Course title
Advanced Biology + Advanced Biology LabPre-requisite
BiologyCourse description
https://www.davidsononline.org/academics/courses/science/advanced-biology/
Students participate in:
Semester 1 - Two 1.5 hour Live Sessions/ week + One 2 hour Lab. Live Session/ Week
Semester 2 - Two 1.5 hour Live Sessions/ week that also include labs less frequently than semester 1
Advanced BiologyCourse Overview
The Advanced Biology Online Course will explore the concepts of biology through inquiry-based learning using a combination of research and project based learning, online investigations and laboratory explorations. Students will incorporate both individual and group learning to explore the topics of biochemistry, cellular processes – including transport, energy and communication, inheritance, evolution, and ecology.
Students enrolled in the Advanced Biology course will be concurrently enrolled in the Laboratory elective for this course. The laboratory course is one semester and while the content will be complimentary to the overall course content, it will not necessarily be directly related to the weekly content covered in the Adv. Biology year long course.
Course Content
Unit 1: The Chemistry of Life
The Chemistry of Life unit is a review of basic concepts in biology and chemistry necessary for understanding the cellular processes concepts introduced in later units. Students will explore the themes of biology and characteristics found in all living things.The unit also includes a review of the biological importance of bonding among and between molecules, the properties of water and the importance of carbon in biological molecules. Students will explore the structure of the four biological macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids) and relate their structure to their function.
Unit 2: Cell Basics and Metabolism
The Cell Basics and Metabolism unit will study cellular concepts and use of microscopes. Students will learn the basics techniques of using microscopes and how they work. Students will explore the structure of cell organelles and how they function in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells as well differentiate between plant and animal cells.The unit also includes an investigation into the structure of cell membranes and their role in maintaining homeostasis through cellular transport. Students will gain an understanding of metabolism and the roles of ATP and enzymes in cells.
Unit 3: Cell Processes
The Cell Processes unit will focus on the processes of capturing and releasing energy, communication and the life cycle of cells. Students will learn how the process of photosynthesis captures energy for cells and cellular respiration releases the energy for cellular function. Students will explore how cells communicate with each other and the consequences of malfunction in cellular communication.The unit also includes an investigation into the life cycle of cells and asexual reproduction through the process of mitosis.
Unit 4: Genetics
The Genetics unit will study concepts of inheritance. Students will learn about meiosis and the process contributes to variation in species through sexual reproduction. Students will explore the concepts of Gregor Mendel and patterns of inheritance.The unit also includes an investigation into the roles of genes and chromosomes in heredity. Students will gain an understanding of DNA structure and the importance of DNA replication.
Unit 5: Gene Expression and Viruses
The Gene Expression and Viruses unit will study the processes of protein synthesis, gene expression in cells, genetic technology and viruses. Students will learn how proteins are synthesized through the processes of transcription and translation. Students will explore how gene expression is regulated in cells. Students will gain an understanding of viruses and how they function.The unit also includes an investigation into DNA technology and genomes.
Unit 6: Evolution
The Evolution unit will study the connection of genetics to evolution, the contributions of Darwin to evolutionary theories, the evolution of populations, the origin of species and phylogeny and systematics. Students will learn how the understanding of genomes is used to make evolutionary connections. Students will investigate theories of evolution and understand Darwin’s theory of descent with modification. Students will gain an understanding of how populations evolve over time. Students will explore theories on the origin and evolution of all species. The unit will also instruct students on how to analyze and create systemic models of evolution.
Unit 7: Development for Form and Function
The Development of Form and Function unit will study how form and function of eukaryotes developed from the original prokaryotic form. Students will learn how prokaryotes developed and gave rise to the first eukaryotes. Students will explore the development and role of homeostasis in organisms.The unit also includes an investigation into the immune system, the endocrine system and the nervous system and how these systems help maintain homeostasis in living things.
Unit 8: Plants and Ecology
The Plants and Ecology unit will include a condensed unit of plants and a review and application of cology. Students will explore the structure and function of various types of plants. They will also learn about how plants evolved and how specific adaptations contribute to the survival of different plant species. Students will also gain an understanding of how water and nutrients are transported in plants as well as factors that affect transport in vascular plants. The unit also includes a further investigation into Ecology to build on student’s previous knowledge. Students will apply concepts ecological concepts including primary productivity, data analysis of population growth and biodiversity and modeling trophic cascades.
Davidson Academy Online Advanced Biology Course Syllabus 2023-2024
Course Description:
American scientist and entrepreneur, Ryan Bethencourt once said, “Our world is built on biology and once we begin to understand it, it then becomes a technology.”
The Advanced Biology Online Course will explore the concepts of biology through inquiry-based learning using a combination of research and project based learning, online investigations and laboratory explorations. You will incorporate both individual and group learning to explore the topics of biochemistry, cellular processes – including transport, energy and communication, inheritance, evolution, and ecology.
As students enrolled in the Advanced Biology course, you will be concurrently enrolled in the Laboratory elective for this course. The laboratory course is one semester and while the content will be complementary to the overall course content, it will not necessarily be directly related to the weekly content covered in the Adv. Biology year long course.
Advanced Biology requires you to engage deeply with the material and to take responsibility for your own learning. The near daily reading assignments, reading questions, enrichment activities, quizzes, and unit exams demand a level of commitment that promises to challenge (and hopefully engage) you as you learn about the elegant science of living things. My goal for you throughout your time in this course is that the knowledge you build will become your technology for creating greatness.
