Agenda – Biology

AP Biology Summer Institute Course Description:

Participants in this in-depth training will increase their knowledge of and comfort level with the AP Biology Curriculum, including an in-depth review of the updated AP Biology Course and Exam Description (CED) for the 2026 exam, and they will learn how to plan their course around the CED. We will perform some of the labs from the lab manual, conduct some effective and inexpensive labs, perform ShoeBox Investigations (Take-Home Labs), and discuss how to tweak the labs you currently use to make them student-driven and inquiry-based. Various teaching and learning strategies will be introduced in order for participants to fully integrate the science practices into their daily classroom. In addition, time will be spent familiarizing ourselves with the format, sample questions, and grading of the AP Biology exam. We will also look at the scope and sequence of the course with time being dedicated to your own course syllabus and lesson planning.

Items Needed:

Laptop Computer and School Calendar

 

AP Biology Summer Institute Agenda:

DAY 1: Understanding AP Biology

Understanding the Updated AP Biology Curriculum Course Framework, Unit Guides, Topic Pages Scaffolding and Spiraling Concepts in AP Biology: Teaching For Understanding and Transfer of Content AP Classroom: AP Course Audit and Curricular Requirements Knowing the Target: The AP Exam Investigations in AP Biology: What are the Requirements? Question Biology: Science Practice 3 Investigation: Mung Beans and Soil Salinity Know Biology: Science Practice 1 Investigation: Cellular Respiration vs. Photosynthesis Curriculum Mapping: How are you going to do all of it?

DAY 2: Teaching AP Biology

AP Teacher Community and Resources Argue Biology: Science Practice 6 Reimagine the CER – The QECR Where Content and Skills Merge: The Free Response Questions Assessments: Formative vs Summative A Day in AP Biology: Active Learning in AP Biology The BILL: Biology Interactive Learning Log Using Content to Teach the Science Practices: Instructional Approaches in AP Biology Calculate Biology: The Formula Sheet Power of Simulations: The Mating Game Curriculum Mapping: How is learning going to be structured?

DAY 3: Integrating the Science Practices

AI in AP Biology: What is its role? Visualizing Biology: Science Practice 2 Ambitious Modeling in AP Biology Investigation: BLAST Investigation: Using Biotechnology to Create Visual Representations Knowing the Misconceptions in AP Biology: Chief Reader Reports Broadening Access for AP: AP for All Empowering your Students – Pointless and Ungrading Practices How to Use the Data: Science Practice 5 Investigation: Simpson’s Diversity Index Curriculum Mapping: How is learning going to be Assessed? Importance of Water Investigation: Why Cells Must be so Small Investigation: Determining the Osmolarity of Plant Tissue

DAY 4: Assessing Progress and Understandings

Putting it All Together: Using the IPR to Influence Planning Curriculum Mapping – Scope and Sequence Cell Communication: What is the Most Challenging Concept to Teach Investigation: Taste Lab Connecting the Science Practices in an Investigation Why are Yeast Spheres so Cool? Investigation: Enzymes with Yeast Putting it in Reverse: Roadmapping AP Exam Review

Download the AP Biology Summer Institute Agenda (PDF)