In this section
Outcome 3
Written and/or oral recorded evidence for outcome 3 should be assessed using a suitable format. Learners are required to plan, organise and complete a laboratory based project.
The project must be commensurate with SCQF level 6 in terms of the underpinning science, the laboratory techniques deployed, and the analysis/interpretation required of the learner. Where a project involves analysis of consumer products it is recommended a minimum of three products be analysed.
An assessor checklist covering all requirements of outcome 3 (Link 12: Outcome 3 assessor checklist) is available on the Understanding Standards website via the link provided.
A learner’s response will be judged satisfactory where the evidence shows that the learner can achieve the evidence requirements shown below to the standard exemplified in the commentary.
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Evidence Requirements |
Commentary |
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Devise an appropriate plan to carry out a laboratory based project.
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It is essential that the learner must undertake significant planning towards the project. Aspects which a learner could consider might be the number of replicates, number of samples etc. The learner could be provided with a pro forma document for recording their project plan. A blank pro forma (Link 13: Blank project plan pro forma) is available on the Understanding Standards website via the link provided. An exemplar completed pro forma (Link 14: Completed project plan pro forma) is available on the Understanding Standards website via the link provided. The project must be more complex than a straightforward experiment. There must be elements of planning and decision making by the learner. |
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Identify and obtain the resources required for a laboratory based project. |
A list of the required equipment/materials should be produced as part of the plan. Guidance is available on the Understanding Standards website via the links provided below. Link 13: Blank project plan pro forma Link 14: Completed project plan pro forma These may change as the project progresses, but an attempt at planning the project effectively, in terms of the resources identified, should be evident. |
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Work in a safe manner regarding current health and safety regulations. |
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Review and evaluate the results obtained and draw valid conclusions. |
Learners must record all results and relevant observations in a laboratory diary, pro forma or project report. The results must include all raw data and any processed data. Experimental methods should be included, but don’t need to be written by the learner, eg a photocopy of a method from a published source is acceptable. An exemplar completed project report (Link 15: Completed project report) is available on the Understanding Standards website via the link provided. |
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Evaluate the effectiveness of the initial plan. Evaluate their performance in the laboratory based project. |
Learners should critically evaluate the effectiveness of the initial plan. It is insufficient for learners to simply state that the plan worked well as the project was a success. If they did not encounter any difficulties or unforeseen events then this should be justified, eg in terms of the reliability of information sources used. Similarly, the evaluation of their own performance should be justified in terms of the project outcome. A project evaluation pro forma (Link 16:Project evaluation pro forma) is available on the Understanding Standards website via the link provided. |
