IB Biology HL Course Expectations and Content Outline

Mrs. Riley's International Baccalaureate (IB) Biology Course Expectations and Content Outline

(2016 Biology Guide)

Higher Level (HL), Year 1 + Year 2

Class website:

Class Email:

My Email Address:

Turnitin.com class passwords will always be:

Course Overview:

The goal of this course is to provide a deep understanding of basic biological concepts and is intended for the college bound student. This course differs significantly from the usual high school course in respect to 1) the higher level textbook used, 2) the range and deeper depth of topics covered, 3) the extensive laboratory work done by students, and 4) the motivation, time and effort required by the student. The specific course content that will be covered over this 2-year course can be found in detail under the course outline section of this syllabus (divided amongst 9 topics). Students will be developing the skills necessary to understand scientific issues internationally, and be able to make educated decisions about our society’s policies toward how science will continue to improve and affect our lives. This course is composed of the following major concepts that run throughout the course: (1) The Nature of Science (2) The Nature of Biology and Scientific Inquiry (3) The Theory of Knowledge and (4) The use of Technology. The course should contribute to the development of the students’ abilities to think clearly and to express their ideas, orally, and in writing with clarity and logic.

IB Biology HL (Group 4 Science) Aims:

This course enables students, through the overarching theme of the Nature of Science, to:

• Appreciate scientific study and creativity within a global context through stimulating and challenging opportunities

• Acquire a body of knowledge, methods and techniques that characterize science and technology

• Apply and use a body of knowledge, methods and techniques that characterize science and technology

• Develop an ability to analyze, evaluate and synthesize scientific information

• Develop a critical awareness of the need for, and the value of, effective collaboration and communication during scientific activities

• Develop experimental and investigative scientific skills including the use of current technologies

• Develop and apply 21 century communication skills in the study of science

• Become critically aware, as global citizens, of the ethical implications of using science and technology

• Develop an appreciation of the possibilities and limitations of science and technology

• Develop an understanding of the relationships between scientific disciplines and their influence on other areas of knowledge (Group 4 Project)

Course Textbooks/Resources:

1. Campbell, Neil, Reece, Jane, Urry, Lisa, Cain, Michael, & Wasserman, Steven. (2008). AP Edition Biology. Eighth Edition, Pearson. (with CD)

2. Damon, Alan, and William Ward. Higher Level Biology., Pearson Baccalaureate., 2nd Edition 2014. ISBN 13: 9781447959007 ISBN 10: 1447959000

Required Classroom Materials for this 2- Year Course:

1. 1 Mead 5-star Brand (or generic) 5-Subject COLLEGE RULED Spiral Notebook, 200-page, any color (*It is very important that your notebook is exactly the type listed above)

2. 1- 1.5” 3-ring binder

3. Scotch Tape (invisible)

4. A set of headphones (ear buds) that you can plug into a laptop

5. A jump drive/USB to save class work on

Optional (For convenience only as I will have supplies of these in class for student use): Notebook pouch that contains pencil or pen and highlighters, pack of colored pencils, scissors (school approved), mini-stapler

Other Items Needed for the Classroom

(Not mandatory but would be greatly appreciated if you could bring one or two of these!!)

Plastic cups (any size), Clorox (or generic) cleaning wipes, paper towels, box of tissues, pack of Expo markers, multi-colored, post-it-notes (3” x 3”)

Student Responsibilities in the IB Program:

In a classroom based around metacognition, structured inquiry and critical thinking, students will be engaged and intellectually involved. These will include whole-class instruction and interaction, individual and group work, role play and simulation, and also activities centered on an investigation. Whatever the approach, they will all value the voice of the learner. Students should be consistently engaged with authentic problems and issues and they should be learning basic skills and knowledge, and developing understanding in these real world contexts.

