Course: Walk on the Wild Side (NCEA L2 Biology)
This course focuses on the Ecology strand of the Biology curriculum.
When: Term One
Subject(s): Biology
Level: NCEA L2
Biology is the study of living things and underpins many future science careers as well as just making you feel you understand more of the world around you! This course aims to look at ecology and how organisms interact with each other. It covers specialized adaptations to show how in tune with their environment organisms are. It involves a comparative study and a choice of a research or practical investigation with some choice of subject matter. The aim is to increase understanding of practical biology which leads into Level 3 Plant and Animal standards.
Requirements
The Level 2 Scipad may be useful but is not necessary for this course
Assessment
Adaptations to way of life [AS 91155]: ANIMALS. Looks at how animals are adapted to their way of life. The adaptations may be structural, behavioral, or physiological features providing advantage in a specific habitat or niche. Life processes studied will be gas exchange and internal transport (circulation).
Ecological relationships - EITHER AS91158 or AS91153 will be done depending on resources available (one requires supervised practical component)
Both standards are internally assessed.
About the Teacher
Jo Fissenden has been a biologist ‘forever’. Starting with dissecting (or butchering!) fish caught as a child which eventually led to a career as a marine biologist with NIWA, working on the sustainability of mussel farms in particular and aquaculture in general. After a change in life that led to teaching she has been in the classroom for the last ten years teaching Level 2 and 3 Biology. She loves the practical side of teaching and sees Biology as a useful subject for any career choice as it relates to so much in ‘real’ life.