Whether it is looking at psychology or the latest research in physics, students interested in science at Cowra High School (CHS) will now have the chance to undertake the newest HSC subject – Science Extension.
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The course is open to students who are doing at least one other science subject in the HSC who may have an interest in topics outside of the syllabuses.
Cowra High School science teacher Liz Watt said the one unit course is separated into four modules, including a research project and an exam.
“The aim is to let kids with a passion for science go beyond just the normal classroom textbook science and do projects that are more tertiary level,” she said.
“They learn about the history of science, then they look at doing a science research proposal… then they learn about interpreting the data that they collect and then they write a science research report which will be due Term 3 next year.”
The first ever student at CHS to undertake the project is Ellee White.
“I’m actually really excited to be doing it,” she said.
“For my project, what I am going to be doing is looking at the neuroscience of psychiatric disorders… neuroscience also encompasses other sciences like biology, chemistry and psychology, all of which I am interested in.”
The subject will also mark another historic change.
“She will be one of the first people to sit an HSC online exam,” Mrs Watt said.
“The computers are all set up so they can’t research when they do the exams. They use their proposal of their report to answer questions online so that will be really exciting.
“It’s also unusual in that her research project, which will be the major part of what she’s doing, will be marked at school whereas other major works are marked externally.”
Mrs Watt said the course is heavily student driven, with an open ended syllabus allowing for a variety of topics to be researched.
“Ellee approached the science faculty and it was Ellee driven that this course is run, because she was keen,” she said.
“A lot of the syllabuses we have are so outdated and can’t keep up with the changes in science… they’ve deliberately written it very open ended,” Ms MacKenzie said.
Mrs Watt also said the class will prepare Ellee for future university study.
“The course suggests to schools that they look at asking universities for help or mentors in the area so we hope to do that,” she said.
“We are going to look at some things with Sydney University and there are a few local people who have done PhDs.
“It’s exciting but it is a big exercise and you have to be really organised and self-driven, which Ellee is.”
