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Visual Biology: Ecology

Completed by 3 learners
Ages 12-16
Self-Paced Course
Use drawing and visual note taking to explore all 8 High School Life Science Standards for HS.LS2: Ecosystems, which explores ecology, including population dynamics, biogeochemical cycles and energy flow
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(4,595 reviews)
Popular
Rising Star

8 pre-recorded lessons
8 weeks of teacher support
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1 year of access to the content

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Your learner can start learning when they want and progress at the speed that works best for them.
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Access course material for a full year.
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What's included

8 pre-recorded lessons
8 weeks
of teacher support
1 year access
to the content
Homework
1-2 hours per week. Weekly Modules, including evaluation questions, are designed to take 1-2 hours to complete
Assessment
Evaluation questions are included with each lesson, along with an answer key. Families may administer and use the results of these evaluations as they wish.
Grading
There are ten evaluation questions with each lesson, along with an answer key. Families that use numerical grades may administer and score these evaluations for use as formative assessments along the way to mastery, or summative assessments to demonstrate mastery at the end end of the course.

Class Experience

US Grade 7 - 10
Dive into the captivating realm of biology, where the intricacies of living systems unfold. This asynchronous class, based on our incredibly popular weekly Visual Biology Ongoing class,  allows middle and high school learners with any schedule and any any time zone are to embark on an exciting journey that combines their creativity and collaboration skills with the exploration of recent research in biology. Through the engaging practice of sketchnoting, a visual note taking technique, students will develop creative notes that summarize the latest scientific discoveries. 

Our teaching methodology, sketchnoting, is a visual note taking technique that harnesses the doodling many of us naturally do during classes and enhances learning by focusing those drawings into workable notes. Weekly assignments are administered through Padlet, a distance learning tool. Learners use a link posted in the classroom to work through all of the activities on the Padlet for that week.

Each week's module will explore a different objective aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for high school learners. Each module will include an article covering recent research and a recorded video lesson with the teacher explaining how this article ties to a the bigger biology concept from the NGSS through drawing and visual note-taking. Something to draw on and something to draw with is all that is needed. The remainder of the module will include several extension activities and videos, all administered through Padlet, along with short answer questions to check for understanding. Learners will receive weekly video messages from the teacher through their Outschool messages evaluating the work they have submitted, and a grade can be provided if requested. 

Here is the breakdown of topics for this course: 

HS.LS2: Ecosystems

Week One
HS.LS2.1: Use mathematical and/or computational representations to support explanations of factors that affect carrying capacity of ecosystems at different scales.

Week Two
HS.LS2.2: Use mathematical representations to support and revise explanations based on evidence about factors affecting biodiversity and populations in ecosystems of different scales.

Week Three
HS.LS2.3: Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for the cycling of matter and flow of energy in aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

Week Four
HS.LS2.4: Use mathematical representations to support claims for the cycling of matter and flow of energy among organisms in an ecosystem.

Week Five
HS.LS2.5: Develop a model to illustrate the role of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in the cycling of carbon among the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.

Week Six
HS.LS2.6: Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.

Week Seven
HS.LS2.7: Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.

Week Eight
HS.LS2.8: Evaluate evidence for the role of group behavior on individual and species’ chances to survive and reproduce.

Learning Goals

HS.LS2.1: Use mathematical and/or computational representations to support explanations of factors that affect carrying capacity of ecosystems at different scales.
HS.LS2.2: Use mathematical representations to support and revise explanations based on evidence about factors affecting biodiversity and populations in ecosystems of different scales.

Syllabus

8 Lessons
over 8 Weeks
Lesson 1:
The Problem with No Parasites
 HS.LS2.1: Use mathematical and/or computational representations to support explanations of factors that affect carrying capacity of ecosystems at different scales. 
Lesson 2:
The Urban Ecology of Cities
 HS.LS2.2: Use mathematical representations to support and revise explanations based on evidence about factors affecting biodiversity and populations in ecosystems of different scales. 
Lesson 3:
It's a Trap!
 HS.LS2.3: Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for the cycling of matter and flow of energy in aerobic and anaerobic conditions. 
Lesson 4:
Flow Interrupted
 HS.LS2.4: Use mathematical representations to support claims for the cycling of matter and flow of energy among organisms in an ecosystem. 

Other Details

Parental Guidance
All classes are based on the accepted consensus of the secular scientific community, and may include discussions of evolution by natural selection, the cellular and hormonal mechanics of sexual and asexual reproduction, and other aspects of studying living systems. For some topics, research will be drawn from vetted science news sources. Learners will have no need to navigate to these news sites themselves.
Supply List
Something to draw on and something to draw with (preferably with multiple colors)
Language of Instruction
English
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:

Offered by

4.9
4595reviews
Popular
Rising Star
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Georgia Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Jordan Kohanim
Non-US Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
Cameron Shaw
Georgia Teaching Certificate in Special Education
Maria Thorne
North Carolina Teaching Certificate in Secondary Education
Allie Baker
Doctoral Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from University of Arts in Belgrade
Natalija Stojanovic
Master's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from University of Arts in Belgrade
Natalija Stojanovic
Master's Degree in Education from Georgia College and State University
Maria Thorne
Master's Degree in Education from University of Georgia
Whitney Panetta
Master's Degree in Education from Georgia State University
Benjamin Corey
Bachelor's Degree in English from Kennesaw State University
Jordan Kohanim
Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Science from Vassar College
Cameron Shaw
Bachelor's Degree in Education from Georgia Southern University
Maria Thorne
Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Ramapo College of New Jersey
Jessica Rinzuello
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from University of Georgia
Whitney Panetta
Bachelor's Degree in Education from UNCP
Allie Baker
Bachelor's Degree in Science from Oglethorpe University
Benjamin Corey
Bachelor's Degree in Science from Hampshire College
Peter Burke
Bachelor's Degree in History from Georgia State University
James Bostick
I have a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biology from Oglethorpe University and and a Masters of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Science Education from Georgia State University. I have been teaching sciences to inclusion classes for 16 years to grades 7-12, and have certifications from the states of Georgia and California. I am deeply knowledgeable on the structure of the Next Generation Science Standards and best practices of science instruction. 

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