Science in Practice
The 'Science In Practice' General course enables students to investigate science issues in the context of the world around them. It encourages students to develop their scientific skills of curiosity, observation, collection and analysis of evidence, in a range of contexts.
The multidisciplinary approach, including aspects of biology, chemistry, geology and physics, further encourages students to be curious about the world around them and assume a balanced view of the benefits and challenges presented by science and technology. Students conduct practical investigations that encourage them to apply what they have learnt in class to real-world situations and systems. |
- Science In Practice General
WACE Breadth & Depth Requirement:
List B
Prerequisite
Completion of a Year 10 Science course.
Unit 1
In this unit, students develop an understanding of the processes involved in the functioning of systems from the macro level (cycles in nature and Earth systems) to systems at the organism, cellular and molecular level. They investigate and describe the effect of human activity on the functioning of cycles in nature. By integrating their understanding of Earth and biological systems, students come to recognise the interdependence of these systems. Students investigate structure and function of cells, organs and organisms, and the interrelationship between the biological community and the physical environment. They use a variety of practical activities to investigate patterns in relationships between organisms.
Unit 2
In this unit, students develop an understanding of the processes involved in the transformations and redistributions of matter and energy in biological, chemical and physical systems, from the atomic to the macro level. Students will investigate the properties of elements, compounds and mixtures, and how substances interact with each other in chemical reactions to produce new substances. They explore the concepts of forces, energy and motion and recognise how an increased understanding of scientific concepts has led to the development of useful technologies and systems. Practical experiences are an important part of this course that provide valuable opportunities for students to work together to collect and interpret first-hand data. In order to understand the interconnectedness of organisms to their physical environment, and the impact of human activity, students analyse and interpret data collected through investigation of the context studied.