Course Syllabus
AP Biology v25 (Sem 1)

Description

This is the first semester of a two-semester course sequence. AP Biology will explore major concepts that connect different areas of biology, helping students thoroughly understand essential biological concepts through a structured curriculum and laboratory investigations. The course is designed around six key science practices: explaining concepts, using visual representations, formulating questions and methods, representing and describing data, conducting statistical tests and data analysis, and developing scientific arguments. Students will conduct laboratory investigations throughout the course, applying their knowledge and enhancing their scientific literacy. They will record and present evidence from their investigations, fostering a deeper understanding of the material. By the end of the course, students will be well-prepared to think critically and scientifically about the world around them, making them informed and capable citizens. This comprehensive approach ensures that students are not only ready for the AP exam but also equipped with the skills necessary for future scientific endeavors.

Students will enroll in their Michigan Virtual instructor’s AP Classroom. If students intend to take the AP Exam, then they should be enrolled in an Exam Only section of AP Classroom created by their local school personnel. Students will then be enrolled in BOTH the Exam Only AP Classroom associated with their local school AND the online instructor’s AP Classroom associated with Michigan Virtual. Having completed this course, students will be prepared for the AP exam. The course does not include the AP Exam; students can contact their school’s AP Coordinator or the College Board to sign up to take the Exam. In order to maintain the integrity of AP standards, all AP course midterm and final exams must be proctored by personnel at their local school. Prerequisites:  High school Biology, Chemistry, and Algebra 1

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to...

• Describe the structure and function of the four major biological macromolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
• Explain how the chemical properties of water support biological processes
• Describe the chemical reactions involved in building and breaking down macromolecules
• Explain how the structure and function of subcellular components and organelles contribute to cell function
• Describe the structure of biological membranes using the fluid mosaic model
• Explain how compartmentalization through internal membranes and organelles supports eukaryotic cell functions
• Compare compartmentalization in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
• Explain how membrane structure influences selective permeability and the movement of molecules
• Describe the mechanisms cells use to transport molecules across membranes, including passive and active processes
• Explain how surface area-to-volume ratios and concentration gradients affect cellular exchange with the environment
• Explain how osmoregulatory mechanisms maintain solute and water balance in organisms
• Describe the role of energy in living organisms
• Explain how enzymes affect the rate of biological reactions and how their activity is influenced by structure and cellular environment
• Describe the structures and processes of chloroplasts that enable organisms to capture and store energy through photosynthesis
• Describe the structures and processes of mitochondria that enable organisms to release and use energy stored in biological macromolecules
• Explain how conserved metabolic processes support the concept of common ancestry
• Explain how cells communicate with one another over short and long distances
• Describe the components of signal transduction pathways and their roles in producing cellular responses
• Explain how changes in signaling molecule structure affect pathway activity
• Explain how feedback mechanisms help maintain homeostasis
• Describe the events of the cell cycle, including the role of checkpoints in its regulation
• Explain how mitosis results in the transmission of chromosomes to the next generation of cells
• Describe the effects of cell cycle disruptions on cells and organisms

Course Outline:

Module 01: Chemistry of Life

Module 02: Cell Structure and Function

Module 03: Cellular Energetics

Module 04: Cell Communication and Cell Cycle

Resources Included: Online lesson instruction and activities, opportunities to engage with a certified, online instructor and classmates, when appropriate, and online assessments to measure student performance of course objectives and readiness for subsequent academic pursuits.

Additional Costs: Students are responsible for purchasing the required digital textbook: Morris, J., Castignetti, D., Lepri, J., & Relyea, R. (2022). Biology for the AP® course (1st ed.). BFW Publishers. ISBN: 9781319524197 (Achieve). Be sure to purchase the Achieve digital format for access to all of the learning resources associated with the course. The following guide from the publisher relates to Creating an Account for BFW Achieve.
Basic school supplies are required for this course. Additional materials may be needed for optional course activities. Required Supplies: Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), distilled water, liquid dish soap, glass or plastic cup, glass or plastic bowl (that can sit on top of the cup), dark bowl, blanket, or foil, hole puncher or plastic drinking straw, leaf from a living plant (flexible, without a waxy covering), plastic syringe (10 mL or larger, without needle; can be purchased at a drug store), a timer or clock with a second hand, light source (60-watt or higher), sunlight, or non-LED light, metric ruler, tap water, 125 light-colored beans and 50 dark-colored beans (if you do not have beans, look for alternatives such as two colors of candies), a bag, calculator, graph paper

Scoring System: Michigan Virtual does not assign letter grades, grant credit for courses, nor issue diplomas. A final score out of total points earned will be submitted to your school mentor for conversion to their own letter grading system.

