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

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.

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

SNAB can:

• Engage and motivate students of all abilities• Increase student autonomy and responsibility for own learning• Enthuse teachers and learners

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

AS course topicsAS Topic 1 Lifestyle, health and risk

AS Topic 2 Genes and health

AS Topic 3 Voice of the genome

AS Topic 4 Biodiversity and natural resources

A2 course topicsA2 Topic 5 On the wild side

A2 Topic 6 Infection, immunity and forensics

A2 Topic 7 Run for your life

A2 Topic 8 Grey matter

include traditional skills like microscopy and dissection

Activities

‘Star drawing’ – Topic 8

Paired work

Learning about independent assortment in meiosis with ‘Reebops’

Discussions and role play

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

Structure of the new GCE Biology

AS Biology

A2 Biology

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 forensicsA2 Unit 5 Run for your life Grey matter

Internal assessmentAS Unit 3

•Centre-marked, Edexcel-moderated work •Development and assessment of practical skills •Report on a visit or issue

Internal assessment

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

“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.”

“What students have most liked about the SNAB AS course are the ICT activities, the cutting-edge principles, and the relevance towhat is happening in the world.”

Comments from SNAB Teachers

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

Further informationSNAB project websitewww.advancedbiology.org

Edexcel GCE 2008 website http://developments.edexcel.org.uk/gce2008/

Register athttp://developments.edexcel.org.uk/gce2008/for email alerts