 Mrs.
DeBoard’s Contact Information
 Phone:
615-583-9227
 E-mail:
kristin.deboard@mnps.org
 Website:
deboardvirtualbio.wikispaces.com
 Office Hours: Monday, 10:00am –
1:00pm
Topics You Will Study This
Semester
 Module
1: The Scientific Method
 Module
2: Ecology
 Module
3: Cells
 Module
4: Genetics
Coursework
Read the Lessons and TAKE NOTES (keep a “hard-copy”
notebook as well as a Biology folder on your computer)
 Know how to navigate the virtual classroom
 Course Info/Lessons
 Assignments/Assessments
 Discussions
 My Grades
 Know how to submit a help ticket for technical issues
 Go to the Virtual School website: vlearn.mnps.org
 Click “helpdesk”
 Click “Submit a Ticket”
 Give the details of your problem

Deadlines and Grading
 Keep
up with the pacing guide!!!! Feel free to work
ahead but DO NOT get behind!
Each week starts on Sunday and ends on Saturday.
Your assignments are due each week by Saturday at
11:59pm.
 You may turn in late assignments; however, your life
will be much easier if you will stick to the pacing
guide!
When an assignment is late, I will put a “zero” in the
gradebook until you complete that assignment.
This will drastically affect your average!
 If you receive less than an 80% on an assignment, you
can re-do it for additional credit!

Communication
Check your e-mail!
 Respond to e-mails from me.
 Call or text me back if I leave you a
message.
 I will respond to your calls, texts, and emails within 24 hours (48 hours on the
weekend). Please treat me with the same
respect by responding to me in a timely
manner.

Announcements

Read my Week at a Glance Announcements- these will be
posted by Sunday every week. The announcements will
contain helpful information such as:
A quick summary of the assignments due on Saturday.
 Clarification of any confusing directions
 A link to my Wikispace that will have resources to assist you in
completion of your assignments (videos, articles, study
guides, DBA questions)
 Reminders about upcoming lab supplies you may need to
purchase
 Extra credit opportunities
 Information about when I will be available for DBAs that
week
 Any upcoming Virtual School events such as progress reports,
exams, help sessions, etc.

Biology Wikispace
 If
I took the time to put something on my
Wikispace, please look at it!
 The
things on my website are NOT extra work!
They are items to help you with the work you
have!
Discussion Based Assessment
(DBA)
 Schedule
with me in advance. Use
appointlet.
 It
is a gated assignment. You will not
be able to turn in any other assignments
until you have completed a DBA.

Prepare for it! Use the study guide I will
post on my Wikispace.
End of Course Test
You will take this state-mandated exam in the
spring.
 It will count for 25% of your second semester grade.
 There are some standards that are covered on the
EOC exam that are not in your virtual course. I will
help you with those– check my announcements
and Wikispace for practice tests and resources.
 Come to the coaching labs!
 Take your practice EOC and data chats seriously!
 You will have 2 student-specific assignments this
semester to help you prepare for the EOC test.

Virtual Partner Projects
Class discussions and partner work are a required part of
the course!
 Put thought and effort into your discussion postings and
responses! Some examples of unacceptable responses:

“I agree with what Josh said”
 “I think animals are the most interesting kingdom because I
like dogs.”

For the partner projects, communicate with each other
on the discussion boards to find a partner. The sooner
you do this, the better off you will be!
 Communicate with and respond to your partner! Do your
share of the work!
 If you are having problems, be sure you tell me.

How is a “virtual teacher”
different than a “regular
teacher”?
 You
don’t have to share me with other
students in the classroom.
 If
you have a question ASK me, you are not
in this alone!
I
am available for “study sessions”
 Get
a g-mail account so that we can use
Google Hangout
Honors?
 To
receive Honors credit on your transcript,
complete all the regular assignments in a
module PLUS the extra honors assignments
(typically only 1 – 3 per module) and take
the honors tests and honors exam
 You
do not need to take the regular tests,
just the honors versions
Biology- The Study of Life
 What
 List
 List
does it mean to be alive?
some characteristics of living things.
3 things that ARE alive and 3 things that
are NOT.
Characteristics of Living Things




Capable of reproducing
Made up of cells
Homeostasis (maintains a stable internal
environment)
Takes in and uses energy

Grows and develops

Responds to the environment
Is it Made of Cells?

Imagine you could examine the objects and materials listed below
with a powerful microscope. Which items are made up or once
were made up of cells?
 Flowers
- skin
- apples
 Sand
- proteins
- worms
 Rocks
- bacteria
- milk
 Leaf
- bone
- seeds
 Lungs
- water
- paramecium
 Hamburger
- molecules
- blood
 Chromosomes
- DNA
- sugar
 Cell
- saliva
- calcium
- mushrooms
- atoms
membrane
 Chlorophyll