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Commissioning Brief
GCSE Biology (CCEA Revised 2017)
Overview
CCEA GCSE Biology encourages students to develop their curiosity about the living world and
provides insight into and experience of how science works. It also inspires, motivates and challenges
students, enabling them to engage with biology in their everyday lives. They learn about cells, living
processes, biodiversity, body systems, genetics, microorganisms and health.
The current CCEA Specification is changing. Students beginning GCSE Biology in September 2017 will
be learning from the revised specification.
Bitesize offers content for GCSE Biology but it is an expanded programme of study. It currently caters
for AQA, OCR, Edexcel, WJEC and CCEA boards and contains information which is irrelevant for CCEA
students and, in other areas, lacks necessary detail.
To ensure the new resource is relevant, all written content will need to be restructured and adapted
for CCEA students. We also require the production of new resources to enhance the current offering
as well as entirely new study guides to cover some topics which are not currently served.
Summary of deliverables
We require the following content for GCSE Biology :
Text o Written copy for 31 revise chapters, 3-5 pages in length (200-300 words per page). o Some of the existing Bitesize Biology copy can be adapted and re-used. Interactive quizzes o 31 test chapters with 6-10 questions in each test. Video o Approximately 40 minutes of original video or animation. o Possibility of using some content from the BBC archive. o Subtitles, which should be supplied in XML format. Infographics o A minimum of 60 infographics across the commission. Bitesize app flashcards o A condensed version of the original content specifically for the Bitesize app.
Indicative budget: £75,
Bitesize Brand Values and Tone
Quality learning resources with high production values, tailored to the needs of the audience. Clear, concise delivery of the key educational points in bite-sized chunks. Accessible to every level of academic ability and learning style. Factually correct, high-quality and curriculum-relevant. Simple, straightforward language. Funny, quirky or irreverent tone where appropriate. Innovative educational media format.
Audience
The target audience for this commission is 14-16 year old pupils studying CCEA GCSE Biology. From
our initial audience research for this subject, we learned that:
Over 82% of pupils surveyed used Bitesize Biology – the highest usage for any GCSE subject. Pupils enjoy studying bodily processes like the nervous, respiratory and circulatory systems. Biodiversity and genetics were described as dry, abstract and theoretical, making them difficult topics to teach and understand. Pupils need a lot of help with the practical skills required to carry out experiments. Examples of real life applications, like interviews with people living with health issues as a direct result of lifestyle choices, were identified as resources that would help pupils better understand the subject. Video content was identified as the most popular revision tool, with both pupils and teachers stressing the need for more interactive ways to learn.
Video/Animation
Age-appropriate originated video or animation, delivering clear learning outcomes. Video can be presenter-led, narrated or graphically signposted. BBC Digital and Learning will be responsible for clearing and paying for any music sourced for production by the contracted company. Any copyrighted material, including clips, images and commercial music, must be signposted to the BBC production team at the earliest stage to ensure rights clearance. It is at the BBC’s discretion to agree the use of any copyrighted material. Clearance confirmation will be given based on value for money. It may be possible to include archive clips if they are beneficial to learning, subject to clearance. Archive could come from a range of genres and we can advise what is available.
_For this commission we require approximately 40 minutes of original video or animation. Each_*
video should be around 2 minutes in duration and should contextualise or give an overview of the
topic.
_For more detail, see Appendix Item B: Video spec for delivery._*
Test Chapters
All Study Guides must contain a test chapter. These are multiple choice questions testing students on what they’ve learned in revise & video chapters. Audio clips and stills can be used within the test chapters. Test chapters usually include 6 – 10 questions depending on topic content.
BBC Bitesize App
On the Bitesize App, CCEA GCSE Biology will exist as a series of flashcards. These include text summaries, glossary terms, audio and video content, infographics and quizzes. Flashcards are based on study guide content and include a summary card, multiple choice quiz cards and relevant glossaries. They are a subset of the main content suitable for exam revision in bullet points and summarise the key points in each study guide. Flashcards have a maximum word count of 450 characters.
*For more detail, see Appendix Item C: Bitesize App Flashcard Content Creation.
Sample Outlines
How Study Guide components might work together within a Topic area:
BIOLOGY > BIODIVERSITY > NITROGEN CYCLE, MINERALS AND EUTROPHICATION LEARNING OUTCOME What role do microorganisms play in the nitrogen cycle? How do plants absorb minerals?
REVISE CHAPTER Infographics A series of infographics showing how plants absorb minerals from soil through active uptake. They should illustrate each of the minerals and their uses. Text Concise, easy to understand copy to support and expand upon each of the learning outcomes, using bullet point lists where possible.
VIDEO CHAPTER A short, funny animation breaking down each step of the nitrogen cycle. Students should be able to follow the cycle from fixation through to decomposition.
TEST CHAPTER A multiple-choice quiz that uses stills and text to pose questions based on the revise chapter.
APP CONTENT A summary of each of the key points from the revise chapter in condensed form.
