Biology

AP Biology APSI Overview

The AP Biology APSI is designed to help teachers become familiar with the AP Biology curriculum and better prepare students for success.

Key focus areas include:

  • Understanding the eight Units and the spiraling of the four Big Ideas in the AP Biology framework
  • A detailed review of the AP Biology Course and Exam Description (CED), including:
    • Big Ideas
    • Units
    • Enduring Understandings
    • Essential Knowledge statements
    • Learning Objectives
    • Science Practices

Daily sessions will include:

  • A focus on one curriculum framework unit per day
  • An AP Strategy session to support the shift from teacher-centered to student-centered instruction
  • An AP Concepts session to help teachers guide students in building essential AP Biology skills
  • Select AP Biology labs that align with each unit
  • Inquiry investigations designed to help teachers transition from guided to more open-inquiry labs

What participants should bring:

  • Basic classroom supplies
  • A calculator
  • Personal protective equipment and lab supplies
  • An internet-capable electronic device (if available)

Teaching outcomes:
Through practice, idea-sharing, discussions, and modeling, participants will:

  • Gain confidence in teaching AP Biology
  • Learn strategies to better prepare students for AP-level skills
  • Strengthen their ability to support student success in the AP Biology program of study

Instructor: Marshall Welch

Marshall Welch has been a high school science educator for 34 years with the last 27 of those at Alpena High School in northwest Arkansas. He works also as a part-time faculty member at North Arkansas College where he is a physical science, astronomy, and biology instructor. He has taught AP Biology at Alpena for 19 years. In 2015, Marshall was recognized as a National Board-Certified Teacher. He adheres to a curriculum framework driven instruction philosophy that has resulted in 100% of his students earning a 3, or higher, on the AP Biology Exam in the last 2 years.

Marshall initiated a competitive high school science research program that has over 1,400 regional, state, and international science fair awards won by students. He has had the privilege of mentoring 24 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair finalists. He has also collaborated with the Alpena FFA Chapter to produce over 100 National FFA Agriscience Fair Finalists. 15 of those were national award winners earning 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place honors.

Marshall was selected from a small group of high school science educators to be trained as a College Board Professional Development Consultant in April 2013. He was trained in Chicago and has presented professional development events for the New York Stem Initiative, Texas Gear Up, Oklahoma Department of Education, California Department of Education, AP Regional Conference, AP National Conference, China Workshop and Summit (Shanghai, China), and the Los Angeles Unified School District along with local events in Arkansas. He has presented over 60 Advanced Placement Summer Institutes in Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Costa Rica. He finds the move to a framework driven and inquiry-based curriculum in the AP sciences an interesting challenge and enjoys helping teachers transition to this direction of AP Science education.