Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Data Collection and Processing Checklist (DCP)

DCP and CE checklist

Lab report checklist for DCP & CE
  • Title of lab, your name, partners name ( if you have one) and date
  • Data table has a title
  • Data has observations
  • Data has errors and uncertainties
  • Data decimal places agree with uncertainty decimal places
  • Data processing equations given
  • Data processing calculations have subheadings are clear and easy to read
  • Processed data table has a title
  • Uncertainties have been propagated:
  • % error has been calculated
  • Graph has a title
  • Graph has axis labels, with units and uncertainties
  • Graph has best fit line if appropriate
  • The final calculated values have been presented with the correct significant figures and propagated errors
  • The conclusion has been stated and justified by referring to theory, analyse graph or measured values
  • Sources of theoretical values have been given
  • The magnitude of the propagated error has discussed as a measure of precision
  • Different repetitions  of the same experiment have been compared to give an estimate of random error
  • Percentage error has been calculated if there is one and discussed in terms of systematic error
  • All types of error have been commented on
  • All possible limitations, assumptions and errors in the lab procedure have been discussed with reference to the random (trials) and systematic error.
  • Modifications to the procedure to eliminate errors have been suggested that are not superficial

Friday, November 8, 2013

Video Resource

If you studied The Great Gatsby with me, you know how much I love the succinct analysis of one of these brothers.

Well, hurrah! They have a video channel called Crash Course.  It is great. Filled with short, fast videos of science and history, you can activate some prior knowledge, gain some insight, and review some material with these fast talking guys.


Here's an example. It is titled "The Renaissance. Was it a Thing?" You decide. They will help you. (oh, and in a way, I think they are OPVL-in the whole historical period, did ya pick up on that?).

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

IB Bio Flashcards

Many students have taken the IB exams in the past.  There are many resources on the internet for studying for exams.

Here is a flash card set on Quizlet of past IB exam questions in Biology.

Check it out!

http://quizlet.com/4192752/bio-2-past-ib-questions-flash-cards/

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Change Up Those Words


words to use more often

lovely
proper
beautiful
swell
absurd
flawless
unique
precious
hullaballoo
scrumptious
dandy
squabble
contemplate
audacity
lousy
embrace
likely
inflection
pompous
sleepy
plump
efficacy
omit
loath
abominable
balderdash
peckish
skedaddle
thrall
winsome
mayhap
evolve
purpose
behalf
thankful
gruesome
residency
tangible
superfluous
great (in size)
gumption
fetching
enormity
discombobulate
intrude
cleave
beam
eminent
accuracy
delightful
breathtaking
worthy
solitude
enthralled
sorrowful
taught
resplendent
dictate
present
regardless
mimic
realm
fisticuffs
pleasing
gracious
pursue

Hook Line and Sinker!


TYPES OF HOOKS
 

·     Action

·     Analogy

·     Command to the Reader

·     Bold Statement/Interesting Fact

·     Character’s Thoughts or Feelings

·     Definition

·     Dialogue or Quotations

·     Foreshadowing

·     Onomatopoeia

·     Question

·     Sentence Fragment

·     Setting/Picture (with words)

Evernote

Lately I am obsessed with Evernote!  It makes everything so easy! I even have a link to the Evernote notebook that I use for Study Skills.

It is not only an amazing teaching tool, it is great for smartphone user as a learning tool.  Go! Sign up! Sign in! Get the (FREE!!) app!







Get a Job!

Often in an interview, and employer will ask if you have any questions.  Don't be caught off guard!  Ask some good questions.  This could make the difference between you being chosen for a job over another candidate. 

Think about it...Are they ways that these questions could be altered to suit a college interview? A great question can make you a stand out candidate in any arena.

Text Clues

Texts will give you clues as to how they should be read and interpreted.

Here is a nice visual to help you decode some of those clues.

Friday, August 30, 2013

Express YourSelf in Words and Pictures

This gallery of tagxedo pictures is very cool.  It is a great way to design a word cloud as part of a reflection journal or a art piece or.....you decide!

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Science Videos

 
This teacher has created a series of IB Biology videos that cover topics in the Biology course.  Each one is only about 2-3 minutes long. 
 
This is a great resource!
 
Here is one of the videos.  Feel free to browse.  From this you tube site, there are links to science videos in other disciplines, including Chemistry and Environmental Systems (ESS).
 
 

Friday, March 29, 2013

Word Choice Is Important!

 
 
 
 
 
Choose Good Words for Transitions
 
 
 
 

Outline Sample


OUTLINE GRAPHIC ORGANIZER

 

Background/Set up/”Hook”

 

Thesis sentence

J.K. Rowling uses the character of Mrs. Weasley as a symbol of mothers for all the children in the book. 


