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Biology B

Course Description:


Biology focuses on the mastery of basic biological concepts and models while building scientific inquiry skills and exploring the connections between living things and their environment.

The course begins with an introduction to the nature of science and biology, including the major themes of structure and function, matter and energy flow, systems, and interconnectedness of life. Students then apply those themes to the structure and function of the cell, cellular metabolism, and biogeochemical cycles. Building on this foundation, students explore the connections and interactions between living things by studying genetics, ecosystems and natural selection, and evolution. The course ends with an applied look at human biology.

Scientific inquiry skills are embedded in the direct instruction, wherein students learn to ask scientific questions, form and test hypotheses, and use logic and evidence to draw conclusions about the concepts.

Lab activities reinforce critical thinking, writing, and communication skills and help develop a deeper understanding of the nature of science.

The content is based on the National Science Education Standards (NSES) and is aligned to state standards. 
 

Course Details:

Course Title (District): Biology B
Course Title (NCES SCED) : Biology
Course Provider : Ann Arbor Public Schools
Content Provided By : Apex Learning Inc.
Online Instructor Provided By : Ann Arbor Public Schools
Standards Addressed : Common Core State Standards, National Collegiate Athletic Association
Alignment Document : https://www.dropbox.com/sh/klh22tquqp5b8b1/BqtHgyDv4h
Academic Terms : Semester, Trimester, Accelerated
NCES SCED Code : 03051
Subject Area : Life and Physical Sciences
Course Identifier : Biology
Course Level : High School (Secondary)
Available Credit : 0.5
Sequence : 2 of 2

How To Enroll:

Enrollment Website : http://a2virtual.org
Email : [email protected]
Phone : 1-734-997-1208

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

Biology Objectives: By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • Identify the basic unit of life. 
  • Relate biological structures to their functions. 
  • Explain the organization of biological systems.
  • Trace the flow of matter and energy through biological systems. 
  • Explain the connections and interactions between living things. 
  • Determine the relationship between genetics, natural selection, and evolution

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: Apex Learning Inc.
Date of Review: 08/15/2014

UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY
Lesson 1: Biology as Science
Lesson 2: Connections in Biology
Lesson 3: Doing Science: Introduction to Biology
Lesson 4: Introduction to Biology Wrap-Up
Lesson 5: Diagnostic


UNIT 2: THE CHEMISTRY OF BIOLOGY
Lesson 1: Chemistry of Life
Lesson 2: Carbohydrates, Lipids, and Nucleic Acids
Lesson 3: Proteins, Enzymes, and Water
Lesson 4: Doing Science: The Chemistry of Biology
Lesson 5: The Chemistry of Biology Wrap-Up
Lesson 6: Diagnostic


UNIT 3: CELLS
Lesson 1: Cell Structure
Lesson 2: Cell Membrane
Lesson 3: Cell Differentiation
Lesson 4: Doing Science: Cells
Lesson 5: Cells Wrap-Up
Lesson 6: Diagnostic


UNIT 4: ENERGY TRANSFER
Lesson 1: Photosynthesis
Lesson 2: Cellular Respiration
Lesson 3: Matter and Energy
Lesson 4: Doing Science: Energy Transfer
Lesson 5: Energy Transfer Wrap-Up
Lesson 6: Diagnostic


UNIT 5: EARTH'S RESOURCES
Lesson 1: Biogeochemical Cycles
Lesson 2: A Changing Earth
Lesson 3: Solutions for the Future
Lesson 4: Doing Science: Earth's Resources
Lesson 5: Earth's Resources Wrap-Up
Lesson 6: Diagnostic
UNIT 6: BIOLOGY SEMESTER 1 REVIEW AND EXAM
Lesson 1: Biology Semester 1

UNIT 7: DNA AND HEREDITY
Lesson 1: The Code of Life
Lesson 2: Passing On Traits
Lesson 3: Mendelian Genetics
Lesson 4: Doing Science: DNA and Heredity
Lesson 5: DNA and Heredity Wrap-Up
Lesson 6: Diagnostic


UNIT 8: DNA TO PROTEIN
Lesson 1: Structure of Genetic Material
Lesson 2: From DNA to Protein
Lesson 3: Changes to DNA
Lesson 4: Doing Science: DNA to Protein
Lesson 5: DNA to Protein Wrap-Up
Lesson 6: Diagnostic


UNIT 9: ECOSYSTEMS AND NATURAL SELECTION
Lesson 1: Ecosystems
Lesson 2: Populations
Lesson 3: Adaptation and Natural Selection
Lesson 4: Doing Science: Ecosystems and Natural Selection
Lesson 5: Ecosystems and Natural Selection Wrap-Up
Lesson 6: Diagnostic


UNIT 10: EVOLUTION AND CLASSIFICATION
Lesson 1: Evolution
Lesson 2: Classification
Lesson 3: Diversity of Life
Lesson 4: Doing Science: Evolution and Classification
Lesson 5: Evolution and Classification Wrap-Up
Lesson 6: Diagnostic


UNIT 11: HUMAN BIOLOGY
Lesson 1: Structure of the Body
Lesson 2: Fuel, Defense, and Signaling
Lesson 3: Reproduction and Development
Lesson 4: Doing Science: Human Biology
Lesson 5: Human Biology Wrap-Up
Lesson 6: Diagnostic


UNIT 12: BIOLOGY SEMESTER 2 REVIEW AND EXAM
Lesson 1: Biology Semester 2


Term Type Enrollment Opens Enrollment Ends Random Draw Date Enrollment Drop Date Course Starts Course Ends # of Seats Course Fee Potential Additional Costs
Drop Policy Completion Policy Term Type Enrollment Opens Enrollment Ends
Instructor Contact Expectations: Students submit assignments and receive asynchronous feedback via a secure message center and online discussion boards. A2 Virtual+ online teachers respond to student questions within one school day, and grade and return student homework with meaningful formative feedback within three school days. A2 Virtual+ online teachers and guidance staff continually monitor student progress and reach out to students and local mentors if students appear to be struggling or off pace.
School Year Enrollment Count Pass Count Completion Rate Notes
23-24 21 18 85.71%
22-23 12 11 91.67%
21-22 31 25 80.65%
19-20 11 11 100.0%
18-19 8 8 100.0%
17-18 3 0 0.0%