Learning plan for exploring high school biology

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Greetings you-who-are-hungry for knowledge. Yes, we are all socially distanced and using hand sanitizer more than we like, but that doesn't mean we stop learning! If you stay focused and train regularly according to the following schedule, you'll enter next year with a stronger foundation than you might believe. Remember, science is about exploring the world you live in. Use this time to ask questions about yourself and your surroundings. You might be surprised at how much you can uncover!

This plan gives you units to focus on within the High School Biology Course on Khan Academy. For each week, try to get at least the number of total mastery points in the unit suggested in the table below (and see the picture above to know where to find your mastery points in a unit). Also, keep track of the points you earned in the rightmost column in that table.

No worries if you fall behind. Just try to practice regularly and do what you can.

Students:

Step 1: Take the course challenge (it will take you 30-45 minutes so plan accordingly)

If you got over 70%, take it again and again (this is a fast way to earn mastery points). You will get different questions each time. We wouldn’t take it more than three times to begin with, but it really is up to you.

Step 2:

Start with the first unit in the course and try to get mastery. If you started by taking the course challenge as suggested in step 1, you’ll likely already have earned some points. As best as you can, try to keep pace with the plan below. If you feel like you already know a good bit of a unit, take a unit test to earn points faster. One you get a skill to “familiar” or “proficient”, the only way to level it up to “mastered” is through a unit test or mastery challenge (you’ll see mastery challenges showing up on the course page once per day at the top of the page).

Step 3:

Keep going. Be your best self. Own your destiny. No worries if you fall behind or get ahead. If you finish early, feel free to move on to other science courses. If you find a unit particularly challenging, take the time you need before you move on.

Even if you're able to get some fast mastery points for things you already know, try to earn 50-100 mastery points per day since some of the more advanced topics might need more time.

Ideally, share this document with your teacher and parents so they can help you along in this adventure!

A note about mastery points

You earn mastery points by leveling up on skills (each exercise = 1 skill). You can earn up to 100 points per skill.

Level up via Exercises:

The more questions you get correct in an exercise, the more your skill levels up - and the more mastery points you earn:

Get many questions correct (70%-99%) - earn “Familiar” level = 50 points
Get all questions correct (100%) - earn “Proficient” level = 80 points

Once you are “Proficient”, take a Mastery Challenge or Unit Test and get questions about that skill correct to earn “Mastered” level = 100 points

Level Up Faster from Mixed-Skill Assessments:

Unit Tests, Course Challenges, and Mastery Challenges throughout the course test you on multiple skills at once. Answering questions right on those skills will level you up faster!

Learning plan for exploring high school biology

(19-week option - finish by August)

Week	Ending	Unit to focus on in the high school biology course	Try to get at least this many mastery points in the unit	How many points did you get that week?
1	Friday, April 17, 2020	Course challenge - Earn quick mastery for what you know!
2	Friday, April 24, 2020	Biology Foundations	420
3	Friday, May 1, 2020	Cells	280
4	Friday, May 8, 2020	Cells	560
5	Friday, May 15, 2020	Energy and Transport	245
6	Friday, May 22, 2020	Energy and Transport	490
7	Friday, May 29, 2020	Reproduction and Cell Division	175
8	Friday, June 5, 2020	Reproduction and Cell Division	350
9	Friday, June 12, 2020	Classical Genetics	175
10	Friday, June 19, 2020	Classical Genetics	350
11	Friday, June 26, 2020	Molecular Genetics	140
12	Friday, July 3, 2020	Molecular Genetics	280
13	Friday, July 10, 2020	Evolution	210
14	Friday, July 17, 2020	Evolution	300
15	Friday, July 24, 2020	Human body systems	245
16	Friday, July 31, 2020	Human body systems	490
17	Friday, August 7, 2020	Ecology	175
18	Friday, August 14, 2020	Ecology	350
19	Friday, August 21, 2020	Review and Course Challenge	70% on challenge

Learning plan for exploring high school biology

(11-week option - finish by June)

Week	Ending	Unit to focus on in the high school biology course	Try to get at least this many mastery points in the unit	How many points did you get that week?
1	Friday, April 17, 2020	Course challenge - Earn quick mastery for what you know!
2	Friday, April 24, 2020	Biology Foundations	420
3	Friday, May 1, 2020	Cells	560
4	Friday, May 8, 2020	Energy and Transport	490
5	Friday, May 15, 2020	Reproduction and Cell Division	350
6	Friday, May 22, 2020	Classical Genetics	350
7	Friday, May 29, 2020	Molecular Genetics	280
8	Friday, June 5, 2020	Evolution	300
9	Friday, June 12, 2020	Human body systems	490
10	Friday, June 19, 2020	Ecology	350
11	Friday, June 26, 2020	Review and Course Challenge	70% on challenge

Biology on Khan Academy is brought to you with support from the Amgen Foundation.