Judson ISD



Ms. Ayala’s AP-BiologyTeacher: Rebecca Ayala, M.S.Course: AP-BiologyEmail Address: rayala452@ (best way to make contact)Phone: 210-619-0220Course Description: Advanced Placement Biology is designed to offer students a solid foundation in college level introductory biology, based on the belief that many students are ready for college work while still in high school. Student should be prepared for complex science texts and reading, including a minimum of 30 minutes to 1 hour or work outside class each day (about 5-8 hours a week). As a college level course, the amount of material covered as well as the complexity of the topics will be high. An ongoing expectation, therefore, is to learn the material as it is presented and come to class each day understanding the previous day’s material. Students must be certain that they are willing to accept this challenge and be committed to keep up with the work. Upon completion of the course students should be able to have the conceptual framework, factual knowledge, and analytical skills necessary to deal critically with the rapidly changing science of biology. Any student who wishes to un-enroll from an advanced course must notify the academic dean & counselor ASAP!Prerequisites:Students entering AP Biology must be in one of two pathways. The first involves successful completion of Pre-APBiology, and teacher recommendation. The second involves the successful completion of either Biology or Pre-AP Biology and Pre-AP Chemistry. In addition to science preparation, students in AP Biology should have a strong math background.Textbook: Openstax Biology 2e online: textbook is only one resource. We will use many resources such as websites, journals, additional textbooks, etc.Labs, you will use the College Board’s AP Biology Laboratory Manual. Other supplementary materials will be used as necessary 6th Edition Barron’s AP Biology Test Preparation ManuelMaterials Needed: (* Must have daily)Large 3 ring binder with dividers for each unit (required daily)*College ruled paper, and graph paper*Black or blue pen and pencils (required daily)*Some of the required outside work for this class requires the use of a computer and the internet for students. If you do not have access to this equipment at home you will need to make arrangements to do some of your work before/after school in the school library computer lab.Multiple (at least 3) colors of highlighters or bright pens.Concepts of Biology by Openstax (Rice University)Calculator Class Policies, Expectations and Rules:The Students will:Arrive to class on time with your material out and ready, starting any work posted on the board.Be prepared for class or lab by completing the required readings or assignments ahead of time.Turn in all assignments on time.No food or drink other than water will be allowed in class. (Remember you are in a science lab)Refrain from using cell phones or other electronic devices for the purpose of communication or entertainment.Cell phones will be turned off for all quizzes and tests or when test material is out.Restrooms should be used during passing periods and breaks. Teacher should only allow students to leave class to use the restroom in the event of an emergency (or by medical note). A pass must be used to leave the room for any reason.Stay awake and participate appropriately in class.Students who do not follow instructions or create dangerous situation during labs will not be able to participate in lab and will lose the points.Register, pay for, and take the AP exam (Details to follow).Failure to comply with classroom behavioral expectations will result in…Teacher/students conference (hopefully this is where it ends)Contact with parents (next step)Referral to appropriate administrator (last resort)Course Objectives: The College Board has organized the AP Biology course around the Curriculum Framework which is broken into four big ideas that our course will be based on. Big Idea 1: The process of evolution explains the diversity and unity of life. Big Idea 2: Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, to reproduce, and to maintain dynamic homeostasis. Big Idea 3: Living systems store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life processes. Big Idea 4: Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties.In addition to reinforcing the BIs and EUs, all essential knowledge is taught and all learning objectives are addressed throughout the curriculum. The course focuses on inquiry-based laboratory work and the use of the seven science practices in both lab and non-lab activities.Teaching Strategies: Active engagement in the classroom environment is key to success in this course. A variety of methods will be utilized including reading assignments, homework questions, discussions and labs. Lectures will cover selected concepts from the textbook chapters and are supplemented with diagrams, explanations, visuals, videos, animations, and demonstrations. I ask you to add any information you have obtained from the lecture directly to the lecture notes. It is highly recommended that you take the AP Biology Exam in the spring. AP released exams are utilized throughout the year. This includes the multiple choice questions as well as the free-response questions (FRQ’s). Assessments are also formatted to correspond with the AP Exam. Throughout the year, students will be preparing for the AP Biology Exam by taking practice exams and answering Free-Response Questions (FRQ’s). By practicing, students will gain experience answering the types of questions found on the AP exam, develop their critical thinking skills, and improve their writing skills. Quizzes are given on a weekly basis. Every unit concludes with a cumulative unit exam. A midterm is given after the first semester that mimics the format and administration of the AP Biology Exam.Student Evaluation: Quizzes, homework, participation