Behaviorial Expectations:

Since IB classes are college level classes designed for a mature community of inquirers and learners, students need to come every day with a teachable and generous attitude and the appropriate materials. These courses will sometimes relate to a variety of sensitive cultural and individual issues; students will be expected to maintain proper decorum and respect for one another and for one another’s sensitivities and perspectives. Students must follow all school rules and may not interrupt the learning process for anyone else. As well, you will be expected to work collaboratively in groups throughout this course. Group members will change almost on a daily basis.

Group Work:

Each investigation (lab) in this course is an individual piece of work based on different data collected or measurements generated. Ideally, students should work on their own when collecting data. In some cases, data collected or measurements made can be from a group experiment provided each student collected his or her own data or made his or her own measurements as part of that group. In biology, in some cases, group data or measurements may be combined to provide enough for individual analysis. Even in this case, each student should have their own analysis of the work and answer all questions pertaining to the lab individually.

Other Classroom Rules:

• Be on time to class and remain in your seat and on task until the end of class bell

• CLEAN UP. CLEAN UP. CLEAN UP. Don’t leave any trash or lab materials out in the classroom. We do a lot of messy labs in this class and you will be expected to pick up after yourself! This includes pushing in lab stools and putting supplies up!!

• No locker passes. It clearly states in the student code of conduct that students will not be given passes during class time to go to their lockers. DON’T ASK!

• COMPUTER USE: Since the use of assigned classroom laptops is an integral part of this course, it is important to know that you will be expected to use them appropriately and only for their intended purpose (DO NOT go on websites that you are not instructed to, etc.). Any misuse of computers will be considered as “defiance of authority” and a referral to the office will be written!

• EQUIPMENT USE: We will be working with expensive, high tech Probeware, laptops and other electronic devices. This is why there is NO HORSEPLAYING in class!!

• Students should abide by all other rules listed in the student code of conduct.

Consequences for not following these rules:

• Verbal Warning

• Detention + call home to parent

• Referral and other necessary action deemed appropriate by the administration

(Consequences do not necessarily occur in the order listed above)

(Academic Dishonesty results in immediate referral)

Interactive Course Notebook:

You will be required to keep an interactive class notebook with all the contents in it from this course. You will keep EVERYTHING that you do in your notebook for this class and it will be organized in a specific manner. The notebook will be graded periodically throughout the year. We will set up, go over and work together on this throughout the course. *Everything from this entire course should be maintained and kept in this notebook!! Remember this is a 2-year course, therefore you should not get rid of anything throughout that period of time. It is crucial that you keep all content so that you have it to prepare for your external assessments!!!!!

Class notes: (Cornell Notes)

Notes will be an integral part of this class. Be certain to keep all class notes, homework, etc, organized in your notebook. Remember, this is the material that you will be tested on in May of your senior year. Cornell Notes will be the primary form of the notes taken in this course.

Current Events:

Each 9-weeks, you will need to share a minimum of 1 relevant current event with the class. There will be a column placed in the gradebook at the beginning of the 9-weeks and to get your grade for this assignment you will need to make sure that you share before the end of the nine-weeks grading period. More details about the requirements of this activity will be discussed in class.

Homework and Assigned Readings:

Homework will consist of readings, practice essays, pre-labs and post-lab write ups, IB data analysis questions, special assignments, and other projects/assignments as seen fit. You can expect homework from this class every night as we have a tremendous amount of content to cover in preparation for your success on internal and external exams. Whereas the required reading overall workload may appear challenging, it is manageable. You will have a reading assignment most nights. It is your responsibility for homework to read the HLB textbook pages that correspond to the sections we covered in class! You will be given pop quizzes on a random basis to ensure that you are keeping up with your readings during the beginning of the next class period. Reading is the key to developing the total knowledge necessary for success on your exams. READ, READ, READ!!!

COURSE Tests and Other Assessments:

The tests used in this course will attempt to reflect the style and difficulty level of the actual IB exam. Tests will be on average every 2-3 weeks and may be cumulative in nature. Quizzes may appear unannounced throughout the year, mainly to check to see that homework and reading assignments are being completed. Depending on the length of a topic, there may be several assessments within that topic. Take advantage of ALL the resources this course has to offer—ask questions and plan ahead. There will not be any major form of extra credit in this course.

