August 2012

1. Welcome to
Advanced Placement Biology
Dawn Berkeley
Instructor
f
Parkdale High School
Riverdale, Maryland

2. What to
expect…

3. What should you expect?
 AP Biology is equivalent to a college
Introductory Biology course for majors:
2 semester course with lab
 Invest your time
expect to spend 5-10 hours each week
working on biology outside of class
you must do the reading!
 Lecture-based course
a lot of material to cover in too little time

4. AP Biology is a Laboratory
Course
12 Required Labs:
1. Artificial Selection
2. Mathematical Modeling: Hardy Weinberg
3. Comparing DNA Sequences to Understand
Evolutionary Relationships with BLAST
4. Diffusion and Osmosis
5. Photosynthesis
6. Cellular Respiration
7. Cell Division: Mitosis and Meiosis
8. Biotechnology: Bacterial Transformation
9. Biotechnology: Restriction Enzyme Analysis of DNA
10. Energy Dynamics
11. Transpiration
12. Fruit Fly Behavior
13. Enzyme Activity

5. How do I receive the best grade
possible?
• Do well on the exams
– Exams are comprised of multiple choice and essay
style questions
– Complete practice questions at the end of chapter
– Complete practice questions provided with the CD
– DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE NIGHT BEFORE AN EXAM
TO BEGIN STUDYING
• Do well on laboratory reports
• Complete all homework and classwork (includes
reading and study guides)
• Form and use your study/lab groups

6. A little about me….
• My background
– I grew up in Washington, D.C. until my family
moved to Riverdale, Maryland where I then
attended both Charles Carroll Middle School
and Parkdale High School

7. and my family…
• Married with three children:
– Nehemiah (7)
– David (6)
– Sophia (2)

8. Education

9. Teaching Experience
– The 2011 – 2012 school year marks my 12th
year in teaching. I’ve been teaching AP
Biology for the last 7 years.
– I have also taught seventh and eighth grades
during summer school in the District of
Columbia.

10. My goals this year
• To prepare you to pass the 2013
Advanced Placement Biology exam
administered on Monday, May 13,
2012.
• To provide a rigorous and supportive
classroom environment.
• To help you discover new interests.

11. My interests/hobbies

12. Let’s Have a Great Year!