Minutes of the 2006 Science Articulation Working Committee
3
Draft
Minutes of the 2006 Science Articulation Working Committee.
March 9 and 10, 2006 at Kwantlen College ( Richmond campus)
13 Colleges were represented by 32 Instructors attending the two days of meetings and presentations.
See Appendix 1 for names and email addresses.
See Appendix 2 for Corrected addresses for Articulation handbook .
Thursday March 9, 2006
Morning; PD event (Three presentations)
First Presentation: Applied Coastal Ecology Diploma offered by the Northwest Community College Presenter: Ken Shaw
Ken gave an overview of the Ecology programs offered through his college. The
i) Applied Coastal Ecology Diploma ( 2 years)
The two year diploma covers:
1. Coastal resources ( Forestry)
2. Marine Ecosystem (Water quality & fisheries)
3. Freshwater Ecosystems.
4. Coastal resources technology
The diploma is field orientated and has university credits built into the program. 83% of graduates found employment infields related to the program.
ii) Fisheries and Marine Culture Certificate. (1 year)
Targets First Nation students.
Both the diploma and certificate are built around the Adult Basic Education program offered at the College.
Second Presentation: "Accuplacer" Assessment Tool
Presenter: Rob Dramer ( Douglas College)
Rob Dramer distributed a handout that summarized the evaluation tools available through the computer generated Accuplacer system. The program adjusts the difficulty level as the student's progresses through the evaluation. Adjustment is determined by the responses the student gives. Douglas College is looking for an assessment tool that will cover all disciplines.
Discussion:
· widely used by Selkirk College as an admission requirement for College and Trades applicants. It is not timed and the student can stop and come back later to complete the questions. Builds confidence.
· it is a general evaluation that identifies areas of weakness but does not identify specific weaknesses in that area.
· ABE does not use Accuplacer. Instead they have developed evaluation tools in Math and English to identify the specific concepts that the student is missing.
· Kwantleen, Selkirk and Thompson River Colleges use the software system.
· most colleges are considering introducing mandatory evaluation on all new students to their programs.
· U.S.A. colleges use the system but have students take a 40 hour refresher course before they do the evaluation.
Third Presentation: Physics Demonstration:
Presenter: Peter Hopkinson
Peter distributed a handout that made the group aware of a $60,000 scholarship that is offered at Queens University. The scholarship was organized by graduates of the institute and is open to first year students that have Canadian citizenship, are mature students and have been accepted into an applied Science program at Queens University.
Peter then did, what he does best, Physics demonstrations.
2. Meetings of Physics and Biology subcommittees.
A. Biology Minutes:
1. Selkirk - reported that the grade 11 equivalent biology course is primarily offered as a self-directed course. As most students are going into forestry related fields, they try to do as much outdoor/field type labs as possible. 7 to 10 labs are done depending on the centre.
2. NWCC - uses Levine and Miller 5th ed for the Bio 11 and Mader for the Bio 12. Uses labs provided by these authors with major modifications.
3. Kwantlen - doesn't run a grade 11 biology. 7 labs are done in the grade 12 course with a concentration on microscopy.
4. Yukon College - 7 labs are done in each of grade 11 and 12 biology. They do a stream invertebrate lab in the grade 11 course adapted from the stream keepers handbook. For the grade 12 course a rat dissection is done at the end of the course and two labs are computer simulations (meiosis and nucleic acids)
5. OLA - put forward the question of why hands on microscope experience should be necessary. This question generated considerable debate on both sides. Some argue that students taking the course by distance education without access to microscopes would be unable to complete the course if we insist on microscope experience, and that a computer simulation should suffice. Others argued that the microscope is an essential and centraltool in biology, and that we cannot consider ourselves to have properly trained students if they are not familiar with hands on microscope work. It was mentioned that SFU and UBC have reservations about the idea of no microscope experience and have considered asking for a special designation.
It was finally agreed that we would think about whether or not the suggestion should be in the articulation guide for next meeting.
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B. Physics Minutes
Present: Helena Higgs [NIC] (chair), John Pacheco [CNC], Andy Sellwood [VCC], Richard Farley [VCC], Tom McBee [Yukon College], John Salvatore [TRU], Richard Brand [CAP], Jeanette Landry [NLC], Sandra Friesen [OC], Peter Hopkinson [VCC]
· no articulation to review
· instructors reviewed lab procedures at different colleges
· exchanged ideas about different techniques that were successful in delivering concepts.
