Experimental Sciences

Students explore the concepts, theories, models and techniques that underpin each subject area and through these develop their understanding of the scientific method. At Uplands we offer the following subjects in this group:

Biology SL/HL

Chemistry SL/HL

Design Technology SL/HL

Physics SL/HL

Biology

Biology is an experimental science that combines academic study with the acquisition of practical and investigational skills. Biologists have accumulated huge amounts of information about living organisms, and it would be easy to confuse students by teaching large numbers of seemingly unrelated facts. In the Diploma Programme biology course, it is hoped that students will acquire a core body of facts, and, at the same time, develop a broad, general understanding of the principles of the subject.

Although the Diploma Programme biology course has been written as a series of discrete topics, there are four overarching biological concepts that run throughout; Unity and diversity, Form and function, Interaction and interdependence, and Continuity and change.

The course is available at both standard level (SL) and higher level (HL), and therefore accommodates students who wish to study science in higher education and those who do not.

Chemistry

Chemistry is an experimental science that combines academic study with the acquisition of practical and investigational skills. It is called the central science, as chemical principles underpin both the physical environment in which we live and all biological systems. Apart from being a subject worthy of study in its own right, chemistry is a prerequisite for many other courses in higher education, such as medicine, biological science and environmental science, and serves as useful preparation for employment.

The Diploma Programme chemistry course includes the essential principles of the subject. The course is available at both standard level (SL) and higher level (HL), and therefore accommodates students who wish to study science in higher education and those who do not.

Physics

Physics is the most fundamental of the experimental sciences, as it seeks to explain the universe itself, from the very smallest particleS to the vast distances between galaxies.

Despite the exciting and extraordinary development of ideas throughout the history of physics, certain things have remained unchanged. Observations remain essential at the very core of physics, and this sometimes requires a leap of imagination to decide what to look for. At the school level, both theory and experiments should be undertaken by all students. They should complement one another naturally, as they do in the wider scientific community.

The Diploma Programme physics course allows students to develop traditional practical skills and techniques and to increase their facility in the use of mathematics, which is the language of physics. It also allows students to develop interpersonal skills, and information and communication technology skills, which are essential in modern scientific endeavours and are important life-enhancing, transferable skills in their own right.

The course is available at both standard level (SL) and higher level (HL), and therefore accommodates students who wish to study science in higher education and those who do not.

Design and Technology

Diploma Programme design technology aims to develop internationally minded people whose enhanced understanding of design and the technological world can facilitate our shared guardianship of the planet and create a better world.

It focuses on analysis, design development, synthesis and evaluation. The creative tension between theory and practice is what characterizes design technology within the Diploma Programme sciences group.

Inquiry and problem-solving are at the heart of the subject. Diploma Programme design technology requires the use of the design cycle as a tool, which provides the methodology used to structure the inquiry and analysis of problems, the development of feasible solutions, and the testing and evaluation of the solution. In Diploma Programme design technology, a solution can be defined as a model, prototype, product or system that students have developed independently.

Diploma Programme design technology achieves a high level of design literacy by enabling students to develop critical-thinking and design skills, which they can apply in a practical context. While designing may take various forms, it will involve the selective application of knowledge within an ethical framework.

Design technology students at standard level (SL) and higher level (HL) undertake a common core and have four common assessment criteria used for their internal assessment (IA): Analysis of a design opportunity; Conceptual design; Development of a detailed design; Testing and evaluation.

Students at HL are required to study additional topics and are required to meet two additional assessment criteria for internal assessment: Detailed development of a commercial product; Making choices for commercial production