Course Outline: Advanced Biology
Welcome!
This is an introductory Biology course with hands-on labs, typically taken in 9th-10th grades. The class covers a complete high school curriculum, including chemistry of life, cells, cell energetics, photosynthesis, genetics, DNA and RNA, body systems, ecosystems & biosphere, and related topics.Several of the labs align with AP Biology labs. Prerequisite: 8th/9th grade Physical Science.
Technical requirements: Access to a computer with Internet connection, plus Word & PowerPoint (or similar).
Instructor: Kris Johanson, M.Sc.
Contact: . I am availablethroughout the week to answer questions about your homework or the class. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you get stuck or need something explained!
Textbook: OpenStax Concepts of Biology, available as a free download and in hardback/softback versions. You can view & downloadit here
Course OutlineLabs
Unit 1 – Chemistry of LifeBiochemistry lab
Unit 2 – Chemistry of LifeEnzyme lab (aligns with AP Biology lab #13)
Unit 3 – Cell Structure & Function Diffusion & Osmosis (aligns with AP Biology lab #4)
Unit 4 – Cell Structure & FunctionSheep’s heart dissection
Unit 5 – How Cells Obtain EnergyOpen/flex
Unit 6 – PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis lab
Unit 7 – Reproduction at the Cellular LevelMitosis & Meiosis lab (aligns with AP Biology lab #7)
Unit 8 – The Cellular Basis of Inheritance(Mitosis & Meiosis continued)
Unit 9 – GeneticsRestriction Digestion of Lambda DNA (AP Bio lab #9)
Take-home Midterm
Unit 10 – Molecular BiologyAnalysis of Lambda DNA using Electrophoresis (AP lab #9)
Unit 11 – Molecular BiologyOpen/flex
Unit 12 – BiotechnologypGLO Bacterial Transformation lab (AP Biology lab #8)
Unit 13 – Evolution/Intelligent Design/Creation(pGLO lab – continued)
Unit 14 – Body SystemsCow’s eye dissection
Unit 15 – Body SystemsSheep’s kidney dissection
Unit 16 – The Immune System & DiseaseMicrobes & Disease lab(The Bio-Rad ‘Yogurtness’ lab)
Unit 17 – Population & Ecology(Microbes & Disease lab - continued)
Unit 18 – Ecosystems & BiosphereFighting Malaria – final case study
Take-home Final
Homework
Homework will be assigned from each chapter.Read the chapter ahead of time and come to class prepared to take notes and participate in discussion. Estimated study time: 30 minutes per day.
Exams
There will be a take-home, open-book, Midterm and Final exam, covering material learned that semester.
Textbook
We will be using OpenStax Concepts of Biology (free download, or you can buy the book). You don’t need to buy a lab manual. I will provide lab protocols as needed throughout the course.
Course Requirements
- Attend the classes. Be on time.
- Take notes and ask relevant questions during the introductory PowerPoint lectures
- Participate in the class projects/labs
- Turn in your homework assignments by the due date
- Don’t fall behind in your work. Do not procrastinate!
Additional Course Details
This is designed as a 10-credit course.
Grading Policy
Work will be graded on a point system. A student’s total points earned will be divided by total points possible and converted to a percentage.
Grading ScaleGrading Elements
above 90%A: advancedClass participation25%
89 – 80%B: proficientLabs25%
79 – 70%C: basicWeekly homework25%
69 – 60%D: below basicMidterm & Final25%
Below 60%F: far below basicTotal100%
Timely completion of the required assignments is a basic requirement. Assignments turned in early will receive a “bonus incentive”. Assignments turned in later than the due date will receive a reduced grade.
Honors Grading
Because of the slightly-advanced curriculum and labs, if all coursework is completed with an average score of 90% or better (very achievable), I will support the use of an A=5.0 ‘Honors’ grading scale.