SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Assignment Title Academic Essay and Dissection

Assignment Type Essay and Practical
Individual Assignment
Module Name Teaching Life Sciences FET 1
Module Code TLSF701

Total Marks Minimum grade to pass Assessment Code

100 50% SS1

­ This assignment document is subject to change. Always refer to the latest version available on the
Learning Management System (LMS) – Canvas.
­ Consult the LMS for the due dates, the Assessment Guidelines for Students, Assignment Guidelines, and
other updated detail. Check Announcements by your lecturer and use the Module Q&A forum to ask
questions related to this assignment.
­ For rules and regulations refer to the Student Support Services Handbook and Policies available from
the STADIO website
­ Be reminded of STADIO's rules relating to plagiarism and cheating. Do not hesitate to seek help if you
are unsure of how to reference your sources. Make use of the STADIO Referencing Guide, available from
the Online Library.

INTRODUCTION

Dissection is a method where we study the different parts of the body of any organism
through visualization, practice, and experimentation. Your Life Sciences CAPS document
refers to Specific Aim 2 which relates to doing science or practical work and
investigations. This is an integral aspect of Life Sciences in the FET phase. Dissection is an
important aspect in Life Sciences because it helps you to identify, describe, and learn
about the internal structures of organisms. Physically engaging in a dissection gives you
an appreciation of organisms in a hands-on learning environment and knowledge and
skills to tackle this aspect of practical work with confidence.

OVERVIEW

Your task is to write an academic essay discussing the SEVEN range of skills that relate to
'doing' practical work in Life Sciences and the relevance this has for FET learners in the
South African context. See Life Sciences CAPS document pages 15 and 16. Your
discussion should be linked to available academic literature and research. Using your Life
Sciences CAPS document as a guide select ONE scientific investigation to conduct at home
or in a science laboratory. Carry out the investigation and include images of yourself with
the investigation set up at each stage and explain in detail.

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 Submission
Part Description Marks
format
A Range of skills and practical scientific Word 70
investigations in Life Sciences
B Video presentation of dissection Video link or 30
Studio on Canvas

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TRAFFIC LIGHT MATRIX (AITLM)

RED AMBER GREEN

May
Part May MUST Detail of AI use
NOT
use AI use AI
use AI
A

B May use AI for brainstorming of ideas / steps /

instructions, relating to the dissection. Where
you use AI, submit evidence of all your
prompts and AI outputs.
NOTE:
 STADIO employs AI writing detection tools to monitor AI use.
 Presenting work produced by AI as your own contravenes the STADIO Plagiarism
policy. Refer to the STADIO Referencing Guide for guidance.

Part A (70 marks)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Provide a THREE-page write up about the SEVEN range of skills that relate to 'doing'
practical work in Life Sciences and the relevance this has for FET learners in the
South African context. See CAPS document pages 15 and 16. Your discussion should
be linked to available literature and research.
2. A minimum of SIX sources (a variety) from the Life Sciences CAPS document, Journal
articles, Books, and reputable online sources (not blogs) must be used.
3. From the SEVEN range of skills that you have highlighted in point 1, identify which
skills will link to your chosen investigation and explain in detail.
4. Using the CAPS document for Life Sciences (Grades 10-12) do the following:
a) Select ONE scientific investigation that can be carried out in the home or in a
science laboratory.
b) Carry out the scientific investigation that you have chosen.
c) Take still pictures of yourself doing the investigation at different stages and
submit these pictures along with your assignment. (A minimum of SIX and
maximum of EIGHT images must be included).
d) Formulate a scientific report of your investigation.
e) Discuss FIVE safety measures that you took into consideration while carrying out
the investigation.
5. Part A of the assignment rubric will be used to assess the range of skills and the
design of scientific investigations.

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 FORMAT

 Include your details on the first page (cover page).

