Course Syllabus

Biology, Grade 11, University Preparation (SBI3U) Course Outline

Course Description/Rationale:

This course furthers students’ understanding of the processes that occur in biological systems. Students will study theory and conduct investigations in the areas of biodiversity; evolution; genetic processes; the structure and function of animals; and the anatomy, growth, and function of plants. The course focuses on the theoretical aspects of the topics under study, and helps students refine skills related to scientific investigation.

See PDF file for unit plan, overall curriculum expectations, and achievement chart.

Teaching/Learning strategies:

As in a conventional classroom, instructors employ a range of strategies for teaching a course:

• Clearly described unit expectations
• Hands-on lab activities
• Virtual lab activities
• Animations and simulations
• Creative problem solving
• Case Studies
• Assessment FOR learning activities
• Student reflection and self-assessment
• Discussions of issues relating science to technology, society, and the environment
• Research Reports
• Opinion-based Reports

All course material is online, no physical textbook is required. Assignments are submitted electronically. Tests are completed online, and the course ends in a final exam which the student writes under the supervision of a proctor approved by School at a predetermined time and place. (The final mark and report card are then forwarded to the student's home school.)

Students must achieve the Ministry of Education learning expectations of a course and complete 110 hours of planned learning activities, both online and offline, in order to earn a course credit. Students are expected to keep a learning log throughout their course which outlines the activities they have completed and their total learning hours.

The chart below indicates some general examples of online and offline activities:

Students are expected to access and participate actively in course work and course forums on a regular and frequent basis. This interaction with the teacher and other students (if there are other students in the course) is an important component of this course.

Strategies for Assessment and Evaluation of Student Performance:

Your final grade will be determined as follows:

• 70% of the grade will be based on evaluation conducted throughout the course. This portion of the grade should reflect your most consistent level of achievement throughout the course, although special consideration will be given to more recent evidence of achievement.
• 30% of the grade will be based on a final evaluation administered at or towards the end of the course. This evaluation will be based on evidence from one or a combination of the following: an examination, a performance, and/or another method of evaluation suitable to the course content. The final evaluation allows you an opportunity to demonstrate comprehensive achievement of the overall expectations for the course.

(Growing Success: Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting in Ontario Schools. Ontario Ministry of Education Publication, 2010 p.41)

https://ves-canada.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/0.1-SBI3U-Outline.pdf