VCE BIOLOGY Units 3 & 4 - AOS 3 KEY KNOWLEDGE

How is scientific inquiry used to investigate cellular processes and/or biological change?

Students undertake a student-designed scientific investigation in either Unit 3 or Unit 4, or across both Units 3 and 4. The investigation involves the generation of primary data relating to cellular processes and/or how life changes and responds to challenges. The investigation draws on knowledge and related key science skills developed across Units 3 and 4 and is undertaken by students in the laboratory and/or in the field.

When undertaking the investigation students are required to apply the key science skills to develop a question, state an aim, formulate a hypothesis and plan a course of action to answer the question, while complying with safety and ethical guidelines. Students then undertake an investigation to generate primary quantitative data, analyse and evaluate the data, identify limitations of data and methods, link experimental results to scientific ideas, discuss implications of the results, and draw a conclusion in response to the question.

KK1. biological concepts specific to the selected scientific investigation and their significance, including definitions of key terms

KK2. characteristics of the selected scientific methodology and method, and appropriateness of the use of independent, dependent and controlled variables in the selected scientific investigation

KK3. techniques of primary quantitative data generation relevant to the selected scientific investigation

KK4. the accuracy, precision, reproducibility, repeatability and validity of measurements

KK5. the health, safety and ethical guidelines relevant to the selected scientific investigation

KK6. the nature of evidence that supports or refutes a hypothesis, model or theory

KK7. ways of organising, analysing and evaluating primary data to identify patterns and relationships including sources of error and uncertainty

KK8. authentication of generated primary data through the use of a logbook

KK9. assumptions and limitations of investigation methodology and/or data generation and/or analysis methods

KK10. conventions of science communication: scientific terminology and representations, symbols, formulas, standard abbreviations and units of measurement

KK11. conventions of scientific poster presentation, including succinct communication of the selected scientific investigation and acknowledgements and references

KK12. the key findings and implications of the selected scientific investigation.