What is AP Biology?

Advanced Placement Biology is part of a nationwide program based on the belief that many students are ready for college work while still in high school, and their abilities should be recognized, encouraged and rewarded. As a college level course, the amount of material covered as well as the complexity of the topics will be high. It is the responsibility of the student to come to class each day understanding the previous day's material. An ongoing unstated assignment, therefore, is to learn the material as it is presented. Students must be certain that they are willing to accept this challenge and be committed to keep up with the work.

The two main goals of AP Biology are to help students develop a conceptual framework for modern biology and to help students gain an appreciation of science as a process. The ongoing information explosion in biology makes these goals even more challenging. Students are encouraged to focus on understanding important relationships, processes, mechanisms, and potential extensions and applications of concepts.

AP Biology exams can be expected to test the student's ability to explain, analyze, and interpret biological processes and phenomena more than their ability to recall specific facts.

Please realize that while the course is challenging, the rewards are also great. The cost of the exam (about $70) is less than the textbook alone for a college course and even if credit is not earned, a college Biology course will be basically a review of this AP course so the class should be much easier.

Suggested Supplemental Text

"5 Steps To A 5 - AP Biology" by McGraw Hill. Can be purchased from Amazon.com or at Borders.

AP Labs

Labs will be performed in class periodically, some correspond to the recommended labs of AP biology. It is highly recommended that you review all the AP labs at The Biology Place . Some will NOT be done in class due to time and resource issues, but may come up on the AP test. The site above gives a walk through and virtual environment for each of the recommended lab,

Virtual Labs - some labs will be done over the internet. Many of these simulations are designed to further your understanding of difficult concepts in biology. Assignments related to these labs are designed to keep you on track and point out important elements. It is important, however, to remember that its the learning process and not the final worksheet you turn in thats important. Many times, students will look at web projects as a "how fast can I get through this" thing, and will go through just trying to answer the questions on the worksheets. Avoid this! Your responsibility as an advanced biology student is to LEARN the material and UNDERSTAND the concepts. Simulations and animations are there to help you with this process.

Dissections

Biology 3A includes the dissection of a vertebrate: specimens used vary from year to year, but include rats, fetal pigs, and bullfrogs.

Students are expected to participate in the dissection as part of the class requirements. While digital resources may be used to compliment the unit, there is no substitute for the hands-on experience of a dissection. Importance of dissection The National Association of Biology Teachers states, "The NABT acknowledges that no alternative can substitute for the actual experience of dissection or other use of animals and urges teachers to be aware of the limitations of alternatives.

Dissection is also important because it:

• Helps students learn about the internal structures of animals.
• Helps students learn how the tissues and organs are interrelated.
• Gives students an appreciation of the complexity of organisms in a hands-on learning environment.
• Provides one of the most memorable and instructive units in a school biology course. ÊÊ

As such, no exemption will be made for students who choose not to participate in the classroom dissection. Those students who refuse to dissect, will still be responsible for the information in the lesson and will be required to take the lab practical at the end of the unit.