Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
-SQA- SCOTTISH QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY HIGHER NATIONAL UNIT SPECIFICATION GENERAL INFORMATION -Unit Number- 7611826 -Superclass- RH -Title- THE ORIGIN AND CLASSIFICATION OF LIVING THINGS ------------------------------- -DESCRIPTIONGENERAL COMPETENCE FOR UNIT: Discussing the characteristics of living things and the current ideas about the origin(s) of life on earth, as well as explaining the way in which living things are classified. OUTCOMES 1. explain the characteristics of living things, and their classification; 2. describe the current ideas about the origin(s) of life on earth; 3. perform practical work associated with both classification, and the origin of life. CREDIT VALUE: 1 HN Credit ACCESS STATEMENT: Standard Grade at 3 in Biology, or equivalent. ------------------------------For further information contact: Committee and Administration Unit, SQA, Hanover House, 24 Douglas Street, Glasgow G2 7NQ. Additional copies of this unit may be purchased from SQA (Sales and Despatch section). At the time of publication, the cost is £1.50 (minimum order £5). Unit No. 7611826 Continuation HIGHER NATIONAL UNIT SPECIFICATION STATEMENT OF STANDARDS UNIT NUMBER: 7611826 UNIT TITLE: THE ORIGIN AND CLASSIFICATION OF LIVING THINGS Acceptable performance in this unit will be the satisfactory achievement of the standards set out in this part of the specification. All sections of the statement of standards are mandatory and cannot be altered without reference to SQA. OUTCOME 1. EXPLAIN THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS AND THEIR CLASSIFICATION PERFORMANCE CRITERIA (a) (b) The description of the characteristics of all living things is correct. The explanation of the characteristics used to distinguish between members of the different groups is correct. RANGE STATEMENT Characteristics of living things: organisation; metabolism; interdependency; homeostasis; reproduction; evolution. Different groups: monera; protista; fungi; plantae; animalia: viruses. EVIDENCE REQUIREMENTS Written evidence describing the characteristics common to all living things. Written evidence explaining the classification system used to separate living things into the 6 groups. 2 Unit No. 7611826 Continuation OUTCOME 2. DESCRIBE THE CURRENT IDEAS ABOUT THE ORIGIN(S) OF LIFE ON EARTH PERFORMANCE CRITERIA (a) (b) The description of the current ideas about the possible origin(s) of biologically significant molecules on earth is correct. The description of the current ideas about the possible origin(s) of biological structures on earth is correct. RANGE STATEMENT Origin(s) of molecules: extraterrestrial origins; Oparin and Haldane's ideas; Miller's experiment; monomers and polymers. Origins of biological structures: coacervates and microspheres; heterotrophs and autotrophs; development of an oxidising atmosphere; the evolution of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. EVIDENCE REQUIREMENTS Written evidence outlining the widely held ideas about the origin of life on earth. OUTCOME 3. PERFORM PRACTICAL WORK ASSOCIATED WITH BOTH CLASSIFICATION AND THE ORIGIN OF LIFE PERFORMANCE CRITERIA (a) (b) (c) The microscopic examination of the visible characteristics of members of the different groups is carried out both thoroughly and safely. The performance of the chromatographic separation is carried out both thoroughly and safely. The practical work is reported appropriately. RANGE STATEMENT The different groups: monera; protista; fungi; animalia; plantae. 3 Unit No. 7611826 Continuation EVIDENCE REQUIREMENTS Performance evidence of practical work in the form of checklists and written evidence in the form of reports on the practical work. MERIT To gain a pass in this unit, a candidate must meet the standards set out in the outcomes, performance criteria, range statements and evidence requirements. To achieve a merit in this unit a candidate must demonstrate a superior or more sophisticated level of performance. This would be demonstrated by two of the following: - an in-depth and accurate explanation of the characteristics used to distinguish between membes of the different groups; an in-depth and accurate description of the current ideas about the origin(s) of biologically significant molecules and biological structures; an in-depth report of practical work. ----------------------------------- ASSESSMENT In order to achieve this unit, candidates are required to present sufficient evidence that they have met all the performance criteria for each outcome within the range specified. Details of these requirements are given for each outcome. The assessment instruments used should follow the general guidance offered by the SQA assessment model and an integrative approach to assessment is encouraged. (See references at the end of support notes.) Accurate records should be made of the assessment instruments used showing how evidence is generated for each outcome and giving marking schemes and/or checklists, etc. Records of candidates' achievements should also be kept. These records will be required for external verification. SPECIAL NEEDS Proposals to modify outcomes, range statements or agreed assessment arrangements should be discussed in the first place with the external verifier. 4 Unit No. 7611826 Continuation Copyright SQA 1996 Please note that this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part for educational purposes provided that: (i) (ii) no profit is derived from the reproduction; if reproduced in part, the source is acknowledged. 5 Unit No. 7611826 Continuation HIGHER NATIONAL UNIT SPECIFICATION SUPPORT NOTES UNIT NUMBER: 7611826 UNIT TITLE: THE ORIGIN AND CLASSIFICATION OF LIVING THINGS SUPPORT NOTES: This part of the unit specification is offered as guidance. None of the sections of the support notes is mandatory. NOTIONAL DESIGN LENGTH: SQA allocates a notional design length to a unit on the basis of the time estimated for achievement of the stated standards by a candidate whose starting point is as described in the access statement. The notional design length for this unit is 40 hours. The use of notional design length for programme design and timetabling is advisory only. The division of these hours is recommended to be: Outcome 1 - 20 hours; Outcome 2 - 8 hours; Outcome 3 - 12 hours. PURPOSE This unit would most likely be used early on in HNC and HND programmes in Biology or other Science awards. It is designed to provide a base on which further units may build. CONTENT/CONTEXT Corresponding to outcomes: Outcome 1: DNA(RNA) and biological organisation, metabolism, interdependency among living organisms, homeostasis, reproduction, mutation and adaptation to change. Compare inanimate objects, crystals, viruses, prokaryotes, eukaryotes. Outcome 2: As described, but include any other ideas and the views of religious groups. Outcome 3: The chromatographic separation and visualisation of amino acids should be used. APPROACHES TO GENERATING EVIDENCE Corresponding to outcomes: Outcome 1: Following class debate, a brief written list would suffice for the characteristics, but both classwork/test and laboratory work would be necessary to produce the evidence required for the classification. Outcome 2: A poster summarising current thoughts would be sufficient. Outcome 3: Practical reports. 6 Unit No. 7611826 Continuation REFERENCES 1. 2. 3. 4. Guide to unit writing. For a fuller discussion on assessment issues, please refer to SQA's Guide to Assessment. Information for centres on SQA's operating procedures is contained in SQA's Guide to Procedures. For details of other SQA publications, please consult SQA's publications list. Copyright SQA 1996 Please note that this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part for educational purposes provided that: (i) (ii) no profit is derived from the reproduction; if reproduced in part, the source is acknowledged. 7