college Prep Biology

College Prep biology

GOALS and PHILOSOPHY:

All students are inextricably entwined with the natural world, whether they want to be or not! It is only human that students will be curious about how the natural world works and why it works that way. We will build on the natural curiosity that has been fostered in the younger years, and look at nature in a more sophisticated manner than previously encountered in school. Understanding of the relationships in the environment and how biological systems work is important as a skill of all citizens in a world that is becoming more technologically driven and complex, and more affected by the presence of man. My major goal is to prepare students for stewardship of this earth by giving them a thorough understanding of major ideas and their importance.

First year biology is therefore designed to introduce students to the fundamental concepts upon which modern biology is based. Because students already have an elementary background in life science from their primary years, we will look beyond the obvious macrofauna at the world of modern biology. This will include an introduction to the diversity of microscopic organisms and their role in the environment as well as molecular biology and the impact that it has in our modern world. To get the most out of this course, I expect students to follow a variety of paths to increased understanding of Biology. This is done through limited traditional lecture, class discussion and written assignments as well as traditional and open-ended laboratory experiences and computer simulations, videos, and anything else I can find that helps students understand the "whys and ways" of the biological world. Student experiences and observations will be used to connect the concepts to the world that they know.

QUARTERLY ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Each quarter, students will be required to submit a one to two-page summary of an educational nature program that they watched on TV or video. This will be due on the Friday before the last class day of each quarter, but may be submitted early any time during the quarter.

This video summary should be of an hour biological science program such as Nature, National Geographic or Nova that can be accessed on a TV. Taking notes during the video will make it easier to finish the summary. The selection is not limited to those, but needs to be of an educational nature on a biological topic and in the hour-long format.

Crocodile Hunter or ANY Irwin production is not acceptable in any way, shape, or form. Neither are two half-hour programs, volcano or other natural disaster videos, cartoons, or commercial movies or exploitive videos. Nor are EyeWitness videos (they are only 1/2 hour).

You would be surprised at how many students watch a video about floods, hurricanes, or tornados that do not emphasize the environmental damage, but only the disaster part. These are not what I want you to concentrate on in biology, and they are not acceptable!

After watching the video, a summary of about 1.5 pages typed, double spaced (about 500 words, submit to turnitin.com) will be submitted by the due date (about one week before the end of the quarter). Since this is assigned at the start of every quarter, and students have all quarter to work on this and submit the assignment, late papers will not be accepted. Please see me if you have trouble accessing a computer. We have many available in the building. You will have a school email address and turnitin.com account assigned to you at the beginning of the year. You will be using these all year, so make sure that you can access them, or you will lose points when you can't submit your work!

Not so hard-if planned ahead, and that will make it interesting and easy!

2. Students will also be assigned to make models at appropriate times during the year as quarter 1 and 2 projects. Students will be given a description and instructions for the requirements of the model, and the parameters are on my website under “calendars”. Parents are invited to give advice and support, and review requirements, but remember, it is the student's project!

In quarter 3, a major project is the scope and sequence project required in all classes each year. Students will be expected to write an in depth research paper from information from reading and the internet on a current controversial biological topic. This will be a formal research paper with internal citations, works cited and in typed MLA format, with intermediate deadlines.

Submit a quarter project by the date due, or no credit will be granted. More information for quarterly projects is given on the “calendar” page or through the links below.

Quarter 1: Cell Model

Quarter 2: DNA Model

Quarter 3: Bioethics Research Paper (Scope and Sequence requirement)

Quarter 4: to be determined

TEXTBOOKS:

Students have been requested to keep their Biology books at home so that they are at hand for nightly homework assignments. Loaner books are available in the library so that students can do homework in study hall during the day. The text book is used as a reference to familiarize students with the topics we will be addressing during class. Questions from the text are used to help students check their understanding of the concepts we are discussing and let me know the confusions or misunderstandings they have of those concept. Students will also have on-line access to the text and other materials, so they will never have an excuse to miss a homework assignment.

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES:

Laboratory experiences are essential to develop in depth understanding of the material, and confidence in laboratory skills. Labs will include microscopic observations, biological methods and assays, biotechnology, microbiology, live animal observations, and dissections. Dissections are valuable in aiding understanding of body systems, diversity of organisms, and comparison of adaptations. We do not use live specimens for dissection, nor do we do frivolous dissections. Any student with an ethical or religious objection to dissection will be excused from dissection ahead of time with a note from a parent, and will be given an academically equivalent written assignment.

