Biology/Honors Biology Syllabus- Fall 2024
Instructor: Matthew Leader
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/hightechhigh.org/leaderbiology
E-mail: mleader@hightechhigh.org
"We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom. The world henceforth will be run by synthesizers, people able to put together the right information at the right time, think critically about it, and make important choices wisely. "
-E. O Wilson
Welcome to the 11th Grade biology course at High Tech High North County. Biology is "the study of life". Over the course of the year we will not only be studying life but will be engaged observing, understanding and living life to its fullest. My hope is that this understanding will evolve into a respect and sense of stewardship for the diversity in the natural world. The project this semester emphasizes problem solving, knowledge synthesis, and inquiry based laboratories. It requires a considerable amount of collaboration between the students and teachers as well as responsibility in the field away from school.
The basis for the 11th Grade Biology is centered on core, essential questions that are asked of the students throughout the year during project work and daily assignments. Themes for the semester are as follows:
Fall Semester-Please See Calendar for Weekly Details, Readings, Assignments and Deadlines
Weekly Outline:(PLEASE NOTE IF YOU MISS SCHOOL)
Monday- Lecture (Biology Topic of the Week, Reading, New Information)
Tuesday- Class A Field Work/Investigation and/or Data Acquisition Day (this may switch days occasionally)
Wednesday- Class B Field Work/Investigation and/or Data Acquisition Day (this may switch days occasionally)
Thursday-Research, Project/Media Downloading Editing and Creation
Friday- Presentations/Group Data Share Out and Analysis, Reading Knowledge Check, Lab Meeting Day
Semester Outline:
The “Beach Hopping: Coastal Biodiversity of San Diego” Project
See Project Sheet for More Details (Sept-Dec)
September-Marine Biodiversity
-Includes topics in taxonomy, classification and the hierarchy of biology
October- Marine Ecology and Animal Behavior
-Includes topics in ecology, behavior research and conservation
November- Marine Ecology and Evolution
-Includes ecological process experimentation and evolution research
December- Research Defense and Project Product Prep and Exhibition
Suggested Materials List
Please bring the following to Biology everyday or keep in class if not used at home:
-Pens, Pencils, Composition Notebook
Note
The Constitution of the State of California requires that we provide a public education to you free of charge. Subject to certain exceptions, your right to a free public education means that we cannot require you or your family to purchase materials, supplies, equipment or uniforms for any school activity.
If you prefer you may get the materials from the instructor, please email. (mleader@hightechhigh.org)
Classroom Management
Our classroom management plan reflects this unique course structure. Most of our classroom rules and procedures are designed to foster active group learning, and productive independent research. Rules and procedures are designed to create a classroom climate of respect and encouragement, where all students feel compelled to contribute to classroom learning.
Getting Help
Please feel free to ask for help during class. To make an appointment for help outside of class, speak with me in person, or contact me via email. Please see google classroom for reading topics, assignments and clarification of theory. The slides describe the day's activity and homework assignments. Please refer to the slides posted on google classroom if there is an absence. Office hours will be by appointment and available daily except Fridays.
Rules and Expectations
Show respect at all times during the year. We will create a respectful classroom environment by having certain class expectations. Students are expected to be in their seats, ready to learn (with materials out) when class begins. Students are also expected to check the board for warm-up activities and the day's agenda. When class finishes, it is the responsibility of the students to clean up the class in a predetermined way before leaving and check their area and others for readiness before they are dismissed.
*Specific classroom procedures and job assignments will be covered and posted in class.The following rules were set in order to ensure a safe learning environment for everyone in the handbook: Computers are only to be used for classwork and are kept in the classroom. No verbal or physical disruptions during silent work time or class discussions. Any behavior that hinders the learning and ability of others will not be tolerated. There is no swearing in class. No academic cheating on exams or assignments. There is absolutely no violence allowed! There is a zero tolerance policy on cheating, intoxication, and unwanted touching in the classroom.
Cell Phone Policy - In order to establish a productive, engaging, and focused classroom environment, students are not allowed to use cell phones during class time unless otherwise stated by the teacher. Upon entering the classroom, all students are required to place their cell phones in the designated cell phone cubby with their name/number. Students will have their attendance taken once their phones are put into the cubby. During independent work time, students may be able to listen to music or use their phones for research purposes only when specifically advised.
Safety
Lab and class safety is the first priority for this course. We will have daily monitoring of the facility to ensure students and instructors are working in a safe learning environment. Students will be required to pass several lab safety tests in order to remain in the class specific to tool use. These tests will involve chemical and fire safety, first aid, Material Safety, containment of genetically modified organisms, powertool and wet lab safety and proper use of electronics during construction and labs.
