Mrs. DeBoard’s Contact InformationPhone: 615-583-9227E-mail: kristin.deboard@mnps.orgWebsite:

deboardvirtualbio.wikispaces.comOffice 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 GradingKeep 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 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 WikispaceIf 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 does it mean to be alive? List some characteristics of living things.

List 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 membrane - saliva - calcium Chlorophyll - mushrooms - atoms