BIOLOGY - PHOENIX SESSION

Jim Smanik is a national board certified science teacher and coach at Sycamore High School in Cincinnati, OH. He has 25 years of teaching experience, 15 as an AP* Biology instructor. He has experience teaching all levels of Biology as well as physics, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, and earth science. He was the head cross country coach and track coach for 10 years as well as coaching basketball at all levels for 23 years. Jim has been an AP* Biology reader for 13 years, approximately 8 of those as a Table Leader. He has been a consultant for the College Board since 2000 during which he has presented over 20 one day workshops, over 20 week long APSI’s , piloted labs for the redesigned AP Biology lab manual as well as for the new AP* Biology lab kits for Carolina. Jim is presently working on AP* innovations and Professional development review for the College Board. Jim is completing his first year as a member of the Developmental Committee (DC) (formally called test development) for the New AP* Biology exam. Jim lives in Maineville, OH with his wife Susan and two daughters Lauren and Katie.

Summary of APSI Biology course for 2012

Instructor: Jim Smanik

Participants in the AP* Biology AP* Summer Institute will have the opportunity to perform and or review all of the new labs in the New AP* Biology Lab Manual. We will also discuss how to tweak your labs to make them student driven so you may continue to use them. We will share best practices and hints on what works in the AP* Biology classroom to improve student achievement. We will discuss how to institute the changes for the new course and I will share my approach to teaching AP* Biology in detail – including an emphasis on student modeling their understanding. During the week will discuss textbooks, syllabi, the 2012 exam FRQ’s and rubrics, equipment and other details of the course. We will examine the newly released sample exam with a focus on what is similar and different and how this impacts how we teach. We will review any tools that will be made available by the College Board to support us in the classroom as we transition into the new course. I, along with many College Board consultants will be trained in April for the new labs. I am not familiar with all of the labs yet , nor do I know what kits will be provided by the supply companies so I cannot produce an accurate syllabus until after the training. I hope to have it posted by mid May. Please bring a copy of your textbook and your current syllabus if you are teaching AP* Biology. It is my intention at this point to spend at least one half day developing your syllabus, but may increase this block of time if participants wish this to be a focus. You will utilize a four function calculator and some participants have found it useful to photograph lab setups. We will all have time in the computer labs but I am uncertain about wireless access so if you have a lap top both for note taking and use in internet activities it will be convenient. I will email you suggesting documents to download so we can use them during this week as well as details concerning the apsi as they evolve. Traditionally, participants have received several text books and materials donated by supply companies.