My UPD8

You need to login before you download the free activities. You can register here.

Login

upd8 Wikid


  1. How will upd8wikid push my students to the highest levels of achievement?

    1. Each unit focuses on a few 'Big Ideas' central to understanding, not a long list of content objectives. They are taken from the Key Concepts & Processes in the National Curriculum, and the Yearly Learning Objectives in the National Strategy framework. The table below shows the Big Ideas of the first three units.
    2. The units place are motivating and engaging, the science is set in the context of real life situations to promote interest in science and the work of scientists.
    3. Our approach is firmly based on learning research. Units are organised around a series of 'constructivist learning cycles' which aim for maximum learning:
      • Hands-on experience comes BEFORE instruction, so students engage in meaningful learning
      • Concepts are applied across a range of contexts

In Extinction, students study 'Changing atmosphere', 'Adaptation', 'Behaviour', and 'Communicating skills', as part of their traineeship for Animal Planet TV channel

In Forensics, students study the 'Particle model', 'Patterns in chemical reactions', and 'Evaluating evidence' as they solve crimes

In Cook!, students study ‘Chemical reactions’, applications of the 'Particle model', 'Energy transfer', and 'Using models', as they search for the perfect recipe

  1. How will upd8 wikid adapt to the disappearance of SAT's?

    wikid was designed to equip students with transferable skills, rather than simply cater to the demands of the knowledge-based KS3 test. Right from the start, we used the draft version of Assessment of Pupil Performance (APP), and each unit is aimed at one of the APP strands. Assessment is a key benefit of upd8 wikid with a uniquely balanced approach. For summative assessment, there are specially created 'Performance Tasks' that provide evidence of understanding in authentic contexts. These are complemented by a set of problems, and a quiz. All are matched to National Curriculum levels. There are also formative assessment opportunities throughout our 'constructivist learning cycles' and levelled homework tasks.

  2. How will upd8wikid encourage more students to choose science?

    Teachers and educational researchers agree: the secret of motivation is active, enquiry-based learning. This has always been the core of upd8. We've now been hard at work finding ways to make EVERY topic engaging, no matter how difficult or dull. Each unit embeds a Big Idea within an engaging theme:

    • In year 7: Forensics (Particles), Cook (Chemical Reactions), Extinction (Atmosphere & Variation), Electromancer (Electricity & Magnetism), Accident and Emergency (Cells), Alien (Space)
    • In year 8: Design a home (Energy), Species at War (Ecosystems), Studio Magic (Light & Sound), Pyrotechnics (Elements & Compounds), Catastrophe (Rocks), Live & Kicking (Health & Disease)
    • In year 9: Adolescence (Behaviour), Car 2.0 (Env. Chemistry), Adventure Sports (Forces)

  3. upd8 wikid claims to gets better and better. How does that work?

    It's evolution in action. Units are published first in beta version. Then trialled and revised with the help of our teaching community who have been writing the units and who use a wiki to make immediate improvements online (that’s why it's called 'wikid').
    Isn't that how curriculum development should be in the age of the internet?

  4. How is upd8 wikid different from the upd8 topical activities?

    Instead of just having topical activities to practice the skills, wikid units also TEACH them. Each has a teaching sequence devoted to one HSW skill – woven into the theme of the unit. In the Extinction unit, students are working for the ‘Planet TV’ channel, and do a ‘Media Training’ apprenticeship to learn the scientific communication skills to create a campaign.

  5. Will upd8 wikid be compatible with my network and VLE?

    Yes. All material will be downloaded from the website (using a password), with simple instructions for organisation. We will tag the materials to BECTA-approved Virtual Learning Environments, during the Christmas term 2008. Before that our efforts are focussed on publishing units for teachers to get started in September 2008.

  6. What format will the materials be in?

    Presentation materials will be produced in a mixture of pdf and Powerpoint. Pdf is the norm for publishing highly designed content as a commercial product. We know some teachers want to be able to edit the text, which is why we will be converting 50% of the presentation content to PowerPoint. Student worksheets, assessment materials and teacher's will be in an editable format.

'Wikiedscience