Over a three-week period you will make a scientific hypothesis, plan and conduct an experimental investigation to test your hypothesis, generate and analyse primary data, and reflect on the process, with support and guidance from your teacher.
The Extended Experimental Investigation (EEI) gives you the opportunity to research a question about some science-related phenomena. The development of inquiry, collaborative, practical, recording and reporting skills will be central here. You will need to pose questions and make predictions, work with others, design and conduct experiments, generate and record primary data, and process and analyse the data to make valid conclusions.
You will then need to communicate the method used, data recorded, findings, and reflections on the investigation.
The EEI comprises of four areas of activity: questioning and predicting, planning and conducting, processing and analysing, and reflecting and reporting. You are encouraged, but not required, to collaborate with your classmates during the experimental stage. For example you could carry out the experiment with a partner.
The communication/reporting aspect must be an individual piece of work. You may share results with your partner from the experiment but they must be presented in your own way with your own analysis and conclusions.
The report can be presented in many different ways, for example you may complete a written report (by hand or typed), you may present your EEI as a powerpoint, you could produce a poster (but this will need to include significant detail) or you could produce a podcast/video.
However you produce the report you will need to check that you have covered all of the features of quality (see below) for the level you are aiming for.
adapted from curriculumonline.ieThese are the criteria used to assess your CBA.
To ensure that you achieve the level that you are hoping for make sure that your CBA includes ALL the Features of Quality necessary for that level.
Click this link to see the Features of Quality.
Explanation of the levels:
The process involved for carrying out a properly scientific investigation is the Scientific Method. You did some work on this in your Starting Science booklet at the beginning of 1st Year. The following link goes through the process in more detail and provides further links with more detailed help on carrying out the various parts of the 6 step process.
The following anonymous examples of student work have been provided to let you see what is expected to achieve work that is regarded as 'In Line with Expectations' or 'Above Expectations'. The work has notes added to it by a teacher to explain what has been included and where it could be improved.
In Line with Expectations
Above Expectations
The Extended Experimental Investigation is carried out in your Science lessons over a 3 week period. All experimental work and reporting must be completed during this time.
The CBA is divided up into 4 activities which will all contribute to the achievement made:
These steps are not necessarily carried out in the order listed above and any activity may be gone over again at any stage as you carry out the investigation.
Questioning and Predicting
For this part of the investigation you may work individually or in small groups. However each student in the group must contribute to the work.
Planning and Conducting
For this part of the investigation students you work individually or in groups. Each student in your group must contribute to the collection of data.
link to the template for your Investigation Plan
Processing and Analysing
For this part of the investigation you must work individually.
Reflecting and Reporting
You may work individually or in a group to reflect on your work but anything you include in your report must be written by you. You should critically discuss various aspects of your investigation, such as:
Completing the Experiment Report
You must work individually to complete the report of your investigation, using the information/data you have recorded and any research you done throughout the investigation. You may report your research and findings in a format of your choice. If a typed or hand-written report is the format you choose then the total length of the report would typically be in the 400 - 600 words range (excluding tables, graphs, reference list and research records), but this should not be regarded minimum or maximum amount - any length report can be submitted. However when planning the content of your report you should be familiar with the Features of Quality which will be used to judge the level of achievement which you will be awarded for your work.
Click the link to access the checklist