Looking at the SBA requirements
Joanna George-Johnson, Contributor

School-Based Assessments (SBA): ORR and A&I

Students in attendance at the re-opening service at the Spaldings High School recently, as that institution got the 2007-2008 academic year off to a start. - Photo by George Henry

It is important to know what is expected in your SBA because of the various ways it is being assessed.

SBAs are graded for several criteria:

1) Observation, recording and reporting (ORR)
2) Analysis and interpretation (A&I)
3) Planning and designing (2P&D)
4) Manipulation and measurement (M&M)
5) Drawing (Drw)

Assessing for ORR

1. Format: (Does the lab report have all the components? And are they in order?)

2. Language: Method must be written in past tense and the report in standard English. Please also note that proper nouns should be written with the first letters in capitals (e.g. Benedict's solution).

3. Aim: Must be clearly stated. (Usually this starts with the word, 'To'. Also make sure to use the appropriate verb. That is, do not use 'to investigate' when what is being done is 'to examine'.)

4. Materials: must be included. Do not list it downward since it may take up too much space.

5. Method: clearly written in correct sequence and continuous prose, and neat diagrams where appropriate. (DO NOT NUMBER YOUR METHOD!)

6. Observations/Results: Must be done clearly in an appropriate manner; remember all units.

7. Graphs: (This is not required for all labs)

a. Graphs should be done on standard graph paper.

b. The axes must be clearly labelled (x/y).

c. The independent variable must be located on the x-axis and must be clearly shown.

d. The dependent variable must be located on the y-axis and must also be clearly shown.

e. An appropriate scale should be clearly displayed on the graph paper.

f. If there is more than one curve on your graph you must label them to distinguish them. The plot points should also be different for both curves.

g. A caption must be clearly displayed at the top of your graph. The caption should be a short description of what the graph is showing. Many students tend to use the labels on the axes to make their captions; this is not a good idea (e.g. instead of: 'number of pulses vs. time' a better caption would be: 'graph showing the change in the number of pulses after exercise of a period of time').

h. A sharp pencil should always be used when drawing your curve.

i. Any of the above not followed will lead to your losing points from your graphs.

Section of a typical Graph Paper

Criteria for assessing A&I

This is normally assessed in the discussion section of your lab. It may also be assessed if there are any calculations included in the lab write-up.

1. Background knowledge: Report should include the theory the experiment is based on. Give a premise for your interpretations.

2. Explanations: Observations/results must be fully explained.

3. Conclusions: Should be related to the aim/hypothesis. Patterns or relationships should be clearly stated where appropriate.

4. Limitations: This should be discussed. They include uncontrolled variables and sources of error that may have affected the results. For example, in a typical experiment where you may be looking at the effects of one environmental factor on the rate of transpiration, other environmental issues you cannot control especially with the meagre labs found in most school may affect results.

Therefore, while looking at how wind speed affects the rate of transpiration, you may find, if while doing this experiment the temperature suddenly changes, your results may change. This must form part of your lab write-up.

5. Calculations: Make sure to show your workings clearly. ALWAYS remember to use the units in your calculations. So if you are working in centimetres, your answer should be x cm, not just x!

Questions

1. State three situations where other factors may affect your results.

2. Give three verbs usually used in aims.

Joanna George-Johnson teaches at Ardenne High School.
Email: Masterbio@gmail.com.