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APEX Environmental Science A

Course Description:

AP* Environmental Science provides students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world. The course draws upon various disciplines, including geology, biology, environmental studies, environmental science, chemistry, and geography in order to explore a variety of environmental topics. Topics explored include natural systems on Earth; biogeochemical cycles; the nature of matter and energy; the flow of matter and energy through living systems; populations; communities; ecosystems; ecological pyramids; renewable and nonrenewable resources; land use; biodiversity; pollution; conservation; sustainability; and human impacts on the environment. The equivalent of an introductory college-level science course, AP Environmental Science prepares students for the AP exam and for further study in science, health sciences, or engineering. The AP Environmental Science course provides a learning experience focused on allowing students to develop their critical thinking skills and cognitive strategies. Scientific inquiry skills are embedded in the direct instruction, wherein students learn to ask scientific questions, deconstruct claims, form and test hypotheses, and use logic and evidence to draw conclusions about the concepts. Frequent no- and low-stakes assessments allow students to measure their comprehension and improve their performance as they progress through each activity. Students perform hands-on labs and projects that give them insight into the nature of science and help them understand environmental concepts, as well as how evidence can be obtained to support those concepts. Virtual lab activities enable students to engage in investigations that would otherwise require long periods of observation at remote locations and to explore simulations that enable environmental scientists to test predictions. During both hands-on and virtual labs, students form hypotheses; collect, analyze, and manipulate data; and report their findings and conclusions. Throughout this course, students are given an opportunity to understand how biology, earth science, and physical science are applied to the study of the environment and how technology and engineering are contributing solutions for studying and creating a sustainable biosphere. 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 AP exam. This course has been authorized by the College BoardÆ to use the AP designation

Course Details:

Course Title (District): APEX Environmental Science A
Course Title (NCES SCED) : AP Environmental Science
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 : 03207
Subject Area : Life and Physical Sciences
Course Identifier : AP Environmental Science
Course Level : High School (Secondary)
Available Credit : 0.5
Sequence : 1 of 2

How To Enroll:

Enrollment Website : https://slp.michiganvirtual.org/PublicWelcome.aspx
Email : [email protected]
Phone : (888) 889-2840

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:

Additional Cost: $0.0

Additional Cost Description: none

By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:*Define environmental science as an interdisciplinary science.I*dentify commonly used devices, systems, and sources of information important to environmental studies.*Determine the role of technology in environmental science and human society.*Recognize that systems of Earth's environment are interrelated and dynamic.*Analyze the use of DNA technology in environmental studies.*Recognize that the interactions of matter and energy in Earth's systems follow the laws of thermodynamics.*Define the major types of matter that make up the biosphere.*Identify the processes that transform energy as it moves through Earth's systems.*Compare the characteristics of different surfaces on Earth, including albedo and heat capacity.*Analyze the movements of water, carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus in natural biogeochemical cycles.*Summarize the transfers of matter and energy that occur during photosynthesis and cellular respiration.*Define each key term and concept in this unit.*Explain the significance of each key term and concept in this unit.*Apply concepts learned in this unit to specific problems.*Identify the characteristics of Earth's bodies of water.*Relate solar energy to ocean currents and the distribution of heat around the globe.*Determine how water transfers and distributes energy on Earth.*Evaluate how the motions of Earth interact with the hydrosphere to maintain a livable climate on Earth.*Recognize how air transfers and distributes energy on Earth.*Define the structure and composition of Earth's atmosphere.*Examine how the motions of Earth interact with the atmosphere to maintain a livable climate on Earth.*Identify the effects of El NiÒo and La NiÒa on global weather patterns.*Evaluate the factors that affect the quality water in different parts of a watershed.*Analyze and make recommendations for home design that promotes passive heating and cooling.*Relate the surface features of Earth's crust to the theory of plate tectonics.*Analyze common landforms on Earth's crust and how they were formed.*Identify the types of weathering and the agents of each type of weathering.*Examine the types of soil and the processes of soil formation.*Identify the types of erosion and their effects on Earth's crust.*Relate movements of the crust to the forces created by interactions of tectonic plates.*Recognize the potential for earthquakes in specific areas and actions that can be taken to prepare for their effects.*Define each key term and concept in this unit.*Explain the significance of each key term and concept in this unit.*Apply concepts learned in this unit to specific problems.*Differentiate biological communities from populations and ecosystems.*Examine the types of interactions that occur among the species in biological communities.*Recognize the nature and importance of ecological niches and keystone species.*Model the makeup of communities using ecological pyramids and food webs.*Analyze food chains, food webs, and ecological pyramids that describe the interactions of species in a biological community.*Evaluate the importance of individual ecosystems to the health of biomes and the biosphere.*Identify the factors that affect community stability and biodiversity.*Summarize the sources and importance of genetic diversity in natural populations, ecosystems, and the biosphere.*Predict changes that may occur in ecosystems when its amount of biodiversity changes.*Recognize the importance of biodiversity in the biosphere.*Apply techniques for identifying species in order to assess the make up of communities.*Identify the distinguishing biotic and abiotic features of a given biome.*Examine characteristics of land and aquatic biomes and ecosystems.*Measure wet and dry biomass and calculate primary productivity.*Define each key term and concept in this unit.*Explain the significance of each key term and concept in this unit.*Apply concepts learned in this unit to specific problems.*Identify characteristics used to describe populations.*Examine limiting factors that affect populations and their characteristics.*Relate a population's carrying capacity to the factors that determine the carrying capacity.*Compare exponential and logistic patterns of population growth.*Recognize the significance of studying populations over time.*Interpret historical trends in human population growth and distribution*Identify characteristics of human populations.*Examine the purposes of human communities.*Identify different kinds of human communities.*Determine how individuals and groups work together in communities.*Identify the practices of and need for public health research and programs.*Identify renewable and nonrenewable resources on which humans depend.*Differentiate between renewable and nonrenewable resources.*Evaluate the cost-benefit trade-offs of using renewable resources instead of nonrenewable resources.*Determine how the use of natural resources will affect future generations of humans.*Model resource consumption.

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
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
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
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: Introduction to AP Environmental Science Unit 2: Earth's Physical Systems Unit 3: Ecosystem Structure Unit 4: Population 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