In this course, students will explore four big ideas:
(1) Evolution: The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life.
(2) Energetics: Biological systems use energy and molecular building blocks to grow, reproduce, and maintain dynamic homeostasis.
(3) Information Storage and Transmission: Living systems store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information essential to the life process.
(4) Systems Interactions: Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions exhibit complex properties.
Students will cultivate their understanding of biology through inquiry-based investigations as they explore topics in cell structure, function and communication, biochemistry, genetics, ecology, and interactions between systems.
This course incorporates a variety of textbook and multimedia resources and has a comprehensive lab program that meets College Board requirements. Students will perform hands-on lab work using materials from their lab kit, conduct virtual experiments and analyze larger data sets. Students will develop scientific literacy and connect biological principles to real-world applications and current events, in order to develop a deeper understanding of biology.
Students will be expected to enroll in My AP Classroom through their VHS Learning AP course and will be guided to complete review work in My AP Classroom throughout the year. My AP Classroom resources include AP Daily Videos and unit-based Personal Progress Checks, which include AP-style multiple-choice and free-response questions.
Students enrolled in VHS Learning Advanced Placement courses with a passing grade are expected to take the AP Exam. Students register for AP exams through their local school or testing site as “Exam Only” students. AP exam scores will be reported to VHS Learning through My AP Classroom; exam results will not affect the student's VHS Learning grade or future enrollment in VHS Learning courses.
About the Self-Paced Course Model
Self-Paced courses are comprehensive, self-paced courses designed for students who need or desire more flexibility in their academic schedule. VHS Learning teachers will regularly interact with students in asynchronous discussions, will host weekly office hours, and will invite students to monthly 1-on-1 progress meetings. Teachers will support students, answer questions, and provide feedback on work. Students will work independently on course activities; the course does not include class discussion assignments or other collaborative work.
Students may start this course on any Monday from September (after the American Labor Day holiday) through the first Monday in December. Students must maintain enrollment for a minimum of 20 weeks and have until mid-June to complete all assignments in the course. It is expected that students will work for approximately 330 hours to complete this course, though the amount of time may vary depending on a student’s work habits and comfort with the material.