Syllabus

Standards Biology at the St. Croix Valley ALC

This blended Standards Biology course, when successfully completed, meets graduation requirements for ISD #834 and the State of Minnesota. You will be assigned a letter grade that will be on your transcript. Grades are weighted according to the following chart. Please note that not all categories are equal. Our classwork and assignments prepare us to complete ELO projects (the Big Ideas). The final assessment will be a reflective piece tying together the content and the real-world applications of Biology.

Grade Weights
Classwork Assignments ELO projects Final Assessment

What is included in each category? Classwork (20%): This will include checks of reading, our face-to-face meetings, and your engagement in the class- both online (i.e. in discussions) and when we meet. This is the category that reflects your efforts to get the content. Assignments (20%): These are your typical assignments. They may be a worksheet, a short response, a lab, or maybe even a quiz. Content in assignments will be critical to understand in order to complete ELO projects. Therefore, if you do not get it I will give you some feedback and ask you to work on it some more. ELO Projects (40%): There will be four larger (but not equally large) projects. As you can see, these are VERY important. These projects allow you to show me that you get the big ideas and see you they fit in the real world. These will NOT be large tests or quizzes. They will incorporate the concepts addressed in our classwork and on our assignments. As with the assignments, I will provide feedback to you and have you keep working until you can show me that you get it. There will, however be final dates that I will accept the work on these projects, so pay careful attention to these. Final Assessment (20%): Everyone in the district is required to complete a final assessment for 20% of your grade. Ours will NOT be a test, but I will ask you to create a reflective piece of work that touches one more time on our content and your ability to connect the content to the real world.

Grades: You must earn a C or better in this course to earn credit. Grades will be assigned according to the following scale: A: 100%- 90% B: Below 90%- 80% C: Below 80%- 70% Below 70%: No credit earned. Some words about grades: My goal is for you, the student to understand the material and see how it may affect you in your real life. I am not concerned if you understand everything perfectly the first time you attempt it. I AM concerned that you develop an understanding of the concepts in order to earn credit. I am a big supporter of the old adage, If at first you dont succeed, try, try again. If you make a genuine effort to complete an assignment or a project and you struggle with it, I will give you some feedback and assistance and you will try it again until you do get it. I would LOVE if everyone earned an A in the course, but because I am willing to help you and give you multiple opportunities on assignments and projects, I KNOW that anyone who puts in the work can earn at least a C. What will we study? Our district has developed Essential Learning Outcomes (ELOs) (which are the big ideas tying together ideas from the Minnesota State Standards). The ELOs for this semester are as follows:
ELO #1: The student will understand how the scientific method is practiced to make data based decisions ELO # 2: The student will understand the characteristics of microscopic organisms ELO #3: The student will understand how carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and nucleic acids are the main components of cells and their organelles ELO # 4: The student will understand the structure and function of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and their organelles ELO # 5: The student will understand the processes involved in the life cycle of a cell. ELO # 6: The student will understand the processes involved in meiosis and the formation of gamete ELO # 7: The student will understand the structure and function of nucleic acids in living systems. ELO # 8: The student will understand how genetic information found in the cell provides information for assembling proteins which dictates the expression of traits in an individual. ELO # 9: The student will understand how technologies can be used to modify organisms

Our ELO projects will be demonstrations of these intended outcomes. Our classwork and assignments will address smaller learning targets that help us get to point that we can demonstrate these. These ELOs will not require equal amounts of time or work. Some will take much longer than others. I will divide the work into 4 units and provide you with a suggested timeline for completion.

What will the course be like? This course is designed to be a blended course, which means you can complete much of the work for the course online and work at your own pace. There is, however, a REQUIRED face to face component for the course. There will be tasks (such as lab activities) that you must complete in class as well as meetings with me to assess progress and address challenges or questions that you may have. In a normal class, we would meet for 50 minutes per day, 5 days per week, with approximately 1-2 hours of homework per week. That means you need to plan for at least 300 minutes (or 5 hours) of work on this class per week. You may find you require a bit more, you may find you require a bit less. You are required to have two thirty minute face- to- face meetings with me per week. The first meeting will be the first day of class for everyone. Then you may sign up for your meeting times. The meeting MUST be on different days. You may come in for more classroom time if needed or wanted. You are somewhat in charge of how quickly or slowly you move through the course. There will be final due dates for assignments and everything must be completed by the end of the semester. You may find that certain topics are easier for you and go more quickly, while other topics may need more of your time. I will give you a suggested timeline to help you plan your time. In this format, you could finish your coursework prior to the end of the semester. A word of caution: Plan to access the course at least 5 hours per week. If you had a tough week and you only were able to work on it for 3 hours one week, you will need to plan to work 8 hours the next week. The format allows you some flexibility but it is critical that you do NOT procrastinate. This will be a focus of our face- to face- meetings each week. Keys to Success 1. Be an advocate for yourself. Communicate. Ask questions of me and of your classmates. If you do not understand something, you are probably not alone! There will be places to posted questions and you will be able to contact me as well. 2. Plan your time! At least 5 hours per week! Do not procrastinate. 3. Do not skip your face- to- face meetings. These are part of your attendance requirement (for truancy purposes) as well as important to keep on track for your class. 4. Although I will give you opportunities to fix your work, do your best job the first time, and meet your deadlines. It will save you time in the long run! I am looking forward to a successful and productive semester! We will see you the first day of class!

Katie Yankovec 651-351-8467 yankoveck@stillwater.k12.mn.us