Procedure

=Skill Area P: Planning a Procedure=

When students plan a scientific investigation, they should expect to:
 * use scientific knowledge and understanding to turn ideas into a form that can be investigated, and to plan an appropriate strategy;
 * decide whether to use evidence from first-hand experience or secondary sources;
 * carry out preliminary work and make predictions, where appropriate;
 * consider key factors that need to be taken into account when collecting evidence, and how evidence can be collected in contexts in which the variables cannot readily be controlled;
 * decide the extent and range of data to be collected, and the techniques, equipment and materials to use.


 * A Basic Procedure will**
 * P3a plan to collect valid evidence;
 * P3b plan the use of suitable equipment or sources of evidence;
 * P3c outline a logical sequence of tasks.


 * A Good Procedure will**
 * P4a use scientific knowledge and understanding to identify key factors to vary, control or take into account;
 * P4b decide on a suitable extent and range of evidence to be collected.


 * An Excellent Procedure will**
 * P5a use relevant information from preliminary work, where appropriate, to inform the plan;
 * P5b take into account the need to produce precise and reliable evidence.

I will use the codes above to let you know what skills you have demonstrated. Seeing these codes is a good thing! If any of the codes are missing from a given level, the procedure does not yet meet the standards for that level. I will try to give you some guidance on reaching the next step; you are always free to try to move two levels at once, but this is clearly a more challenging undertaking. For the first marking period, I am happy to accept resubmitted reports with new procedures added as an addendum to the original.
 * Assessment and Grades**