Time Commitment: Semester sessions are 18-weeks long: Students must be able to spend 1 or more hours per day in the course to be successful. Summer sessions are 10 weeks long: Students must be able to spend a minimum of 2 or more hours per day, or about 90 hours during the summer, for the student to be successful in any course. Trimester sessions are 12-weeks long: Students must be able to spend 1.5 or more hours per day in the course to be successful.

Technology Requirements: Students will require a computer device with headphones, a microphone, webcam, up-to-date Chrome Web Browser, and access to YouTube.

Ensure that your school or district network and device administrator establishes network access permissions or exceptions for online resources relevant to the course in which you are choosing to enroll. Ref., Michigan Virtual Course Allow List

Please review the Michigan Virtual Technology Requirements.

Lightweight devices such as Apple iPads, Google Chromebooks, and tablets have limited support for Java or Flash which still appear in a small percentage of our catalog. While FLVS does not offer technical support for these devices, FLVS is working to remove Flash from their remaining course content. Students will need extra work-around steps or alternate browsers to engage with some portions of those courses. FLVS recommends students have a Windows or Mac based computer available to complete coursework in the event that your selected mobile device does not meet the needs of the course. Fully supported Operating Systems for FLVS courses include Windows (10 or higher) and MacOS (11 or higher). Supported Browsers include the most recent versions of Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Apple Safari on devices that support Java and HTML5. Browsers need to be up to date, and some FLVS courses may require installation or enabling of the following Plug-ins: JavaScript enabled, Cookies enabled, Java installed. https://www.flvs.net/student-parent-resources/more/system-requirements

Instructor Support System: For technical issues within your course, contact the Customer Care Center by email at CustomerCare@michiganvirtual.org or by phone at (888) 889-2840.

Instructor Contact Expectations: Students can use email or the private message system within the Student Learning Portal to access highly qualified teachers when they need instructor assistance. Students will also receive feedback on their work inside the learning management system. The Instructor Info area of their course may describe additional communication options.

Academic Support Available: In addition to access to a highly qualified, Michigan certified teacher, students have access to academic videos and outside resources verified by Michigan Virtual. For technical issues within the course, students can contact the Michigan Virtual Customer Care by email at customercare@michiganvirtual.org or by phone at (888) 889-2840.

Required Assessment: Online assessments consist of formative and summative assessments represented by computer-graded multiple choice, instructor-graded writing assignments including hands-on projects, model building, discussion-based assessments (one-on-one conversations with your teacher), and other forms of authentic assessments.

Technical Skills Needed: Basic technology skills necessary to locate and share information and files as well as interact with others in a Learning Management System (LMS), include the ability to:

• Download, edit, save, convert, and upload files
• Download and install software
• Use a messaging service similar to email
• Communicate with others in online discussion or message boards, following basic rules of netiquette
• Open attachments shared in messages
• Create, save, and submit files in commonly used word processing program formats and as a PDF
• Edit file share settings in cloud-based applications, such as Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides
• Save a file as a .pdf
• Copy and paste and format text using your mouse, keyboard, or an html editor’s toolbar menu
• Insert images or links into a file or html editor
• Search for information within a document using Ctrl+F or Command+F keyboard shortcuts
• Work in multiple browser windows and tabs simultaneously
• Activate a microphone or webcam on your device, and record and upload or link audio and/or video files
• Use presentation and graphics programs
• Follow an online pacing guide or calendar of due dates
• Use spell-check, citation editors, and tools commonly provided in word processing tool menus
• Create and maintain usernames and passwords

Additional Information: The official course descriptions for Advanced Placement courses and information about their exams are located on the College Board AP Central website.

Michigan Virtual prepares students in AP courses for the AP exam, but does not offer the exam test itself. It is the responsibility of the school or parent to register for a local administration of the AP exam.

Students will enroll in their Michigan Virtual instructor’s AP Classroom. If students intend to take the AP Exam, then they should be enrolled in an Exam Only section of AP Classroom created by their local school personnel. Students will then be enrolled in BOTH the Exam Only AP Classroom associated with their local school AND the online instructor’s AP Classroom associated with Michigan Virtual.

There are required due dates in AP courses. The pacing of due dates in AP courses aligns to the completion of all lessons and required assignments and assessments prior to the national AP exam date related to this course title. The calendar of AP exam dates is published by the College Board (Exam Calendar).