1. Mr Bucher Room 202 dbucher@onteora.k12.ny.us
Welcome to AP Biology
Mr Bucher Room 202

2. The Course AP Biology has been completely revised:
- less emphasis on memorization
- more emphasis on inquiry, experimentation
- AP test format, questions now very different
- “critical thinking” skills much more important
- data collection, analysis, statistics more important than memorizing terms, facts

3. Four “Big Ideas”
The College Board has organized the course around what it calls big ideas.
Under those big ideas, there concepts they call major understandings.
Within major understandings, there is essential knowledge that students must learn.
Students are expected to be able to master certain tasks, called learning objectives.

4. Big Idea 1 The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life.

5. Big Idea 2 Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, reproduce, and to maintain dynamic homeostasis

6. Big Idea 3 Living systems store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information essential to life processes

7. Big Idea 4 Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties

8. Big Ideas Enduring Understandings Essential Knowledge
Learning Objectives
What does it mean for you?

9. Six Major Topics
Unit “0” Experimental Design (up to 4 weeks, intermittently)

10. Unit 1 Structural Biochemistry (2 weeks)

11. Unit 2 Cells and Cell Processes (10 weeks)
Cell structure and metabolism are major subunits.

12. Unit 3 Genetic Basis of Life (10 weeks)
“Classical” genetics, molecular genetics, and biotechnology are major subunits.

13. Biotechnology

14. Unit 4 Evolution (4 weeks)

15. Unit 5 Organism Form and Function (2 weeks)
The nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system are emphasized.
Other body systems are not considered in the course.

16. Ecology will be covered last.

17. Big Changes in AP Biology
Huge advances over last 30 years, much more than physics and chemistry
Computation and internet-driven changes in emphasis
Physiology and anatomy have been largely dropped from course
Test questions have been overhauled four years ago

18. Sample Test Question Questions are wordy, with fewer choices
Graphs, data tables, diagrams are more common
Many clusters of questions using common figures

19. You won’t see these:
Tiered Stem Questions

20. Nor these:
Cluster Questions

21. Most Review Books Are Useless
Fully half of old questions commonly used by teachers/reviewed by students are in obsolete format
100% are wrong if you consider that there are now 4 choices instead of 5
AP Bio curriculum has been extensively revised; far less anatomy and physiology than before.

22. Recommended Review Books
Many review books are thinly disguised versions of the previous syllabus. These few have been revised somewhat more than the others…

23. Even free copies of these are not recommended!

24. Old Media, Old Curriculum
Chapters in book will be assigned weekly.
Paper copies of questions are available;
Word files can be downloaded from my website.

26. Old Media, New Curriculum
Homework and some class work will be organized around this workbook.
You must bring the workbook to class every day.
Do not lose the workbook!! No replacements.
We will be switching between workbooks depending on topics being covered.

27. New Media, New and Old Curriculum
Explore Biology Powerpoints – created by Kim Foglia; will be used in class and are also posted on my website.
Bozeman Biology Podcasts – created by Paul Andersen; should be reviewed before and/or after class. Links can be found on media portion of syllabus. Crash course is a poorer alternative.
Wikipedia Links – for more in depth reading for selective topics; links are on Biozone assignments.

28. Grading Policy
Tests (40%) – exams will be in new format; multiple choice, a few “grid-in” questions, a long free response question and several sort answer questions.
Vocabulary Quizzes – can happen anytime; worth 5 points each. Terms will be taken from workbook lists found at beginning and end of the chapter…

29. Laboratory Work (25%)
The college board has moved towards what are called inquiry-based labs;
You have to design experiments, conduct them, write up results in a lab notebook
We will be implementing some of the recommended activities (there are 13) this year.

30. Homework (25%) Homework is an essential part of this course!
You must do homework, on time, every day.
Do not wait for the last minute – do some every night when you get home
All students will participate in leading review of workbook homework at the beginning of class – part of your quarterly homework grade.

31. Class Preparation/Participation (10%)
Preparation for this class is extremely important – you need to budget close to one hour each day (not each class) to do well.
In class, you need to come prepared: 3 ring notebook, workbook, lab materials – every day.
The notebook needs to be used – take notes, write stuff down! Keep your papers neat and organized.
Homework needs to be completed on time – deductions will be made from class participation grade as well as a zero for the HW
If you can’t find time at home, come after school and work.

32. AP Biology Exam
Monday, May 11
8 am
(1st exam of week 2)

33. Course Overview Unit 1 Structural Biochemistry Unit 2a Cell Structure
Unit 2b Cell Metabolism
Unit 3a Heredity and Classical Genetics
Unit 3b Molecular Biology/Biotechnology
Unit 4 Ecology
Unit 5 Evolution
Unit 6 Form and Function
1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
3rd Quarter