AP Summer Institute at Auburn University

AP Summer Institute

Biology

Course Description:
This workshop is designed for those teaching AP Biology for the first time and those desiring refresher training. During the week, teachers will become familiar with the curriculum as provided by the College Board. Methods for teaching difficult concepts and scheduling labs will be addressed. Participants can expect to conduct all 12 labs and to share best practices with other teachers.

Course Syllabus:

Advanced Placement Biology Summer Institute
Auburn University
AP Biology Summer Institute Syllabus
Instructor: Jim Smanik (Cincinnati Sycamore High School)

Tentative:	8:30 – 9:30	9:45 – 12:00	1:00 – 2:30	2:45 – 4:00
Monday	Introductions, Overview of AP Biology; Running an AP Biology Course; “The Blue Pages” – College Board Manual	Lab #1 – Diffusion and Osmosis – Water Potential problems	Alternatives to labs 1 and 2 (sharing); AP Exam Overview and old tests; “homework” answer transpiration question	Lab #2 – Enzyme Catalysis
Tuesday	Lab #6A - Transformation	Lab #3 - Mitosis & Meiosis – Map Distance; Lab #10 - Physiology	Lab #8 - Population Genetics – Hardy Weinberg	Go over 2008 rubrics; Essay tips; Sharing
Wednesday	Lab #6B - Electrophoresis	Lab #7 – Drosophila and Chi Square; Stain Gels	Lab #9 Transpiration	Lab # 6 Post Computer lab
Thursday	Lab # 11 Animal Behavior and Termites; Science as a Process Chart	Alternatives; Pedagogy; Sharing; Audit;	Lab #12 – Dissolved Oxygen	Lab #5 - Cell Respiration
Friday (Ignore times at top)	Lab #4 -Photosynthesis (10:00)	Wrap –up Evaluations; sharing’ dismissal at noon

This is a tentative overview of goals for the week. There will be post lab discussions after each lab that will include alternatives and tips. The only out of class work will be to share hand outs of activities that you have found success with and to write an answer to a free response question.
Homework: In order to cover as much material and experience as many labs as possible in this short period of time participants will be asked to read the lab procedure ahead of time. Plan on 30 minutes of reading a night – at most. The reality is we will do as many activities and discuss as many parts of teaching AP Biology as we can. Other possible topics Include:

After the exam
Plant posters
Fishbowl
C-ferns
Partner teaching
Take home tests
Pop quizzes
Homework or lack there-of
Joke Friday
Banners – 1. AP questions and 2. AP level answers
Banners – End of year assignments
Homeostasis and other rubrics for themes
Design a lab rubric
Questions and answers
Computer time to evaluate internet sites.

Instructor: Jim Smanik, Maineville, Ohio

Jim Smanik has more than 20 years of classroom experience as a science instructor. He earned National Board Certification in Biology in 1992. Since then he has orchestrated growth of the AP Biology program at Sycamore High School in Cincinnati, Ohio from 20 to over 60 students. Besides his extensive background in AP Biology, Mr. Smanik has taught Accelerated Biology, Academic Biology, Academic Physics, and Field Biology. He has served as a College Board Workshop Presenter for AP Biology for the past eight years, and he has served as an Endorsed Consultant for AP Biology Summer Institutes at both Wright State University and Ohio University. He was an AP Biology Reader for five years and, for the past five years, he has served as a Table Leader. Outside of the classroom, Jim's interests involve coaching of both the academic and athletic variety. He started a Science Bowl Team...and served as its Bio-Bowl Coach...that quickly qualified for Nationals. As a varsity athletic team coach, he has many years of experience with cross country, basketball, and track. He has received several teaching awards, and he has twice been named Cross Country Coach of the Year.