The physics sub-committee had about 45 minutes to meet. It is highly recommended that more time be allotted to the meetings so we can have a more productive meeting.
As there were no courses to articulate the meeting centered on a discussion on lab work. “Tried and true” labs at the advanced and provincial level were discussed and innovative ideas for new labs were shared.
Sandra Friesen asked the ABE science committee as a whole to revisit the fit of courses on the grid.
As well, Jeanette had asked for more “fleshing” out of the physics topics as sometimes a non-physicist may be teaching the course.
These will be examined in more detail at our next meeting.
Afternoon
1. Second Science Activity/Presentation - Field Trip
Maria Marlin hosted the viewing of nesting herons. Maria has been studying the nesting site for many years and was very informative about the colony. http://sciencerocks.ca/great_blue_heron.html
Friday March 10, 2006
Morning
1. Science Activity/Presentation: Microscope Activities
Presenter: Colin DeMill (Hands on demonstration)
June Williams (simulated microscope)
Colin DeMill provided a demonstration of digital microscopy. Instructors prepared blood smears and took digital photos for possible use in the classroom.
June Williams demonstrated a simulated microscopy software program currently in use by distance education students.
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2. Meetings of Chemistry and General Science subcommittees.
General Science Minutes
Shiona Northway (chair; replacing Karen Burns in absentia)
Peter Robbins, Rob Dramer, Dave Owens, Suzy Wright, June Williams, Maria Morlin, Gary Lawrence, Allison Alder, Michelle Gunness, richard Farley, Debra Heal, Gerald Haase
1. Institute Check In
· Okanagan C (Dan Chetner)
o Intermediate and advanced are taught
o Text: “The Sciences; An Integrated Approach” (not particularly happy with this text)
· Yukon C (Gerald Haase)
o Locally developed curriculum prepares students for trades programs
· Kwantlen UC (Peter Robbins)
o Intermediate level through continuous intake is available but students don’t sign up for it
o Text: the green science modules* series are used (varying editions)
· Douglas C (Rob Dramer)
o Intermediated science is on the books but not offered due to lack of enrollment
o Intermediate science used to be part of a full time program, but since changing to enrollment in individual courses, there is no demand for science
o Text: green science modules
· Northern Lights C (Dave Owens)
o Intermediate science is taught
o Text: green science modules (finds there isn’t a match to articulations outcomes)
o They do locally developed trades prep (math and science)
o Use “Skillsplan” books
· C of New Caledonia (Suzy Wright)
o General Science is not offered because there is no demand
· Open U- TRU (June Williams)
o Intermediate is taught; enrolment has been decreasing (about 14-17 students this year)
o Completion rate is low; students may be withdrawn or receive incomplete
o Text: a manual and assignment/activity book have been developed
· Selkirk C (Allison Alder)
o Intermediate science is taught (self paced)
o The course has been divided into parts; students may complete some parts as a warm up for specific advanced or provincial courses and sign up for tutorial or may complete all parts for credit
o Text: green science modules
· Capilano C (Michelle Gunness)
o Intermediate is taught (self paced)
o Students can take components separately (course is presently split into
biology and chemistry/physics components). Credit is given for each
component, but all components must be completed to satisfy the
Intermediate Science requirement.
Text: Life Sciences work text (Biology component), Globe Physical
Science (Physics/Chemistry component)
· VCC (Richard Farley)
o Intermediate and advanced are taught (self paced)
o Only a handful of students enroll; students would rather enroll in advanced even if they are not prepared
o Text: green science modules (Introductory Chemistry, Equations, Simple Machines are recommended)
· COTR (Deb Heal)
o Intermediate is taught (self paced) small numbers
o Are offering a bridge to advanced and provincial courses for aboriginal students; are piecing together modules for basic biology and chemistry skills
o Text: green science modules
· Malaspina UC (Shiona Northway)
o Intermediate is taught at some campuses
o The main campus is developing components that can be taken independently for warm up to specific science courses
2. Resources
· The ABE articulation handbook is only available on line
· *ABE green science modules: there are several editions
o are available in print format through the Queen’s Printer
o Peter Robbins has the ’99 modules in electronic form; he is willing to copy them to CD
· “Science Probe” is used in the high school: generally the high school texts are too juvenile for ABE students
· Marilyn Roberts “Science on a Shoestring” is recommended. It is available through the Queen’s Printer
· Science World has materials available
· The Royal BC Museum has some on-line materials
3. General Science recommended activities
· Pedulum
· Fulcrum
· Litmus tests
· Starch indicators
· Candle snuffing
· Everyday physics
· Internet searches find some good basic labs
· Text publishers often have labs on a web site
4. Biology/Chemistr/Physics balance: Intermediate Science
· the articulation outcomes state that all three science areas must be covered, but not in how much detail
· some courses include distinct modules from each area
· some courses are more flexible in topics; physics may be included as part of a biology component
· any institution can develop a course to suit specific needs without having it articulated (It is not transferable in that case).
