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Life Science

Course Description:

Course Description This full-year middle school course focuses on introducing students to the diversity of life found on our planet. The course includes an overview of scientific principles and procedures, and leads students toward a clearer understanding of cells and heredity, the five kingdoms, human body systems, and ecology. As students refine and expand their understanding of life science, they will apply their knowledge in investigations that require them to ask questions and explore the world around them. Throughout the course, students will also solve problems, reason abstractly, and learn to think critically

Course Details:

Course Title (District): Life Science
Course Title (NCES SCED) : Life Science
Course Provider : Berrien Springs Public Schools
Content Provided By : Imagine Learning LLC (formerly Edgenuity)
Online Instructor Provided By : Berrien Springs Public Schools
Standards Addressed : Common Core State Standards
Academic Terms : Semester
NCES SCED Code : 03071
Subject Area : Life and Physical Sciences
Course Identifier : Life Science
Course Level : Elem/Middle School (Prior to Secondary)
Available Credit : 0.5
Sequence : 1 of 1

How To Enroll:

Enrollment Website : https://www.berrienspringsvirtualacademy.com
Email : [email protected]
Phone : 269-473-0500

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:

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Course Objectives Throughout the course, you will meet the following goals: • Examine the characteristics of living things. • Investigate cell structure and cellular processes. • Relate the structure and function of DNA to inheritance patterns. • Explore the changes in organisms over time. • Learn about the diversity of organisms, from bacteria to animals. • Analyze how human body systems work together to maintain homeostasis. • Demonstrate an understanding of populations and ecosystems. • Explain the causes and effects of environmental change.

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
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
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

Review Conducted By: Berrien Springs Public Schools
Date of Review: 06/20/2016

Scope and Sequence When you log into Edgenuity, you can view the entire course map—an interactive scope and sequence of all topics you will study. The units of study are summarized below: Unit 1: Nature of Science Unit 2: Living Things Unit 3: Cell Biology Unit 4: Genetics Unit 5: Evolution Unit 6: Bacteria to Plants Unit 7: Animals Unit 8: Human Biology Unit 9: Ecology Unit 10: Environmental Change

Term Type Enrollment Opens Enrollment Ends Random Draw Date Enrollment Drop Date Course Starts Course Ends # of Seats Course Fee Potential Additional Costs
Semester 08/01/2024 08/23/2024 09/02/2024 08/26/2024 01/17/2025 30 $325 $0
Semester 01/02/2025 01/17/2025 01/28/2025 01/21/2025 06/04/2025 30 $325 $0
Drop Policy Completion Policy Term Type Enrollment Opens Enrollment Ends
Upon completion of the course, Berrien Springs Public Schools will award credit for the course for anyone with a grade D- or higher. This will be communicated back to the student's home district. Any student who does not complete the course will receive an F which will also be communicated back to the home district. Semester 08/01/2024 08/23/2024
Upon completion of the course, Berrien Springs Public Schools will award credit for the course for anyone with a grade D- or higher. This will be communicated back to the student's home district. Any student who does not complete the course will receive an F which will also be communicated back to the home district. Semester 01/02/2025 01/17/2025
Student Expectations This course requires the same level of commitment from you as a traditional classroom course would. Throughout the course, you are expected to spend approximately 5–7 hours per week online on the following activities: • Interactive lessons that include a mixture of instructional videos and tasks • Assignments in which you apply and extend learning • Assessments, including quizzes, tests, and cumulative exams Communication Your teacher will communicate with you regularly through discussions, e-mail, chat, and system announcements. You will also communicate with classmates, either via online tools or face to face, as you collaborate on projects, ask and answer questions in your peer group, and develop your speaking and listening skills
School Year Enrollment Count Pass Count Completion Rate Notes
19-20 7 7 100.0%
18-19 8 7 87.5%
17-18 3 3 100.0%
16-17 8 6 75.0%
15-16 0 0 0.0% None

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