 Mrs.
DeBoard’s Contact Information
 Phone: 615-583-9227
 E-mail: kristin.deboard@mnps.org
 Website:
http://deboardvirtualbio.wikispaces.com/
Fall+Semester+Biology
 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!!!! You can find it
under “Course Info/Lessons.” 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!
 Get a g-mail account because we will be
using “Google Hangout” throughout the
semester.
 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 e-mails
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 if Mondays, early morning or
late at at night work for you. Otherwise text,
e-mail, or call to set up a time.
 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