labs

=Labs=

Here some info on lab writing. To that end I have a write-up, which is alas a little dated in that it follows the old IA criteria and which I cannot, at the moment, edit to reflect the new ones. However, if you keep close at hand your current lab criteria, [|lab_criteria.pdf], and make the following conversions: then the following handout still serves as a good guide to writing comprehensive lab reports; **note**, we will not follow the error analysis presented in this document, but instead follow the standard IB method as recorded in your Data Booklet. [|howtolabs_v1.0OCC.pdf].
 * Old criteria || New criteria || Comments ||
 * Planning (a) and Planning (b) || Design || Hypothesis is no longer required, but a bad idea to include, in particular it allows you to talk about that in the Conclusion and Evaluation ||
 * Data Collection, Data Processing and Presentation || Data Collection and Presentation ||  ||

In our practice lab, I will participate and also write up a lab report so that we can all learn from each other's interpretations of what makes a good lab report.

One of the techniques we'll spend a little time on is linearisation. To this end, we will work work with a programme called Graphical Analysis, which I will give to you. We'll start by looking at the data set you find in this file: [|linearisation.ga3]

Remember:
 * 1) the lab component (IA) grade is based on "only" your two best Design (max points: 2 x 3), Data Collection and Presentation (2 x 3) and Conclusion and Evaluation (2 x 3)criteria in your entire lab portfolio, as well as your Manipulative Skills (6) and Personal Skills (6), i.e., a maximum number of 48 points, of which you really should comfortably be aiming to get around 36 - 40 points;
 * 2) your IA component is worth 24% of your final grade;
 * 3) assuming a "pass" to be a 4, which requires roughly an average of 36% on all your final grade components: IA (labs), Paper 1 (multiple choice), Paper 2 (short answer) and Paper 3 (short answer on Options);
 * 4) with, say 38/48 in your lab reports, you will already have gathered 19% on your way to a 4 before having even set a step into the examination hall! meaning you have the entire available examination papers left to get the remaining 17 or so per cent (which implies you can "bomb" it scoring 23% and still pass the course);
 * 5) there is a flip side to this: if you want to get a 7, you basically cannot afford not to do well on your lab portfolio -let's say you don't do the work on your lab reports (which is basically the only reason you wouldn't do well!) and get a mere 20/48, to get a 7 (overall grade percentage of about 66%) you are now facing an examination in which you need to get an average of 74%.

Fortunately labs are fun apart from all this practical assessment stuff -as long as you recall: if it moves, it is biology, if it smells, it is chemistry, and if it doesn't work, it is physics!

Enjoy, Arno Dirks.