BIOLOGY > HEALTH, DISEASE AND MICROORGANISMS > NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES LEARNING OUTCOME
What are the causes of non-communicable diseases? REVISE CHAPTER
Infographic Series of infographics breaking down the cause and effect of a blockage in a blood vessel, including heart attack and stroke. Text Concise, easy to understand copy to support and expand upon each of the learning outcomes, using bullet point lists where possible. VIDEO CHAPTER
A video looking in more detail at lifestyle factors which affect human health and the interaction of factors which can cause non-communicable diseases. This could include people who have been diagnosed talking about the impact their lifestyle choices have had on their health. TEST CHAPTER A multiple-choice quiz that uses stills and text to pose questions based on the revise chapter.
APP CONTENT A summary of each of the key points from the revise chapter in condensed form.
Working with the BBC
There will be a minimum of 4 face-to-face meetings during production. In addition, we require a
weekly content update.
The 4 face-to-face meetings will be with the production team in Belfast – so your travel expenses
should be considered when budgeting.
Project Initiation Meeting – This first meeting will be a chance to meet the production team in
Belfast. We will discuss the editorial scope of the project, confirm the timeline for delivery and hear
content plans and ideas.
Meeting #2 – This meeting will take place at the mid-point of the pre-production process and will
focus on proposed video content (scripts, storyboards, talent, style and tone), iGFX samples
(approach and style) and use of text to deliver learning outcomes.
Checks on text style and tone Production schedule/milestones Formal Input from the Education Consultant and user testing
Meeting #3 – This meeting will be scheduled for the mid-point of the production process and will
assess content produced to date and next steps including:
Production schedule/milestones Formal feedback from the Education Consultant and user testing
Meeting #4 – This final meeting will be scheduled around the end of the production process to focus
on how the content fits together within the Bitesize framework. We’ll look at learner journeys and
progression through the content to determine if it is delivering on these key learning outcomes:
Production schedule/milestones Formal feedback from the Education Consultant and user testing
Company and project team profile
We want to hear from companies who are passionate about learning and enthusiastic about creating
content for one of the BBC’s premier online brands.
Audience awareness will be key. Do you know this audience and their needs? Have you produced
content for them before? Can you produce content that will resonate with them?
Please include details on the skills and experience of the key members of your project team.
We would like to see evidence of your capacity to deliver this content.
Links to relevant portfolio examples
Please send links to content you have produced which you think are relevant to this commission.
Indicative Budget
Please provide a budget breakdown to show how you intend to cost the project. Payment schedule
to be agreed upon award of contract. Typical payment might be:
40% on signature of contract 30% divided upon completion of defined production milestones 30% upon final delivery
Working together
Who is responsible for what?
You will be responsible for:
Project management and production of deliverables to agreed deadline and budget. Chairing regular production meetings and communicating project plans and status.
We will be responsible for:
Sharing project documentation. Collaboration throughout the production, including feedback. Enabling access to any relevant BBC archive. Sign-off at milestones on all content, and on final delivery – within an agreed timeframe. Post-production paperwork, limited to WebasC form.
We will be jointly responsible for:
Ensuring the learning outcomes are met. Ensuring that content is best-fit for the Bitesize audience. Quality assurance of content.
The BBC Learning team
Emma Dunseith - Executive Producer Peter Matassa - Producer Stuart Portis - Assistant Producer Laura Haughey - Researcher
Proposal Deliverable List
Company overview, portfolio and project team Project overview Content/editorial plan for the Chromosomes, genes and DNA study guide Production schedule and project management approach Budget breakdown
Selection
The BBC will use the following standard criteria to evaluate the pitches submitted:
Quality of the idea proposed Suitability for Bitesize audience Prior experience of company Ability to meet editorial requirements Core staff experience Project management / production plan Pricing / value for money Presentation of response
Next Steps
All proposals should be submitted via email to stuart.portis@bbc.co.uk by 22 nd^ June 2017. Please use Bitesize Proposal: GCSE BIOLOGY as the subject line.
This is an open brief published on the BBC Learning Commissioning website. Please note that this document is for information purposes only and does not form part of a contractual agreement with the BBC.
This is a stand-alone new media commission and the BBC will require all rights in the content, worldwide and on all platforms. The commission will be contracted using the BBC’s New Media Rights Framework 2 agreement.
