2013-14 PSI Biology Instructors Dayna Glass Arlene Roncin Joel Vargas Lisa Alfaro DaynGlass@paps.net ArleRoncin@paps.net JoelVargas@paps.

net bio.alfaro@gmail.com

Course Description This is the first course in a two-year biology sequence. The aim of this course is to help students build an understanding of modern biology on the foundation of their prior learning in physics and chemistry. All the course topics are either taken directly from AP Biology, or are designed to prepare students to understand AP Biology topics. The second course in the sequence, AP Biology, expands on some of those topics, and adds others, so that students are prepared to take the AP Biology examination at the end of that second year course. This course also serves as a strong foundation for Anatomy and Physiology and Forensic Science A key goal of the course is to give students an integrated insight into the modern scientific view of the world. The separation of the sciences into the discrete disciplines of physics, chemistry and biology is becoming less useful; our world is simply not divided up in that way. By the conclusion of this course students should have a perspective on the world, and how it works, which will empower them to follow their interests in any direction after high school, either on to college/university or their career. Course Outline Molecular Biology Origin of Life Large Biological Molecules Membranes & Enzymes Genes Energy Processing Cellular Biology Prokaryotes & Viruses Eukaryotes & Gene Expression Mitosis and Meiosis Organismic Biology Mendelian Genetics & Inheritance Patterns Evolution & Population Genetics Classification Ecology Animal Structure & Function Biotechnology

Requirements and Expectations Students are expected to arrive in class promptly with their binder (these will include handouts, lab reports, homework assignments, and graded tests and quizzes), pens/pencils and other required materials. Students will be ready to complete their Do-Nows at the bell ring. Exams and quizzes MAY NOT be completes in pencil, only pen. During class students are expected to participate and show proper respect to their teacher and classmates. Students will be expected follow all rules of behavior and uniform policy listed in the school handbook. Students will be expected to do the daily homework corresponding to the unit seen in class that day. These assignments need to be completed by the designated time in order that the student is prepared for class. All homework, classwork and presentations (as well as answers to classwork and homework) given in class are available online at https://njctl.org/courses/science/biology/; students should consider a HW assignment complete when they understand any differences between their answers and those posted. This is critical since, while HW is not graded, frequent quizzes will assess student understanding of each HW assignment. Students who are absent to class or lose their work are responsible for accessing the appropriate work on the website. Course Work and Assessment Students will be assessed based on their results on quizzes, quests and tests. Tests will occur at the end of each unit and are based on about 100 points, consisting of a multiple choice section and a free response section. Quests are based on 40-60 points and may be given in the middle of a topic or in lieu of a test. Quizzes will have a point value of up to 25 points, and may be given at any time, with or without prior notice. Students will always be given advanced notice of tests and quests. Students can improve their grade by retaking a new version of a quiz, quest or test by coordinating with the corresponding teacher; the highest score will count. There will not be any extra-credit projects to improve a students grade; they must show that their current understanding of a topic has improved in order for their grade to be improved. Students will be conducting a full-scale biology lab approximately every other week for a total of about four labs per quarter. Students will be required to keep record of their lab results in a notebook. Lab quizzes will be given at the completion of each lab. These quizzes will have a value of up to 25 points. The grade for the course will be determined by computing the mathematical average of the points earned by the student divided by the number of possible points. Participation and other factors will only affect the students grade if he or she is on the border between two possible outcomes.

Midterms and Finals In addition to their four quarterly grades, students will also receive a separate grade on their transcript for their midterm and final exams. Each quarterly grade carries a weight of 20% of the full year grade while these two exams each have a weight of 10%. Together they have the same impact as a single quarters result. The midterm exam will be on the work covered through the first two quarters. The final exam will be on the work for the entire year. It tests the cumulative knowledge retained by the student at the end of the course. NJ Biology Competency Test (NJBCT) On May 20-21, all students enrolled in a first year biology course must take an end of course assessment in Biology. There are two components: a multiple choice portion and a performance assessment portion. This test covers all material that you have learned throughout the year. Teacher Availability Students are encouraged to work together to build better understanding; they can do this with students from any biology course, since they will all be studying the same material. Students may also reach out to any of the teachers listed above for a meeting or help with the material, either before/after class or with prior scheduling. Teachers are also available to both students and parents via school email address, which are indicated above.