BIOL6841(2025)

Section outline

• Select section BIO6841 Teaching & Learning PSI Biology: Chemistry of Life

  BIO6841 Teaching & Learning PSI Biology: Chemistry of Life

  Go to section BIO6841 Teaching & Learning PSI Biology: Chemistry of Life

  Welcome to Teaching & Learning PSI Biology 

  • Background: Online
  • Grading
  • Pedagogy
  • Course Materials

  This course is designed for teachers to learn the content of PSI Biology, and how to teach that content to students.  This is a rigorous biology course that builds upon foundational topics in physics and chemistry, pulling them together to represent a capstone of science education.  Topics include origins of life, chemistry of life, membranes & enzymes, prokaryotes, eukaryotes, energy processing, gene expression & protein synthesis, mitosis & meiosis, genetics & inheritance, evolution, classification, ecology, and anatomy & physiology.

  Grade Distribution:

  Module Exams	70%
  Final Exam	10%
  Labs	6%
  Mastery Exercises	6%
  Short Answer Assignments	6%
  Reflection Paper	2%

  
  
  

  
  

  PSI course pedagogy combines brief bits of direct instruction on a topic with formative assessments questions designed to help students construct deeper knowledge as they solve increasingly complicated problems together in groups. There are three major sets of problems to solve: 

  Formative assessment problems built into a SMART notebook presentation and linked to student polling devices accompanying classwork and homework problems labs and virtual activities. 

  In the online version of the course, students have the option to watch a video or read direct instruction slides, then answer formative assessment questions about a topic. Once you've solved those problems you can move on to more practice by downloading the word documents with additional problems.

  
  

  All of the course materials needed for this course can be found at https://njctl.org/courses/science/biology/

  These materials include:

  • SMART Notebook presentations with direct instruction and formative assessment questions linked to polling devices 
    
  • Classwork and homework documents with extra practice problems and answers 
    
  • Labs - guided or inquiry versions with embedded videos to show teachers how to set up the lab 
  • Multiple Choice Review Guides 

  
  

  • Select activity Directions on how to access NJCTL's Library

    

    Directions on how to access NJCTL's Library URL
  • Select activity Click here to access NJCTL's Library

    

    Click here to access NJCTL's Library URL
  • Select activity Graduate Student Handbook

    

    Graduate Student Handbook URL
  • Select activity Course Syllabus

    

    Course Syllabus File
  • Select activity Weekly Office Hours Wednesdays 5-7pm ET with Course Instructor

    

    Weekly Office Hours Wednesdays 5-7pm ET with Course Instructor URL
  • Select activity Announcements

    

    Announcements Forum
• Select section Module 1 - Physical Science for Biology: Chemistry & Chemical Bonds

  Module 1 - Physical Science for Biology: Chemistry & Chemical Bonds

  Go to section Module 1 - Physical Science for Biology: Chemistry & Chemical Bonds

  
  
  

  • Topic Overview
  • For Your Success
  • Learning Outcomes
  • Required readings:

  
  

  This module lays the foundation for learning biology by sharing an overview of fundamental physical science topics.

   Go through the topics below, watching the videos and answering formative assessment questions.  The practice problems and labs are not graded for this module, but will help to extend your understanding.

   
  

  
  

  1. Determine if a chemical reaction has occurred by analyzing data on the properties of substances before and after they interact.
  2. Develop a model to describe how the total number of atoms does not change in a chemical reaction and thus mass is conserved.
  3. Develop a model to show that when the arrangement of objects interacting at a distance changes, different amounts of potential energy are stored in the system.
  4. Construct an evidence-based scientific explanations illustrating the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of the organisms.

  
  

  There are no required readings for this module.

  
  

  Activities: 15
• Select section Module 2 - Physical Science for Biology: Energy & Entropy

  Module 2 - Physical Science for Biology: Energy & Entropy

  Go to section Module 2 - Physical Science for Biology: Energy & Entropy

  
  
  

  • Topic Overview
  • For Your Success
  • Learning Outcomes
  • Required readings:

  
  

  This module lays the foundation for learning biology by sharing an overview of fundamental physical science topics.

   Go through the topics below, watching the videos and answering formative assessment questions.  The practice problems and labs are not graded for this module, but will help to extend your understanding.

   
  

  
  

  1. Determine if a chemical reaction has occurred by analyzing data on the properties of substances before and after they interact.
  2. Develop a model to describe how the total number of atoms does not change in a chemical reaction and thus mass is conserved.
  3. Develop a model to show that when the arrangement of objects interacting at a distance changes, different amounts of potential energy are stored in the system.
  4. Construct an evidence-based scientific explanations illustrating the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of the organisms.

  
  

  There are no required readings for this module.

  
  

  Activities: 10
• Select section Module 3 - Origins of Life

  Module 3 - Origins of Life

  Go to section Module 3 - Origins of Life

  
  

  
  

  • Topic Overview
  • For Your Success
  • Learning Outcomes
  • Required readings:

  In this module we will explore the origin of the origins of life.

  
  

  This module is about the origins of life. Watch the videos and complete the practice problems to facilitate your learning. 

