APEX Biology B
Course Description:
APÆ Biology builds students' understanding of biology on both the micro and macro scales. After studying cell biology, students move on to understand how evolution drives the diversity and unity of life. Students will examine how living systems store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information and how organisms utilize free energy. The equivalent of an introductory college-level biology course, AÆP Biology prepares students for the APÆ exam and for further study in science, health sciences, or engineering.The APÆ Biology course provides a learning experience focused on allowing students to develop their critical thinking skills and cognitive strategies. Frequent no- and low-stakes assessments allow students to measure their comprehension and improve their performance as they progress through each activity. Students regularly engage with primary sources, allowing them to practice the critical reading and analysis skills that they will need in order to pass the APÆ exam and succeed in a college biology course. Students perform hands-on labs that give them insight into the nature of science and help them understand biological concepts, as well as how evidence can be obtained to support those concepts. Students also complete several virtual lab studies in which they form hypotheses; collect, analyze, and manipulate data; and report their findings and conclusions. During both virtual and traditional lab investigations and research opportunities, students summarize their findings and analyze others' findings in summaries, using statistical and mathematical calculations when appropriate. Summative tests are offered at the end of each unit as well as at the end of each semester, and contain objective and constructed response items. Robust scaffolding, rigorous instruction, relevant material and regular active learning opportunities ensure that students can achieve mastery of the skills necessary to excel on the APÆ exam.This course has been authorized by the College BoardÆ to use the APÆ designation.
Course Details:
| Course Title (District): |
APEX Biology B |
| Course Title (NCES SCED) : |
AP Biology |
| Course Provider : |
Genesee ISD |
| Content Provided By : |
Edmentum Inc. |
| Online Instructor Provided By : |
Edmentum Inc. |
| Standards Addressed : |
CollegeBoard |
| Alignment Document : |
https://auth.edmentum.com/elf/login |
| Academic Terms : |
Semester, Open Entry / Open Exit |
| NCES SCED Code : 03056 |
| Subject Area : |
Life and Physical Sciences |
| Course Identifier : |
AP Biology |
| Course Level : |
High School (Secondary) |
| Available Credit : |
0.5 |
| Sequence : |
1 of 2 |
|
How To Enroll:
Students and Parents: It is important to work closely with your local school counselor or
registrar to follow the school's enrollment procedures. By clicking the "Start Registration
Request" button below, you will be able to notify the school of your interest in registering for
the online course. However, it is the responsibility of the district or school to review the
registration request and approve or deny the request. Please make a note to follow up with
your school after submitting a registration request.
Start Registration Request
Additional Course Information:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: (888) 889-2840
Additional Cost: $0.0
Additional Cost Description: none
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:ï Foster a love of science, especially in terms of Biology.ï Provide learners with chances to inquire about natural phenomena, asking naturaland well-formed questions.ï Expose learners to how the scientific method is applied in studying living things.ï Empower learners to explore natural phenomena in order to answer their ownquestions.ï Train learners to draw conclusions from observations in order to construct their ownunderstanding of biological concepts.ï Build skills for learners to communicate their questions, observations, findings andconclusions to others interested in similar questions about living things.ï Expose learners to significant concepts and themes in Biology.ï Tie lessons together in terms of the eight themes which structure AP Biology.Assess learnersí ability to ask and answer questions about nature.ï Reinforce an interest in nature and the living things that make up our commonenvironment.ï Provide learners with a set of tools for solving problems that relate to nature andimpact the daily lives of learners.
