An Interdisciplinary approach: Study of Marine Ecosystems In the Thousand Islands

Karya Island,4-5 October 2016

Educational experiences are more authentic and of greater value to students when the curriculum reflects real life rather than being compartmentalized into neat subject-matter packages. Real life problems are complex matters that require multiple disciplines to understand the whole issue. SVP implemented interdisciplinary learning in our secondary curriculum as we believe it is the best way to enhance students’ understanding of real life problems. In effective interdisciplinary learning, the integration of disciplinary subject areas is purposeful. Integrating disciplinary perspectives is not a goal in itself but rather a means to deepen students’ understanding of their world and support them in becoming more competent in it. Interdisciplinarity is “a path to take when we are confronted with phenomena that cannot be understood from one or another discipline alone, and only yield their secrets and fascinations when approached with new tools and from new perspectives that derive their methods from more than one discipline” (IBO:2015).

In Grade 11, we combined all sciences, geography, and statistics into one interdisciplinary study which explored the marine ecosystem in Karya Island, Thousand Islands. Students implemented their prior knowledge from the classroom to the real life problem outside the classroom. They analyzed the correlation between biodiversity and physical-chemical-geological factors of the Karya Island marine ecosystem. Students studied how nature controlled the balance of the ecosystem by itself and not only that, they also predicted the impact of human action towards the changes of those factors that might impact the balance of the biodiversity. For the future, students will suggest the best way to help in maintaining the biodiversity and creating a sustainable ecosystem.

-Nature for our Future-

Andhyni E Tombe

Science coordinator

Water Rocket Competition for West Java Regional 2016

Good day Victorians!

If you were born between November 13, 2000 - November 12, 2004 (12 years old - 16 years old) you have the chance to join this "Water Rocket Competition".

Please contact our sciences department if you want to join this competition.

What is gravity?

Hi 8 graders,

We have discuss about gravity in the classroom. Now take a look at this video to get deeper understanding.

If you any question just shot it at class.

Mitotic cycle in Onion Root tip

Investigating mitosis in allium root tip squash

Class practical

Links: http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practical-biology/investigating-mitosis-allium-root-tip-squash

In the 1st week of February, Grade 11 complete the unit 3 with observing the Mitosis process in onion root tip. All students prepare their own root tip for around 4 days. They did extract the cell using Ethanoic alcohol and HCl; staining using orcenic stain, and observed under the microscope. 

(Methods after some modifications)

Preparation

1. Cut off 2 of the root tips with 1-2 cm length. Put the root on a watchglass and add a small volume of ethanoic acid until it cover the whole part of the root. Leave it for 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat 10-25 cm³ of 1 M hydrochloric acid to 60 °C in a water bath. Students make their own water bath with beaker glass 500 ml and put the 100 ml beaker glass containing HCl inside it. 
3. From step 1, put the root tips on a 30 ml of tap water (in a 100 ml beaker glass) for 4-5 minutes and dry on filter paper.
4. Use a mounted needle to transfer the root tips to the hot hydrochloric acid (in step 2) and leave for 5 minutes.
5. Put the root tips on a 30 ml of tap water again in cold water for 4-5 minutes and dry on filter paper.
6. Use the mounted needle to remove the root tips onto a clean microscope slide.
7. Cut each about 2 mm from the growing root tip. Discard the rest, but keep the 2 mm tips.
8. Add 1-2 drops of stain and leave for 2 minutes.
9. Break up the tissue with a mounted needle.
10. Cover with a coverslip and squash (tap the coverslip about 20 times by dropping a wooden mounted needle or a pencil, blunt end down, from a height of about 5 cm onto the middle of the coverslip)   

Investigation

1. View the root tips under a microscope (x400 magnification) and look for the chromosomes within cells which are actively dividing.
2. If cells are overlapping, squash the slide again. Avoid moving the cover slip from side to side.
3. Make sketches of (or take photographs of) cells that show any of the stages of mitosis.

Here are the result of students work.

Hands On activity for the better understanding
-Andhyni Tombe-
 AS Biology Teacher

Individual Research Project 2016

For approximately six months of grade 12 students conduct research independently.

On 13 February 2016 they show off the results of their researches. Research topics on Science, Technology, Enginering, and Math (STEM).

Here are some little pictures of their booths in Amarta Hall.

 

Ecosystem

Hi Victorians,

Check out this video to get brief explanation about Ecosystem.