Challenge Option
At the onset of each project there is an opportunity to complete a challenge option that offers the students a differentiated level of instruction and supplemental work. Challenge options must be discussed and confirmed with the teacher at the beginning of a project. Students are given the ability to individually tailor the projects to their needs and must meet checkpoints. This is needed to continue with the challenge option over the course of the project.
Honors Option
Each of your core classes will have an honors option. Each class has its own honors requirements and syllabus that will be handed out and posted on the instructors’ DP. The honors requirements are designed to challenge students in each content area. While students do receive an extra grade point for completing honors, incomplete or missing honors work will adversely affect student’s final grades. Honors work will account for ~12% of a student’s final grade. Honors is a semester long commitment and students may not add or drop Honors after the add/drop deadline on the contract.
Internship
You will have an academic internship in the spring semester. Please see the HTH internship link connected to Google Classroom for more details.
Grading (~100 points)*total points may be (slightly) subject to change based on instructional days.
All work is handed in via Google Classroom aside from notebook checks in class, and quizzes.
Google Classroom Link:https://classroom.google.com/c/NzA0MTY3MjE4MTI4?cjc=dhepilk CODE: dhepilk
Your grade is created from the combination of project work (including composition book), quizzes and class participation. I will be using the standard scale for grading: A= 90-100% B= 80-89% C= 70-79% D= 60-69% F= <60%
A “D” at HTHNC is considered not passing, and if the student receives two or more grades lower than a 69% the student will have to repeat the grade. Keep in mind that I WANT you to succeed. Parents, guardians, and students can access PG with a username and password at http://powerschool.hightechhigh.org/public/
1. Project Product Task Completion (~60 pts Total)
A)Project Tasks (30 pts)
-Lab and activity observations, data, analysis findings and notes
-Project instructions, Quiz study guides
-Project Application Use and Analysis
B) Project Final Products: (~30 pts)
Much of the time in class will be spent on projects and the grading is weighted accordingly. Students will be given many small assignments (as seen on the project sheet) that will help them to complete their project on time and these assignments will be included in the final grade. Project work examples include benchmarks for and final products created by students. Product quality based on craftsmanship is of the utmost importance in project assessment. STUDENTS ARE ASSESSED INDIVIDUALLY
(Includes assigned roles from scientific paper, artwork and additional chapter sections)
2. Quizzes – 3 Monthly Quizzes based on Daily Project Topics (15 pts)
End of September - 5 pts
End of October - 5 pts
Mid December - 5 pts
Quizzes are given monthly and prior to exhibition of work as a check for understanding of benchmark content. They are co-created with students based on weekly topics. There will be no pop-quizzes.
3. Laboratory Expectations Roles (Professional/Work Assessment & Exhibition Prep) ~25 pts total
This is being an active participant and worker in the lab/investigation. You start the semester with 25 points (~8 points per month of project time) and can only go down from there and should be communicated to parents by the student. This is in part incorporated into at points at the end of project completion and can be from •Misuse of time. Not working towards a clear goal in class and/or not working professionally. • Forgetting Supplies • Disrespect of class time or classmates, Misuse of classroom supplies/equipment Truancy – off task cell phone use, tardiness or extended missed class.
You can also lose more than one point a week depending on the severity of your actions. This work is not only assessed by the teacher. Points are also assessed during weekly review during presentation of projects and self-assessment during 1:1 meetings.
Homework (See Above For Grading)
This should really be called class work, since most of the time you will have ample opportunity to complete your assignments in class. Homework may be project work, reading annotations, lab write-ups or parent and community communication.
Basic Daily Format of Class
1. Question of the Day and Agenda/Grounding and Share-out (all class)
2. Discussion (led by the teacher)-lead-in to daily lesson
3. Lesson: (project oriented) lecture, lab or project work time, field work data retrieval, presentation
4. Exit connection to project reflection and/or clean up
Please fill out, sign and date below that you have read and agree with Matt Leader's 11th Grade Biology syllabus.
What is something you and your family would like to share with teachers about yourself that is unique and/or can help us to understand you better?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Student Name Print _________________________________________________
Student Name Sign _________________________________________________
Guardian Name Sign _________________________________________________
Date__________________________________________________
Please See Calendar for Daily Breakdown and Assignment Posts
Field Trips and Guest Speakers Not Mentioned and Can Be Found on Calendar
**This syllabus is subject to change during the year.