Final Internal Assessment Instructions

The Final Internal Assessment is due through turnitin.com on Thursday, March 8, 2018.  Please remove all identifying information before you submit it.  For those who haven't submitted a first draft, you need to do it by this Sunday, March 4th if you want me to read it and give comments.  Otherwise, you will just submit the final version. 

Here are some things I have noticed in the rough drafts so far that would be fairly easy to fix and would gain you some points:

1. Exploration:  Make sure that your research question is FOCUSED, not broad.  Show good awareness of factors that might influence the quality of the data.  Make sure that you address safety, ethical, or environmental issues.
2. Analysis:  Make sure that your data table is clearly labeled, and has units and uncertainty for each quantity that you measured.  Processed data should be clearly presented with a sample calculation for each type done.  Graphs should have uncertainty bars and actually help in the understanding of the data.  Many of you are including confusing and sometimes excessive graphs!  The impact of uncertainty on the analysis should be considered.
3. Evaluation:  A conclusion should be stated using the data as support.  Results should be compared to the accepted scientific context.  Strengths and weaknesses should be considered.  Realistic improvements and extensions to the investigation should be described/discussed.
4. Communication:  Make sure that you proofread...more than once.  Have someone else read it too if you are not good at catching your mistakes.  Make sure that the formatting lines up (like page breaks) before you submit to turnitin.com.

Instructions for Group IV Project and other Information

This is copied from an e-mail message I sent out to students:

Hello Kenny 2nd year students!

Due to the snow and other reasons, many of you missed classed this past week.  I want to make sure that you know what you need to do for next week.  All students (even if you are not doing the Group IV Project) need to do the Passion for Sustainability assignment.  It involves watching the video linked on my website and filling out the worksheet (in the documents section of my website).  You will notice that the end asks you to do a little research about sustainable practices in others parts of the world.  This is surprisingly easy as groups around the world love to share what they are doing, but it is also important to bring this outside perspective with you when you go into the Group IV Project.

For students involved in the project on Monday, you hopefully got the e-mail from Ms. Wadkins that tells you what group you're in and also the room number at PSU.  Remember to bring a fully-charged laptop and the appropriate clothes/shoes for walking around downtown, possibly in the rain.  Most of the project will be done on Monday, although you might have to finish a reflection and commenting on other group's proposals on your own time.  You should bring your completed Passion for Sustainability hand-out on Monday and save it to turn in to me on Wednesday 2/28.

Students who are not doing the Group IV Project should complete the Passion for Sustainability assignment to turn in next Wednesday 2/28.

I have decided to move the Movement/Kidney test from Friday 3/2 to Tuesday 3/6 so that you have more time to learn the material.  The final IA due date will be changed to Thursday 3/8.  I will catch up with giving feedback on IA's this week-end.  Many of you still need to turn in a first draft!

Have a great week-end and don't forget to spend a little time to think about sustainability!

Ms. Kenny

Movement and the Kidney and the start of Reproduction

• Tues 2/13:  First full draft of IA due today through turnitin.com.  Talk to me if yours will be later.  Quick review of biochemistry.  Go over the human elbow joint and dissect chicken wings.  Turn in write up in pairs (observations, labeled diagram, answer questions).
• Thurs 2/15:  Go over muscle cell structure and the sliding filament model.  Crash Course video on muscle action.  Read 11.3.
• Tues 2/20:  Structure of the kidney and structure of the functional unit (nephron).  Overview of Cell Respiration and Photosynthesis.
• Thurs 2/22:  Go over what happens during all parts of the nephron and glomerulus.  The role of ADH.  Dialysis.  Do 2 of the DBQ's in section 11.3.  Watch Passion for Sustainability Video and fill out hand-out (everyone does this, even students not doing the project)
• Mon 2/26:  Group IV Project
• Wed 2/28:  Turn in Passion for Sustainability Hand-Out.  Kidney/Movement Review.  Start Hormones.
• Fri 3/2:  Kidney/Movement Test. More on hormones.  Read 6.6.  Kidney and Movement test moved to next Tuesday 3/6.  Final IA due through turnitin.com on Thursday 3/8.

