#PositiveAboutPractical and cat genetics – OCR Science at ASE 2016

OCR’s Science team welcomed hundreds of teachers to their stand at this year’s Association for Science Education (ASE) conference in Birmingham. Teachers were keen to discuss OCR’s flexible practical endorsement approach at A Level and to find out more about support and resources for the new 21st Century and Gateway Science GCSEs coming into schools next September.

One of the most popular activities with teachers was a ‘genetic cross’ game – which OCR has developed as a lesson element to help explain the genetic basis of variation, in the new GCSE Gateway Science specification. Over 75 kittens, created by combining characteristics inherited from their parents, were made at OCR’s stand. This game is a resource which teachers will be able to use with their students in the classroom. See a few examples below:

Crawford Kingsnorth, OCR Subject Specialist, said: “It was great for us to have the chance to meet so many teachers face to face at ASE. We were able to offer guidance on supporting lower ability students, the accreditation of the new GCSEs and the new arrangements for practicals. Teachers were also really pleased to hear about the resources we have developed to support the new requirements for practical endorsement at A Level, such as the PAG Tracker, handbooks and videos we have made available.”

To contact OCR’s Science team (seen here at ASE), email science@ocr.org.uk.

For more information about OCR’s approach to practicals that integrates assessment with teaching and learning and gives teachers flexibility, visit the Positive About Practical webpage. The same model applies to all three Science A Levels to keep things simple and there’s a tracker to help teachers keep a record of what’s been done.