The goal of this program is to integrate the subject matter of Biology with other disciplines offered at our specialized career academy to focus on flexible, cohesive problem solving. Through joint projects, laboratory investigations, field studies, lecture/discussion and individual and team research the program will nurture an environment of cooperative learning and critical thinking. Learning will be very much student oriented as students select the specific areas of interest upon which their research will focus. Biological aspects of the program will be presented in a manner which is sure to address all of the New Jersey State mandated proficiencies for a high school biology course. Topics will include ecology, cytology, cellular energetics, heredity, molecular genetics, evolutionary biology, taxonomy, and the structure and function of plants and animals. Opportunities will be provided for independent and small group research projects (both descriptive research and experimental research) throughout the year. Learning activities dealing with experimental designs, apparatus set-ups and data analysis will be enhanced by the computer applications and technology components of the program along with connections to the research and data analysis mini-courses required of all HTHS freshman students.
Students will be introduced to methodologies related to experimental design in the research mini-course. They are also introduced to statistical tools in the data analysis mini-course. All of these skills and topics of study are referenced as they study Biology at HTHS.