iNACOL National Standards for Quality Online Courses
| Academic Content Standards and Assessments |
Rating
|
Comments |
| The goals and objectives clearly state what the participants will know or be able to do at the end of the course. The goals and objectives are measurable in multiple ways. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Information literacy and communication skills are incorporated and taught as an integral part of the curriculum. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Multiple learning resources and materials to increase student success are available to students before the course begins. |
Fully Met
|
|
| The course content and assignments are aligned with the state’s content standards, Common Core curriculum, or other accepted content standards set for Advanced Placement® courses, technology, computer science, or other courses whose content is not included in the state standards. |
Fully Met
|
|
| The course content and assignments are of sufficient rigor, depth and breadth to teach the standards being addressed. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Course Overview and Introduction |
Rating
|
Comments |
| Clear, complete course overview and syllabus are included in the course. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Course requirements are consistent with course goals, are representative of the scope of the course and are clearly stated. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Information is provided to students, parents and mentors on how to communicate with the online instructor and course provider. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Legal and Acceptable Use Policies |
Rating
|
Comments |
| The course reflects multi-cultural education, and the content is accurate, current and free of bias or advertising. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Expectations for academic integrity, use of copyrighted materials, plagiarism and netiquette (Internet etiquette) regarding lesson activities, discussions, and e-mail communications are clearly stated. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Privacy policies are clearly stated. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Instructor Resources |
Rating
|
Comments |
| Online instructor resources and notes are included. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Assessment and assignment answers and explanations are included. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Instructional and Audience Analysis |
Rating
|
Comments |
| Course design reflects a clear understanding of all students’ needs and incorporates varied ways to learn and master the curriculum. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Course, Unit and Lesson Design |
Rating
|
Comments |
| The course is organized by units and lessons that fall into a logical sequence. Each unit and lesson includes an overview describing objectives, activities, assignments, assessments, and resources to provide multiple learning opportunities for students to master the content. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Instructional Strategies and Activities |
Rating
|
Comments |
| The course instruction includes activities that engage students in active learning. |
Fully Met
|
|
| The course and course instructor provide students with multiple learning paths, based on student needs that engage students in a variety of ways. |
Fully Met
|
|
| The course provides opportunities for students to engage in higher-order thinking, critical reasoning activities and thinking in increasingly complex ways. |
Fully Met
|
|
| The course provides options for the instructor to adapt learning activities to accommodate students’ needs. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Readability levels, written language assignments and mathematical requirements are appropriate for the course content and grade-level expectations. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Communication and Interaction |
Rating
|
Comments |
| The course design provides opportunities for appropriate instructor-student interaction, including opportunities for timely and frequent feedback about student progress. |
Fully Met
|
|
| The course design includes explicit communication/activities (both before and during the first week of the course) that confirms whether students are engaged and are progressing through the course. The instructor will follow program guidelines to address non-responsive students. |
Fully Met
|
|
| The course provides opportunities for appropriate instructor-student and student-student interaction to foster mastery and application of the material. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Resources and Materials |
Rating
|
Comments |
| Students have access to resources that enrich the course content. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Evaluation Strategies |
Rating
|
Comments |
| Student evaluation strategies are consistent with course goals and objectives, are representative of the scope of the course and are clearly stated. |
Fully Met
|
|
| The course structure includes adequate and appropriate methods and procedures to assess students’ mastery of content. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Feedback |
Rating
|
Comments |
| Ongoing, varied, and frequent assessments are conducted throughout the course to inform instruction. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Assessment strategies and tools make the student continuously aware of his/her progress in class and mastery of the content. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Assessment Resources and Materials |
Rating
|
Comments |
| Assessment materials provide the instructor with the flexibility to assess students in a variety of ways. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Grading rubrics are provided to the instructor and may be shared with students. |
Fully Met
|
|
| The grading policy and practices are easy to understand. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Course Architecture |
Rating
|
Comments |
| The course architecture permits the online instructor to add content, activities and assessments to extend learning opportunities. |
