You are currently browsing the tag archive for the 'Biology' tag.
Publisher: Leading Edge
Publication Date: 2004
Link: http://www.hi.com.au/bookstore/bmoredetail.asp?idval=1410/4318/27438
I borrowed this from my local library a few weeks ago – it’s so rare that we see HSC Biology books NOT published by Excel or Macquarie!
So how does it compare?
Is anyone else frustrated with the lack of resources for first-hand investigations (experiments) done in Preliminary Biology? Okay, so it is quite a specific frustration, but I am going to try remedy this problem (maybe I’m the only one having it…).
Why do you need to know the experiments?
They are examinable. I often stress this with students – YES, the 2nd column in the syllabus dot points ARE examinable (usually in questions worth 4-6 marks). So importantly, you need to know the method, the results/conclusion.
The problem
- Students fail to write down (or to completely write down) the experiment and soon forget it.
- The experiments are not conducted – sometimes because of a lack of class time etc.
- HSC Online (the comprehensive coverage of the syllabus) only covers the HSC, not Preliminary.
- Excel Preliminary Biology only covers some of the experiments (and even then in brief descriptions), because its main focus is on the content-dominant dot points.
Photo by mmagallan at Stock XChng.
So I’m tutoring a Yr 11 Biology student and it’s turning out to be an interesting challenge. We’re up to Life on Earth at the moment and the student is quite a strong Christian.
As Biology tutors should know, Life on Earth covers things like the origin of life (early Earth and how organic molecules originated), the fossil records and the evolution of life. So last week, as I started going through the topic and discussing it, it was surprisingly difficult!
Not because the student didn’t understand. But because he reacted to everything by scoffing, rolling his eyes or with sarcasm.
I found this quite disconcerting – how am I supposed to tutor Biology, a subject that necessarily conflicts with ideas of Creationism, to a Christian student?
As an agnostic (a fence sitter when it comes to religion), this job is undoubtedly easier for me.
Recent Comments