Average Rating:
 
AQA Biology AS Course Workbook
256 pp.
Full Price: £16.95
Discount Price: £10.95
ISBN 978-1-877462-18-4
|
Journal of Biological Education,
Volume 43, No.2, Spring 2009
Reviewed by: Jean Wilson
""Rich and informative,...
could stand as a course
handbook in its own right."
"This is an excellent aid to
learning and understanding..""
AQA Biology AS (2009)
These resources are specifically aimed at students
studying the AQA Biology AS course. They
employ a unit-based, contextual approach and
comprise a Student Workbook, Model Answers
and Teacher Resource CD-ROM.
Student Workbook (2009)
This is a combination of textbook,
study guide and activity workbook.
It is regularly updated with new editions
every year and is equally suitable
for self-study or classroom learning.
Rich and informative, its aim is
to complement texts written for the
course, but it could stand as a course
handbook in its own right.
The introduction provides a clear
description of the modules at AS and
A2 and unselfishly gives details of
other useful texts. The first section
(Skills in Biology) sets out concisely
the methodologies needed in report
writing and dealing with data.
Unit 1 and Unit 2 begin with concept
maps that set out visually the
areas of study to be covered. Each of
the areas is then prefaced by a summary
of learning objectives, with references
to pages in other texts, and
the appropriate slides in the ‘Presentation
media’ produced by Biozone.
The basic information for each topic
is outlined, followed by a straightforward
and appropriate exercise. This
pattern is repeated throughout the
workbook. Accompanying each area
of study there are clear, fully-labelled
diagrams with small but appropriate
photographs. Like other Biozone
workbooks, the whole of the text is in
black and white, which is possibly a
slight drawback, as is the fact that
photocopying is prohibited; however,
this is addressed by using the specific
CD-ROM. This is an excellent aid to
learning and understanding for the
student and easy for teachers to use
in setting assignments.
Usefulness to student: 
Usefulness to teacher: 
|
AQA Biology AS
Model Answers
64 pp.
Price: £3.95
ISBN 978-1-877462-19-1
(One free copy with
your first order of five
or more workbooks.) |
Model Answers (2009)
This is a companion publication
which provides answers for the exercises
in the AQA Biology AS student
workbook. Although in most cases
suggested answers are given to all activities, no working out or calculations
are described. The actual responses
are written out in full and do
not resemble the skeletal solutions of
an exam board’s mark scheme. Printed
in black and white in A5 format
the booklet is neat and the appropriate
answer is easy to locate. Like the
Workbook the Answer book is also
in electronic form on the Teacher
Resource CD-ROM AQA Biology AS
and photocopying is prohibited.
Usefulness to student:
Usefulness to teacher:
|
AQA Biology Teacher Resource CD-ROM
ISBN: 978-1877462-27-6
Price: £29.95 |
Teacher Resource CD-ROM (2009)
Both AQA AS and A2 Biology are
covered on this CD. The CD is definitely
user-friendly; the format has
been kept simple by using standard
Microsoft folders and files. The software
needed for using the CD (Acrobat
Reader and PowerPoint viewer)
is provided in the ‘Installers’ folder.
Both the Workbooks and Model Answers
are provided as non-printing
pdf files which is a useful format for
outlining student assignments and
then for providing feedback on return
of work. There are over 70 additional
activities which are printable with a
one-year photocopy licence.
A database of 300+ video and
200+ software titles is included as
well as crossword puzzles and glossary
worksheets which will test the
student’s understanding of biological
terms for all topics. A useful inclusion
is Microsoft ‘Excel’ spreadsheets
for statistical analysis. This interactive
CD is an essential addition for
this specification and is certainly
value for money.
Usefulness to student:
Usefulness to teacher: |