Course Objectives:
- Demonstrate an in depth understanding of the primary principles of biology including cell structure and function, photosynthesis and cellular respiration, cell division, genetics, and evolution.
- Express an appreciation for the elegance found in the unity and diversity of life, and the roles of humans within it.
- Participate in preparing student-led discussions about the material in the text and associated readings.
- Interact with the material beyond rote memorization in analyzing systems and how they interact to build more complex systems.
- Engage in the laboratory portion of the course (see the Adv. Biology Lab syllabus in the spring for further information). Demonstrate mastery of basic Biological laboratory techniques.
Course Materials:
Text Book: Campbell and Reece “Biology” 11th Edition
Course Requirements:
- All significant assignments will have written instructions in Canvas including due dates and clear expectations. If you earn a poor grade on an assignment, ask me to re-do the assignment and then you have 4 days within the grade having been posted to Infinite Campus to re-submit the assignment.
- Students should not expect to retake quizzes and tests. Please prepare well for each of them. There will always be a study guide for exams to help direct the focus of your work.
- Homework: On most days (Monday - Thursday) you will be assigned reading and associated questions which will be submitted through Canvas.
- In-class discussions will be held and are a combination of direct instruction and student-lead work.
- Enrichment Activities: These assignments are intended to deepen your understanding by asking you to interact with related material that is beyond the scope of the textbook.
- You will typically have 1-2 quizzes per week based upon that week’s reading assignments and discussion topics.
- Unit exams: One for every 3-4 chapters.
Communication: Due to my current location being in the Central Time Zone, I will be available earlier than some teachers and may not be available as late as other teachers are. My typical hours are posted above but I will usually be able to answer a Teams message or email after those hours as needed. I will not answer messages after 6pm Central until the following morning. As needed, video conferences will be easier for me to complete earlier in the day rather than later as I will have my toddler during the latter parts of the day. Grading:
In this course, each chapter generally has about 50-60 points worth of assignments (reading questions, enrichment activities, discussion board, and quiz). The unit exams are 200 points (and occur every 3-4 chapters). You can redo assignments if you do not earn the grade you expected but will receive at most 50% of the points you missed back on a redone assignment. Please see the DAO Handbook for more details on resubmissions.
Schedule of Topics (this is subject to change):
Note this does not have EVERY single assignment on it; it is just to give you a heads up on what to expect week by week for each semester. This is meant to be flexible to allow for some shift based upon student needs and knowledge.
Semester 1:
Week 1: Review Chapters 1-3, Diagnostic Quizzes, Graded Free Response Questions
Week 2: Review Chapters 4-5, Diagnostic Quizzes, Graded Unit 1 test
Week 3: Chapter 6, Graded Quiz, Enrichment Activity
Week 4: Chapter 7, Graded Quiz, Enrichment Activity
Week 5: Chapter 8, Graded Quiz, Enrichment Activity
Week 6: Unit 2 Exam (ch 6-8), Begin chapter 9
Week 7: Chapter 9, Graded Quiz, Enrichment Activity
Week 8: Chapter 10-11, Graded Quiz, Enrichment Activity
Week 9: Chapter 11, Graded Quiz and open notes quiz, Enrichment Activity
Week 10: Chapter 12, Graded Quiz
Week 11: Unit 3 Exam (ch 9-12)
Week 12: Chapter 13, Graded Quiz, Enrichment Activity
Week 13: Chapter 14, Graded Quiz, Enrichment Activity
Week 14: Begin Chapter 15
Week 15: Chapter 15, Graded Quiz
Week 16: Chapter 16, Graded Quiz, Enrichment Activity
Week 17: Semester and Unit 4 Exam – this will be majority Unit 4, but will also include key points from Units 1-3
Semester 2:
Week 1: Chapter 17 Reading Questions, Activities, Quiz
Week 2: Chapter 18 Reading Questions, Activities, Quiz
Week 3: Chapter 19 Presentation, Activity
Week 4: Chapter 20 Enrichment Activities, Quiz
Week 5: Unit 5 Exam, Chapter 21 Reading questions
Week 6: Chapter 21 quiz, Skim sections of chapter 22 and 23, Chapter 23 quiz
Week 7: Chapter 24 Reading Questions, Activities, Quiz, begin chapter 25
Week 8: Finish chapter 25, quiz on ch 24-25, Unit 6 exam
Spring Break
Week 9: Chapter Project (26, 40, 43, 45, and 48) Each student will prepare the presentation/discussion for one of the chapters
Week 10: Chapter 26 discussion, enrichment, and quiz
Week 11: Chapter 40 discussion, activities, and quiz
Week 12: Chapter 43 discussion, activities, and quiz
Week 13: Chapter 45 discussion, activities, and quiz
Week 14: Chapter 48 discussion, activities, and quiz
Week 15: Review for final exam
Finals Week: Final exam
School country
United StatesSchool state
NevadaHigh school
Davidson Academy of NevadaSchool / district Address
Davidson Academy Online, 9665 Gateway Dr., Suite A, Reno, NVSchool zip code
89521Requested competency code
Lab ScienceDate submitted
Approved
YesApproved competency code
- LADV
- Advanced science
- LBIO
- Biology