Fully Met
|
|
| The course accommodates multiple school calendars; e.g., block, 4X4 and traditional schedules. |
Fully Met
|
|
| User Interface |
Rating
|
Comments |
| Clear and consistent navigation is present throughout the course. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Rich media are provided in multiple formats for ease of use and access in order to address diverse student needs. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Technology Requirements and Interoperability |
Rating
|
Comments |
| All technology requirements (including hardware, browser, software, etc...) are specified. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Prerequisite skills in the use of technology are identified. |
Fully Met
|
|
| The course uses content-specific tools and software appropriately. |
Fully Met
|
|
| The course is designed to meet internationally recognized interoperability standards. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Copyright and licensing status, including permission to share where applicable, is clearly stated and easily found. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Accessibility |
Rating
|
Comments |
| Course materials and activities are designed to provide appropriate access to all students. The course, developed with universal design principles in mind, conforms to the U.S. Section 504 and Section 508 provisions for electronic and information technology as well as the W3C’s Web Content Accessibility guidelines (WCAg 2.0). |
Fully Met
|
|
| Data Security |
Rating
|
Comments |
| Student information remains confidential, as required by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). |
Fully Met
|
|
| Accessing Course Effectiveness |
Rating
|
Comments |
| The course provider uses multiple ways of assessing course effectiveness. |
Fully Met
|
|
| The course is evaluated using a continuous improvement cycle for effectiveness and the findings used as a basis for improvement. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Course Updates |
Rating
|
Comments |
| The course is updated periodically to ensure that the content is current. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Certification |
Rating
|
Comments |
| Course instructors, whether faceto-face or virtual, are certificated and “highly qualified.” The online course teacher possesses a teaching credential from a state-licensing agency and is “highly qualified” as defined under ESEA. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Instructor and Student Support |
Rating
|
Comments |
| Professional development about the online course delivery system is offered by the provider to assure effective use of the courseware and various instructional media available. |
Fully Met
|
|
| The course provider offers technical support and course management assistance to students, the course instructor, and the school coordinator. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Course instructors, whether face-to-face or virtual, have been provided professional development in the behavioral, social, and when necessary, emotional, aspects of the learning environment. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Course instructors, whether face-to-face or virtual, receive instructor professional development, which includes the support and use of a variety of communication modes to stimulate student engagement online. |
Fully Met
|
|
| The provider assures that course instructors, whether face-to-face or virtual, are provided support, as needed, to ensure their effectiveness and success in meeting the needs of online students. |
Fully Met
|
|
| Students are offered an orientation for taking an online course before starting the coursework. |
Fully Met
|
|
Review Conducted By: Certica
Date of Review:
01/13/2016
Unit 1: Diversity of Life, Part - 1 Unit 2: Diversity of Life, Part - 2 Unit 3: Plant Structure and Function Unit 4: Animal Structure and Function, Part - 1 Unit 5: Animal Structure and Function, Part - 2 Unit 6: Ecology
| Term Type |
Enrollment Opens |
Enrollment Ends |
Random Draw Date |
Enrollment Drop Date |
Course Starts |
Course Ends |
# of Seats |
Course Fee |
Potential Additional Costs |
|
Open Entry / Open Exit |
08/01/2024 |
07/31/2025 |
|
|
|
|
100 |
$300 |
$0 |
| Drop Policy |
Completion Policy |
Term Type |
Enrollment Opens |
Enrollment Ends |
| K-5: Grace period of 30 calendar days after enrollment. Course cost will be charged in full if student not withdrawn from classes by day 31.
6-12: Grace period of 14 calendar days after enrollment. Course cost will be charged in full if student not withdrawn from class by day 15. |
EdOptions Academy teachers will grade submitted activities within 72 business hours. Grading will be aligned to the rubrics to ensure consistency and high expectations. Feedback will be specific and detailed with the purpose of enhancing student outcomes.
The final grade will be comprised of all Mastery Tests, Discussions, Unit Tests, and the End of Semester Test. The End of Semester Test will be weighted at 20% of the Final Grade. The remaining 80% will be divided among the other course activities. Students may take the EOS a second time after remediation to improve their score. Students may submit course work to improve their mastery up to the end of their enrollment time in the course.
6-12: 4-week extensions are available for $50 per enrollment (maximum 2 extensions per 18-week enrollment).
6-12: 2-week extensions are available for $25 per enrollment (maximum 2 extensions per 9-week enrollment). |
Open Entry / Open Exit |
08/01/2024 |
07/31/2025 |
Teachers are expected to answer questions, grade assignments, and provide feedback to students within 24 hours. Almost all questions will be answered within a few hours, but 24 hours should be the maximum response time. Additionally, teachers are required to check email from students once over the weekend. Teachers will also make phone calls or send text messages to students to help facilitate successful completion of the course. Students and parents are expected to respond when teachers contact them with questions or concerns.
https://cdn.app.edmentum.com/EdAssets/9bf647e7831948a08530c43f8b1ba0ae
