IB BIOLOGY – 11IB BIOLOGY – 11THTH GRADE GRADE

IMPORTANT INFORMATION IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THE JUNIOR YEARFOR THE JUNIOR YEAR

Welcome! Welcome!

• Welcome to IB Biology! I hope Welcome to IB Biology! I hope you are as excited as I am to you are as excited as I am to begin this rigorous yet rewarding begin this rigorous yet rewarding two year journey. two year journey.

• Be prepared to work diligently, Be prepared to work diligently, cooperatively, and creatively cooperatively, and creatively inside and outside the classroom. inside and outside the classroom.

• In addition to the IB Biology In addition to the IB Biology Course Syllabus, I have Course Syllabus, I have established some Course established some Course Guidelines which are essential to Guidelines which are essential to ensure your success in the ensure your success in the upcoming school year.upcoming school year.

Who is your teacher…Who is your teacher…• Ms. Pavicic Ms. Pavicic • 44thth year at Aurora High School year at Aurora High School• I teach IB Biology 11 and 12, and Honors BiologyI teach IB Biology 11 and 12, and Honors Biology• Bachelor of Science in Biology from John Carroll UniversityBachelor of Science in Biology from John Carroll University• Master of Arts in Life Science Education from Ursuline Master of Arts in Life Science Education from Ursuline

CollegeCollege• IB Biology trained and certified from FLIBS.IB Biology trained and certified from FLIBS.• Other things I do…Other things I do…

– National Honor Society AdvisorNational Honor Society Advisor– 33rdrd of 6 kids… of 6 kids…– Run marathons…Run marathons…– ??

TOPICS THAT WE COVERTOPICS THAT WE COVER• In general…In general…

– Statistical AnalysisStatistical Analysis– BiochemistryBiochemistry– CellsCells– Cell respiration and photosynthesisCell respiration and photosynthesis– DNA, RNA, and ProteinsDNA, RNA, and Proteins– GeneticsGenetics– Evolution and ClassificationEvolution and Classification

***For the most part, this will be the order ***For the most part, this will be the order we will learn these various topics***we will learn these various topics***

Classroom ExpectionsClassroom Expections• Be respectful to your fellow classmates, Be respectful to your fellow classmates,

teacher, and yourself at all times. teacher, and yourself at all times. • Be in your seat and prepared for class Be in your seat and prepared for class

to begin before the bell rings. to begin before the bell rings. • Bring your textbook, binder, and writing Bring your textbook, binder, and writing

utensils to class EVERY DAY. These utensils to class EVERY DAY. These three items are a MUST.three items are a MUST.

• Be an active participant in class, and Be an active participant in class, and ALWAYS raise your hand when asking ALWAYS raise your hand when asking questions or responding. questions or responding.

• Use appropriate classroom language. Use appropriate classroom language. Profanity and improper language will Profanity and improper language will not be tolerated. not be tolerated.

• Lab rules and procedures must be Lab rules and procedures must be followed and will be strictly enforced. followed and will be strictly enforced.

• Absolutely no cell phones are Absolutely no cell phones are permitted. Procedure as listed in the permitted. Procedure as listed in the student handbook will be enforced student handbook will be enforced upon their presence. upon their presence.

• All rules as stated in the student All rules as stated in the student handbook will be enforced.handbook will be enforced.

• Have a positive attitude!Have a positive attitude!• **As IB students, it is my expectation **As IB students, it is my expectation

that you ALL will follow these rules. that you ALL will follow these rules. Consequences will be put in order in Consequences will be put in order in the event that they are disobeyed.the event that they are disobeyed.

GradingGrading

• Grades are assigned to the following Grades are assigned to the following categories each semester: categories each semester: – 55% Tests55% Tests– 30% Laboratory Work/Internal assessment, 30% Laboratory Work/Internal assessment,

QuizzesQuizzes– 15% Class work and homework15% Class work and homework

Late work due to an excused absence will be Late work due to an excused absence will be accepted without penalty if it is turned in on the accepted without penalty if it is turned in on the day you return to school.    All other late work day you return to school.    All other late work will be a will be a zero. zero. This will be strictly enforced This will be strictly enforced

INTERNAL ASSESSMENT INTERNAL ASSESSMENT LABSLABS• Internal Assessment labs are required by Internal Assessment labs are required by

the IB Program. the IB Program. • Often, minimal direction is given for these Often, minimal direction is given for these

assignments; the design of the procedure assignments; the design of the procedure is left largely up to the student. is left largely up to the student.

• Internal Assessment labs are graded on an Internal Assessment labs are graded on an IB rubric and count as both part of the IB rubric and count as both part of the class grade as well as a percentage of the class grade as well as a percentage of the IB score reported to universities. IB score reported to universities. – They require that students utilize a They require that students utilize a

variety of skills, from using the variety of skills, from using the scientific method to applying scientific method to applying classroom knowledge to outside classroom knowledge to outside situations. Students are required to situations. Students are required to complete 60 hours of lab work. complete 60 hours of lab work.

