International Baccalaureate Program

Educating for Excellence

 

Rigor + Relevance + Relationships = Educational Excellence

MYP in the Classroom

East High School

MYP Unit Chemistry

Instructor Dr. Ron Loomis

In a 2004-2005 MYP unit, East High teacher Ron Loomis created a model chemistry unit that features a particularly strong approach to assessment. Ron used MYP criteria for all of the assessment tasks, as outlined below. At the end of the unit, students received two grades, one grade based on a standard 0-100% scale, and the other on an MYP 0-6 scale for each of the MYP Criteria assessed. 

MYP Sciences Assessment Criteria

Ø Criterion A: One World               Criterion E: Processing Data

Ø Criterion B: Communication       Criterion F: Performance in Experiments

Ø Criterion C: Scientific Knowledge and Concepts

Ø Criterion D: Scientific Enquiry

Formative Assessment(s) corresponded directly to the criteria.:

Ø Guided Practice (in class) [C,E]               

Ø Informal discussion (in class) [B,C]

Ø Homework Assignments (Independent Practice) [C,E]

Ø Quizzes (short answer or calculation) [C,E]

Ø Laboratory report on spectra [B,C,E,F]

Ø Computer generated orbital diagram posters [B,C]

Ø Teaching of other students in small groups or whole class [B,C]

Summative Assessment and Related Criteria:

Ø Multiple choice: 25 questions with 5 choices each on the essential core content of this unit – counts as 50% of summative grade (2 pts each) [C]

Ø Interpretive questions: 3 questions testing student’s ability to process data and/or make educated scientific predictions as to possible new outcomes – counts as 15% of summative grade (5 pts each) [B,C,E]

Ø Calculation: 5 questions where students must perform calculations involving wavelength, frequency, wave velocity, Planck’s Constant, and energy – counts as 25% of summative grade (5 pts each) [C,E]

Ø Essay: 2 questions in which student must use prose to explain the content of this unit – counts as 10% of summative grade (5 pts each) [B,C]