriate test such as chi squared test, the Student’s t-test and the correlation coefficient