ORGANIZATION OF AP BIOLOGY

1. ORGANIZATION OF AP BIOLOGY 2013 - 2014

2. History of AP Biology • Old method of teaching • Newer method • 2012 – 2013 • More closely aligned with College Biology now • Input from College Profs around the Nation • Supported by the College Board • http://student.collegeboard.org/

3. AP Biology Curriculum Framework • No longer traditional “content coverage” • Revised AP Biology course is equivalent to a two-semester college introductory biology course • Has been endorsed enthusiastically by higher education officials

4. Concept Outline • Big ideas • Enduring Understandings • Essential Knowledge • Learning Objectives • Science Practices

5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibhnP5suqK8

6. Big Ideas • 4 Big Ideas = 4 Units of Study • Not separate – but interconnected as is all Life • Underlying Principles of Biology • Encompass • Core scientific principles • Theories • Processes governing living organisms and systems

7. Big Idea 1 – The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life • Big Idea 2 – Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, to reproduce and to maintain dynamic homeostasis • Big Idea 3 – Living systems store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life processes • Big Idea 4 – Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties

8. Big Ideas • Enduring Understanding • Essential Knowledge • Science Practices • Learning Objectives

9. Enduring Understandings • Incorporate the core concepts that students should retain from the learning experience • Examples from Big Idea 1 • EU1A – Change in the genetic makeup of a population over time is evolution • EU1B – Organisms are linked by lines of descent from common ancestry

10. Essential Knowledge • Statements necessary to support each of the Enduring Understandings • EK1A1 – Natural selection is a major mechanism of evolution • EK1A2 – Natural selection acts on phenotypic variations in populations • EK1B1 – Organisms share many conserved core processes and features that evolved and are widely distributed among organisms today

11. Science Practices • Seven with multiple parts – See handout • Bozeman biology videos on Science Practices • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5Nemz_cVew&list=PLllVwaZQkS2pjZ33Iwr84PutjISWnYL1H • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgqYlSKoXak&list=PLllVwaZQkS2pjZ33Iwr84PutjISWnYL1H • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zB272Ak63A&list=PLllVwaZQkS2pjZ33Iwr84PutjISWnYL1H • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzTXnne40wU&list=PLllVwaZQkS2pjZ33Iwr84PutjISWnYL1H • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JqukouOtZA&list=PLllVwaZQkS2pjZ33Iwr84PutjISWnYL1H • How to with graphing and Tables • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gK1xWNM7kk&list=PLllVwaZQkS2pjZ33Iwr84PutjISWnYL1H • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l4bcs49JP8&list=PLllVwaZQkS2pjZ33Iwr84PutjISWnYL1H

12. Learning Objectives • Source of AP Biology Exam questions • Combine Essential Knowledge and Science Practice • Provides clear and detailed information of what students should know and be able to do • Provides clear information on how students will be expected to demonstrate their knowledge and abilities

13. Laboratories-25% of class time • Can you - • Generate questions for investigation? • Choose which variables to investigate? • Design and conduct experiments? • Design your own experimental procedures? • Collect, analyze, interpret, and display data? • Determine how to present your conclusions? • THINK LIKE A SCIENTIST?

14. AP EXAM • Section 1 – 90 minutes • Multiple Choice – 63 • Grid Ins – 6 (suggested to answer these first) • Section 2 – 90 minutes • 10 minute reading period • 2 long FRQs • 6 short FRQs

15. The AP Biology Exam • 8:00 a.m. Monday, May 12, 2014 • Part I requires a pencil and students can use a 4 function calculator. • Part II requires a blue or black pen and students can use a 4 function calculator. It also includes a 10 minute reading period. • Formula Sheet

16. Tips for Essay Writing -The essay portion of the exam is 50% of the exam. -There are 2 long free-response questions that should require about 20 minutes each. -There will be 6 short free-response questions that should take about 6 minutes to answer. -Answer in space provided. Do not write in margins!

17. Write in essay form-complete sentences. Do not list! • Do not write an introductory paragraph. • Spelling and grammar are not graded. • If you can’t remember a term, describe it. • Define every term in the question and every term in your answer.

18. -Try to answer each question; there will be something about the topic that you know—even if it is just defining a term. -Read the question several times. Make sure that you know what it is asking. -Address each part of the question. It is impossible to get a score of 10 without addressing each part. -Label the parts of your response.

19. Typically, there will be a question that involves one of the 8 labs. • If a graph is called for, be sure to include the following: • title • correct orientation of axes (dependent variable on the y and independent variable on the x) • make sure values are spaced properly on axes • identification of lines (label or provide a key)

20. Often, a question will ask the student to design a lab. This means they should describe a lab. The following should be included in any description: • hypothesis • one experimental variable • at least 2 controlled variables • means for determining quantitative results (measurement) • predict results and draw a graph or construct a table to show expected results

21. If you make a mistake, just cross out your answer. • If you are asked to make choices from several options, the reader will only give credit for the ones you name first. • Over-explain concepts. Do not write for a biology teacher; write as if you are addressing a layperson.

22. Verification-experiment should be repeated at least 10 times or there should be a good number in the sample size • Predict results and draw a graph or construct a table to show expected results

23. How to: • Prepare for the exam

24. Score Setting • The multiple-choice section is scored by computer. Each answer sheet is scanned and the total multiple-choice score is computed by adding the number of correct responses. Guessing is now okay!!! • The free-response section is scored at the annual AP Reading held during the first two weeks in June. Specially appointed college professors and experienced AP teachers evaluate free-response answers. • The total scores from the free-response section and the multiple-choice section are combined to form a composite score.

25. AP Exam scores are reported on a 5-point scale as follows:5  Extremely well qualified*4  Well qualified*3  Qualified*2  Possibly qualified*1  No recommendation***Qualified to receive college credit or advanced placement**No recommendation to receive college credit or advanced placement

26. Students who earn AP Exam scores of 3 or above are • generally considered to be qualified to receive college credit and/or placement into advanced courses • due to the fact that their AP Exam scores are equivalent to a college course score of "middle C " or above • However, the awarding of credit and placement is determined by each college or university and students should check with the institution to verify its AP credit and placement policies. Credit Policy search.

27. College professors attest that AP Biology course & exam are now the gold standard in college-level Biology. • Colleges professors are very excited about the redesigned AP Biology exam, which emphasizes both the content & skills they most value.

28. Bozeman Biology – Information on AP Biology Exam • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7INh-DV0G_w&list=PLFCE4D99C4124A27A