The programme

The practical programme is all the practical work that your class does in the two years. The total number of hours spent on this should be 60 hours for HL and 40 hours for SL. It doesn't include the writing of reports but it could include after hours lab time. The programme could be split into 4 types of activity

 

The Standard Practical

 

Most of the practicals I do with my IB physics classes are pretty much the same as the ones I did when I was at school 35 years ago, the main difference being that I never use ticker tape and most of them work. It's the analysis that is most different since we didn't have computers then and had to do all the tables and graphs by hand. It is an IB requirement that students must use a spreadsheet and graphing programme at least once during the 2 year course, if you are going to teach them how to do it once then they might as well use the computer every time so my students always do their analysis and graphing with the computer. Compared to some other courses at this level the treatment of uncertainties is quite rigorous but if you always use the same system it's not that difficult. All of these practicals include some processing of data, drawing a straight line graph and using the gradient to find some known value, the reason for this will become apparent when you see the assessment criteria.

 

Design Practicals

One big difference between the IB and many other physics programme is the inclusion of "design practicals" this is when the students have a chance to be creative and think up their own research questions. This means students won't always be doing practicals that tie in with the theory you are doing in class but you get used to it. The problem with experiments that students design themselves is that they sometimes have difficulty analysing the data, for that reason separate practicals one  for assessing data analysis and the other for design.

 

Other types of Practical

You don't have to assess every practical in fact it's better not to since it would  prevent you from doing a lot of good stuff like going out on a clear evening to observe the stars with a telescope, visiting a fun fair and taking measurements on the rides or visiting a hands on exhibition at a museum. These can all be part of the programme even if they aren't assessed.

 

The Group 4 project

This is a compulsory 10 hour project that all students studying a group 4 subject must take part in.

 

The Criteria

The assessment of practical work is done using 5 criteria:

 

1. Design

The creative part, formulating research questions, designing the method and controlling variables.

 

2. Data collection and Processing

Making tables, processing data and drawing graphs

 

3. Conclusion and Evaluation

Looking at the results and drawing conclusions, justifying statements spotting weaknesses and suggesting improvements.

 

4. Manipulative skills

Following instructions, working safely and showing initiative

 

5. Personal Skills

Team work, perseverance and reflection