IB Tests and Assessments:

(These are the big “exams” at the end of the course and the ones that count toward getting your IB Diploma)

A. External (May of your Senior Year)

Paper 1: 1 hour of approximately 40 multiple choice questions…..20%

Paper 2: 2.25 hours……………………………………………...…36%

Section A—one DBQ and several short answer questions on the core and AHL

Section B---two Extended response questions on the core and the AHL

Paper 3: 1.25 hours of several short answer questions and one extended response question in each of the two options studied………………24%

B. Internal: 20 hours…………………………………………………..20%

This includes an interdisciplinary project (group 4 project-10 hrs) and a written laboratory component (10 hours) which enables students to demonstrate the application of their skills and knowledge, and to pursue their personal interests.

GRADING:

Your SHS school grades will be based on the following criteria:

• 60% Exams: Success in this aspect helps you prepare for IB external assessments in your senior year. This includes pop quizzes based upon assigned readings

• 25% Investigations: Some of these final graded reports will be stored, and sent to IB for further assessment. Therefore, your success here is crucial.

• 15% Written Assignments: These include homework, current event responses, mini labs assignments, interactive notebooks, exam prep activities, etc.

**Classwork and the written assignments are designed to help you prepare for success on the exams and lab work/reports so they are a crucial component of the grading scale (even though it may not appear that way by looking at the percentages above).

Technology requirements:

This course requires that all students utilize a computer to conduct research and to produce various products outside of class time. Therefore all students must have access to a computer and email account (preferably at home). Since the public libraries and school library all have word processing software and internet access available, it is expected that all students without home computers make time in their schedules to frequent these other locations to complete class assignments. As well there are laptops available for student use in my classroom.

Course Pacing and Attendance:

Keep up with your work. Although much of the content will be presented during class, students will be expected and required to cover additional materials and readings from the course texts on their own. Your preparedness before class will determine how successful you will be in this course. Plan not to miss a single class meeting for anything other than our district’s excusable reasons for missing school. Missing a class for any reason, even if excused, always hurts academic understanding and performance, and it keeps students from contributing to our community of learners. If you miss an assignment due to an absence, it is YOUR responsibility to find out what you missed and schedule a make-up. If you are absent, visit the class web site to see what you missed and then make any necessary arrangements with me. Also keep in mind that making up a missed lab including the required lab hours it took to complete the lab is difficult and in some cases impossible. Many labs will have opportunities for completion before or after school if it can be made up. However, if you have an excused absence and it is possible for you to make up the lab, it must be made up within a week. If, because of the nature of the lab, you are not able to make it up and an alternate assignment has to be given, you will still be responsible for knowing and understanding the lab.

Make up/Late Work:

One of the goals of IB is to develop in students an ability to balance extracurricular activities and personal life with academic achievement. This is one of the reasons IB students do so well in college. Navigating a full load of rigorous college preparatory classes while participating in other activities is a challenge. Falling behind with a demanding workload leads to added stress and decreased quality of performance when the assignments “stack up.”

Formative assignments, assessments for learning, are given to build essential knowledge and skill and the skills and knowledge are often prerequisite to subsequent learning. If a student misses an assignment they may be missing an opportunity to build essential content necessary for the next level. It is imperative to the scaffolding of understanding and ultimately application of knowledge that students come prepared to class daily with assignments completed. In addition, failing to be prepared for class by not having assignments completed negatively impacts the learning activities planned for a class period.

Make-up work may have a different format than the original to uphold the natural integrity of the assignment. Assignments missed due to unexcused absences will be counted as zeroes, whether they are major grades or minor ones.

Late work on assignments considered formative may be turned in by the next class meeting for 25% penalty off of the earned grade. Work turned in beyond the grace period will receive a zero grade.

