biol+3+study+advice

Here is where I attempt to give you some "wise" information about coping with Year 12 Biology and how to develop your understanding.

Checklist for revising the course. [|biol 3 revision checklist.doc]

Summary of course activity [|biol 3 dot point summary activity.doc]

A valuable tool: the graphic organiser. Course summary

Being able to ask questions requires understanding of the concepts. Click the link to Writing questions and tests page.

Some hints about answering experimental questions on the exam. If you are asked to desing an experiment, the following points should be made (in the context of the question):
 * Biological skills (examinable)**
 * reasonable no. of organisms are used
 * all organisms should be as similar as possible, eg same age, size, species, in good health
 * two groups set up, an experimental group (this group has is the one that has something different done to them) and a control group (for comparison)
 * keep all other variables constant
 * what sort of data will be measured/recorded
 * remember to link the results that would support a hypothesis (if question asks for this)

You will aready be aware that there is a vast amount of terminology to try and deal with. You have to get your head around this because ultimatley you need to be able to communicate your understanding to someone else and use the language of biology to do it.
 * Terminology**

What can you do?
 * keep a glossary of some sort and contribute to it regularly
 * talk to each other about biology outside of class and practise using the terms
 * use graphic organisers, like concepts and mind maps to link terms
 * do the puzzle booklets that I have given you
 * drawing diagrams is extremely useful, you can remember more visually

Get the **basics right** and then expand from there. Don't try and understand everything in one go. Developing your understanding takes time!
 * Concepts**

What can you do?
 * identify the key points, whether they are structures, processes
 * listen to hints in class. I will always try and make sure the essentials are highlighted but you should be doing this as part of your revision
 * use a graphic organiser to breakdown a concept to its basics
 * obviously do questions from the text book and course notes
 * for further development, you must be able to make links, so doing Venn diagrams, compare and contrast or other types of graphic organisers is a must
 * be able to summarise, use flow charts or a series of annotated diagrams

When you do work in class or at home, continually ask yourself questions. Do I really understand this? How do I know? If I don't, what is it that I don't understand? Then raise these questions in class, or ask a peer, or post it on the wiki or come and see me. At home, stick up words, diagrams everywhere, make them bright and colourful to help you remember. It does work, at least that's what past students tell me.
 * In general**