 The video link for Part B (dissection video) must be included on the first page (cover
page). For easy access make use of Canvas Studio.
 Pages 2, 3 and 4 must relate to the SEVEN range of skills write up.
 Page 5 must include the skills that link to your chosen scientific investigation along
with detailed explanation.
 Pages 6 to 10 will detail your scientific investigation along with your images and
scientific report.
 Page 11 – safety measures
 Page 12 – main reference list
 Page 13 – Evidence of AI output

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

 Include your full name, student number and the module code "TLSF701" on the first
page of your assignment.
 The video link for Part B (dissection video) must be included on the first page (cover
page).
 Check for grammatical and spelling errors.
 Use size 12, black, 1.5 line spacing.
 Reference correctly, according to the STADIO Referencing Guide (2024), on the LMS.
 Include credible references (those from books and peer-reviewed journals) where
necessary.
 submit your assignment to the correct Turnitin assignment submission portal within
the LMS module site – this will ensure that your assignment document is submitted
both to us and to Turnitin, where an originality check will be performed, and a
similarity report generated.
 Turnitin will produce a report for you within 24 hours that will show if your
assignment was copied (even in part) from somewhere or someone else (even
yourself). If the report shows that your work is similar to another or other sources,
you have to redo your assignment and submit it to Turnitin once again. We will not
mark any assignment with a Turnitin score that exceeds that stated in the Plagiarism
Policy. The percentage of similarity that is allowed per module depends on your
programme and year of study. You can access the Plagiarism Policy on the LMS to
find out what percentage similarity is permissible for this module.
 To allow yourself time to rework this assignment, we suggest you upload your
assignment via the LMS at least 48 hours before the official submission date. We will
use the assignment and the Turnitin report on the official submission date as your
final assignment for marking.

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 GUIDANCE

Refer to the Rubric below, to understand the assignment performance expectations and
how your work will be assessed.

RUBRIC PART A

EXCELLENT ACHIEVED PARTIALLY POORLY ACHIEVED

ASSESSMENT
ACHIEVEMENT ACHIEVED
CRITERIA
(20 – 15) (14 – 11) (10 – 8) (7 – 0)
Range of skills Rationale is explicit Rationale relevantly Rationale poorly Rationale has not
[20] and clearly discusses discusses the link discusses the link shown the link
the link between the between the topic between the topic between the topic and
topic and the CAPS and the CAPS and the CAPS the CAPS document.
document. document. document.
Relevance has not
Relevance has been Relevance has not Relevance has been been established
established about the been established not established about the range of
range of skills that for FET Phase about the range of skills that relates to
relates to 'doing' learners. skills that relates to 'doing' practical work
practical work in Life 'doing' practical in Life Sciences for
Sciences for FET Some skills linking work in Life FET Phase learners.
Phase learners. to the investigation Sciences for FET
have been briefly Phase learners. No skills linking to the
Skills linking to the explained. investigation have
investigation have Some skills linking been provided.
been explained in to the investigation
detail. have been listed but
no explanation
provided.
Basic principles of Basic principles of Basic principles of Basic principles of Basic principles of
proper scientific proper scientific proper scientific proper scientific proper scientific
investigation investigation were investigation were investigation were investigation were not
[20] excellently followed fairly followed and not appropriately followed, and scientific
and evident in the evident in the used with some report poorly is
scientific report. scientific report. aspects excluded in written.
the scientific report.
EXCELLENT ACHIEVED PARTIALLY POORLY ACHIEVED
ASSESSMENT
ACHIEVEMENT ACHIEVED
CRITERIA
(10 – 8) (7 – 6) (5 – 4) (3 – 0)
Photographic Record Pictures indicate an Pictures indicate a Pictures indicate a Pictures did not
[10] excellent systematic systematic order of poor systematic indicate any
order of the different the different stages order of the systematic order of
stages of the scientific of the scientific different stages of the different stages of
investigation with the investigation but the scientific the scientific
student actively student not investigation. investigation and
involved in the prominent in the poorly taken.
process. images. Student face is
visible in pictures. Student face not
Student face is visible Student face is visible in pictures.
in pictures. visible in pictures.
Language usage, Sophisticated use of Vocabulary varied Satisfactory Basic language and
grammar, language and and suited to topic. vocabulary used. vocabulary used.
punctuation, and vocabulary.
spelling A few minor errors Many language, Grammar,
[10] Intelligent / informed in grammar, grammar, punctuation, and
use of grammar, punctuation, and punctuation and spelling are very
punctuation, and spelling. spelling errors. weak.
spelling.

