Outcomes,+aims+and+assessment

Aims, outcomes and Assessment

This integrated unit utilizes the developed skills as identified in Bloom’s Taxonomy with hands on approaches using the multiple intelligences of the students and student centered learning.

The outcomes for the unit are:
 * For students to see that they have a connection to the environment and they have an can have a positive impact on sustainability.
 * For students to explore the issue of climate change and see it in a scientific and social context.
 * For students to think globally and develop an ethical awareness.
 * For students to explore different writing styles and create a multimedia presentation.
 * For students to be able to collect data, present the data and make meaning from the data within the context of the unit.

The assessment tasks involve formative continual assessment, summative assessment and peer and teacher feedback. The theoretical framework for this unit follows a constructivist approach to integrate the curriculum areas of: Science (Environmental Science) and Humanities (Geography), the unit also develops skills and knowledge for Mathematics and English. The unit has a strong focus on Information technology and multimedia.

It appears that the unit is an attempt to include too many curriculum areas to satisfy the learning outcomes of these disciplines however the focus on sustainability and environment and using climate change as a concept draws together many other key concepts. The theorists on integrated curriculum suggest that this approach is used for sustainability issues. The VELS curriculum has produced extensive links for the topic of sustainability.

Macdonald (2005) justified using the practice based assessment of presentations, case based written work and journals when assessing enquiry and problem bases learning. This unit of work uses these assessment methods and uses the journal to assess written work and learned concepts over the ten weeks, with outcomes continual assessment for Mathematics. Macdonald (2005) advocates the use of many assessment methods, the journal used as a portfolio to collect assessment was used for this unit.

Through investigating climate change students understanding of sustainability and the environment will be enhanced. Students will communicate their findings by: two video clip productions one using expository writings and the other persuasive writing techniques, a letter to a future child on climate change, exploring games and issues on weather and climate using the internet and a written journal, that will be kept throughout the unit. Students will be provided the opportunity to critique their own work and that of peers and be engaged in team activities.