I.                   There are no other motherly figures (STATEMENT)

 

A.    Aunt Petunia is not maternal to anyone, and no one else has a mother (EVIDENCE)

B.     Hermione’s mother is never seen, Neville’s mother is in a nut house, Luna’s mother is dead(EVIDENCE)

C.     The other women are in no way maternal (EVIDENCE)

                                                      i.      Professor McGonagle

                                                    ii.      Bellatrix LeStrange

D.    This sets Mrs. Weasley apart as the only motherly woman in the whole series of books (ANALYSIS)

 

II.                Mrs. Weasley does motherly things (STATEMENT)

 

A.    She is a housewife, and has no job (EVIDENCE)

B.     She cooks and cleans (EVIDENCE)

C.     She knits sweaters (EVIDENCE)

D.    All these skills are ones that a perfect mother would have, and even though Mrs. Weasley is not perfect, the author gives her all these skills that an ideal mother would have and that makes her the symbol mother of them all (ANALYSIS)

 

III.             Ron, Hermione and Harry all live with her at some point (STATEMENT)

 

A.    Ron lives there and is her son; has brothers that all live there as well (EVIDENCE)

B.     Hermione seems to be there every summer (EVIDENCE)

C.     Harry always says he feels at home there, and wants to leave his actual home to go there (EVIDENCE

D.    By providing the home for all the children, Mrs. Weasley becomes the mother for them all (ANALYSIS)

 

 IV.      Conclusion

Re-State the evidence; re-word your thesis!

 

Reminders:

  • Roman numerals must be arranged so that the periods align.
  • Each letter in second-level division is capitalized and followed by a period.
  • Arabic numbers in third-level divisions are followed by a period.
  • The first word in headings and subheadings begin with uppercase letters and other words (except proper nouns) begin with lowercase letters.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

ABCs of IB (or ToK, I.A, IB, IOP, What?) aka the Alphabet Soup of IB

 
 
What do all these Acronyms MEAN?!?!?!
 
T.o.K. stands for Theory of Knowledge.  It is a class where you learn how you know what you know.  And if you know it at all.
 
 
C.A.S. stands for Creativity, Action and Service.  These are projects that the 11th and 12th graders are involved in for credit.
 
I.A. stands for Internal Assessments.  This is an assignment that is assessed by the teachers at our school.  Some may be sent out as samples. Sometimes, these may have limited teacher input.
 
E.A. is an External Assessment.  These are assignments that are graded by IB assessors.
 
I.B. is the International Baccalaureate. It is the programme of study.
 
I.O.P. Individual Oral Presentation.  This can also be an I.A. or an E.A.
 
E.E. is the Extended Essay, a 4000 word paper on the topic of the student's choice.
 
S.L. is Standard Level.
 
H.L. is Higher Level.
 
P.P.A. is a Practical Play Analysis (did you think there was only acting the Theatre class?).
 
These are only the beginning.  Want to see more? Check here and here. And this is kind of funny, here.  Once you have read all these, you can quiz yourself here
 
  
 
 


Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Annotations (Poetry)

 
 
 
When annotating a poem (or any writing) record all your thoughts.  Here is an example of the poem "Digging" annotated.  Note that there is reference to tone, language, symbolism, and rhythm among other things. This will make writing an analysis a snap!
 
 

Command Terms in Science


 
IB Science Command Terms
What are they asking me to do?!?!?!?!
 
 
 


Define
Give the precise meaning of a word, phrase or physical quantity.

Draw
Represent by means of pencil lines.

Label
Add labels to a diagram.

List
Give a sequence of names or other brief answers with no explanation.

Measure
Find a value for a quantity.

State
Give a specific name, value or other brief answer without explanation or calculation.

Annotate
Add brief notes to a diagram or graph.

Apply
Use an idea, equation, principle, theory or law in a new situation.

Calculate
Find a numerical answer showing the relevant stages in the working (unless instructed not to do so).

Describe
Give a detailed account.

Distinguish
Give the differences between two or more different items.

Estimate
Find an approximate value for an unknown quantity.

Identify
Find an answer from a given number of possibilities.

Outline
Give a brief account or summary.

Analyse
Interpret data to reach conclusions.

Comment
Give a judgment based on a given statement or result of a calculation.

Compare
Give an account of similarities and differences between two (or more) items, referring to both (all) of them throughout.

Construct
Represent or develop in graphical form.

Deduce
Reach a conclusion from the information given.

Derive
Manipulate a mathematical relationship(s) to give a new equation or relationship.

Design
Produce a plan, simulation or model.

Determine
Find the only possible answer.

Discuss
Give an account including, where possible, a range of arguments for and against the relative importance of various factors, or comparisons of alternative hypotheses.

Evaluate
Assess the implications and limitations.

