This program is designed for specifically for AP Biology so would be limited to only that particular demographic. It appears to fully align with the College Board AP Biology Curriculum Framework, Fall 2020 but does not fully align with the Utah SEEd Standards for Biology.
Item | 3 - Extensive | 2 - Adequate | 1 - Inadequate | 0 - None | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sensitive Materials and Prohibited Submission 53G-10-103, R277-628 | This item has not been graded. | |||||
Prohibited discriminatory practices 53G-2-103-5, 53B-1-118 and 67-27-107 | This item has not been graded. | |||||
Maintaining constitutional freedom in the public schools. 53G-10-202 | This item has not been graded. | |||||
Free from advertising, e-commerce, or political interest | This item has not been graded. | |||||
Item | 3 - Extensive | 2 - Adequate | 1 - Inadequate | 0 - None | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Presence of Three Dimensions of Science: Builds understanding of the science and engineering practices (SEPs), disciplinary core ideas (DCIs), and crosscutting concepts (CCCs). i. Provides opportunities to develop and use specific elements of the SEP(s) ii. Provides opportunities to develop and use specific elements of the DCI(s) iii. Provides opportunities to develop and use specific elements of the CCC(s) | 3 of the Criteria Indicators are met | 2 of the Criteria Indicators are met | 1 of the Criteria Indicators are met | None of the Criteria Indicators are met | ||
Since the text is aligned with the College Board AP Biology Curriculum Framework, it does not specifically reference specific elements of the SEPs, and CCCs. Opportunities to develop and use specific elements of each are included throughout the text but all 3 dimensions are not included in every portion. Much more focused on the DCIs present in the AP Biology Curriculum. | ||||||
Integration of Three Dimensions of Science: Materials integrate elements of the SEPs, CCCs, and DCIs for student sense‐making: Three dimensions of science (SEPs, CCCs, and DCIs) are integrated (consistently utilized in conjunction with each other) to help students make sense of phenomenon and solve problems. | Three dimensions of science (SEPs, CCCs, and DCIs) are consistently integrated. | Three dimensions of science are integrated in certain portions of the instructional material. | Three dimensions of science are rarely integrated in the instructional material. | Three dimensions of science (SEPs, CCCs, and DCIs) are separated and not integrated for student sense making. | ||
The 3 Dimensions are integrated in certain portions of the instructional materials but are not consistently utilized in conjunction with each other to help students make sense of phenomenon and solve problems. Again, the focus is on aligning with the AP Biology Framework and more DCI heavy. | ||||||
Alignment to Standards: The DCI Concepts (science content) in the instructional materials align to the Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards | DCI concepts (science content) in the instructional material align to 100% the SEEd Standards for the Grade/Course. | DCI concepts (science content) in the instructional material align to 75% the SEEd Standards for the Grade/Course. | DCI concepts (science content) in the instructional material align to 50% the SEEd Standards for the Grade/Course. | DCI concepts (science content) in the instructional material align to less than 50% the SEEd Standards for the Grade/Course. | ||
This is course is designed to fit the AP Biology Framework, not the Utah SEEd Standards. | ||||||
Scientific Accuracy: Uses scientifically accurate and grade‐appropriate scientific information, phenomena, and representations to support students’ three‐dimensional learning. | Instructional materials are scientifically accurate and grade appropriate. | N/A | N/A | Instructional materials are NOT scientifically accurate and grade appropriate. | ||
The course is appears to incorporate current research, best practices, and scientifically accurate scientific information. It is engaging and reflects current scientific knowledge and procedures. It is grade appropriate for AP Biology students. |
Item | 3 - Extensive | 2 - Adequate | 1 - Inadequate | 0 - None | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Focus on Phenomena (Science) or Problems (Engineering): Making sense of phenomena and/or designing solutions to a problem drive student learning. i. Student questions and prior experiences related to the phenomenon or problem motivate sense‐making and/or problem solving ii. The focus of the lesson is to support students in making sense of phenomena and/or designing solutions to problems iii. When engineering is a learning focus, it is integrated with developing disciplinary core ideas from physical, life, and/or earth and space sciences | 3 of the Criteria Indicators are met | 2 of the Criteria Indicators are met | 1 of the Criteria Indicators are met | None of the Criteria Indicators are met | ||
Since it is aligned to the AP Biology Framework, it does not include Engineering Design specifically so designing a solution is not the main focus of the text. The majority is focused on Phenomena (Science). | ||||||
Scaffolding: Identifies and builds on students’ prior learning in all three dimensions i. Provides supports to help students engage in the practices and gradually adjusts supports over time so that students are increasingly responsible for making sense of phenomena and/or designing solutions to problems (Required) ii. Explicitly identifies prior student learning expected for all three dimensions iii. Clearly explains how the prior learning will be built upon | 3 of the Criteria Indicators are met | 2 of the Criteria Indicators are met (i MUST BE MET) | Only Criteria Indicator i has been met | None of the Criteria Indicators are met | ||
The course meets 2 of the criteria: i and iii. Since it is not aligned with the SEEd Standards, it does not explicitly identify prior student learning expected for all three dimensions. It does identify prior student learning but not the learning does not always incorporate all three dimensions. The textbook, student, and teacher materials online do provide a large amount of differentiation, scaffolding, and intervention support. There are supports for those needing intervention and those needing extensions. | ||||||
