Investigating Science

Course Description

The Investigating Science Stage 6 Syllabus is designed to assist students of all abilities to engage with scientific processes, and apply those processes to investigate relevant personal, community and global scientific issues. The course is firmly focused on developing student’s investigative and analytical skills, as they provide a foundation for students to value investigations, solve problems, develop and communicate evidence-based arguments, and make informed decisions. The course promotes active inquiry and explores key concepts, models and phenomena and is designed to enhance students’ understanding of the value of evidence-based investigations and the use of science-based inquiry in their lives.

Main Topics Covered

Particular Course Requirements

Both Year 11 & Year 12 Investigating Science courses comprise of four modules each. Integrating within each year is a Depth Study which must be allocated 15 hours within 120 indicative course hours. A Depth Study is any type of investigation/activity that a student completes individually or collaboratively that allows the further development of one or more concepts found within or inspired by the syllabus. It may be one investigation/activity or a series of investigations/activities. It maybe, but is not limited to:

• A practical investigation or series of practical investigations and/or a secondary-sourced investigation or series of secondary-sourced investigations.

• Presentations, research assignments or fieldwork reports.

• The extension of concepts found within the course, either qualitatively and/or quantitatively.

Practical investigations are also an essential part of the course and must occupy a minimum of 35 hours of course time, including time allocated to practical investigations in depth studies each year.

Assessment: HSC Course