Summative assessments are designed to record student achievement at, or towards, the end of the course of study. To provide equity and ensure reliability of assessment results, all summative assessments (Internal Assessments) in this course must be turned in by all students by the deadline. These assignments will not be accepted after the deadline and must be submitted no later than 8:30 am on the day of the deadline. All other summative assessments will be due at the beginning of scheduled class. If a student is going to be absent the day something is due he/she may (1) have someone else bring it to class for you, (2) turn it in early, or (3) make arrangements with the teacher in advance to turn it in when he/she returns (4) send it to the teacher as an e-mail attachment by the deadline and turn in a paper copy when they get back. Teachers will identify in their syllabi which assignments are considered summative and when they are due.

To keep up with what is going on in class, every student should develop a network of classmates to call or e-mail about assignments in addition to checking the teachers’ websites and syllabi.

If a student is unable to turn an assignment in on time or meet a deadline, it is imperative that he/she communicate with teachers face-to-face, by e-mail or phone. A change of deadline due to conflicting deadlines or other events may be made for the whole class prior to the day of the deadline. Classes are encouraged to communicate with teachers about conflicts well in advance of the deadline. All teachers will take into consideration extenuating circumstances when determining grades for late work.

Assessments submitted to IBO towards students’ IB Scores

According to the IB Handbook for Procedures, A9.6,

A candidate is normally eligible for a grade only if work has been submitted for all components of the assessment in the subject. When a candidate fails to attend an examination, or submit work for any other component in a subject, no grade is normally awarded. An “N” will be issued for the subject and level.

If a student fails to submit an IB Internal/External Assessment on time, this will normally result in students leaving the class because a student cannot earn points in that subject area and therefore will not be eligible for an IB Certificate in that course or an IB Diploma. The student can, however, earn a weighted high school credit for completing the course.

The following assessments in this subject will be submitted to IBO for a percentage of students’ IB scores and therefore must be turned in on time or the student forfeits their chances for an IB Diploma/Certificate: IB Biology HL Internal Assessment worth 20% of IB Grade and the work resulting from the Group 4 interdisciplinary project.

Investigations (Labs and Projects):

Lab and projects count for 25% of your class grade and 20% of your IB final mark. It is imperative that you score as well as possible on the “internally assessed” work (labs, projects). By doing well on this section you take some of the pressure of the final IB/HL exam. This internally assessed work will be kept in a portfolio that may be sent for IB moderation. This means my grade for your work will be examined to make sure it is in line with comparable students course work in biology from around the world. This is a very important part of the course and should be taken very seriously. There is material concerning this internal assessment included in the IB Biology Guide that you will be receiving. I will give more information on this subject as we proceed through the course.

Expectations

You can expect the following from this course:

- a fast pace

- an encouraging learning environment and development of your problem solving and critical thinking skills

- a teacher who will push you to excel (that’s me!!)

- pride in your accomplishments

- new experiences and collaboration with classmates

- fairness and honesty

- rigorous content

- the ability to earn A LOT of college credit!!

Lab Safety Guidelines for Biology

Following sensible safety precautions will help to ensure that your experience in the lab is a positive one. Read these guidelines before you begin working in the lab, and review them from time to time during the course.

General Lab Safety

1. Perform only activities authorized by the teacher—only use lab equipment with permission.

2. Know how to locate and use all lab safety equipment.

3. Horseplay, running, or other dangerous behaviors are not permitted.

4. No eating or drinking in the lab.

5. Report all accidents, spills, or broken glass to the teacher immediately.

Dress Code

1. Tie back long hair, and secure any loose fitting clothing or jewelry.

2. Wear safety goggles when handling chemicals or heat.

3. During dissection labs, you may supply your own gloves for personal use or use the ones provided in class.

Chemicals

1. Never smell or taste chemicals unless instructed by the teacher.

2. Do not experiment or mix chemicals on your own.

Glass and Sharp Instruments

1. Check glassware for chips or cracks. Notify the teacher immediately of damaged items.

2. Use caution when heating glass. To the eye, it may not appear hot.

3. Use extreme caution when using any sharp instrument. Cut away from yourself and others. Report any injuries immediately.