Teacher Supports: Supports teachers in facilitating coherent student learning experiences over time i. Provides strategies for linking student engagement across lessons (e.g. cultivating new student questions at the end of a lesson in a way that leads to future lessons) ii. Providing strategies for ensuring student sense‐making and/or problem‐solving is linked to learning in all three dimensions (e.g. Claim Evidence Reasoning-CER Framework for communicating sense-making, teacher probing questions) iii. Provides additional resources for student learning (e.g. Models, simulations, and/or data sets for students investigation) | 3 of the Criteria Indicators are met | 2 of the Criteria Indicators are met | 1 of the Criteria Indicators are met | None of the Criteria Indicators are met | ||
The amount of resources available are extensive for both the teacher and the student. Although not directly aligned to the SEEd Standards, all three dimensions are used at some point during the sense-making process. The additional resources provides for student learning are impressive and diverse as well as the teacher supports. | ||||||
Assessments: Includes formative, summative, and guidance measures for interpreting student performances that assess three‐dimensional science learning. i. Embeds formative assessment processes throughout conceptual development that surfaces student understanding to inform instruction ii. Embeds summative assessment processes following conceptual development that evaluate student learning and measure understanding iii. Includes aligned rubrics or scoring guidelines that provide guidance for interpreting student performance | 3 of the Criteria Indicators are met | 2 of the Criteria Indicators are met | 1 of the Criteria Indicators are met | None of the Criteria Indicators are met | ||
There are number of formative and summative assessment resources available. Teachers have access to end-of- chapter problems and tutorials that incorporate a wide variety of answer types; incorrect answer feedback; and individualized help, with hints and differentiation. there are pre- and post tests that are automatically graded. They can create assignments and exams with self-selected difficulty, duration, and content coverage. There are also practice tests, cumulative tests, and study materials that allow students to test their understanding of the content. Scientific Skills Exercises, Problem-Solving Exercises, Interpret the Data questions, and essay questions provide opportunities for formative and summative assessment. There is also access to test-banks and sample AP test questions. |
Item | 3 - Extensive | 2 - Adequate | 1 - Inadequate | 0 - None | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Relevant and Authentic: Engages students in authentic and meaningful scenarios that reflect the practice of science and engineering as experienced in the real world. i. Students experience phenomena or design problems as directly as possible (first-hand or through media representations) ii. Includes suggestions for how to connect instruction to the students' home, neighborhood, community and/or culture as appropriate iii. Provides opportunities for students to connect their explanation of a phenomenon and/or their design solution to a problem to questions from their own experience | 3 of the 4 Criteria Indicators are met | 2 of the 4 Criteria Indicators are met | 1 of the 4 Criteria Indicators are met | None of the 4 Criteria Indicators are met | ||
The scenarios are engaging and meaningful. Students have access to programs which take students step-by-step through the concepts and techniques necessary to understand and conduct the investigations, then asks students to make predictions, justify conclusions, evaluate data, apply mathematical techniques, and analyze the results of their investigation. The formative assessment questions end each section, testing student comprehension with detailed right- and wrong-answer feedback is provided for each question. A mastery checklist at the end of each pre-lab allows students to track important content and skills they have mastered. | ||||||
Teacher Supports for Diverse Learners: Provides guidance for teachers to support differentiated instruction i. Includes appropriate reading, writing, listening, and/or speaking alternatives (e.g., translations, picture support, graphic organizers, etc.) for students who are English language learners, have special needs, or read well below grade level ii. Provides extra support (e.g., phenomena, representations, tasks) for students who are struggling to meet the targeted expectations iii. Provides extensions for students with high interest or who have already met the performance expectations to develop a deeper understanding of the practices, disciplinary core ideas, and crosscutting concepts | 3 of the Criteria Indicators are met | 2 of the Criteria Indicators are met | 1 of the Criteria Indicators are met | None of the Criteria Indicators are met | ||
Teachers have access to hundreds of text-based and multimedia resources that can either be integrated into the classroom or assigned as homework and tutorial activities to differentiate instruction for different ability levels. Reading Guides and worksheets help support students in actively reading their text. Activities in the eTextbook and online platforms help to diagnose and remediate common student misunderstandings that are stumbling blocks to learning. The provided pacing guide helps teachers to plan and organize their curriculum, ensuring that they cover all necessary material within the allocated time frame. | ||||||
Accessible for all students: Engages students using methods, vocabulary, representations, and examples that are accessible and unbiased for all learners (e.g., Deaf and Blind, English Learners, Gifted and Talented, Special Education). | Instructional Materials are accessible for all students | N/A | N/A | Instructional Materials are NOT accessible for all students | ||
There is a translatable text option with the Google Translate extension. To support ELL students, the eText can be translated into 100+ languages at the click of a button. The eTextbook allows students to highlight, take notes, listen to the textbook, and review vocabulary even when offline. | ||||||
Physical Characteristics | This item has not been graded. | |||||
Technical Standards | This item has not been graded. | |||||
Ethnic Studies- (Ethnic studies in core standards and curriculum should be a narrowly tailored incorporation of age-appropriate opportunities that naturally arise through education without pretextual effort in courses, programs, or activities where ethnic studies is not a primary focus. The material should incorporate a curriculum of people and cultures that reflect the state’s various demographics without commentary that seeks to violate the neutrality standard established in codes: 53B-1-118, 53G-2-103, 53G-2-104, 53G-2-105, 67-27-107, | This item has not been graded. | |||||
Shared Values and Character Traits | This item has not been graded. | |||||
250 East 500 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111-3204
Phone: 801.538.7807