• There are very strict guidelines governing There are very strict guidelines governing lab work in the program. lab work in the program. – If all labs are not complete, students If all labs are not complete, students

run the risk of receiving a very low IB run the risk of receiving a very low IB grade (or no grade at all) at the end of grade (or no grade at all) at the end of the semester, since the lab grade the semester, since the lab grade contributes 30% to their final grade.  contributes 30% to their final grade. 

• You must follow the lab safety guidelines You must follow the lab safety guidelines for all labs completed for IB Biology.  for all labs completed for IB Biology. 

AttendanceAttendance

• To ensure success in IB Biology, it is To ensure success in IB Biology, it is essential that you attend class on a regular essential that you attend class on a regular basis. If you are absent, basis. If you are absent,

• You are responsible for making up all You are responsible for making up all work/assignments missed during an work/assignments missed during an EXCUSED absence.EXCUSED absence.

• Using the restroom, going to the office, Using the restroom, going to the office, visiting a counselor, etc. should only be visiting a counselor, etc. should only be done if urgent. Not being in class for the done if urgent. Not being in class for the entire 50 minute period will disrupt your entire 50 minute period will disrupt your ability to be successful, and may be ability to be successful, and may be disruptive to your classmates. disruptive to your classmates.

EXTRA HELPEXTRA HELP

• I LOVE helping my students! I am I LOVE helping my students! I am very flexible and available on most very flexible and available on most days. Please contact me verbally or days. Please contact me verbally or via email if you would like to meet via email if you would like to meet with me so we can arrange a time. with me so we can arrange a time.

Academic DishonestyAcademic Dishonesty

• Cheating will be detrimental to your success in IB Biology and will Cheating will be detrimental to your success in IB Biology and will not be tolerated. The following acts of cheating will result in not be tolerated. The following acts of cheating will result in disciplinary actions as outlined in the student handbook:disciplinary actions as outlined in the student handbook:– Passing calculators during a test, quiz, or other assessment. Passing calculators during a test, quiz, or other assessment. – Copying someone else’s test, quiz, homework, assignment, or report.Copying someone else’s test, quiz, homework, assignment, or report.– Allowing someone to copy from your test, quiz, homework, assignment, Allowing someone to copy from your test, quiz, homework, assignment,

or report.or report.– Looking at notes during a test, quiz, or other assessment.Looking at notes during a test, quiz, or other assessment.– Sharing questions from a test with students who have yet to take the Sharing questions from a test with students who have yet to take the

test.test.– Listing someone else’s data with out giving credit, or worse, making up Listing someone else’s data with out giving credit, or worse, making up

data to fit the expected answer.  It data to fit the expected answer.  It isis acceptable to present your own acceptable to present your own data, to state the reasons that you feel the results should be data, to state the reasons that you feel the results should be disregarded, and then to present another student’s data (making sure disregarded, and then to present another student’s data (making sure the source is acknowledged). the source is acknowledged).

– Using opinions, facts, ideas, charts, data and direct quotes from Using opinions, facts, ideas, charts, data and direct quotes from research papers, newspapers, magazines, textbooks, websites, or research papers, newspapers, magazines, textbooks, websites, or another person without citing the source.  another person without citing the source. 

AssessmentsAssessments• Tests Tests are given once per unit (about are given once per unit (about

twice per quarter) and will reflect the twice per quarter) and will reflect the standards of the IB End-of-Course standards of the IB End-of-Course Examinations.  They will be detailed Examinations.  They will be detailed and comprehensive, including and comprehensive, including multiple-choice, calculation problems, multiple-choice, calculation problems, and extensive essay/discussion and extensive essay/discussion questions.  questions.  

• Quizzes Quizzes are based on the syllabus are based on the syllabus statements required in class. statements required in class.

• In addition to quizzes, frequent In addition to quizzes, frequent formative assessmentsformative assessments will be will be given to allow for proper intervention given to allow for proper intervention to help ensure your success on the to help ensure your success on the Unit Summative ExamsUnit Summative Exams..

• There will be There will be no retakesno retakes..

Syllabus statementsSyllabus statements

• Syllabus statements must be hand written Syllabus statements must be hand written and completed on the day the unit test is and completed on the day the unit test is given.  These statements will be part of given.  These statements will be part of your portfolio grade. When completing your portfolio grade. When completing syllabus statements, be careful not to syllabus statements, be careful not to plagiarize the wording of others.   The best plagiarize the wording of others.   The best strategy is to attempt to address the strategy is to attempt to address the statement on your own, and then edit or fill statement on your own, and then edit or fill in the details from your notes, books, and in the details from your notes, books, and internet sources.internet sources.

• IB Biology provides a rewarding IB Biology provides a rewarding curriculum that will enable you to curriculum that will enable you to become successful, well rounded become successful, well rounded young adults prepared for the young adults prepared for the challenges in the real world. I am very challenges in the real world. I am very excited to experience this journey excited to experience this journey with you, and am looking forward to with you, and am looking forward to an excellent school year! an excellent school year!