AP Biology w\Lab

Online for the 2024-2025 School Year

Teacher: Ivonne Heapy

Email: ivhose@yahoo.com

Join me for AP Biology!

Class Dates: Wednesday Sept 4, 2024 - May 10, 2025

How to Register?

1. Check Prerequisites and Read Description

2. Complete Preassessment

3. Complete Application and receive confirmation email from teacher

4. Register!

Prerequisites:

The course is designed with the expectation that students have completed the following: 1 year of High school level Biology AND Algebra 1 with a minimum B+ grade. Biology and Algebra are expected to be completed before the start of this course (no exceptions); Chemistry is highly recommended to be completed before but can be completed concurrently.

Course Description: 

Live Sessions (Optional) weekly on Wednesday's 4:30pm - 5:30pm EST

**NOTE: This is a lecture AND lab class which means that your student will not only be working out of a textbook but required to run hands on labs, lab reports and learn about data analysis

AP Biology is a course designed to be the equivalent of a first-year college level biology course. The emphasis of this course will be on developing an understanding of biological concepts, as well as preparation for the AP Biology College Board Examination. This course has a lecture and lab component. Average time spent on this course is 2 hours daily (depending on students' academic preparation for this course)

The student will be encouraged to understand and appreciate the science of biology as a process and to gain personal experience in scientific inquiry that develops their problem solving and critical thinking skills. This course has a high expectation for students through the pace, large amount of content to cover, as well as the time and effort required from the students. This course also covers statistical concepts related to investigative research in Biological Science, so a strong math foundation is highly recommended.

Students are expected to work independently through the use of a weekly pacing guide which includes textbook reading, chapter questions, study packets, AP College Board review question and lab reports. Live Lessons are intended answer questions, go over important concepts and practice test questions.

Canvas will be used to deliver AP Biology content as well as other digital tools, such as Zoom. This is an AP level course, and the teacher will be only one variable the students' academic success in this course. Students will need to come prepared and ready to engage in all Zoom classes, participate in partner activities, join TA hour for group discussions and questions, drop into office hours for extra help and complete assignments on time (asynchronous instruction). The most important part of this course is advocating for your educational needs by asking questions and working with Mrs. Heapy to meet individual goals.

AP Exam Prep: the last few weeks of the course are dedicated to an overall review of the course with focus on AP Biology Exam prep.

Labs: 

AP College Board investigative hands-on labs are additional to the lecture component of the course. Students will be investigating the following:

• oxygen production rates in cellular respiration by building a respirometer.
• examining the effects of pH and temperature on enzyme function in biological reactions
• examining movements of molecules across the cellular membrane 
• building models of cellular membrane, proteins and DNA
• investigating reactions important in biology that are mediated my specific enzymes
• measure water potential using osmosis rates
• using cellular staining to measure mitotic rates in cells
• measuring rate of CO2 production in photosynthesis

AND more..

**Highly Recommended: BASIC LAB KIT with basic essentials can be purchased from the instructor."

Tests and Quizzes:

There is a test at the end of every unit and online quizzes and assignments via myapclassroom.com (a classroom account for registered students on College Board). This is not a course recommended for students taking other demanding AP courses in other subjects. 

Main topics:

• Chemistry Review (acid/base reactions, pH, Bronsted/Lowry reactions, polarity, molecular charges, ions) **Student is expected to have a good understanding of these topics before starting the course; these will not be taught in this course**
• chemistry of life (macromolecules)
• Water Properties (strong understanding of fundamentals of molecular chemistry required)
• proteins and enzymes
• cells and cell energetics (free energy, laws of thermodynamics, mitosis, cell cycle regulation)
• heredity, molecular genetics (meiosis, DNA, mendelian genetics)
• evolution (population dynamics)
• biotechnology
• Biological systems and regulation
• Introduction to Statistics as it applies to Biology (standard deviation, confidence intervals, t test) **students are expected to have a good background in Algebra 1**
  
  • Chi Square
  • Probability as it applies to Genetics.
  • Standard deviation and confident intervals used for Data Analysis
  • Water Potential

 Materials:

1) Textbook: TBD

3) General Supplies: Binder; graph paper; college-ruled loose leaf lined paper; scissors; highlighters; math calculator; pens or pencils; 1 lab books (100 pages paper book or digital lab book approved by teacher)

4) Lab Materials (Sample of Labs Covered) - for an additional fee of $60 you can purchase a BASIC LAB KIT from the instructor

 Course Fee:

1) Course: $750

2) Textbook: ($100-200)

3) Lab Materials: Lab Kit or purchases by student ($60)

My Results:

(2022/23) 42% of my class earned a score of "5" 

For more information see Mrs Heapy's Website

      About the Instructor:

Ivonne Heapy, B.Sc, M.S. Ed., OCT, WA state certified, NY Biology 7-12 certified

Ivonne Heapy is certified in both the US and Canada as a Biology and Chemistry high school teacher. She has taught diverse levels of science in Canada, NY state and WA state. Ivonne studied physiology at the University of Toronto, and later worked in research in neurophysiology at the same Canadian university. She has been a certified high school teacher with a variety of experiences in education including working with parent coops and alternative learning programs. Mrs. Heapy is currently teaching sophomore Math and Chemistry, after having taught Physics at the same local high school in WA state for three years. She has also collaborated with another local public school district to pilot an alternative learning program to develop a public community based "microschool". Mrs Heapy has also worked with a local independent school in WA state and focuses on curriculum development and remote learning, as well as teaching in person.

Mrs Heapy's challenges her student's bringing rigorous academics to the forefront while offering students many supports to reach their maximum potential.

Among her additional activities are participating as a long-standing judge for eCYBERMISSION - a web-based science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) competition for students, and working with the local marine science center on research projects that examine the impact of plankton on local marine life. She was also a homeschool mom of three children. As a homeschool parent she brings a wealth of experience and as an educator she has many years of experience working with homeschool students getting them ready to transition to college level education. She understands the unique dynamics of a students studying remotely and in a homeschool environment.

Additional information: 

AP Examination information  

The 2024-2025 AP Biology examination will be given in May 2025.  Examinees must register by November in order to take the May 2025 examination.  Additional information will be given during the year in class.

This course is intended to support all students interested in advanced Biology with a focus on the AP Exam. 

 For more information contact: Ivonne Heapy at ivonneh@mathscionline.org