JUANITA QUEVEDO | San Diego, California
| Biology Syllabus |
I. Course Details Credit Fulfillment: District Life Science Graduation Requirement (UC/CSU lab science credit
fulfillment) II. Pedagogical Philosophy The Biology course will be for students
who not only wish to satisfy the District Life Science graduation requirement but also wish to make themselves eligible to apply directly to California universities. III. Discipline Parental contact, administrative/counselor referral, detention and/or suspension may result when not following school or classroom conduct rules. Consequences for not following school/class rules may result in decreased citizenship credit earned for in-class performance. ORHS Attendance Policies as described in the student handbook will be followed during this course. Multiple absences and excessive tardy arrivals may negatively affect a student’s scholarship and/or citizenship grade. Detentions may be assigned if excessive tardiness or behavioral incidents occur. Communication with parents is most desirable to resolve discipline matters. IV. Course Description This compilation was developed with the consideration and acknowledgment of the California Department of Education Standards for Biology as developed for students in grades 9-12 as part of a secondary setting. Standards and Frameworks may be found at the California Department of Education (http://www.cde.ca.gov) by linking to content standards for Biology/Life Science. Biology is the study of living organisms and natural systems. It requires knowing current, accepted scientific laws and theories. Science requires problem-solving skills, such as projecting experimental or real-life outcomes. Understanding biological principles will help students understand the world around them. Biology will help better prepare students for their next phase of study, especially in future science courses, by challenging critical thinking skills as well as by providing students with opportunities to create and develop projects on the basis of individual interests and personal creativity. Mastery of Biology or lab calculations requires math skills in basic algebra. A focus on language skills is also important, including both verbal and written skills, as they will be a necessity to communicate in most any realm of jobs in the science industry. Organization skills will also be essential to be successful as a student of science as previous material learned is generally critical in understanding current material discussed in class. Hands-on (laboratory) lessons will be a component of the course and compliance with lab safety rules will be required in order to allow students to participate in lab activities. It is required that each student complete a laboratory safety quiz, correct errors, if any, and sign a safety contract along with the signature of a parent or guardian. V. Grades
Late work for students that are absent will be accepted within the same number of days of absence; other late work will not be considered.Performance Level and Scholarship Grades: Credit Required/Week: Exemplary Effort, A+ $950 average earned/week=$17,000/semester AND at least one oral
presentation about a research project *Progress report fees may vary depending on number of class meetings at the time of progress report. Amounts given are an average. VI. Supplies and Organization Notebook: * Course materials should be organized chronologically by date including activities done in class, homework, group activity notes, lab notes and data, quizzes and exams. Topics to be taught and when: Download the Biology Pacing Guide for SUHSD as a .pdf> *
Student Self-Check for Notebook Credit/Rubric: Required to pass course with a C or better. Recommended Supplies: VII. Consultant Learning Grading Policy Individual scholarship and citizenship grades will be assigned to each student each quarter of the academic year. Two final grades will appear on student transcripts as earned at the end of the first semester in December and at the end of the school year in June following individual conferences between each student and the instructor. Dollars ($) are earned rather than points because students often find it easier to identify with money and should be able to demonstrate the grade they have earned by tracking how much money they have earned. The Consultant Learning Model pays students for professional quality work that is completed or presented and uses money rather than points to measure behavior and motivate students. In order to assign a scholarship grade, the Consultant Learning Model grading will be followed as developed by Dr. Scott Kunkle at the University of San Diego (USD). Please refer to http://www.consultantlearning.com. Please refer to the Student Resources link; for username and password-see teacher. This will allow students to access the High School Student Guide to Consultant Learning to help answer questions students may have about this grading system. In addition, students will be able to access the 80/20 Style Guide for Professional Quality Business Writing for help with common writing errors including grammar and descriptions and examples of how to write appropriate bibliographical citations. In order to achieve the quality of professionalism in projects presented for the course, revisions may be required; students will be given the opportunity to revise and re-submit their work for full credit so long as it is submitted within a timely manner. This system has proven successful in motivating students to investigate topics of their interest and is effective in helping students learn to write and report as a scientist by creating high quality works; given feedback and the opportunity to revise improved works. |
