Essential Skills in the Sciences

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Essential Skills in the Sciences

• Assessing Hands-on Skills

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Topics

• Introduction - Grading Sciences
• Essential Skills List - Quantifying Skills
• Applying Essential Skills Checklists

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Grading Sciences

• Two Different areas
• Theory / Principles (lecture-based)
• Laboratory Skills (performance oriented)

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Grading Sciences

• Academic examination-based testing of theory /
  supporting principles (50)
• Lab Log professional book of lab activities
  (ISO-format account) (30)
• Essential Skills market skills (20)

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Grading Sciences

• Academic examination-based testing of theory /
  supporting principles (50)
• Exams - long answer / short answer / key
  terminology
• Assignments - reports / data research
• Presentation - formal presentation of scientific
  data / results

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Grading Sciences

• Lab Log professional book of lab activities
  (ISO-format account) (30)
• all methods, materials, chemicals, hardware,
  recorded
• all pages numbered, dated, titled
• sign-off on all entries

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Grading Sciences

• Essential Skills (20)
• What are Essential Skills?

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What are Essential Skills?

• Skills required to contribute in the marketplace.
• Primary / Secondary generic skills -
  appropriate to many job functions.
• Specific Essential Skills - tactile skills with
  specific hardware / methods.

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Scientific Essential Skills
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Scientific Essential Skills
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Scientific Essential Skills
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Evaluation of Essential Skills

• Adept (10 marks) - proficient / independently
  completes skills
• Average (7 marks) - moderately capable, with room
  for improvement
• Poor (0-4 marks) - not yet attained described
  essential skills

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Evaluation of Essential Skills

• Marks totaled and expressed as a
• Provides a detailed list of student strengths and
  areas for improvement
• Allows for employment references to be accurate,
  even years later

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Application of Essential Skills

• The Methanol Cannon
• (Good Science gone Bad)

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How does it work?

• Plastic pipe / tube
• Seal one end
• Add small hole for ignition
• Propellant (hairspray)
• Wadded paper ammo

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Essential Cannon Skills

• Comprehension of Theory
• Safety / Handling
• Handling of Propellant
• Loading / Wadding
• Accuracy
• Clean-up / Sanitation
• Enthusiasm

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Methanol Cannon Assessment

• Adept10, Average7, Poor0-4
• Total out of 100 _____