in discussions, unit exams, lab reports and research projects will be used to evaluate your learning. An individual grading rubric will be provided for most assignments.Unit Exams:At the end of each unit, an exam will be given which include multiple choice questions and free range questions (FRQ’s). Unit exams will be completed in class and testing time for these exams will be limited just as it is for the AP Biology Exam. There will be a comprehensive final exam at the end of each semester. Final exams will be multiple choice and cumulative in nature. Quizzes:Quizzes will be given each week. Some quizzes will be announced and other will not. Quizzes will vary in format depending on the topic being covered.Lab Component:The student will work in groups to complete each lab during the class period. The students will engage in and complete a minimum of eight inquiry-based investigations (two per Big Idea). Additional labs will be conducted to deepen the students understanding and reinforce the application of science practices within a hands on environment. This course will provide opportunities for the students to develop, record, and properly communicate the results of your laboratory investigations. Materials, lab setups, preparation of stock solutions, and cultures of the specimen may need to be done prior to the class for some labs.After completing AP Biology, students will be able to design and perform a controlled experiment based upon observations made about a particular topic. In addition, students are also expected to be able to collect and analyze data, through basic statistical analysis, and draw conclusions based on their results. In order to be successful, students have to keep a laboratory journal, in which they record their procedures, data/results, and write their conclusions for each laboratory they perform. They are required to write a report for various laboratories performed, which they place in their journals. These reports must include a title, problem, hypothesis (in an “if…then..” format), predictions, background information, data, (graphs, table, data analysis, etc…), conclusion, and sources of error.Homework & Readings:Homework will take many forms and is designed to help with student understanding of the current unit being studied. Homework assignments for each unit include, but are not necessarily limited to the following; completion of Major Themes Concept Maps, justify why the answers to the “self-quiz” multiple-choice section at the end of each assigned chapter are correct, answering the “evolution connection” question at the end of each assigned chapter, and answering free-response questions, which are related to the unit.Readings for each unit include chapters from the textbook, which contain information that will be covered. Scientific abstracts and papers are assigned with the purpose of showing how discoveries are made and demonstrate that science is the process. Articles in science magazines and online news sources are also assigned to promote discussion and social and environmental concerns.Absences/ Late work/ Make up work: All assignments are due on the given due dates. No credit will be given for late assignments without prior arrangements.If a student is absent or sick, it is their responsibility to get class notes and handout from online or a classmate. Asking the teaching can be done before or after class. The student is responsible for checking online or asking the teacher for make-up work! I can always be reached through email. If a student is absent any day during a unit (including the day before the test), the student is still required to take the test on the given day.If a student is absent the day of a test, the student should attempt to make up the test the next day. If you do not make up the test within this time frame, the instructor may give you a zero for the test. It is not fair to other students in the course to give you extended time to study and prepare for a test. Absences must be excused.Normal work due the day of an absence is due the next day the student is at school. Project and lab due dates are not flexible! If a student is gone, they can email the assignment and then bring a hard copy the first day the student is back at school. Make up work for excused absences should be done within 2 days of the day missed. The AP test assumes student have knowledge of certain labs. Labs cannot always be made up. Students must be present for labs, and will have warning when there are lab days. Arrangements for absences due to school activities must be made before the date.Science Practices and Learning Objective:The science practices and learning objectives are used throughout the course. All activities and class work will be connected to at least one learning objective that will be clearly communicated to you so you can see the science practices and learning objectives as the framework around which the learning of the course takes place. The science practices and learning objectives will also be addressed in classroom activities and projects external to the formal lab investigations.The science practices (SP) being implemented are:The student can use representations and models to communicate scientific phenomena and solve scientific problems.The student can use mathematics appropriately.The student can engage in scientific questioning to extend thinking or to guide investigations within the context of the AP course.The student can plan and implement data collection strategies appropriate to a particular scientific question.The student can perform data analysis and evaluation of evidence.The student can work with scientific explanations and theories.The student is able to connect and relate knowledge across various scales, concepts and representations in the across domains. ................
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