Biology for CAPE® Examinations, explained

Author Dr. Claire Durant to discuss text with educators and students at upcoming webinar

(BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS) – “BIOLOGY for CAPE® Examinations” is the latest of Macmillan Education-Caribbean texts for discussion on the publisher’s webinar platform.

Authored by Barbadian national Dr. Claire Durant, the text seeks to formalize biology in a Caribbean context, bringing it closer to students and - most importantly - removing the suggestive barriers of difficulty associated with the subject at such an advanced stage.

On November 23, Dr. Durant will host teachers and students on an engaging webinar that will dissect the textbook which delivers two units with three modules of compelling content each.

Dr. Claire Durant is a biology expert who gained her doctorate from Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, in London, UK. 

Most importantly, however, she is a former Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC®) Assistant Chief Examiner for Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE®) Biology. 

But what makes the text of utmost significance is the fact that Dr. Durant not only holds this background, but she also underwent training in educational measurement, assessment and evaluation and has taught at both secondary and tertiary levels in the Caribbean and the UK.

Speaking to expectations of the November presentation, Dr. Durant said guests can expect discussions on all units, which are delivered in the order prescribed by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC®).

“The book is separated and marked. It follows the CXC syllabus in order both for unit one and for unit two. So, this single book can take the students through the two-years CAPE® learning period,” she said.  

In addition to the book being available as a physical text, it is also available online and can be downloaded from Macmillan Caribbean. 

The upside of having the text digitally, Dr. Durant says, is that it allows students to operate in the virtual environment that is now normal in education.

“There is an option access it online for three months for 3 (per term), 6 months or one year as an economical alternative for students,” she said.

Topics chosen for the webinar, she added, are those that have historically (per CXC®) proven to be particularly challenging for students. These include topics like genetics that include math and formula components. 

“So, the point of having that in the webinar is to show how this can be easily studied using the book,” she said.

Immunization is also among the topics to be discussed considering the global pandemic that is COVID-19. “We’re in that period, so its timely and important to figure how it all works together.”

She said, “CXC® always keeps up with giving you questions that are relevant to issues that are current and that is the process we will be following on November 23.”

The Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE®) is designed to provide certification of the academic, vocational, and technical achievement of students, and helps to matriculate them into university earlier. This certification allows students to avoid certain entry-level subjects in the study areas of discipline. BIOLOGY for CAPE Examination is produced completely form a Caribbean perspective, unlike other texts, with “backyard or layman” examples of flora and fauna familiar to students.

This, the author says makes the subject real and relatable, which encourages students to not only get involved, but become excited and proficient at it.

Policy makers, educators and academics are encouraged to register for this webinar, which will be held on November 23 at 8:00am and again at 4:00pm.

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