Further information on the BBC New Media Frameworks can be found here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/technology-online/how-we-work/new-mediarights- framework.shtml
APPENDIX
Item A: Suggested Content Breakdown
Topic Study guides Content
UNIT 1
CELLS Microscopy, size and magnification
Cells and specialisation
Diffusion
Microscopy ( PRACTICAL – make a temporary slide and use a light microscope to examine and identify the structures of a typical plant & animal cell ) Size and magnification
Animal Cells Plant Cells Bacterial Cells Stem Cells Specialisation
Process of diffusion and investigate the effect of surface area on the rate of diffusion
LIVING
PROCESSES
Photosynthesis and plants
Nutrition and Food Tests
Leaf Structure Investigating photosynthesis ( PRACTICAL – investigate need for light and chlorophyll in photosynthesis by testing a leaf for starch ) Equation for photosynthesis Limiting Factors Compensation point
Reagents & colour changes Investigate food samples using food tests Biological molecules Food & energy ( PRACTICAL – investigate the energy content of food by burning food samples )
Enzymes and Digestion Actions of enzymes How temperature, pH, enzyme concentration and inhibitors affect the action of enzymes ( PRACTICAL – effect of temperature on the action of an enzyme ) The Digestive System
Topic Study Guide Content
UNIT 2
BODY SYSTEMS Osmosis, and plant transport
Osmosis, plasmolysis and turgidity ( PRACTICAL – investigate the process of osmosis by measuring change in length or mass of plant tissue or model cells using Visking tubing ) The potometer ( PRACTICAL – investigate the factors affecting the rate of water uptake by a plant ) Transpiration Uses of water
Circulatory System Blood components Cell lysis Blood vessels Effects of exercise The heart
Reproduction, fertility and contraception
Sperm formation and pregnancy Sex hormones Menstrual cycle Infertility Contraception
GENETICS Chromosomes, genes and DNA
Cell Division
Genetic diagrams and terminology
Chromosomes Genes DNA structure
Cell division Mitosis Meiosis
Dominant and recessive alleles Genotype, phenotype, gamete and offspring ratios, percentages and probabilities Homozygous and heterozygous genotypes Punnett squares
X and Y chromosomes and genetic screening
How sex is determined in humans Importance of genetic conditions Genetic screening
Genetic Engineering Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of genetic engineering as a process that modifies the genome of an organism to introduce desirable characteristics
Variation and natural selection types of variation
Natural selection Selective breeding
HEALTH, DISEASE
AND
MICROORGANISMS
Communicable diseases
Aseptic techniques
Defence mechanisms
Non-communicable diseases
Definition of health as free from communicable and non- communicable diseases Costs to society of communicable and non-communicable diseases, including economic sot of NHS treatment Types of communicable diseases
Aseptic techniques ( PRACTICAL – investigate effect of different chemicals or antibiotic discs on the growth of bacteria )
The body’s defence mechanism Plant defence mechanisms Development of medicines Antibiotics Antibiotic-Resistant bacteria Vaccinations
Non-communicable diseases – inherited, lifestyle factors (poor diet, exercise, overexposure to the sun, misuse of drugs – alcohol, nicotine) Interaction between conditions – eg. Obesity linked to Diabetes Type 2 Heart attacks and strokes Cancer
Item B: Video Spec for Delivery
VIDEO
Deliver on a hard drive (exFAT) two formats of each video (one compressed and one uncompressed).
Compressed:
Container format: .mp4 or .mov Maximum file size , 50GB Video Codec: H.264 / QuickTime
If your system gives you the option to choose between baseline, main and high profile for H.
export, high is preferred.
Frame size: 1920 x 1080 Frames per second: 25 (progressive scan) Bit rate/ Quality: Constant/100%
Audio
Codec: AAC Channels: Stereo Bit rate: 320 kbps Sample rate: 48 KHz Sample depth: 16 bit
For online there is no set level – if it is consistent and you can hear the voice over the music mix and
it is not too low or distorted, that’s fine.
Uncompressed:
Deliver an uncompressed version on separate channels. This can be the source files used within the editing system, with Video, Voice, Music, SFX and Graphics on separate channels. Graphics must be rendered on separate channel for translation. Video Codec is AVC Intra Class 100. Premiere and FCP you can use the DPP AS-11 HD export setting. If delivering animation, use the uncompressed Animation Codec. H.264 source footage from DSLRs is acceptable.
Please refer to this link for output https://www.digitalproductionpartnership.co.uk/what-we-
do/technical-standards/programme-delivery-standards/
MUSIC
Commercial music should only be used in the videos if there is an editorial reason to do so and this
needs to be agreed with the BBC prior to inclusion.
SUBTITLES
To deliver an XML for subtitles for each video (English SDH) Using a form of XML called TTML EBU-TT-D (Time Text Markup Languages) Section 26 - http://bbc.github.io/subtitle-guidelines/
For file format please refer to this link http://bbc.github.io/subtitle-guidelines/ from section 23.
There are other useful guides in this file but a basic style guide and example will be supplied later.
DOCUMENTATION
The following post production documentation must be completed and returned as complete within
seven days of the delivery date:
Metadata for each video written by a teacher or education consultant. 2 x post production transcripts for each piece of video – one with timecode and one without timecode.
QUIZZES
There are five quiz questions per flashcard deck. These questions should all be multiple choice with 3
possible answers that relate to the topic you have written about.
Questions from the study guide can be used but there should be two original questions (reuse up to
three from the study guide).
Provide one piece of meaningful feedback (which offers further explanation) for the CORRECT
answer. This should be one sentence, which further explains the answer and should be useful for
students who get the answer wrong.
GLOSSARY CARDS
There are a minimum of two glossary terms per deck and no more than five.
Example
Glossary term Definition vitamins Organic substances, which are essential in small amounts to regulate the metabolism and maintain the immune system.
