BIOLOGY 12 COURSE OUTLINE
SEMESTER 1 - SEPT 2014
Mr. A. Ferguson
Biology 12 is an introductory Human Biology course designed for students who are
interested in pursuing studies in Life Sciences, such as Nursing, Medicine and Physical
Education.
The course builds on the units of life science covered in junior sciences, with a focus on
cell chemistry, cell biology and human biological systems. One of the key ideas that runs
through the entire course is the theme of homeostasis, or balance. While not a specific
topic, this will be a continual thread in the curriculum.
While the subject matter is inherently interesting, this is a demanding course that
presumes students who are taking it are prepared to put in a regular and significant
amount of time to learning the content.
COURSE EXPECTATIONS
The course material conceptually is not overly difficult, unlike chemistry or physics; it is
more the volume of detail and the interconnections between the whole subjects. The
further along we get, the more the content connects back to other topics. It is very much
like doing a jigsaw puzzle where you don’t have a master picture to work from. Your
master picture is the course outlines. Pre- reading of the upcoming lectures is a required
part of the course expectations
NOTES
Students will be expected to generate their own set of class lecture notes. These can be
done in several ways;
-
Students can ‘copy notes’ during class
-
Students can use a tablet or laptop to take notes
Students can access the class lecture notes posted to the website as a pdf file. If
students are going to use the web notes as their source, they are still expected to
generate and bring to class their ongoing notebooks.
The notes will be done on the SMARTBOARD™ and the notes will be saved and
exported to the web as pdf. Files.
These notes will form the basis of the unit summary PLO s that all students will be
required to create
HOMEWORK
As required or helpful, students will be given assigned questions and chapter reviews.
These will be marked in class for COMPLETION ONLY. As these are completed,
students will receive a mark for that task. This will make up what is part of your
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT (FA)
Other tasks (tests, formal assignments and the final exam) will be part of the
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (SA)
PLO’s
The course is built on a set of Prescribed Learning Outcomes (or PLOs)
See link attached to the PLO site:
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/pdfs/sciences/2006biology1112.pdf
pg. 27 -28 (document page number 19)
As we cover the materials, you will be putting together your own set of these PLOs.
These will be very helpful as you study for the quizzes and tests and will be essential to
studying for the final exam that makes up 30% of your final mark. The entire package
will be due the morning of the final exam and the complete set of PLO`s are worth 10%
of the course.
TEXTBOOK AND WEBSITE
The textbook for the course is new this year BC Biology 12 and is adapted to meet the
course prescribed learning objectives (PLO’s)
This resource also comes with internet support that we will be using significantly as part
of the lesson and homework.
Please see the link attached for more information.
www.connectschool.ca
TESTS and QUIZZES
There will be two unit( midterm) tests (20%)
There will be biweekly quizzes. (10%)
These will typically happen on a Friday, but the may be rescheduled as needed. The
structure of the quizzes is modelled on the tests and exams to prepare you for these.
These quizzes (along with homework and the PLOs will be part of your formative
assessment. This means that, provided you take advantage of this, you are able to
resubmit / redo these assessment tasks until you get a mark that you are satisfied
with.
Tests, assignments and the final exam will be assessed summatively to preclude the
possibility of copying or plagiarism.
There will be a final summary of the PLO’s to be submitted before the final
exam. This package is mandatory.
PLO packages will be submitted at intervals during the semester by emailing them. They
are marked for COMPLETION ONLY
SINCE WE ARE USING A NEW TEXT AND NEW PLO STRUCTURE, PREVIOUS PLOS
WILL NO LONGER BE PERTINENT, EXCEPT AS A RESOURCE FOR MEDIA
Please sign below to indicate you have read and accept these expectations
Signed ____________________________________ student
Signed ___________________________________ parent
COURSE OVERVIEW
UNIT
Chemistry of
life
Cell biology
DNA and
Protein
Synthesis
CHAPTER PLO
2
3
4
TOPIC
B1
Cell Structure & Function (S & F)
Cell Organelles
B2
B3
B4
Water
Acids and bases
Biological molecules
B9
The cell membrane
Transport across the membrane
Cell tonicity
B10
Limitations to cell size
B5
DNA S&F
DNA RNA
B6
Recombinant DNA
DNA Technology
Cloning and Gene Therapy
B8
Mutations
B7
Protein Synthesis
Enzymes
5
B11
Metabolic pathways
Enzymes
Factors affecting rates of
enzymes
Digestion
9
C1
Digestion S & F
Digestive tract
C2
Digestive enzymes
Digestive juices
TIMELINE
SEPT
OCT
Circulation
Respiration
Nervous
system
10
11
12
C5
Circulation S & F
Arteries and Veins
Pulmonary and Systemic circuits
C6
Blood and blood cells
C4
Blood pressure and heart rate
C3
The heart S & F
The cardiac cycle
C7
The lymphatic system
Immunity and antibodies
C8
Respiration S & F
Lung Capacity
C9
Mechanics of breathing
C10
External and Internal respiration
The 3 equations
C11
Nerves S & F
Nerve impulse transmission
Transmission across the synapse
C12
Reflex arc
CNS and PNS
The sympathetic NS
The brain
NS disorders
Urinary
system
13
C13
Urinary tract S & F
Formation of Urine
Reproduction
14
C14
Male anatomy and reproduction
C15
Female anatomy and
reproduction
Fertilization and development
NOV
DEC
JAN
Course Evaluation
Evaluation task
Homework ( FA)
Tests (SA)
Quizzes ( FA)
Assignments ( SA)
PLO’s ( FA)
Final Exam (SA)
Weight
15%
20%
10%
15%
10%
30%