Module: 9.5 Communication
Question: Mrs. Smith a 28 years old lady has been diagnosed with moderate hearing loss after an accident that damaged her middle ear bones. On the other hand, John a 25 year old man had severe hearing loss following head injury that damaged his cochlea.
a. What is the best treatment option in both cases? 2
b. Justify your answer. 4
Outcomes: 14.1 b
Level of difficulty: band 6-4
Sample answer:
a. The best treatment for Mrs. Smith is to provide hearing aid and for John is to provide cochlear implant to get the best outcome.
b. As Mrs. Smith’s hearing loss is due to damage of the middle ear bones, having a hearing aid will amplify the sound energy and direct it through the auditory canal. As a result she will be able to hear. However, the cochlear implant will unnecessary in this case as it is more effective in profound hearing loss.
As John’s cochlea or inner ear is damaged he will require the cochlear implant that will bypass the sound inner ear and electronically stimulate the auditory nerve. On the other hand, hearing aid will not help here as the inner ear itself is unable to transmit the amplified signal from the aid.
Marking guidelines:
q.a
Criteria | Mark |
Identifies the treatment options for both cases correctly | 2 |
Identifies only one treatment option correctly | 1 |
q.b
Criteria | Mark |
Explains the reason behind the option in both cases and explains the reason of not choosing the other option in both cases | 4 |
Explains the reason behind the option in both cases and explains the reason of not choosing the other option in one of the situations | 3 |
Explains reason behind choosing best option in both of the cases Or Explains the reason behind choosing option in one of the cases and gives reason behind not choosing the other option | 2 |
Explains reason behind choosing the treatment option in only on of the situation | 1 |
Bibliography:
NSW Board of Studies. (2002). Stage 6 Syllabus Biology. Sydney, Australia: NSW
Board of Studies. Available from
Chidrawi, G., Robson, M. & Hollis, S. (2008). Biology in focus – HSC course. Sydney,
Australia: McGraw Hill.
Hi Rezwana, I really liked your HSC style question as this is one of my favourite topics and you have been creative in making a case study of two patient scenarios to be examined. It also challenges the student to think deeply into which treatment option is suited for each patient in the question.
ReplyDeleteThe question could be improved a little bit by rephrasing question part a) ‘What is the best treatment option for both cases?’ to ‘Outline the best treatment option for John and Mrs. Smith.’ Or ‘List the best treatment option for John and Mrs. Smith’. The reason is that you can utilise BLOOM’s taxonomy of verbs (‘Outline’ or ‘List’) so that the student knows the depth and length of the answer that they are expected to write. The verb ‘outline’ enables the student to indicate the main features of the treatment for each person John and Mrs.Smith. Hence one mark for each person, totalling 2 marks.
For part b) of the question, ‘Justify your answer’ I interpreted that question as support the conclusion that John needs a cochlear implant because… and Mrs.Smith needs a hearing aid because… But your marking rubric states that the student must provide a reason for not choosing the other option. Is it necessary to provide reasons for why they need one and not the other for both patients? Wouldn’t you use another verb in this case?
The outcome assessed for your question is: H14 and the skill being tested is 14.1b). I agree with you that it this question would be targeting Band 5-6 due to the higher-order verb ‘Justify’.
Possible feedback comments you could give your students are as follows:
- Provide a reason for your choice of treatment option for each patient
- Include the main features of your choice of treatment option for each patient
But overall, I enjoyed reading the question and gives me great ideas for writing possible HSC-style exam questions for my future biology students. I’ve learnt a lot doing this task and I can see that you’ve improved greatly as well! Good work Rezwana!
Hi Rezwana,
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting topic. Another way we can go about this question to add more parts to this scenario is to ask the students not only identify the options for Mrs Smith and John but also outline which they can briefly summarize what they are. The justification is correctly used to relate why each of the options is beneficial to the situation which is correct.
In your marking rubric I see that the student needs to explain the why the other option wasn't chosen...I think this may need to be highlighted in the question since it is not mentioned other than justify.
Other than that it is a great question!!!
Danny
Hi Rezwana,
ReplyDeleteI really like your question; I think it is very original. Your questions allow the students to apply what they have learnt within the communication module under the dot points which address the anatomy of the ear and the components of the cochlear implant and hearing aid. I think your chosen verb 'justify' is suitable as it allows students to think critically. Your marking criteria is appropriate for the first part of the question and clearly distinguishes between the marks. For your second question, I think there may be various ways of approaching it. I think your marking criteria for this question appropriately addresses the verb 'justify'. The BOS defines this verb as 'Support an argument or conclusion'. Your criteria accounts for that, as students are required to explain why they have chosen their treatment. I really like the questions and I think students would like it also! Good work!
above post is from Laura
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