Explain
Give a detailed account of causes, reasons or mechanisms.

Predict
Give an expected result.

Show
Give the steps in a calculation or derivation.

Sketch
Represent by means of a graph showing a line and labelled but unscaled axes but with important features (for example, intercept) clearly indicated.

Solve
Obtain an answer using algebraic and/or numerical methods.

Suggest
Propose a hypothesis or other possible answer.


Check it out! Test yourself!

Fun Stuff

 
 
 
Fun in IB 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
Stuff IB Students Say 
 
 
 
 
 
IB Style

Command Terms For History










IB History Command Terms
What are they asking you to do?!?!?!



Analyze

Break down in order to bring out the essential elements or structure.
 
Compare
 
Give an account of the similarities between two (or more) items or situation, referring to both (or all)of them throughout.
 
Compare and Contrast
 
Give an account of similarities and differences between two (or more) items or situations, referring to both (or all) throughout.
 
Contrast
 
Give an account of the difference between two (or more) items or situations, referring to both (or all) throughout.
 
Define
 
Give the precise meaning of a word, phrase, concept or physical quantity.
 
Describe
 
Give a detailed account.
Discuss
 
Offer a considered and balanced review that includes a range of arguments, factors, or hypotheses.  Opinions and conclusions should be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.
 
Distinguish
 
Make clear the differences between two or more concepts or items.
 
Evaluate
 
Make an appraisal by weighing up the strengths and limitations.
 
Examine
 
Consider an argument or concept in a way that uncovers the assumptions and interrelations of the issue.
 
Explain
 
Give a detailed account including reasons or causes.
 
 
Identify
 
Provide an answer from a number of possibilities.
 
Justify
Give valid reasons or evidence to support an answer or a conclusion.
 
To what extent
 
Consider the merits or otherwise of an argument or concept. Opinions and conclusions should be presented clearly with appropriate evidence and sound argument. 
 
 
 

Check out this Quizlet set!  See how well you know these command terms!









 


.

Monday, March 25, 2013

O.P.V.L.

Historical Analysis in the IB can be scary!

Just remember OPVL!




"When considering OPVL for your sources of evidence, think about what type of source you are evaluating. A WWII-era fork and spoon are very different than a letter written home by a WWII soldier. Both sources are valid but you'll have to consider different questions for OPVL."
~Mr. Hyer 




Origin


– In one or two sentences state the origins of the source.
  • What type of document is it?
 






    • When and where was it produced?
     






      • Who produced it?
      Example Sentence:
       
      Template:
       
      This origin of this source is a _____________ that was written by ____________in ____________in___________.  Its purpose was to _______________ so _____________. A value of this is that it __________________. However, a limitation of the source is that it ___________________.
       
      Filled in template:
       
      The origin of the source is a letter that was written by Thomas Jefferson in 1787 in Virginia. Its purpose was to convince George Washington to veto the National Treasury so there would be no central bank. A value of this document is that it shows how the anti-Federalists were feeling about Alexander Hamilton's idea for a National Treasury. However, a limitation of the source is that it only shows Thomas Jeffereson's perspective and not the view of the other side.






      Purpose


      – In one or two sentences state the purpose of the source.
       
      The purpose of the source…

       

      • Who was the intended audience?





         

      • For what purposes was it written?
      Key Words to possibly use here:
       
      Persuade
      Inform
      Debate
      Convince
      Detail
      Outline
      Communicate
      Describe
      Entice
      Sell
      Rally
       
       
       
       





      Value


      – In one or two well-written paragraph(s) explain the value of the document for






      historians. Provide and explain specific evidence from the document to support your

      answers. A minimum of two values must be proven.
      With reference to the origin and purpose, what is the value of the document for
      historians studying this event?





       
      Example:
      This document is valuable because it was written ______________________ and the author was ____________________.  This shows that ____________________.
       
       

      Key Words to possibly use here:
      Bias
      Propaganda
      Written at the time of the events
      Historical Perspective
      Advertisement
      Campaign
      Letter
      Memoir
      Private Writing
      Public Writing
       
      Limitations


      – In one or two well-written paragraph(s) explain the limitations of the






      document. Remember to make specific references to the document in your response.

      A minimum of two limitations must be proven.


      With reference to the origin and purpose, what are the limitations of the
      document for historians studying this event?

      Because this document was written by _______________ in ________________, it has a limitation of ___________________.






      Key Words to possibly use here:
      Bias
      Propaganda
      Written at the time of the events
      Historical Perspective
      Advertisement
      Campaign
      Letter
      Memoir
      Private Writing
      Public Writing

       Helpful links:
      OPVL Definitions
      OPVL List of Types of Sources with Vs and Ls
      OPVL with Grading Rubric