Biology - moderator's newsletter
November 2011
Contents
- Clarification of new Level 1 Biology Standards
- Update on Standards Alignment for NCEA level 2
- New level 3 Biology internally assessed standards
Clarification of new level 1 Biology Standards
A number of activities and student work written for the new level 1 Achievement Standards have been submitted for moderation either as part of a school’s normal submission, or as questions asked from Optional Teacher Selected Evidence.
The July 2011 newsletter provided teachers with some guidance for the assessment against 90925 (1.1) which replaces 90161.
This newsletter provides teachers with some guidance for assessment against 90926 (1.2) 'Report on a biological issue' which replaces 90162. This standard has a number of changes which make it quite different from the previous version. Students are now required to report on an issue on which people hold different opinions or viewpoints, and take and justify a position on it. The credit value has been increased from two to three to recognise the increase in the quality and quantity of evidence required.
The main changes or differences in assessing this standard include:
At all levels:
- A given or agreed question / purpose is refined
- Information is collected and processed from at least three sources
- The findings are presented
and
To report on a biological issue for Achieved:
- Biological ideas related to question/ purpose are described
- A position on the issue is taken
To report in depth on a biological issue for Merit:
- Biological ideas related to question/ purpose are explained
- At least two different points of view (with evidence - from named people or groups) are identified
- A position on the issue is taken and justified (with reference to specific information
To report comprehensively on a biological issue for Excellence:
- Multiple links between biological ideas related to question/ purpose are identified
- At least two different points of view (with evidence – from named people or groups) are identified
- Sources of information/data related to question / purpose are evaluated
- A position on the issue is taken and justified (with reference to specific information)
- Action (what should be done) is recommended
Using sentences like 'I think' and 'I believe' help students to take a position on the issue (EN 2, bullet point 4). Simply describing how the research was carried out is not evidence of taking a position on the issue.
To justify their own position on the issue (EN 3, bullet point 4 and EN 4, bullet point 5) students are required to state their own opinion for or against aspects of the topic / question, and why they hold that opinion with reference to specific information they have researched. This is required to secure the grade at Merit and Excellence.
To evaluate the sources used (EN 4, bullet point 4), the student must comment on such things as bias, accuracy or up-to-datedness of this information and/ or give reasons why/why not the information was used in their report. The evaluation must be included in the processed presentation of their findings (i.e. the report), not just as part of the processing of material (e.g. dot jot). This is a requirement for Excellence.
To assist Biology teachers with assessment of both the realigned level 1 Achievement Standards 90925 and 90926, annotated exemplars of student work at grade boundaries are available and can be found on the Biology subject page.
Update on Standards Alignment for NCEA level 2
For the purposes of planning next year’s courses and assessment, draft versions of the level 2 Achievement Standards and Conditions of Assessment are on the TKI website. It should be noted that these standards are in draft form, though substantive change from this point is unlikely. The standards will be registered in December of this year.
Some schools have been trialling the two draft level 2 assessment activities for 91154 (2.2) which will replace 90769. Annotated exemplars of student work at grade boundaries for 91154 will be available on the NZQA website before the end of the year.
The Ministry of Education has also developed two assessment activities (a task and assessment schedule) for each the remaining four internally assessed achievement standards. The assessment activities for all level 2 internally assessed standards are now being reviewed to ensure they reflect any changes in the standards and will be published by 30 November as ‘final published’ and fit-for-purpose. In some cases, the generic activity needs to be set within a specific context or topic.
Annotated exemplars of student work at grade boundaries for the standards other than 91154 (2.2) will become progressively available on the NZQA website in 2012.
New Level 3 Biology internally assessed standards
Draft versions of the aligned level 3 Achievement Standards and Conditions of Assessment are on the TKI website.