Advanced Placement Biology Summer Institute

For High School Teachers

 

June 24-30, 2012

 

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, MI  49307

 

All Institutes Endorsed by the College Board

 

COST:  $1,125

Includes instruction, university housing, meals, textbooks and supplies

 

Graduate Credit (3) available for additional fee ($225)

 

Click Here for AP Biology Institute Brochure

 

About the Institute:  The 2012 AP Biology Summer Institute will cover the new revised AP Biology course description . Upon completion of this institute, participants will have developed the skills, knowledge and confidence to conduct and assess our new inquiry based AP Biology labs.  We will examine Herron’s model of inquiry and learn to identify tasks that enable different levels of inquiry (confirmation, structured, guided or open) and Grady’s Matrix for assessing and planning scientific inquiry (MAPSI).   Participants will receive assistance in developing a syllabus that will pass the new course audit.  Participants will receive lab manuals, College Board manuals, textbooks, and resource catalogs along with intensive hands-on instruction in conducting the new AP Biology inquiry based labs. The daily schedule consists of pre-lab discussions, followed by the lab itself.  Additionally, there will be a special emphasis on methods teachers can use to develop the analytical and writing skills their students will need to be successful with free response questions based on the content of each lab. Students should also expect evening lab sessions as part of each day’s schedule.

 

Schedule:  The Biology institute will begin on Sunday evening (June 24) at 6:30 pm.  The institute will conclude on Saturday (June 30) at noon.  A specific agenda will be provided to you at that time for the entire week.  Beginning Monday, lab sessions will run all day (8:30 an -5 p.m.) and evening (7-9 p.m.).  All participants will be provided with lab manuals, AP College Board manuals and textbooks.

 

Instructors: John Gehring has 25 years experience in AP Biology and AP Biology Summer Institutes. He has been both a Reader and Table Leader at the AP Biology Reading for the past 25 years and in 1999 was honored with the Siemans Award For Advanced Placement. He will be assisted by Robert Hamilton who has 20 years experience teaching AP Biology and 16 years as an AP Biology Summer Institute instructor. Rob has been a Reader of the AP Biology exam for 11 years.

 

Comments from a former APSI Participant:

I wanted to give you a big thank you for the lessons learned last summer at the AP Institute (you are probably starting up another one today if I remember correctly!) I just received the AP scores for my class and was blown away.  At our school, there were typically classes of 10 or so every other year under the teacher who taught the class before me.  This year I started with 14, 9 of whom completed all 3 trimesters and took the exam.  Not only did all the kids I had take the exam pass, but they all had a 4 or better!  We had five 5's and four 4's with a class average of 4.556.  Not only that, but the class is going to be offered next year without skipping a year & enrollment has doubled!  Thanks for all the wisdom and skills - not to mention confidence - that you gave me last summer.  If we can do this well with me making mistakes all the way through the year & barely getting through my 1st year teaching the course, I am really excited about what I can do next year and afterwards!  Kim Haveman-Kudlack Ionia High School 

    

Graduate Credit:  If you are applying for the 3 graduate credits, you must complete an application form and return it before June 22, 2012 to receive graduate credit.  The application can be faxed to 231-591-3539 or mailed.  You will receive the application form when you register.

 

Click Here to Register On-Line

 

(Please note when you get to this website, you need to click on new or sign-up to get a password so you can register)

 

For additional information contact Alicia Freye, Ferris State University Conference Services, at 231-591-5820 or email AliciaFreye@ferris.edu

 

Register early!  A letter of confirmation, additional information and map will be sent upon receipt of registration.

 

Ferris State University reserves the right to cancel the institute due to insufficient enrollment.