The concepts and skills you will learn and use in class with me will enable you to—
understand and evaluate a broad range of scientific texts,
analyze problems and create solutions for them, and
apply your learning to your past and future experiences in the natural world
This photo comes from my trip to Monterrey, Nueva Leon, Mexico in 2023
Deliberate practice refers to a special type of practice that is purposeful and systematic. While regular practice might include mindless repetitions, deliberate practice requires focused attention and is conducted with the specific goal of improving performance.
Traditional Lab Course, Utilizing Models and Investigative Techniques
This semester-long course is a survey of comparative anatomy and physiology. The material is divided into two main sections, microscopic and gross anatomy, which are then subdivided into week-long studies.
Formative and summative assessments will occur frequently. This will allow you to demonstrate your knowledge in a multitude of ways and reassess the same standard multiple times.
During the microscopic anatomy portion, students will learn and review basic cell principles before mastering use of the microscopes and histology (the study of tissues). Transitioning to gross anatomy, students will study the range of biodiversity to be used in dissections as well as the development of the field of Anatomy and Physiology. Students are required to possess and model appropriate moral, ethical and interpersonal behavior in order to participate in the dissections. Upon passing the requirements, students will begin their gross anatomy studies, which includes organ systems and dissections for comparative anatomy.
There will exist a lot of variety in the types of assessments you complete, including: lab practicals and reports, microscope labs, dissections, written tests and more. A common type of summative you will take is a station summative.
The semester cumulative exam will be a station summative covering the entire semester's material. There will be two stations designated for each weekly material, and one to three questions at each station.
Lab-Based AP Course
This year-long course takes a holistic approach to the environment using the APES curriculum. The first two units primarily focus on biodiversity and natural resources, and the impact anthropogenic activity has on the availability and quality of either.
This is followed by two units examining how human populations grow and develop, the energy resources we consume as well as the consequences of their use, and the impact that waste and pollutant we generate has on the health of organisms. The year culminates with environmental studies of anthropogenic activities and the effects they have on local and global scales, across two units. Students will also research, develop and refine solutions to these problems.
The semester cumulative exams are AP style exams involving 40 MCQs and 1 FRQ. The exam is paced to the AP exam, where you will have approximately 1:15 per MQC and 22 minutes per FRQ. Students may exempt from either semester if they meet specific criteria around the AP Exam (sem 2, only), GPA and attendance.
Learn how to read, communicate and act as a Scientist
This semester-long course is divided into three topics across four units including Space, Earth, and Human's place inside both. All units are aligned with NGSS standards and benchmarks, and the Laws of Thermodynamics are embedded in everything.
Throughout the units, we are investigating an array of topics related to short- and long-climate change. The Space material will explore the mathematics of elliptical orbits, Milankovitch cycles, solar radiation and seasonal change. The Earth material will explore our planet's formation and plate tectonics. The Human material will explore glaciers, GHGs and the enhanced greenhouse effect, ice core data and the impacts of climate change on Colombia.
The semester cumulative exam will be the summative for the final unit and benchmarks. After a semester of using mathematical thinking, developing and using models, analyzing data, obtaining information and constructing explanations, it is now time for you to put all these pieces together. You will be presented a variety of types of geoscience data relevant to Climate Change in Colombia to then forecast the future climate.
