Teacher: Dr. Jay Vavra
(619) 243-5032
jvavra@hightechhigh.org
class website: hthbiotech.sandiegostc.org
What is Biology/ROP Biotechnology?
This course will be much more than a regular high school biology class. Not only will we be covering the California State Biology Standards, but students will also complete an extensive list of competencies in biotechnology in order to fulfill the requirements of a certification program with the Regional Occupational Program. If they do complete these competencies, they will receive a special certificate at the end of the year and have a great chance of participating in a paid internship (approx. $9.50/hour) during the summer with a local biotech company.
The main objectives of my class are to:
1. introduce fundamental biological concepts and how they these concepts can be applied to improve our lives through advances in medical and agricultural biotechnology
2. design and carry out several research projects in a safe laboratory environment
3. involve science projects that have an underlying theme of benefiting humanity
The text we will be using is Biology: The Dynamics of Life by Glencoe McGraw-Hill (2000). This text was recently adopted by the San Diego Unified School District.
The research projects conducted will begin with an introduction to the scientific method and will culminate with genetic engineering. During the year students will learn extensive laboratory techniques and job skills that will build their resume significantly. They will learn techniques such as: gene splicing, tissue culture, solution preparation, sterile technique, and much more. This will benefit them tremendously by giving them the edge during job or college application screening --regardless of the career path they are on. The focus will be on inquiry…making observations, asking testable questions, designing experiments, having controls and replicates, collecting data, analyzing data, assessing error, presenting results, and making inferences/decisions based on data. The HTH Habits of Mind (perspective, evidence, relevance, connection, supposition) will be constantly reiterated.
Guest Instructors:
Throughout the year we will have visits by experts in the field of biotechnology. Since medicine is such a major component of this field I have begun a partnership with the UCSD School of Medicine (SOM) to enhance the HTH Biotech curriculum. First and second year UCSD medical students will visit our class and communicate their own path to medical school, what they are learning about medical biotechnology today, and what may be in our future. We will also be scheduling visits to the UCSD SOM campus for HTH students.
Basic daily format of class:
1. Introductory assignment (lab prep, quiz, writing assignment, reading) -quiet- 10 minutes
2. Discussion of introductory assignment, lead-in to lesson/activity, 5-10 minutes
3. Lesson or activity, 30 minutes
4. Reflection, 5-10 minutes
Student Materials:
All students must purchase the following (by Friday September 6th) and bring them to class everyday
1. three ring binder with dividers (8 minimum) and supply of lined paper
2. calculator
3. writing instrument
I will be providing a laboratory composition notebook (with graph paper) for each student for recording our experiments and for note taking. Students can bring their own notebook with my approval.
The composition notebook and three-ring binder will serve as organizational tools for student work. All assignments, writings, quizzes, experiments, lab notes, handouts, etc. will be kept in these folders. Folders will be collected periodically for grading, both announced and unannounced. At the end of each semester, students will formally present their learning through an oral presentation of learning, and will turn in their completed folders for grading.
Assessment:
Your student will receive one year of Biology credit for successfully completing this class. They will also receive an ROP Biotechnology Certificate if they complete the required competencies for the course. Students will begin each semester with a participation/behavior grade of A+. For each infraction, this grade will decrease by one third of a letter grade (A+ to an A for the first infraction, A to an A- for the second infraction, etc.). Since this will be a sophisticated laboratory based course, behavior is critical for everyone’s safety and productivity. Infractions include, but are not limited to the following: arriving late (unexcused) to class, misbehaving in class, unexcused absence, etc. Classroom behavior/participation is worth 30% of the overall grade.
In addition to attendance, behavior and safety, and participation, the following will be formally assessed:
1) Time management and organization:
Does the student make effective use of the time given to work on assignments? Are assignments well organized in the lab notebook and binder?
2) Quality of product:
Is the student, according to his or her ability, and time limitations, producing the best product possible?
3) Satisfactory completion of classroom assignments:
These assignments include reading, writing, and problem solving tasks as well as self and peer editing, presentations, and formal testing by the teacher.
4) Successful collaborations:
Is the student able to work with other students to create a quality product?
5) Digital Portfolio:
The student digital portfolio must be current and represent the student’s growth and achievement at High Tech High.
Homework Policy:
Assignments not completed on time will be discounted one full letter grade per day that they are late. Example: if your assignment was due on Monday and you do not turn it in until Wednesday, the highest possible grade (assuming you did A level work) would be a C.
Honors Option:
The Honors program at High Tech High exists for students who desire an additional challenge. Students who wish to take the class for honors credit are committed to the regular class workload, plus additional project work. The additional workload requires a greater degree of knowledge and understanding of the biological sciences.
It will be the student’s responsibility to prepare for the assignments and to seek assistance from the teacher whenever necessary. Students must commit to the honors program for the entire year. Requests to drop the honors portion of the course must be made to Dr. Vavra no later than November 1, 2003. They will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
The main focus of the honors option will be designing projects for the 2004 Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair. I will be the teacher representing all of the HTH students involved in Science Fair. This is an excellent opportunity for students to succeed with their individual projects. We will be spending minimal class time working on these projects. I will try to arrange after school time for extended work on student projects if necessary.
Safety
Lab safety is the first priority for this course. We will have daily monitoring of the facility to ensure students and instructors are working in a safe learning environment. Students will be required to pass several lab safety tests in order to remain in the class. These tests will involve chemical and fire safety, first aid, MSDS, microbiology and more.
Jay Vavra, Ph.D.
|