Name of Program:  AP Biology

Grade Level: 11-12          

Population: All Students

Materials :

v         Centers

v         Online Research

v         Online:  http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/courses/teachers_corner/1,3061,151-165-0-8929,00.html

v         Barron’s AP Biology Review

v         Streaming Video

v         Texts

·       McGraw-Hill Higher Education  Biology 6^th ed. Raven and Johnson

v         Library selections/videos

v         ClassServer lessons

v         CIA

General Description:

The AP Biology course is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester college introductory biology course usually taken by biology majors during their first year of college. AP biology includes topics regularly covered in a college biology course with respect to the range and depth of topics covered, the type of laboratory work done by students and the time and effort required of students to be successful on the AP Biology exam.   The AP Biology course is designed to be taken by students after the successful completion of a first course in high school biology and in high school chemistry.  It aims to provide students with the conceptual framework, factual knowledge, and analytical skills necessary to deal critically with the rapidly changing science of biology.  AP Biology classes also prepare students for the College Board Advanced Placement Biology Exam.

Working Theories:

v    Balanced Literary

http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/timely/brires.htm

v    Content-Based Reading

v    Multiple Intelligences

v    Brain-Based Research

v    Whole-Part-Whole  http://www.arp.sprnet.org/curric/Dept_Chairs/whole.htm

Working Models:

v    Whole-Part-Whole (Dorothy Strickland) http://www.arp.sprnet.org/curric/Dept_Chairs/whole.htm

v    National Standards

http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/nses/html/overview.html

http://www.nabt.org/sub/position_statements/standards.asp

Mentorship Component for New Teachers:

• Mentor Observation Form

• Mentor Check List

Pedagogical Resources

Policies: 

v    SCANS

http://www.arp.sprnet.org/default/LivingSkills/SixSkills.htm

v    Character Counts

http://www.goodcharacter.com/

http://www.arp.sprnet.org/curric/CC!/Ethics.htm

v    Staff Development

http://www.arp.sprnet.org/default/district/inservice/inserv1.htm

v    NCLB- Three Tiers

http://www.arp.sprnet.org/default/district/inservice/inserv1.htm

Time Allotments: 

v    Content-based reading (throughout the year)

v    Explicit instruction (20-25 minutes daily)

v    Guided reading/writing(15-25minutes daily)

v    Laboratory exercises 2 days weekly

v    Course time allotment should consist of 25% molecules and cells, 25% Heredity and Evolution, 60% Organisms and Populations

Mentorship Component for New Teachers:

\\Senior01\Teachers\Donna\mentor form.doc

Classroom Engagement:

v    Visual Cues/Posted Objectives

v    Curriculum-based reading

v    Four classroom components

1.     Concrete (manipulatives, models, hands-on)

2.     Discussion/Mental model

3.     Symbolic/Pictorial

4.     Abstract (written on the board, formulations

Goals

The two main goals of AP Biology are to help students develop a conceptual framework for modern biology and to help students gain an appreciation of science as a process. The ongoing information explosion in biology makes these goals even more challenging. Primary emphasis in an Advanced Placement Biology course should be on developing an understanding of concepts rather than on memorizing terms and technical details. Essential to this conceptual understanding are the following: a grasp of science as a process rather than as an accumulation of facts; personal experience in scientific inquiry; recognition of unifying themes that integrate the major topics of biology; and application of biological knowledge and critical thinking to environmental and social concerns.

v    All learners will participate on the AP Advanced Placement Biology Test.

v    All learners will be successful at 70% or above on the 1^st benchmark test.

v    Students will be successful on exiting Tiers before the end of 1^st semester.

v    In 2006, at least 70% of all AP Biology students in grades 12 will  be successful on the AP Advanced Placement Biology Test.

Major Themes and Concepts:

I.                 Science as a Process

II.               Evolution

III.             Energy Transfer

IV.            Continuity and Change

V.              Relationship of Structure to Function

VI.            Regulation

VII.          Interdependence in Nature

VIII.        Science, Technology, and Society

Concept Weaknesses:

Interdependence in Nature

Energy Transfer

Science as a Process

Example Activities:

Resources:

Accountability:

v    YEA (pre-assessment at the beginning of the school year)

v    Benchmark tests (at the end of each six weeks)

v    Final Exam

v    AP Biology Exam

v     

Tier 1:  students that failed to meet minimum requirements on the Yearly Expectations Assessment given the third week of school.  These assessments were based on objectives the student needed to master from the previous grade level.  The assessments were given in English, Math, Science and Social Studies.  Parents of the students qualifying for Tier I will be notified by letter.

Tier 2: students that have failed to master objectives taught during the 1^st-3^rd six weeks of school or failed TAKS from the previous school year.  This will be measured on a benchmark test given the sixth week of school.  The parents of the students qualifying for Tier II and /or III will be notified by letter.

Tier 3: students that have failed to master objectives taught for the 1^st semester of school or any combination of Tier I and/or II.  This will be measured on a benchmark test given at the end of the 1^st semester.  The parents of the students qualifying for Tier II and/or III will be notified by letter.

Tutorial Options:

v    After school tutorials

v    Before school tutorials

v    Peer tutoring (Mu Alpha Theta and National Honor Society)

Materials:

v    Princeton Guides to the AP Exam

v    AP Labs    http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/members/article/1,3046,151-165-0-34458,00.html

v    Computer Tutorials (ie. TRACKS, Study Island, )

v    College Board online assessment

v    Barron’s AP Biology Guide

Allotted Time/Days:

v    Before school tutorials (7:30AM-8:00AM) arrangements made with individual teachers)

v    After school tutorials (3:30PM-4:00PM) Mondays for high school.

Assessments:

v    ClassServer/teacher constructed tests

v    Laboratory Reports

v    AP Biology Practice Exams

v    AP Biology Exam (May)