Biology 

Statement on the use of Generative AI in BIOL 1240/1245:

"Generative AI, including but not limited to ChatGPT, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Midjourney, DALL-E or Github Copilot, may not be used for work in this class. The use of such generative AI tools may compromise your learning by undermining your ability to analyze data and formulate/create non-derivative creative work. The only exception to this rule is the use of the “AI tutor" that is embedded in our Achieve course. This tool has been specifically trained on material that is only sourced from our textbook. Use of outside AI may lead to outdated, incorrect, or incomplete explanations of natural phenomena, or otherwise explanations that are contradictory to those found in our text.

You may not use generative AI to brainstorm, compose theses, or compose arguments based on theses provided by generative AI. You may not use generative AI to in any way augment your original work. For example, asking an AI to polish an answer or presentation you have created is not allowed. You may not use generative AI to compose work as a whole or in part for any assignment in this course. Please review item three in the section labeled Plagiarism in the Saint Louis University Academic Integrity Policy."

Examples of 1240 and 1245 syllabi used on campus:

BIOL 1240 On-campus syllabus AY 2023/2024 

BIOL 1245 (lab) On-campus syllabus AY2023/2024 

BIOL 1245 (lab) on-campus schedule AY 2023/2024 

Syllabus templates for 1818 Biology: 

Please use the discipline specific templates below to construct your syllabi.

Note: The links will take you to a Google doc. Please download them to edit the documents and insert your high school's information. 

BIOL 1240 Syllabus template AY 2025/2026 

BIOL 1245 Syllabus Template AY 2025/2026 

May 1st-July 26th

HS Instructors: Submit updated syllabi for all courses.

Faculty Liaisons: Review course syllabi prioritizing fall and yearlong course syllabi.  Faculty Liaisons will make every effort to respond to syllabus submissions within 14 business days.

July 26 – August 9th (Internal Deadline for Final Review)

HS Instructors: Submit revisions to course syllabi as requested by faculty liaisons.

Link: Biology Discipline Specific Grading and Assessment Policies 

Biology Common Assessment

The questions in this document are required to be used in all 1818 BIOL 1240 courses during the academic year. These questions should only be used on final exams (in December and/or May). These questions should not be available to students in advance of the final exams in any format (i.e., not on other exams, in classwork or homework assignments, or in a study guide). To protect the integrity of the exam questions, the portion of the final exam containing these questions should be retained by the instructor and not given to students.

Link to common assessment (updated AY 2022/2023): 1818 Biology Common Assessment 2024/2025 

Visiting SLU's campus:

Together with the 1818 office, the Biology department is excited to host 1818 partner schools for a campus visit.

UPDATE: For potential open visit dates please see email 1818@slu.edu

Instructors will receive a link to sign up for a site visit via email. Your liaison will follow up with more information and to confirm the visit. 

Site Visit Form- filled out by Liaison 

Understanding Site Visits 

BIOL 1245 lab handouts and prep documents 2023 

BIOL 1240 Exams- 2023 

1818 Biology Collaboration Folder 

1818 Partner Dashboard 

AY 2023/2024 Calendar 

National Association of Biology Teachers 

HHMI BioInteractive 

Saint Louis University's Reinert Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning- Helpful resources for teachers 

NIH STEM teaching resources 

Research Resources: 

Sites outside the SLU library (free):

BioMed Central: "At BMC we are dedicated to publishing the best open access journals across our portfolio of over 250 titles and are always striving to drive progress in biology, health sciences and medicine."

Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ): "DOAJ is a unique and extensive index of diverse open access journals from around the world, driven by a growing community, committed to ensuring quality content is freely available online for everyone."

Nature: Scientific Reports: "Scientific Reports is an open access journal publishing original research from across all areas of the natural sciences, psychology, medicine and engineering."

Evaluating scientific articles:

How to Review a Journal Article

Checklist for Evaluating Research Articles

Biology - Discipline Specific Granding & Assessment Policies 

AY 2024/2025 Professional Development- held on 7/30

Link to materials: Biology PD day Lab Materials 

Slide show from PD: PD Intro PPT 

Online meet up (not required)- TBA