  
  

  1. Explain the formation of Earth’s naturally occurring elements.

  2. Describe two theories regarding the origin of life on Earth.

  3. Identify an object as living or non-living.

  4. Graph the evolution of living organisms on Earth.

  
  

  
  

  None
  

  
  

  
  

  Activities: 28
• Select section Module 4: Chemistry of Life

  Module 4: Chemistry of Life

  Go to section Module 4: Chemistry of Life

  
  

  • Topic Overview
  • For Your Success
  • Learning Outcomes
  • Required readings:

  In this module, we will begin to learn about chemistry of life. 

  
  

  In this module, you will begin to learn about chemistry of life.   Watch the videos and complete the practice problems to facilitate your learning.  

  1. Describe the importance of carbon in day to day functions of a living organism.

  2. Identify the 4 main macromolecules by examining their structures.

  3. Determine whether an unknown lipid is saturated or unsaturated.

  4. Using different indicators, determine what organic compound is present in a solution.

  
  

  
  

  None

  Activities: 19
• Select section Module 5 - Membranes

  Module 5 - Membranes

  Go to section Module 5 - Membranes

  
  

  • Topic Overview
  • For Your Success
  • Learning Outcomes
  • Required readings:

  In this module we will continue to learn about Membranes. 

  
  

  Watch the videos and complete the practice problems to facilitate your learning.  Please note: there is no module exam for this module.  The content from this module will be tested in the next module.

  
  

   

   

  
  

  1. List the reasons a semi-permeable membrane in the cell is essential to cell functions.
  2. Use dialysis tubes to describe hypotonic and hypertonic solutions.
  3. Describe the different methods of membrane transport, and which methods require an input energy, and which methods do not require an input of energy.
     
  4. Calculate the concentration of solutions and compare the internal and external concentrations.

  None

  
  

  
  

  Activities: 9
• Select section Module 6: Enzymes

  Module 6: Enzymes

  Go to section Module 6: Enzymes

  
  

  • Topic Overview
  • For Your Success
  • Learning Outcomes
  • Required readings:

  This module will delve into enzymes.

  
  

  Be sure to complete the short answer assignment, the lab, the Mastery Exercises, and the module exam.  The exam in this module covers content from BOTH the Membranes and Enzymes modules. Watch the videos and complete the practice problems to facilitate your learning.

  Short answer assignment responses should be approximately 200-300 words.

  1. Describe the catalytic cycle of an enzyme.
     
  2. Use graphs to determine the optimal environmental conditions of an enzyme.

  None

  Activities: 10
• Select section Module 7: Plant Biology

  Module 7: Plant Biology

  Go to section Module 7: Plant Biology

  
  

  • Topic Overview
  • For Your Success
  • Learning Outcomes
  • Required readings:

  In this module we will explore plant biology.

  
  

  This module is about the origins of life. Watch the videos and complete the module assignments. 

  
  

  1. Explain the characteristics of vascular and non =vascular plants.

  2. State the structure and function of leaves, roots and stems.

  3. Understand types of plant reproduction.

  None
  

  
  

  
  

  Activities: 10
• Select section Module 8: Soil & Soil Pollution

  Module 8: Soil & Soil Pollution

  Go to section Module 8: Soil & Soil Pollution

  
  

  • Topic Overview
  • For Your Success
  • Learning Outcomes
  • Required readings:

  In this module we will explore the components of soil and pollution of soil. 

  
  

  Be sure to complete the short answer assignment, the lab, the Mastery Exercises, and the module exam. Watch the videos and complete the practice problems to facilitate your learning. 

  
  

   

   

  
  

  1. Describe the components and characteristics of different types of soil.
  2. Discuss common soil pollutants and their effects.
  3. Discuss how to clean up and control soil pollution.

  
  

  There are no required readings.

  
  

  
  

  Activities: 8
• Select section Final Exam

  Final Exam

  Go to section Final Exam

  
  

  • Topic Overview
  • For Your Success
  • Learning Outcomes
  • Required readings:

  In this summary module, you will review major concepts from this course, write a reflection paper and a participate in a comprehensive final course exam. 

  This module serves as a comprehensive review of the course concepts and materials.  There are no short answer assignment, lab or mastery exercises.  Instead, you will be writing a reflection paper  and completing a comprehensive final exam. 

  1. Demonstrate mastery of biology content on a comprehensive final exam.
  2. Identify and describe strategies for student remediation, creating a constructivist classroom environment, using real-time data to inform teaching and adjust pacing to ensure success of all learners. 

  Review presentations from the course in preparation for the final exam.

  Activities: 3
• Select section Test Retakes

  Test Retakes

  Go to section Test Retakes

  
  

  • Topic Overview
  • For Your Success
  • Learning Outcomes
  • Required readings:

  In this module we will continue to learn about solutions, including how solutions form and colligative properties. 

  
  

  
  

  This module examines the topic of the mole. Be sure to complete the short answer assignment, the lab, the Mastery Exercises, and the module exam. Watch the videos and complete the practice problems to facilitate your learning. 

  Short Answer Assignment responses should be at least 200-300 words and referenced. Refer to the Required/Recommended reading materials or provide an additional reference to an article of your choice.

   

   

  1. Draw and/or interpret representations of solutions that show the interactions between the solute and solvent.
  2. Use conservation of energy to relate the magnitudes of the energy changes when two non-reacting substances are mixed.
  3. Predict the effect of adding solute to a solution in terms of colligative properties.

  The Joy of Chemistry - Ch. 2-4

  
  

  Activities: 0