AP Biology

On line for the 2010-2011 School Year

Note: Course is full and not taking any more applicants

Teacher:

Terri Kanner

E-mail:

kanner.terri@gmail.com

Registration:

To apply, please request an application from the instructor.

Required Text and Resources:

· Biology by Campbell and Reece (with Interactive Study Partner CD), Edition TBD by June 2010. Benjamin Cummings, a division of Addison Wesley (ISBN number(s) will be provided in June)

· Bio Labs On-Line. Benjamin Cummings, a division of Addison Wesley (ISBN 0-8053-7017-X; 978-0-8053-7017-1)

· Any additional materials will be provided by the instructor

The text will be available directly from the publisher (http://www.mypearsonstore.com/bookstore/browse.asp?n=8fc44ddb-b95b-4fd4-9b6d-654cb33cdba2&sorttype=3&dir=1&page=1), through amazon.com or used from a variety of sources (www.half.ebay.com, www.alibris.com, www.abebooks.com, www.amazon.com and at various college bookstores). Be sure to purchase a copy of the text that includes the Interactive Study Partner CD.

BioliogyLabs On-Line can be purchased from mypearsonstore.com (http://www.mypearsonstore.com/bookstore/product.asp?isbn=080537017X

or call 1-800-824-7799). The item is called Student Lab Manual for BiologyLabs On-Line (all 12 labs).  If you want a hard copy of the lab manual, you may need to request it when purchasing the one year subscription to the website-based laboratory. An “e-manual” is available to all subscribing students on the website.

Daily course schedules, practice essay questions and multiple choice tests will be provided by the instructor for each unit.

Technical Requirements:

· Computer

· Internet access

· E-mail capability

· Optional – Instant Messaging capability is highly recommended

Who Should Apply:

The course is open to students in 10th through 12 grades. All students should be prepared for a college-level course and be dedicated to completing assignments on time to enhance the interactive component of the course. Previous courses in Biology or Life Sciences at the junior or senior high level, in Chemistry at the high school level, and Algebra I are highly recommended before taking this course. An extremely high level of reading comprehension is essential.

Course Fee, Costs:

· $625 – Course fee (Materials, as listed below, are not included in the course fee)

· $55 - $195 – Text (depending on source, new, used etc.)

· $30 – BiologyLabs On-Line subscription

Course Schedule:

· September 2010 through May 2011

Course Description:

Eight units of content will be explored: Basic Biological Chemistry, Cells, Genes, Evolution, Biological Diversity (‘lower life forms’), Plants, Animals and Ecology. Students will master the content (major subject areas, relationships between subject areas, vocabulary) and thought processes (scientific method, experimental processes, inductive and deductive reasoning) necessary in the discipline of Biology. Associated terminology will be learned as well as the important relationships of biology with other scientific disciplines (e.g., how Chemistry relates to Cells, Probability to Genetics, etc.). Throughout the course students will also develop skills for asking and answering questions in a scientific manner.

Students will participate in regularly-planned student interaction sessions to review materials, quizzes and exams to enhance the learning process. In addition, independent and collaborative laboratory exercises using the BiologyLabs On-Line materials will facilitate learning how to work as a scientist and in a research team. The BiologyLabs On-Line activities will also help student to prepare for "laboratory based" question on the AP exams.

Daily reading will be required. Weekly testing the student’s growing knowledge base will occur through AP Exam-like multiple choice tests.

Instructor Qualifications:

I received a BS in Biology from the University of Toledo in Toledo Ohio and a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from The Ohio State University. Following post-graduate work at Children’s Hospital National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., I practiced full-time in Silver Spring Maryland. When my first child reached “school age,” my homeschooling adventure began. After fourteen years (with two more to go), my homeschooling experience has included teaching my two children or supporting them through many AP-level science courses. I have a passion for this material and am excited about teaching this class.

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