The start of Term 4 means two things: Firstly, 2024 QCE Psychology content has started (or is about to begin) and secondly, the data test is around the corner.
How many times have students asked you
- What does ‘deduce’ mean?
- Can we have more time to practice for the data test?
- Do we have more data sets to help my preparation?
These syllabus-aligned activities and strategies below will help students dive deeper into learning new syllabus content, maximise their marks through building confidence in addressing each cognitive verb and develop key Science skills which also address syllabus dot points. The bank of data test questions links to explicit teaching on Edrolo and will help students get ‘unstuck’ on their own.
Plus they’re flexible! Use them during the learning process or as a ‘Fun Friday’ activity that promotes spaced repetition.
Unpacking cognitive verbs - deep dive in understanding and application
- Overview: Builds meaning behind each cognitive verb
- Time: 5-10 minutes
- Size: Individual, pairs or table groups
- When: After explicit teaching, hook or exit activity
Activity 2 - 'I have, who has’ cognitive verbs edition
- All potential cognitive verbs noted by QCAA
- Cognitive verbs in the Psychology IA sample
- Overview: Chain game to test knowledge in a collaborative environment
- Time: 5-10 minutes
- Size: Whole class, 3+ students
- When: Hook or exit activity
- Make it a game: Split the class in two and set up the activity as a competitive time trial, or have the whole class together and get them to try and beat their time from the previous lesson
- Overview: Helps to understand the nuances and create examples of verbs in action
- Time: 10-20 minutes
- Size: Individual, pairs or table groups
- When: After students have developed an understanding of each cognitive verb
Embed Science skills for the data test when teaching new Unit 3 content
Suggested lesson structure
- Before class - Assign Edrolo video as preparation work using the URL link
- Entry activity - In small groups, students complete an activity to demonstrate their base understanding of the dot point
a. Mind map of content using concepts from the Edrolo unit planner
b. Students discuss and report on Multiple Choice Misconceptions
c. Project a review question on the board for students to attempt
- Application (main activity) - Students complete one of the suggested activities below and share anonymous data in a shared workspace (e.g. OneNote)
- Homework - Identify 3-5 questions from the question bank to complete before the next class
a. Syllabus-aligned practical activities
Topic 1 - How quick are you?
Topic 1 - Life as a Robot
Topic 2 - Do you see what I see
Topic 3 - How much can you remember?
Bonus activity - Stroop effect
b. Question bank
- Justify a type of data (Nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio) this research has collected.
- Calculate mean/median/mode for each data set (show your working!).
1. Using a characteristic of the data, suggest the most appropriate measure of central tendency (mean/median/mode) to use for this data set.
2. Display the data in either a table or graph.
Reminder: If subscribed to Edrolo Psychology Units 3&4, you and your students have access to the ‘Data Test Assessment Masterclass’ too!
*Like most great ideas in education, these are not new. We’re not claiming them as our ideas, we’ve simply used them, relied on them, loved them, and now collated them.