End of Experiment Procedures

1. Clean up your area completely and return equipment to proper storage.

2. Wash your hands with soap and water after each lab.

Violations of lab safety rules create dangerous situations and are unacceptable. If you violate any lab safety rules, consequences may include a zero grade for the lab, suspension from future labs, or office referral.

IB Biology Command Terms

These command terms indicate the depth of treatment required for a given assessment statement. These command terms will be used in all examination questions.

Objective 1

Define — Give the precise meaning of the word, phrase or physical quality.

Draw — Represent by means of a labelled, accurate diagram or graph, using a pencil. A ruler should be used for straight lines. Diagrams should be drawn to scale. Graphs should have points correctly plotted (if appropriate) and joined in a straight line or smooth curve.

Label — Add labels to a diagram.

List — Give a sequence of brief answers with NO explanation.

Measure — Obtain a value for a quantity.

State — Give a specific name, value or other brief answer without explanation or calculation.

Objective 2

Annotate — Add brief notes to the diagram or graph.

Calculate — Obtain a numerical answer showing the relevant stages in the working (unless instructed not to do so).

Describe — Give a detailed account.

Distinguish — Make clear the differences between two or more concepts or items.

Estimate — Obtain an approximate value.

Identify — Provide an answer from a given number of possibilities.

Outline — Give a brief account or summary.

Objective 3

Analyse — Break down in order to bring out the essential elements or structure.

Comment — Give a judgment based on a given statement or result of a calculation.

Compare — Give an account of similarities between two (or more) items or situations, referring to both (all) of them throughout.

Compare and contrast — Give an account of similarities and differences between two (or more) items or situations, referring to both (all) of them throughout.

Construct — Display information in a diagrammatic or logical form.

Deduce — Reach a conclusion from the information given.

Design — Produce a plan, simulation or model.

Determine — Obtain the only possible answer.

Discuss — Offer a considered and balanced review that includes a range of arguments, factors or hypotheses. Opinions or conclusions should be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

Evaluate — Make an appraisal by weighing up the strengths and limitations.

Explain — Give a detailed account including reasons or causes.

Predict — Give an expected result.

Sketch — Represent by means of a diagram or graph (labelled as appropriate). The sketch should give a general idea of the required shape or relationship, and should include relevant features.

Suggest — Propose a solution, hypothesis or other possible answer.

HL IB Biology Course Content Outline

Check course website for an up-to-date detailed list of daily assignments/labs/tests in this course.

Teaching Hrs: Core & AHL Course Content Assigned Reading TXTBK PGS. (Total: 202)

Topic 1: Cell Biology — 15 hrs

Topic 2: Molecular Biology — 44 hrs

Topic 3: Genetics — 23 hrs

Topic 4: Ecology — 12 hrs

Topic 5: Evolution and biodiversity — 12 hrs

Topic 6: (Begin) Human Physiology — 36 hrs

YEAR 1: IB Biology Year 1 (Juniors) will cover Topics 1-6.

Group 4 Project — 10 hrs (SEPT)

Topic 6: (Complete) Human Physiology — AUG to NOV

Topic 7/9: Plant Science — 13 hrs (DEC to JAN)

*Internal Assessment Lab — 10 hrs (DEC to JAN)

Option C: Ecology and Conservation — 25 hrs (FEB to MARCH)

REVIEW: for External Exams (MARCH to MAY)

YEAR 2: IB Biology Year 2 (Seniors) will cover Topics 6-7/9, Option C, and REVIEW for External Exams.

