Notes for this year will be taken via online videos. I made them, and they're horrible, so I apologize in advance. The videos are posted on a website called "edpuzzle" and are linked on each unit page.
I recommend watching these videos on a computer screen, not your phone or iPad. Each picture/slide has a lot of detail and it's easier to see on a bigger monitor. Watch the videos on fullscreen so you have less distraction and can see all the details. If you do have to watch the videos on your phone or iPad, you'll have to download the free edpuzzle app. The free app is not as user-friendly as the computer version.
Every video on edpuzzle allows me to see when you're accessing the video, for how long, and the answers to all your questions. That's the point of this program. You will be getting credit for taking notes (I'll be checking during class) and your answers to the edpuzzle questions (your grade will not be based on if you got the edpuzzle questions right - just if you did them).
Below is an explanation of how you should be taking notes for the class.
Every time you watch a video, you will take notes on the video.
Handwrite your notes, not type them. Research shows that you remember more when you handwrite. Typing your notes over and organizing later is a good strategy for review.
Do not take notes on every thing in the video - only new concepts or things you do not know.
No complete sentences! Use phrases, bullets and pictures to help you remember a concept.
Every time a vocabulary word is mentioned, write it down, underline it, and define it.
Even though you should be concise in your notes, you should NOT write JUST VOCABULARY. Did you read this? You need to know much more than just vocabulary to understand the concepts in AP Biology.
If you are confused on a concept while taking notes, star the concept to remind yourself to ask your teacher in class.
The notes you take at home will be your only notes for the class. So pay attention to the video, rewind when necessary and take thorough yet concise notes.
When you are done watching the video and taking notes, write a summary of the video.
The summary must be a minimum of 3 sentences.
What topics were covered? What were the important facts? What did you learn?
Use appropriate vocabulary in your summary. If you learned a new biology word, use it!
Be prepared to share your summary with the class.
I know you think writing a summary is annoying and useless. But guess what, I know things about learning - and it's not useless. If you take it seriously, it helps your brain sort and process the information you just learned. So do it, well.
After watching the video and writing your summary, write at least one question you have about the topics covered in the video.
Leave space after the question because you will be answering it in class.
The question may not be a true or false or a vocabulary question. The question should be more thoughtful and require an explanation.
Do not make up a random question for the sake of a homework point - this is how you learn, by asking legitimate questions in class to clear up confusion. Take the time to think - what are you confused about?
You may not leave this section blank. In the extremely rare case you don't have a question, make up a difficult question you could ask a classmate.
Be prepared to share the question and answer with the class.