n      This course is the equivalent of an introductory college laboratory course for Biology majors.

n      AP Biology is very demanding. What helps most is focusing on the overriding concepts rather than the isolated details.

n      The course builds a picture of life and how it is linked

n      The course is organized around the concepts found in the AP Biology Course Description provided by the College Board

n      Eight themes presented

n      The course emphasizes the central role of evolution in biology by discussing it in the context of each unit, as well as examining the personal and social aspects of each unit.

Teaching Strategies

n      Lectures that are guided by PowerPoint presentations

n      Socratic discussions

n       cooperative work

n      Hands-on inquiry (labs),

n      Independent studies guided by project assignment,

n      Computer animations via the internet or the CD ROM that accompanies the text,

n      Streaming video and peer evaluation.

n      Students will be required to use Angel (a Black-Board like system for interactive student discussions that students will be required to use four times a month.)

n      The instructor will maintain regular nightly office hours twice a week via Angel as well as upload pod-casts of difficult lecture material.

What is Expected Out of You!

n      Read Each Chapter Before We Start PowerPoint Presentations

n      Print Out Notes (School Website) or Outline Chapter Before PowerPoint Presentations (You will have no time in class to write everything out)

n      Labs: Prelabs need to done before lab, complete with Title, Table of Contents, Purpose, Background, and Materials & Methods. Those that come unprepared will get a ZERO on the lab and will be unable to participate

What is the End Goal?

n      Pass the AP Biology Test

n      Obtain College Credit

n      Its not a contest, or an individual sport, we are all in this together

n      To be better prepared for College.