Sample Curriculum: Screen 1 | Screen 2 | Screen 3 | Screen 4

Biology 101 Syllabus
 

Description:

Biology 101, a facilitated e-Class provided by Howe High School, Howe, Oklahoma, is for second-year high school students with some background in physical science. Emphasis is placed on the diversity of life from the chemistry of cells to biotic relationships. The course is divided into 30 curriculum units and two semester tests. Each unit should be easily completed in 4 to 6 hours (about one school week).

© 2004/2005 Jim Askew

Facilitator: Jim Askew
jimaskew@howe.k12.ok.us
Howe High School
Howe, Oklahoma

Students use information from the Internet to develop their own ideas about the characteristics of living things and their dependence on each other for survival. Thirty-three concept-supporting videos are included in the curriculum.

Students completing this e-Class will have cognitive thinking and communication skills, as well as an understanding of the diversity of living things.

Materials:
Students enrolling in this e-Class will need an Internet e-mail capable computer with a printer and several colored pencils. A scientific calculator will make completing a few of the assignments much easier.

The student will be asked to design and perform several experiments during the course. The materials involved are found in most homes. If something is not already on hand, the student will need to make arrangements to get it. Costs will be minimal and the materials will have other uses in the home.

This complete materials list is provided.

Student Evaluation:
  1. Course Notebook - 40%
     
    A notebook is turned in to the course facilitator at the end of each semester. This notebook will include the student's work on practice sessions, assigned drawings and diagrams, details about each unit project, and the "lab report guide" for each lab experience.
    Success depends on the student presenting a notebook (on time at the end of Units 15 and 30) with all practice sessions, drawings, projects, and labs neatly completed. This rubric is used for notebook evaluation.
  2. Unit Tests - 20%
     
    "StarQuiz" software on the Howe School Internet Server is used by the course facilitator to construct a timed test over each Unit. The tests will be approximately 50% multiple choice, 40% true-false, and 10% short-answer questions.
    Success on the unit test depends on the student understanding the concepts of the unit and carefully working through the practice sessions provided.
  3. Unit Projects - 15%
     
    The eleven projects in this e-Class include graphs, models, and essays. The student is asked to e-mail results to the course facilitator after completing the project.
    Success on the unit project depends on the student being able to apply the concepts of the unit in a practical way.
  4. Laboratory Experiences - 15%
     
    Twenty labs are included with this e-Class that the student will be expected to complete at home. A concept-related problem will be provided for the student to use the scientific method to solve.
    Success in the lab experience depends on the student's ability to communicate a hypothesis, the experiment used to test the hypothesis, and conclusions to the course facilitator after completing the lab.
  5. Semester Test - 10%
     
    A comprehensive on-line test will be given at the end of Units 15 and 30. These two "semester" tests will be approximately 60% multiple choice and 40% true-false questions.
    Success on the semester tests depends on the student carefully reviewing the practice session from each of the 15 units.
 

Schedule of Course Units:

Unit 1 - introduction to life sciences, scientific method, lab safety, and math in science.
Project - scientific method
Video - scientific method
Video - scientific measurement
Unit 2 - Interpreting and drawing scientific graphs
Project - graph
Unit 3 - chemistry of life
Lab - carbohydrates
Unit 4 - cell theory
Lab - cell surface area
Video - cells
Unit 5 - cell cycle
Lab - osmosis
Unit 6 - nucleic acids
Lab - DNA
Video - DNA
Unit 7 - genetics
Lab - pedigree
Unit 8 - mutations
Project - essay
Unit 9 - reproduction
Lab - tropisms
Unit 10 - structure
Lab - insect diversity
Unit 11 - classification
Lab - observation
Unit 12 - changes
Project - fossils
Unit 13 - viruses
Lab - viruses
Unit 14 - bacteria
Lab - bacteria
Unit 15 - protists
Project - karyotype
First Semester Review and Test - comprehensive test covering concepts from Units 1 through 15.

Unit 16 - fungi

Lab - mushroom
Video - fungi
Unit 17 - plants (vegetative structures)
Lab - seed germination
Video - plants
Video - trees
Unit 18 - plants (reproductive structures)
Lab - vegetative reproduction
Unit 19 - lower invertebrates
Lab - earthworms
Video - sponges
Video - cniderians
Video - worms
Unit 20 - higher invertebrates
Lab - insect behavior
Video - mullusks
Video - crustaceans
Video - insects
Video - echinoderms
Video - tunicates
Unit 21 - aquatic vertebrates
Lab - fruit fly population
Video - sharks
Video - fish
Video - frogs
Unit 22 - terrestrial vertebrates
Project - radom sampling
Video - turtles
Video - lizards
Video - snakes
Video - crocodilians
Video - birds
Video - bats
Unit 23 - ecosystems
Project - population mathematics
Video - ecosystems
Unit 24 - energy
Lab - enzyme action
Video - energy
Unit 25 - photosynthesis
Lab - chlorophyll
Unit 26 - nutrition
Lab - nutrients
Unit 27 - biogeochemical cycles
Lab - pollution effects
Unit 28 - terrestrial biomes
Project - climatograms
Video - biomes
Unit 29 - aquatic biomes
Project - essay
Unit 30 - resources
Project - acid rain
Lab - garbage
Video - garbage
Video - fossil fuels
Second Semester Review and Test - comprehensive test covering concepts from Units 16 through 30.