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 EXCELLENT ACHIEVED PARTIALLY POORLY ACHIEVED
ASSESSMENT
ACHIEVEMENT ACHIEVED
CRITERIA
(10 – 8) (7 – 6) (5 – 4) (3 – 0)
Referencing, in-text All references were All references were Referencing Poor referencing and
and main reference included. included. generally correct. many errors noted.
list
[10] Accurate and Most in-text Some formatting In-text references do
consistent intext references match problems or not match those on
referencing and the reference list. components the reference list.
reference list. missing.
PART A TOTAL: [70]

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 Part B (30 marks)

INSTRUCTIONS

In this part of your assignment, you will physically conduct a dissection of a mammal
kidney (cow or sheep) obtained from a butchery.

1. Make a 5 min video of yourself dissecting the kidney of a cow or sheep that has been
obtained from a butchery.

2. Dissect longitudinally and demonstrate in the video clip the various parts of the
kidney and include the functions and key information.

3. The activity must not be more than 5 minutes. (20)

4. List the apparatus used for the dissection. If improvisation of the apparatus was
made, identify the improvised apparatus / resource(s) and mention what apparatus /
resource(s) it / they served. (5)

5. Discuss FIVE safety measures that you took into consideration while carrying
out the dissection activity. (5)

 Part B of the assignment rubric will be used to assess your video presentation
only while a memorandum will be used for assessing the other questions. The
rubric further explains the assessment criteria.
 The video link for Part B (dissection video) must be included on the first page
(cover page).
 Answers for Q4 and Q5 must be done after Part A. Ensure that the answers are
clearly labelled.

FORMAT

Make use of the Studio feature on Canvas to record your dissection.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

Ensure that your video is accessible.

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 GUIDANCE

Refer to the Rubric below, to understand the assignment performance expectations and
how your work will be assessed. Once you have completed your assessment, use the
checklist below to ensure that you have covered all the required elements.

RUBRIC PART B

EXCELLENT ACHIEVED PARTIALLY POORLY ACHIEVED

ASSESSMENT
ACHIEVEMENT ACHIEVED
CRITERIA
(20 – 15) (14 – 11) (10 – 8) (7 – 0)
Video content Video clip captures the Video clip captures Video clip did not Video clip was poorly
[20] dissection which was the dissection. capture some parts made, and the process
executed correctly. of the dissection. of dissection was
Explanations haphazard.
Excellent explanations required more Many aspects were
provided. Excellent detail. omitted. Poor Explanations were not
sound and picture explanations provided.
quality. Camera angle Good sound and provided.
was positioned picture quality.
correctly throughout
the dissection.
PART B TOTAL: [20]

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 CHECKLIST

Once you have completed your assessment, use the checklist below to ensure that you
have covered all elements.

No. Task / Requirement Completed

1 Did you write an academic essay discussing the 7 range of skills?
2 Did you include the relevance for FET phase learners?
3 Did you make use of a minimum of 6 valid, credible, academic
sources of literature?
4 Did you make use of your Life Sciences CAPS document?
5 Did you select one scientific investigation and demonstrate it?
6 Did you identify and explain the range of skills that link to your
investigation?
7 Did you take pictures of your investigation (max. 8)?
8 Is your face visible in some of the pictures?
9 Did you formulate a scientific report?
10 Did you include safety measures?
11 Did you conduct a dissection of a cow or sheep kidney obtained from
a butchery?
12 Did you include a 5 min video including the necessary information
using Studio?
13 Did you list the apparatus used?
14 Did you discuss safety measures involved?
15 Did you include the link to your video presentation on the cover page
of your assignment?
16 Did you try your link to make sure that it opens and is accessible to
the marker?
17 Did you include in-text referencing and a final reference list?
18 Have you complied with all the technical requirements for this
assignment?
19 Did you include evidence of AI output?

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