Welcome to Applied Sciences at Tresham College
Meet The Team… • • • • • •
Natalie Vernon-Dier Tanzil Badhya Joshua Mayes Shona McFayden Lorraine Knight Helen Dows
Becky Gaitskell – Course Manager of Applied Science Leighton JonesHead of Applied Science and Computer Science
Be Self Sufficient • Remember you are responsible for your own learning at college. Obviously your lecturers will help whenever they can but it is important you are able to work on your own initiative. • You need to be able to assess how well you are doing and where you can make improvements. You need to be able to see at a glance whether you are currently on track to achieve your dream career. • You will need a planner/ diary/ organiser folder to ensure you keep track of all your assignment deadlines and homework
BTEC Applied Science • All BTEC programmes are vocational or work related which means they are valuable to a potential employer. • The modules are, as much as possible, handson with experiments, activities and independent research. • There are some mandatory (compulsory) units and some others which we have chosen as they are relevant to your chosen course.
Applied Science Courses Level 2 Course • You will study English and Maths alongside your science units. Depending on performance, there is possible progression to Level 3 Level 3 Courses • 2x Pearson BTEC; Options are: • • • •
Medical Science Forensic Science Environmental Science Food Science
Maths and English and Work Placement options • You will need a 4 (C) in Maths • And a 4 (C) in English language • And 3 other 4s (Cs), at least 1 should be science • Work experience is an integral part of your course, and we expect a minimum of 20 hours. • We can help you organise this. • We organise trips and external visitors relevant to the units as and when the need arises. • You may attend college for 3/4 days but are expected to work for 5 days- this is a full time course. A great deal of individual study is required.
BTEC Assignments Assessment methods
BTEC Assessment Methods • For both Level 2 is 100% coursework and Level 3 courses there are small external assessments in a few of the units. • Other units may have 2 or more assignments. Each assignment is broken down into criteria for you to complete, and explains exactly what is required from each one. P-pass; M-merit; D-distinction • These are set out by the exam board who will award your qualification. • What do they mean?
Understanding The Task • You will be given different sciencerelated scenarios and asked to present information in different ways. • Depending on the requirements you may have to write as a particular person for particular people. • You may also be asked to produce a chart, poster, report or presentation for assignments. Don’t make it too complicated if you’re meant to be writing for children
Make sure you don’t write a report when you’re meant to draw a graph
Let’s Look At An Example… •
You are a senior SOCO who has just been asked to set up a DNA lab demonstration to other SOCO’s. You must first re-familiarize yourself with the basics of genetics in case some of your colleagues have fundamental questions for you.
• P1 Compare and contrast the structure of various nucleic acids • Show the structure of DNA and RNA and compare and contrast all nucleic acids using a table of comparison. • M1 Add text to explain how genetic information is coded for in the bases, • D1 and then show the stages of protein synthesis in a flowchart
Let’s Look At An Example… • P5- describe the mechanisms of the homeostatic system • M4- explain positive and negative feedback in homeostasis, using examples from the human body • Draw and explain several mechanisms of homeostasis, showing how they work to maintain a constant internal environment. Make sure you give 2 examples of negative feedback and 2 examples of positive feedback and how they work
Pass. Merit. Distinction • All your grades will earn points. In each full unit 70 points are awarded for a pass, 80 for a merit and 90 for a distinction. • Say you study 9 units in your first year and get D M M M P M D M D. • You would get a total of 740 for your first year. • If you continue to second year your units from your second are then added (18 full units) to give you your BTEC points • 740 + 740 = 1480
1480 would be a DDM overall
The course is equivalent to 3 A-Levels
Progression From College • Environmental Science at Liverpool Hope University –300 points minimum • Criminology and Psychology at Southampton Solent – 240 • Chemistry w/Forensic Science at University of Huddersfield260 • These are just a couple and none of these are in the top section of the league table of good universities • If you are looking to study Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science, some Forensic Science at the more prestigious universities require much more.