Student Handbook

2015/16

Name:

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Science Teachers:

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Tutor:

_________

General operating systems

The course that you are undertaking is a subsidiary diploma which is equivalent to one A Level. The course is made up of three mandatory units plus three extra units to equate to 60 credits.

Year 12
Unit 1 (mandatory): Fundamentals of science (10 credits)
Unit 2 (mandatory): Working in Science Industry (10 credits)
Unit 4 (mandatory): Scientific Practical Techniques (10 credits)
Year 13
Unit 5: Perceptions of Science (10 credits)
Unit 11: Physiology of human body Systems (10 credits)
Unit 15: Microbiological techniques (10 credits)

All units will consist of practical assessment and written elements. These will vary depending on the unit criteria.

The way in which BTEC is assessed has changed and you are no longer able to have multiple resubmissions of work. You will be given a deadline date for your assignment to be completed and handed in by. If this is missed you will have to formally apply for an extension.

You, as a BTEC student, have an initial teaching and learning phase (usually 4 – 6 lessons depending on the assignment content) and then the assessed period will start where your teacher will no longer be able to give you individual feedback.

You may have more than one teacher, where possible you will cover a different unit with each teacher to ensure consistency throughout a unit.

If we, as a department, feel that you are not achieving as highly as you could, we will immediately contact tutors, parents and your head of year.

Expectations as a student

What we expect of you: / What you should expect from us:
·  To be polite and courteous.
·  To respect the laboratories and equipment.
·  To attend all scheduled lessons.
·  To catch up with any missed lessons due to other course commitments or other absence.
·  To fully commit to the subject.
·  To submit work in on time and to a high standard.
·  To complete homework as set by the teacher.
·  To be equipped for lessons – pens, books, stationary, course text book etc.
·  To manage their work load efficiently to manage their range of subjects.
·  To source opportunities to be involved in science in the wider sense of the school i.e. Open Evenings, STEM events. / ·  A teaching phase with well-planned lessons.
·  A well-equipped laboratory in order for you to carry out scientific experiments.
·  Support through the assignment phase.
·  Work marked in a timely manner.
·  Summative feedback with a justification of the grade awared.

There are strict deadlines on the BTEC Applied Science course which must be met. Your assignment hand out and submission dates can be found at the end of this handbook. Submission dates will also be scheduled onto the Show my homework website.

Extensions can only be given in exceptional circumstances.

Referencing Rules

Almost all of your assignments will require you to carry out some independent research which will need to be referenced. Any information that you find that is not classed as common knowledge, i.e. basic scientific knowledge, will need to include a reference. You will find you will need to use your textbook a lot and further to this internet sites.

There are a number of referencing styles used, all of which are perfectly acceptable. The most common one is called ‘American Psychological Association’ known as APA.

Example using BTEC textbook

In order to ensure accuracy when using a digital pH probe it needs to be first calibrated using known pH buffer solutions. Calibrating the pH probe ensures the reading is always at the same standard (Annets, et al., 2010, p. 32).

Plagiarism

Submitting assignments without referencing implies that all of the work is your own, including research into information that is not classed as common knowledge. This is plagiarism. To avoid this you must reference all of your work. To help you learn how to reference you will have a lesson dedicated to this at the beginning of the course.

Any form of plagiarism is a very serious offence. If caught, your teacher will inform the examinations officer. This could lead to you being unable to submit your work to the exam board and failing the course.

Examples of plagiarism include:

·  to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own

·  to use (another's production) without crediting the source

·  to commit literary theft

·  to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source

(Merriam-Webster, 2015)

BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Applied Science: Course work deadlines 2015 – 2016 Year 12

Programme Number & Title / Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Applied Science
Mr Sefton / 1 Fundamentals of Science / Preparing and testing standard solutions / 1.1 / P1,P2, M1, D1 / 07.10.2015 / 13.11.2015 / 27.11.2015 / 09.12.2015
1 Fundamentals of Science / Identifying structures and functions in different cells / 1.2 / P3, P4, P5, M2, D2 / 06.01.2016 / 20.01.2016 / 27.01.2016 / 03.02.2016
1 Fundamentals of Science / Transfer of different types of energy / 1.3 / P6, P7, M3, D3 / 26.02.2016 / 09.03.2016 / 16.03.2016 / 24.03.2016
1 Fundamentals of Science / Communicating scientific information / 1.4 / P8, P9, M4, D4 / 20.04.2016 / 06.05.2016 / 13.05.2016 / 20.05.2016
2 Working in the science industry / Procedures and practices / 2.1 / P1,P2, M1, M2, D1 / 20.05.2016 / 10.06.2016 / 17.06.2016 / 24.06.2016
2 Working in the science industry / Laboratory design / 2.2 / P3, M3, D2 / 24.06.2016 / 07.07.2016 / 14.07.2016 / 21.07.2016
Miss Hayman / 4 Scientific practical techniques / Identifying unknown substances and concentrations / 4.1 / P1, M1, D1 / 01.10.2015 / 06.11.2015 / 13.11.2015 / 20.11.2015
4 Scientific practical techniques / Use Scientific Techniques to Separate and Assess Purity of Substances / 4.2 / P2, P3, M2, D2 / 14.12.2015 / 29.01.2016 / 05.02.2016 / 12.02.2016
4 Scientific practical techniques / Instruments and sensors / 4.3 / P4, M3, D3 / 14.03.2016 / 15.04.2016 / 22.04.2016 / 29.04.2016
2 Working in the science industry / Storage and management of information in the laboratory / 2.3 / P4, M4, D3 / 09.05.2016 / 23.05.2016 / 06.06.2016 / 13.06.2016
2 Working in the science industry / Safe working practices in the laboratory / 2.4 / P5, M5, D4 / 13.06.2016 / 01.07.2016 / 07.06.2016 / 13.07.2016

References

Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. Accessed online: 8 July 2015. [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plagiarism]

Contract

I ……………………………………………….. understand and commit to adhering to the following points:

·  Commit fully to the subject

·  Submit work on time

·  Come equipped to lessons and assessments

·  Treat the department with respect

·  Source opportunities to extend my learning

·  Respond to feedback

·  Have a positive and engaged attitude towards the subject and all topics

·  Seek help where needed

·  Promote the subject and the projects worked on

·  Be a positive role model to other scientists

·  Take responsibility for my own actions

·  Try my best at all times

·  Be as independent as possible

Signed…………………………………………………………………………

Date:…………………………

Parent Signature……………………………………………….