Top 15 IB Biology Tips for Success

1. Keep up with the homework via the class website and email updates

2. Utilize the HLB Book to study! The “study questions” in the back of the sections are excellent study tools

3. Keep your notebook organized, it will pay off!! (And don’t throw anything away!!)

4. Utilize good online resources: click4biology, Khan academy (videos) and other online resources

5. Focus your study towards the specific IB Assessment Statements

6. Work extra hard on your IA labs, it’s the only grade that you can 100% control

7. Work on labs in class with a partner that you can contact and has a similar work ethic as you

8. Don’t miss school especially on lab days

9. Start studying a week before the test, not the day before!

10. When choosing an IA topic, creativity is not in the rubric. Choosing a simple topic is much more wise as it is hard to effectively control the variables otherwise

11. Attempt exam preps without looking up the answers, you’ll learn more that way

12. Go back from time to time and quickly skim over the topics you have already studied….this way, you won’t become completely unfamiliar with any section

13. Make sure to read your assigned chapters

14. Watch online and textbook CD animations of processes to get visual representations of what you need to learn

15. You can do it!!

Academic Dishonesty (Cheating)

Examples of activities that WOULD be considered cheating in this Biology class, per the HCSB Student Code of Conduct include (but are not limited to):

• Copying from another student’s work --any kind of work, including labs!!

• Willingly knowing and allowing another student to copy any kind of work from you

• Working together on a take-home test

• Copying work FOR another student

• Providing another student with information regarding a test that you have already taken and they have not… or asking another student about a test that you have not yet taken

• Submitting another student’s work as your own

• Stealing copies of tests or answer keys or going online and finding teachers’ guides to labs or other such work to use or copy from

• Plagiarizing or presenting material taken from another source without appropriate documentation and citation

• Changing answers on a test, assignment, project, etc., after grading and trying to resubmit work claiming an error was made

• If extra time is permitted for a test, looking up or researching material before you come back to finish the test

• Changing grades in a grade book or altering a computer grading program

• Using programmable calculators/device in a manner not specified by the teacher

Consequences of Cheating:

The work will be given a 0, a referral will be written as documentation of the incident, you will be given ISS and if you are an IB student, you will have to go before IB Honor Council with the potential of being removed from the program.

“No one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourself.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)

Lab Safety Guidelines for Biology

Following sensible safety precautions will help to ensure that your experience in the lab is a positive one. Read these guidelines before you begin working in the lab, and review them from time to time during the course.

General Lab Safety

Perform only activities authorized by the teacher—only use lab equipment with permission.

Know how to locate and use all lab safety equipment.

Horseplay, running, or other dangerous behaviors are not permitted.

No eating or drinking in the lab.

Report all accidents, spills, or broken glass to the teacher immediately.

Dress Code

Tie back long hair, and secure any loose fitting clothing or jewelry.

Wear safety goggles when handling chemicals or heat.

During dissection labs, you may supply your own gloves for personal use or use the ones provided in class.

Chemicals

Never smell or taste chemicals unless instructed by the teacher.

Do not experiment or mix chemicals on your own.

Glass and Sharp Instruments

Check glassware for chips or cracks. Notify the teacher immediately of damaged items.

Use caution when heating glass. To the eye, it may not appear hot.

Use extreme caution when using any sharp instrument. Cut away from yourself and others. Report any injuries immediately.

End of Experiment Procedures

Clean up your area completely and return equipment to proper storage.

Wash your hands with soap and water after each lab.

Violations of lab safety rules create dangerous situations and are unacceptable. If you violate any lab safety rules, consequences may include a zero grade for the lab, suspension from future labs, or office referral.

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Please review the classroom and lab regulations and sign below, stating that you are aware of the above guidelines set forth for student’s work in the lab and what their responsibilities for success in the classroom and laboratory are. Also, fill in the information requested below. Feel free to contact me any time through email or voicemail. You can also keep tabs on what’s going on in class by checking my class website (link listed on students syllabus). Thank you. Mrs. Riley

Parent(s)/Guardians Printed Name(s)—

Phone number and best times when/where you can be reached

Parents Email address

Does your child have any special needs in class or other things you are concerned about (health, behavioral, learning, etc.)?

Student Name:

I have read and understand the HL IB Biology Class Requirements and Rules and I agree to abide by them this year.

***DUE DATE:***

This signed syllabus page, along with the lab safety contract is due by the end of the second week of school (Friday Aug 28th). I only need the last 3 pages signed, torn off and submitted, put the rest of this syllabus on the correct page in your INB.