Course Syllabus

Course Overview

Welcome. In this course you will learn about the anatomy and the workings of the human body. Class instruction will be guided by Georgia Performance Standards for Biology. About half of your instruction will be on NovaNet. Remaining instruction will be video instrution, power point presentations supplemented with some direct instruction. The topics covered in the course will prepare you for the manditory final exam which will be administered whenever you complete your assigned lessons.

The topics we will study include:

Medical Terminology

Musculo-skeletal System

Metrics and Measurements

Accuracy vs Precision

Writing a Lab Report

Presenting Data

Chemistry for Life

Basic chemistry

Water

Instruction will be a combination of computer lessons (NovaNet, and internet), instructional videos, mini-lectures, worksheets and class discussions. Instruction will be accompanied by appropriate tests and quizzes. In addition you will complete several projects and be required to keep a journal. A pacing guide of daily and weekly assignments will be provided through a Blog format. By using this format, you will always be able to access and read your assignments from any computer with an internet connection, in school or out. You will also be able to post (turn in) completed assignments on the blog for your instructor to comment on or grade. This is the first term we are using the blog format in Biology, so it might take a little time to get use to it. I’m sure we will find some glitches in the process, but, in the end, it should allow you to complete your work faster.

Grading

Lesson based tests and quizzes 65%

Projects 20%

Final Exam 15%

Test and Quizzes – this portion of your grade will be the average of all test and quiz grades earned throughout the course. Remember, that in order to get credit for a NovaNet test, you must earn a score of 80 or above. If you earn less than an 80, you must review the subject material and retake the test. You will not be able to retake paper tests and quizzes but you may be required retake oral quizzes.

Projects: the project grade will be the average grade for all the projects listed in your weekly pacing guide.

Final Exam: This course has a final exam. It will be given when all other assignments have been completed (yes, you can finish the course early). It will be averaged into your final grade.

Essential classroom materials:

pencils
pens
notebooks(2) – three ring binder with pockets for notes and note cards and a composition book as a journal.