What is Salters-Nuffield Advanced Biology?

1. What is Salters-Nuffield Advanced Biology? Salters-Nuffield Advanced Biology is an up-to-date, context-led, advanced biology course Exciting to teach and learn, using a full range of teaching and learning methods

2. Background The course started as a pilot in schools and colleges in 2002. It has been available to all centres from September 2005. SNAB was originally developed by the University of York Science Education Group and the Nuffield Curriculum Centre, working with the publisher and awarding body.

3. SNAB is: • Up-to-date, taking account of recent developments in the biosciences • Relevant, yet requiring a sound understanding of biological concepts and principles • Exciting to teach and learn, utilising a full range of teaching and learning methods

4. SNAB can: • Engage and motivate students of all abilities • Increase student autonomy and responsibility for own learning • Enthuse teachers and learners

5. About the course • Content taught through eight context-led contemporary topics • Activities are an integral part of the learning process • Exclusive dedicated website, multimedia resources, and course texts • Novel approach to AS coursework and development of practical skills

6. AS course topics AS Topic 1 Lifestyle, health and risk

7. AS Topic 2 Genes and health

8. AS Topic 3 Voice of the genome

9. AS Topic 4 Biodiversity and natural resources

10. A2 course topics A2 Topic 5 On the wild side

11. A2 Topic 6 Infection, immunity and forensics

12. A2 Topic 7 Run for your life

13. A2 Topic 8 Grey matter

14. Activities include traditional skills like microscopy and dissection

15. Paired work ‘Star drawing’ – Topic 8

16. Learning about independent assortment in meiosis with ‘Reebops’

17. Discussions and role play

18. Electronic resources • On-line learning environment • Access for teachers, technicians and students • Student worksheets, interactive tutorials, practical schedules, interactive GCSE reviews, end of topic tests, technicians’ information, schemes of work, web-links, e-group etc

19. Structure of the new GCE Biology AS Biology A2 Biology

20. Edexcel assessment units AS Unit 1 Lifestyle, health and risk • Genes and health AS Unit 2 The voice of the genome • Biodiversity A2 Unit 4 On the wild side • Infection, immunity and forensics A2 Unit 5 Run for your life Grey matter

21. Internal assessment AS Unit 3 • Centre-marked, Edexcel-moderated work • Development and assessment of practical skills • Report on a visit or issue

22. Internal assessment • A2 Unit 6 • Practical investigation undertaken by individual students and written up as a report.

23. “Biology is a practical subject again – thank you!” “I really like the way the electronic resources dovetail in, this is the first time I have used ICT that is properly integrated into a course.” Comments from SNAB Teachers “What students have most liked about the SNAB AS course are the ICT activities, the cutting-edge principles, and the relevance to what is happening in the world.”

24. “A major factor in this excellent teachingis the new course which the school has recentlyadopted. Superb activities and excellent use of information and communication technology leadto progress of exceptional quality. All students achieve very well.” Official Ofsted inspectionreport on a pilot centre

25. Further information SNAB project website www.advancedbiology.org Edexcel GCE 2008 website http://developments.edexcel.org.uk/gce2008/ Register at http://developments.edexcel.org.uk/gce2008/for email alerts