Internal Assessment (IA) and the Group 4 Project
Course Requirement Consequences of failure to complete the IA When |
Year 1Participation in Science Fair
If a year 1 student does not complete the Science Fair project they may lose the additional GPA boost awarded to IB Physics 1. The project will be completed during the first semester in several stages (with grades for each stage). The Edison Science Fair will be held on a Saturday in January. All year 1 students are expected to attend. Science Fair grades will be included with other laboratory grades. If eligible to participate, the Regional Science Fair will take place in early March. |
Year 2Completion of the Group 4 Project and the IA to be submitted electronically to IB.
If a year 2 student does not complete the Internal Assessment (IA) for a class tested in May 2016, they will be removed from the external exam in May. As such, the student will lose the 1.0 GPA for the class and if applicable, the weight for the first year of the class will also be removed. If removed from the external assessment, the student will have to pay back the testing fee charged by IB. If the student does not put forth their best effort on the external assessment, as determined by the IB DP Coordinator, they may have to pay back the testing fee charged by IB. The Group 4 project will be completed in September and early October. Students should expect to spend about 10 hours working on the interdisciplinary project and will need to collaborate with students from other IB science courses after school. In addition, students should plan for an evening presentation session in early October, 2016 to present their results to parents and peers. A project timeline will be provided at the beginning of year 2. The IA is an independent, original laboratory investigation into a topic covered in the course curriculum and will begin in late October and run through the end of the semester. A timeline for completing the project will be provided incorporating the opportunity to submit a draft and receive general feedback on how the project can be improved. The student should expect to spend about 10 hours (not including write up time) to produce the final 6 – 12 page paper (about 2000 words). |
Dropping an IB Course
No student will be allowed to drop an IB course until the end of the first quarter. In order to drop an IB course, a student must contact their counselor and an email must be sent to the IB DP Coordinator, Melanie Morris, at [email protected], on or before October 30, 2016. All paperwork must be completed and turned into the IB office by November 4, 2016 in order to drop an IB course with no penalties. After November 6, 2016 students may be able to withdraw passing or failing, which will appear on final transcripts. If a student drops an IB class tested in May 2017 after November 15, 2016, they will have to pay back the testing fee charged by the IB. If the class dropped in the second year of a two-year IB course, the 1.0 weight for the first year of the class will also be dropped from the student’s GPA.
Expectations for Physics Students
Take good care of the lab and the equipment with which you work
Be in class, on time, everyday Academic Integrity Come to class prepared to participate fully. |
A science laboratory is a place for serious work. We use good and valuable equipment often, but only after being instructed in its care and proper use. Not only does Virginia law treat as a felony any removal of chemicals or equipment from a laboratory, but it also requires financial restitution for removal, or careless or deliberate damage to school property.
All teachers follow Fairfax County Public Schools regulations for attendance. Please refer to Students Rights and Responsibilities Regulation 2601.25P on page 10. Students are subject to discipline consequences for tardies, class cuts, and all day unexcused absences. There will be absolutely no tolerance for cheating in any form. Cheating is giving or receiving unauthorized aid on any assignment. It is important that students do their own work to maximize their learning. Portable communication devices found in use during any testing environment will result in confiscation. Students with issues of plagiarism, use of electronic devices during an assessment and other forms of cheating will be referred to their administrator and teachers will contact parents/guardians. Keep up with home assignments, including reading and study. Bring required supplies: a scientific calculator (TI83 recommended – note TI89 is not allowed for use on the IB exam), pen and pencil, and a notebook to keep handouts. Plan to focus on classroom work for the entire period. |