First 2 Weeks of Second Semester

• Tues 1/30:  Semester Exams back to look over and then recollect.  Overview of 2nd semester.  IA due dates.  Notes on components of blood, blood clotting, functions of blood and barriers to infection.  Read 6.3.
• Thurs 2/1:  Overview of Cells and Membranes.  Notes on the innate (nonspecific) and acquired (specific) immune systems.  Crash course video on Immunology.  Go over what will be on the short immunology test next Friday 2/9.  Read 11.1.
• Mon 2/5:  First draft of IA lab due for Peer Review.  Exchange labs and give feedback.  Notes on Antibiotics, antibodies, and HIV/AIDS.  Make plates for Antibiotic Lab.  
• Wed 2/7:  Measure zones of inhibition on antibiotic plates.  Review HIV/AIDS and go over Vaccination.  Discuss ethical issues around both topics.  Kahoot review of Immunology.
• Fri 2/9:  Questions?  Short immunology test.  Work on processing of antibiotic data.  Structure of a human elbow.  Read 11.2.  First full draft of IA due to me through turnitin.com on Tuesday, 2/13.

Overview of Second Semester

Buckle your seat belts, here we go!

• 1/30-2/9  Immunology.  6.3 and 11.1 (Review Cells + Membranes)
• 2/13+2/15  Muscles and Movement.  11.2. (Review Biochem)
• 2/20+2/22:  The Kidney.  11.3  (Review Cell Resp. and Photosynthesis)
• 2/26:  Group IV
• 2/28-3/16:  Hormones and Reproduction.  6.6 and 11.4 (Review Genetics)
• 3/12:  Cadaver Field Trip at PSU
• 3/20-4/12:  Neurobiology and Behavior.  6.5 and Option A (Review Plants and Replication, Transcription, and Translation).
• 4/17-4/27:  Review and Practice Tests
• 4/30  IB Testing starts
• 5/14 and 5/15 IB Biology Test
• Projects and Fun Stuff during IB Testing

Final Exam Expectations

Just a reminder of some basic final exam expectations.  Final Exams are very serious and I don't want to have any misunderstandings about that.

• You need to stay in the classroom the whole time!  Go to the restroom BEFORE the test!!
• No phones out AT ALL!  Laptops are ok if you are using it for academic purposes.
•  Bring a book or something quiet to do if you are a fast test taker.
• 
  
• No talking.  We need a quiet respectful test environment.
• No questionable behavior, like looking at  your neighbor’s test.
• Remember that any form of cheating will result in a 0 for the final.  It is not worth it!

January 2018

For the month of January, we will be mostly working on our Internal Assessments.  Come to class prepared to take data, be a participant in other student's labs, or quietly review.  The semester review sheet is in the documents section and you should consult that to help you review for the final.  In addition, we will do a big Kahoot review on Tuesday, January 23.  Finals are January 24, 25, and 26th.  If you want to do a Book Group, come in during FLEX to discuss your book and then submit your review through turnitin.com by January 23.

• Tues 1/2/18:  Get organized for IA's
• Thurs 1/4/18:  IA's
• Mon 1/8:  IA's
• Wed 1/10:  IA's
• Fri 1/12:  Mini review of Ecology and Biodiversity and IA's
• Wed 1/17:  Mini review of Evolution and Digestion and IA's
• Fri 1/19:  Final Day of taking data for IA's
• Tues 1/23:  Kahoot Review for the Final Exam
• Wed 1/24:  Finals:  1,2,4
• Thurs 1/25:  Finals 5,6,8
• Fri 1/26:  Finals 3,7
• Mon 1/29:  Teacher Work Day

Group IV Project is Monday 2/26!  If you are an IB Science Tester this year and you have not done the project before, you need to participate!  It is an ALL DAY field trip that we will do at Portland State and in downtown Portland.  There is no make up for this activity, so please plan accordingly.