· Several institutions are offering one or two components as “warm ups” without full credit
5. Possible future topic:
· science placement test
Chemistry Minutes
Tom McBee, Sandra Friesen, Jane Horton, Derek Knox, John Field, Ken Walsh, John Pacheco, Jeanette Landry, Roland Moutal
Selkirk College’s request for articulation of separate Chemistry courses was withdrawn.
Rick Brand spoke to the University Chemistry articulation he had attended. There had been a discussion regarding transfer problems. Rick had mentioned that UBC now spends almost one third of the year on Organic Chemistry and that has driven all other programs.
Sandra Friesen put forward that since there have been no pressing articulation demands of late that it is an opportune time to revisit the core topics in the articulation guide. The topics have been looked at and tweaked over the years but have not been held to serious scrutiny for ten years. A motion was proposed by Sandra and seconded by Jeanette Landry that “The Chemistry Sub-Committee recommends that the core topics for all four sciences be reviewed within the next two years and revised where appropriate” This motion was unanimously approved and brought forward to the meeting as a whole.
Tom McBee was acclaimed chair.
Afternoon
Science Articulation General Meeting:
1. Meeting was called to order at 1:45 pm.
2. Approval of the 2005 minutes.
Correction: The motion made by Allison Alder was not unanimous. It should be changed to carried.
Motion by Helena Higgs:
Approve the minutes from 2005 with the correction:
Seconded: Derek Knox Carried.
3. Report from Steering Committee. (Peter Robins)
Calculations of FTEs are in the process of being changed.
Action: Gary Lawrence (chair) will find out who the ABE contact is in the ministry.is.
4. Update of BCCAT meeting. (Gary Lawrence)
Gary initiated a discussion of the best and worst practices as discussed at the BCCAT Articulation meetings.
There was some discussion about how to get Universities to send representatives to the meetings.
Action: Gary Lawrence will contact Universities to urge them to articulate their preparation courses, advanced and provincial level.
5. Motions from Sub-committees.
a) Chemistry
Motion by Sandra Friesen
That all Science sub-committees, within the next three years, will review the core content and revise where appropriate.
Second: Dave Owens Abstain: June Williams Carried.
Motion by Suzy Wright
Chemistry sub-committee will review the core content of both advanced and provincial levels at the 2007 Science articulation meeting and will revise if necessary.
Second: Jeanette Landry Carried.
Motion by Gordon McIntyre
New number Name Old number
Biology 0861 Biology 11-Part 1 Biology 061
Biology 0871 Biology 11-Part 2 Biology 071
Biology 0983 Biology 12-Part 1 Biology 083
Biology 0993 Biology 12-Part 2 Biology 093
Biology 1094 Biology 12 for health care Biology 1094
Note: Biology 1094 was originally articulated as biology 081/091, then biology 084/094, then biology 094 and finally 1094
Biology 0996 Biology 12-Human Ecology Biology 094
(Articulated first as biology 094, but has not been taught).
Chemistry 0861 Chemistry 11-Part 1 Chemistry 061
Chemistry 0871 Chemistry 11-Part 2 Chemistry 071
Chemistry 0983 Chemistry 12-Part 1 Chemistry 083
Chemistry 0993 Chemistry 12-Part 2 Chemistry 093
Physics 0861 Physics 11-Part 1 Physics 061
Physics 0871 Physics 11-Part 2 Physics 071
Physics 0983 Physics 12-Part 1 Physics 083
Physics 0993 Physics 12-Part 2 Physics 093
Motion: New course numbering for VCC be accepted.
Second: Tom McBee Carried.
6. Next Science Articulation Meeting will be held:
Date: March 8 & 9, 2007 Location: Douglas College; New Westminster campus.