1. SESSION 2
Knowledge Representation, Research and materials development for Teacher Education
Exploring biodiversity in the caps documents

2. Biodiversity Variety of life and life systems, number of kinds
Ecological diversity
different habitats, niches, species interactions
Species diversity
different kinds of organisms, relationships among species
Genetic diversity
different genes & combinations of genes within populations

3. Exploring biodiversity in the CAPS Characteristics of Ecosystems
Ecosystems are dynamic entities which represent the total complex of factors operating within the system.
These systems are integrated
Interactions between species are real but simple involving relationships between a variety life and the natural areas where they occur
Living things cannot therefore exist independently of each other
The curriculum should reflect this interdependency
Little or no concern for content coherence is prevalent
View biodiversity content as a list of topics that can be arranged anyway across grades, terms

4. Biodiversity In The Curriculum
Lithology
Soil type
Moisture content
Habitat
Biome
A complex community of plants and animals in a region and a climate is called a biome.

5. The Gap
little or no concern for content coherence in content representation
View biodiversity content as a list of topics that can be arranged anyway across grades, terms
Progression in understanding of the content of biodiversity is therefore compromised
Important knowledge content for understanding the key biodiversity knowledge content is missing or omitted
Ignore the existing interdependency within species

6. What then?
Curricula as "learning systems" represent the real systems, physical or abstract and should
reflect the existing interdependency
consider or show concern for content coherence in content representation
View biodiversity holistically and not as a list of topics that can be arranged anyway across grades, terms
Adhere to progression of knowledge content in leveraging the understanding of the content of biodiversity
Tracking of important knowledge content for understanding the key biodiversity knowledge is essential

7. A partnership programme for environmental learning and teacher education