Safety in the lab and classroom are paramount considerations in this class. Goggles and aprons or lab coats have been supplied for use in the lab, and safety procedures have been emphasized. Each student has passed a safety test and has signed a safety contract. A student violating safety rules will be removed from the lab, given a grade of zero for the lab, and I will contact a parent to discuss and remedy the problem if it continues. Horseplay or immature behavior (the two main violations) cannot be tolerated, and, as with unproductive work habits, will definitely affect a student's grade.

Be sure to look over your classroom Rights and Responsibilities as a biology student. This, of course, leads to unwritten rules that we all know and understand from years of practice and experience! I will hold you to supporting the rights and responsibilities of others in the classroom, so be familiar with them!!

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

Keep a neat, organized binder (an organized binder reflects an organized mind....) of all papers done in and for class. The binder will be graded during the quarter for homework, completeness and organization. The binder will be evidence of accomplishment in this course, and students will be tested on the materials therein.

The binder needs to have a "TO KEEP" section at the front. Papers that need to be kept for the whole year will be on gold paper and kept in that section. I will supply a pocket in which to keep completed quizzes and binder cover page. The rest of the binder is also organized by assignment type with notebook dividers and by date. I will not give help or classroom time for organizing a binder before a binder check. I will give notification of an upcoming check (before the end of each quarter), but the binder is the student's responsibility. If it is not organized, I will take off points. Be aware!

Students are required to write in black or blue ink ONLY. Pencils are for drawings, tests, and graphs. Colored ink is difficult to read. If I can't read a paper because of ink color or handwriting, it is wrong! I have found that students do not need much notebook paper, since many activities will be copied as hand-outs. A highlighter and notebook dividers are also needed. Colored pencils are optional (students may share the class sets), and the calculator used for math will be needed.

suggested supplies:
1.	1 ½-2", 3-ring binder
2.	notebook dividers
3.	blue or black pens
4.	#2 pencils
5.	highlighter
6.	red pen
7.	scientific calculator

GRADING:

Points will be assigned for class and lab work. Labs and class work have varying point values, depending on complexity. If a student is absent, the student has as many days as (s)he was absent to make up labs and class work. It is the student's responsibility to schedule alternate lab work and make it up, or no credit will be granted. Please check the student handbook for guidelines.

Tests are usually 80-100 points each. "Quests" are small tests of approximately 50 points. These usually ask for application of concepts, not regurgitation of facts, and most students find them difficult. Some students only memorize. I want you to understand.

Quizzes may or may not be announced, and pop quizzes may not be made up. They are over specific assigned material from the previous day and the homework from the week. They are worth from 5 to 20 points. If one pop quiz is missed, that grade will be dropped. Any further pop quizzes missed will earn a zero. Announced quizzes are over very specific material, and must be made up in a timely manner. Quizzes are an opportunity to show that you have been keeping up with the work. Pop quizzes also encourage consistent attendance.

Regular, complete homework is also essential to doing well in this class. Homework is due at the beginning of the bell. It will be collected randomly for a grade and there will be (at least) weekly pop homework quizzes, so it is important that the student does and understands the homework to do well on the quizzes as well as tests. These homework quizzes are not optional and cannot be made up. Therefore, regular attendance is essential to a good homework grade, as it is essential to doing well in any class. It is up to the student to keep up with the homework. Absences will not exempt the student from pop quizzes over the homework or class work, so keeping up with the reading, even if absent, is a good strategy.

Some homework assignments will be submitted on-line. These assignments will be time dated, and will be due before the class period begins. Computer access to these assignments may be from home, the public or school library, or my classroom during the student's study hall, before school, or after school.

Class participation will be monitored and will be part of the grade.

The standard Mariemont grade scale is used. Grades will be based on total points, but will generally reflect these guidelines:

homework and homework quizzes	10%
tests and quizzes	35%
labs and class work	40%
notebook and special projects	15%

No extra credit work will be given to replace assigned work, or homework and pop quizzes. Extra credit is rare and is in the form of credit for extremely well done assignments, or a voluntary contribution that I think will be of value to your education. Don't expect extra credit to rescue you at the end of a quarter. Everyday effort is what will give you the higher grades.

CONTACT:

Parents: Please feel free to contact me about any concerns you have about your student's progress, but keep in mind that students need to take responsibility for their own learning. I am available on voice-mail (272-7600) or by email and will give you a return response as quickly as I can. You are also invited to visit the classroom. Please call ahead so that I can tell you if we are having a test that day so that you do not waste your time by observing non-instructional time.

Organization is the

key to success.