AP Biology

Course Description

AP Biology is an introductory college-level biology course. Students cultivate their understanding of biology through inquiry-based investigations as they explore topics like evolution, energetics, information storage and transfer, and system interactions.

AP Biology Course and Exam Description

Assistance

If you have course related questions such as questions about due dates, assignment directions, lesson material, etc. please contact your instructor immediately via Canvas message (if courses have started) or via direct email (if courses have not started). Your instructor's email and name can be found after logging in by clicking on Course Information or can be found on the homepage of your course after classes begin.

After courses begin, all communications between instructor and student should happen from Canvas Messaging.

If you need technical assistance at any time during the course or to report a problem with your account please visit https://niswongeronline.com/questions/ to submit a trouble ticket or contact:

Mr. Chris Dotson

Technology Support Lead, Niswonger Online & APAA

cdotson@niswongerfoundation.org

You can also visit this page for answers to frequently asked questions: https://niswongeronline.com/student-help-resources/ 

For other concerns that have not been addressed by your teacher or by our Technology Support Team contact:

Dr. Gina Pavlovich                                                             Mrs. Samatha DeBord

Director AP Access for ALL & Niswonger Online              Assistant Director, AP Access for ALL

gpavlovich@niswongerfoundation.org                              sdebord@niswongerfoundation.org 

 **NOTE that ONLY your school Counselor or local Administrator can request a course change or drop. No one within the APAA program can approve this.**

Course Outline

This course has a total of 106 assignments that students are required to complete. Any assignments not completed by the course checkpoints or final course due date will become a 0%.

The following modules are listed below, our course will include a Midterm and Final Exams.

1. Chemistry of Life,   8-11% AP Exam
2. Cell Structure and Function,  10-13% AP Exam
3. Cellular Energetics, 12-16% AP Exam
4. Cell Communication and Cell Cycle, 10-15% AP Exam
5. Heredity, 8-11% AP Exam
6. Gene Expression ad Regulation, 12-16% AP Exam
7. Natural Selection, 13-20% AP Exam
8. Ecology, 10-15% AP Exam

Grading Policy

Assignments are weighted by group:

AP Access for ALL Late Work Policy

At Niswonger Online and the AP Access for ALL program, we understand the importance of meeting deadlines and developing strong time management skills. To maintain consistency and encourage timely submissions, we have established a firm late work policy. Please click below to review this policy:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CcO1gwG6RtwOxbnyJXsuNLmxQMBrj7pzAQhOi5ScAS4/edit?usp=sharing

Viewing Grades and Feedback in Canvas

Points you receive for graded activities will be posted to your Canvas Grade Book. Click on the Grades link on the left navigation to view your grades and feedback.

Your teacher will update the online grades each time a due date has passed. Check back for updated grades and feedback within 7 days after submission.

It is also important to read or view all feedback given by your teacher. This is how a student will grow within the course. Feedback can be viewed from your Canvas gradebook by clicking on the small icon- out from your numerical grade.

Course Policies

IEP/ 504/ ILP Accommodations

If you have a student with approved accommodations, please read the linked policy below. This information is shared with high schools at the beginning of each semester to ensure counselors understand our accommodations and can communicate them to APAA teachers to meet students' needs.

Student/ Guardian Copy- Procedures for APAA Student Accomodations

Commit to Integrity

As a student in this course, you are expected to maintain high degrees of professionalism and integrity.

Cheating is “the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for academic work through the use of any dishonest, deceptive, or fraudulent means.”

Plagiarism is “the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own.”

Niswonger Online Plagiarism Policy      

All students will be asked to read the Niswonger Online plagiarism policy and complete an assignment to show understanding BEFORE any work in the course can be accessed or completed. The plagiarism policy and corresponding assignment is linked in the second module, labeled Academic Integrity, within each course. Go to APAA Plagiarism and Academic Integrity Policy to view the plagiarism policy without logging into the course.

AP Biology Policy on Resubmissions/ Multiple Attempts:

Reminder- All additional attempts must be made BEFORE the assignment’s due date or points will be removed due to the late work policy.

• Quizzes:

• Students will have 25 minutes to complete a quiz, after that the quiz will lock.
• Students will have 3 attempts on the quiz & the highest grade scored will be the one auto-chosen by the grading system.
• Any additional attempts MUST be made before the due date or late penalties will be added assessed

• Module Exams:

• Students will have 90 minutes to complete an exam, after that the exam will lock.
• Students will have 2 attempts on an exam, teachers will give the final score depending on their score from the first attempt short answer question.
• Students will only get 1 attempt on the short answer question, which will be from the first attempt.
• Any additional attempts MUST be made before the due date or late penalties will be added assessed

• Midterms & Final Exams:

• Students will have 90 minutes to complete an exam, after that the exam will lock.
• Students will have only ONE attempt on the Midterms & Final Exams.

Build Rapport

If you find that you have any trouble keeping up with assignments or other aspects of the course, make sure you let your teacher know as early as possible. As you will find, building rapport and effective relationships are key to becoming an effective professional. Make sure that you are proactive in informing your teacher when difficulties arise during the semester so that we can help you find a solution.

Submitting Assignments

All assignments for this course will be submitted electronically through Canvas unless otherwise instructed. If you have any trouble submitting your assignment in Canvas you should contact your teacher or the Niswonger Online Technology team immediately.

Course Enrollment and Drops

Students can only be enrolled in a Niswonger Online course by their home high school’s counselor, AP Liaison, or administrator.

Course drops can only be approved by school personnel (counselor, AP Liaison, or administrator). Online teachers, the APAA director, or APAA Assistant Director cannot approve any course changes. Each school has its own policy on when a student may drop their online course. Please see your school counselor or administrator if you have any questions about this.