"Just send them to college" can only be done in cities that have colleges.
Also, AP classes are slower-paced than college courses and taught in a more
interactive manner. (AP Environmental Science, for example, is a year-long
course but replaces a one-semester course.)
I didn't take AP Bio but attended a biology magnet school that offered lots
of science courses. 90% of my first-year biology at UCLA was review. If
students who test out of intro courses are struggling, maybe it's because
they missed a chance to learn to take college science courses, not because
they missed content.
Jane Shevtsov
On Mon, Nov 21, 2011 at 1:12 PM, Joey Smokey <northwestbird...@gmail.com>wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> As a biology major recently graduated, as well as a science and math tutor,
> I have also seen the trouble of AP credits in science programs. Many of my
> peers who "think" they are ready for college-level science from AP classes
> seem to struggle the most. I also tend to be old-fashioned in thinking that
> AP coursework tends to be weak and any credit should be given to electives
> or non-major classes.
>
> Like somebody mentioned earlier, if students are ready for college, just
> send them to college. I think Head Start and Running Start programs are far
> more successful than AP and honors programs in high school.
>
> Joey Smokey
> WSU Vancouver
>
> On Mon, Nov 21, 2011 at 12:17 PM, Corbin, Jeffrey D. <corb...@union.edu
> >wrote:
>
> > Hello Ecologgers - Thank you for your quick and numerous responses to my
> > query about the treatment of ecology in AP classes. I received a wide
> range
> > of responses and suggestions. Some summaries:
> >
> > Regarding the coverage of ecology in high school AP classes:
> >
> > - Based on the College Board's published coverage of biology
> > material, ecology is 10% of the test. This is comparable to the
> percentage
> > for cells, evolutionary biology, and heredity. ("Structure and function
> of
> > [organisms]" gets a much larger 32%, but that also encompasses many
> topics)
> >
> > - The logical point was made that if a student received a 4 or
> 5,
> > then the student must have retained enough of the ecology material.
> >
> > - Several current or former H.S. teachers emailed me to say
> that
> > ecology is well-covered.
> >
> > - However, I also received far more comments from individuals
> who
> > said that their own AP class barely, if at all, covered ecology.
> Anecdotal
> > evidence yes, but it was a common comment
> >
> > Regarding the awarding of credit in college:
> >
> > - I agree with the comments of many that to award credit to
> > biology majors for a high school class is to place a lot of faith in high
> > school instruction without any oversight.
> >
> > - Many institutions offer no credit; many others offer non-major
> > credit for a 4 or 5 on the AP.
> >
> > If nothing else, this informal survey did forestall a hasty decision on
> > our part, and I think we are going to do a more complete survey of what
> is
> > common for Colleges and Departments like ours.
> >
> > Thanks again for all of the generous responses.
> >
> > -Jeff
> >
> > ***************************
> > Jeffrey D. Corbin
> > Department of Biological Sciences
> > Union College
> > Schenectady, NY 12308
> > (518) 388-6097
> > ***************************
> >
>
--
-------------
Jane Shevtsov
Ecology Ph.D. candidate, University of Georgia
co-founder, www.worldbeyondborders.org
"She has future plans and dreams at night.
They tell her life is hard; she says 'That's all right'." --Faith Hill,
"Wild One"
