Science & Technology

Science and technology are intrinsically related. At MBIS the SciTech department is responsible for the development and delivery of the science and computer curriculum. Our goal is to ensure that every student who graduates from MBIS is literate in both of the department’s domains. Our flagship qualifications at Grade 11 and Grade 12 are AP Physics and AP Computer Science; students who decide to take these electives are generally those who are considering a career in science, engineering, computers or medicine.

Science
MBIS strictly follows the learning objectives, as prescribed by the California State Science Framework. Students follow an integrated science course which begins at Kindergarten and continues to Grade 8. Following Grade 8, students concentrate on the pure sciences, physics, chemistry and biology. During middle school students also have the opportunity to take the internationally recognized iGCSE in all the pure sciences.






Grade 7: Integrated Science - Focus on Life Science
During Grade 7, students cover the following main themes – cell biology, genetics, evolution, earth and life history, structure and function in living systems, physical principles in living systems.

Grade 8: Integrated Science – Focus on Physical Science
During Grade 8, students cover the following core themes – motion, forces, structure of matter, Earth in the solar system, reactions, chemistry of living systems, the periodic table, and density and buoyancy.

Grade 9: Chemistry
During Grade 9, themes students cover may include the following – atomic and molecular structure, chemical bonds, conservation of matter and stoichiometry, acids and bases, solutions, chemical thermodynamics, reaction rates, chemical equilibrium, organic Chemistry, and biochemistry.

Grade 10: Biology
During Grade 10, themes students cover may include the following – cell biology, genetics, ecology, evolution, and physiology.

Grade 11: Physics
During Grade 11, themes students cover may include the following – motion and forces, conservation of energy and momentum, gases and their properties, heat and thermodynamics, waves, electric and magnetic phenomena, and nuclear processes

Grade 12: AP Physics/Earth Science
Upon reaching Grade 12, students have a choice regarding what scientific discipline they would like to study. Students who are interested in a career in science, engineering, medicine or computers generally take AP Physics. Students who are interested in non-science or non-engineering related careers enroll in the Earth Science course.


Information Communication Technology
MBIS closely follows the U.K. National Curriculum for its ICT courses. During grades 9 and 10 students study the ICT iGCSE course which ensures that all students are computer literate by the time they finish grade 10. The course is vocational in that it tasks students with real world IT projects which they have to complete within the course.





Grade 4: Computers 4
During Grade 4, students learn how to touch type effectively and use a variety of software to reinforce and enhance their English and mathematical skills.

Grade 5: Computers 5
During Grade 5, students improve their keyboarding skills, learn about simple word processing, and how to create presentations and present them.

Grade 6: Computers 6
During Grade 6, students learn more advanced word processing, and create presentations and spreadsheets. Students are also introduced to basic programming via LOGO.

Grade 9: Computers 9
During Grade 9, students learn about the role of IT in their world. Students also learn advanced word processing, desktop publishing, as well as learning how to create advanced presentations, spreadsheets, and simple websites. Students carry out a number of hands-on projects throughout the course.

Grade 10: Computers 10
Grade 10 computers follow the GCSE ICT syllabus. Students learn how to develop complex spreadsheets, create databases, manipulate images, sound and video and how to program computers using Python. The course is very project based and much of the assessment is based on the design and development of real world IT projects.

Grade 11/12: AP Computer Science
The SciTech department offers AP Computer Science every two years. The course teaches students how to design, develop and test computer software using the most ubiquitous programming language in the world – Java. Students from the very start of the course are taught how to program in an object orientated way.