Category Archives: Biology

TAMPA Hillsborough County students made significantly higher marks on the U.S. History end-of-course exam last school year than their peers the previous year. They also posted gains in algebra, remained flat in biology and dropped slightly in geometry scores, according to data released Monday by the Florida Department of Education. This batch of scores was the last to be made public before overall school grades are released in July. Of the Hillsborough students who took the exam for the first time, 74 percent passed, a 14 percentage increase over the 60 percent who passed in 2013. Across Florida, only 65 percent of students passed the U.S. History test, a 10 percentage point increase. This is the first year for the history scores to be factored into school grades. Last year, they didnt count because it was the first year the test was offered. While new tests and education standards will replace some of the old ones next school year, the U.S. History end-of-course exam is here to stay. Our teachers worked really hard this year, said Dennis Holt, the school districts supervisor of secondary education. They were under some pressure to perform and they did. Were really happy this year. … Continue reading →

Orlando Sentinel's Leslie Postal speaks with FOX35 about the Florida student exams scores being up from a year ago. (Video by FOX35) Florida students did better than ever this year on the state's algebra exam, with 65 percent passing the math test they need to earn a high school diploma, results released Monday showed. Students also posted best-ever scores on biology, geometry and U.S. history end-of-course exams, according to the Florida Department of Education. Central Florida school districts, mirroring the state, showed success on most of the exams, the department said. "I'm grinning," said Michael Blasewitz, executive director for high schools in Seminole County. Seminole, along with Lake and Osceola county school districts, was among 13 out of 67 Florida school districts that saw improved scores on all four exams. The Orange County school district posted better scores on three of the four exams but saw a decline on the algebra exam. Volusia County schools posted higher scores in algebra and U.S. history, held steady in geometry and dropped in biology. Despite the increases, more than 72,000 Florida students, including thousands in Central Florida, failed the algebra 1 exam and will have to try again to pass it. The math … Continue reading →

GAMSAT Biology Sample Questions a.k.a. ACER Blue Booklet Unit 10 Q 31 Worked solutions to the GAMSAT biology question of the ACER GAMSAT Sample Questions a.k.a. Blue Booklet, Unit 10 Question 31. The topic of this question is osmosis. At the end of this video,... By: GoldStandardGAMSAT … Continue reading →

Traveling to our biology regents test We wanted to ride our bikes to school, and stop at McDonalds before our biology regents test. On the way I got a flat tire and my tire exploded when I tried to pump in up. I then had to ditch... By: Keyshawn Brown … Continue reading →

LAWRENCEVILLE A Georgia Gwinnett College professor who has authored and co-authored more than 150 scientific articles on cell and molecular biology, was recently honored with a lifetime achievement award. David Barnes received the recognition from the Society for In Vitro Biology at the 2014 World Forum on Biology held in Savannah. Barnes, who has also co-edited nine books on the subject, earned a doctorate from Vanderbilt University and a National Institutes of Health postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of California at San Diego. Dr. Barnes has been invaluable in the development of our cell biology program, Thomas Mundie, dean of GGCs School of Science and Technology, said in a press release. We were thrilled to hear of his selection. The SIVB focuses on biological research, development and applications of significance to science and society. The Lifetime Achievement Award honors scientists who have achieved academic excellence in their field of study, made significant contributions to the field of in vitro biology, or in the development of novel technologies that have advanced in vitro biology. I am greatly honored by this recognition which represents not only my work, but the contributions of my students and co-workers as well, Barnes said in … Continue reading →

By John Eble FOX 35 News TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35 ORLANDO) -- Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart recognized Central Florida school districts Monday for improved student performance on the state's end-of-course (EOC) assessments in Algebra 1, Geometry, Biology 1 and U.S. History. "I am so appreciative of Florida's teachers and school leaders who have worked incredibly hard this year to improve student performance," said Commissioner Stewart. "Their increased focus and dedication will ensure Florida's students are prepared for success in college, a career and in life." Lake County, Osceola County, and Seminole County were among the 13 Florida school districts that improved in all four assessment areas announced Monday. Lake County saw a seven percentage point increase in U.S. History and four percentage points in both Geometry and Biology 1. Osceola County saw a nine percentage point increase in Biology 1 and a five point increase in U.S. History. Seminole County increased scores in U.S. History by six percentage points. Orange County and Sumter County improved in three of the four assessment areas. Orange County improved in U.S. History by seven percentage points and Sumter County saw a seven point increase in Geometry, a five point increase in Biology … Continue reading →

The cell cycle : biology concepts and connections | mind map 6 The cell cycle - This mind map concepts and connection series tutorial will explain using mind map to illustrate the step by step events in cell cycle. For m... By: Suman Bhattacharjee … Continue reading →

Dr. Andrew Su: "Crowdsourcing Biology: The Gene Wiki, BioGPS, and Citizen Science" On May 14, 2014, Dr. Andrew Su, from the Scripps Research Institute, presented a talk to the NCI CBIIT Speaker Series titled "Crowdsourcing Biology: The Gene... By: National Cancer Institute … Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Northeast Florida school districts showed improved student performance on state end-of-course assessments in Algebra 1, geometry, Biology 1 and U.S. History, Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart announced Monday. "I am so appreciative of Florida's teachers and school leaders who have worked incredibly hard this year to improve student performance," Stewart said in a news release. "Their increased focus and dedication will ensure Florida's students are prepared for success in college, a career and in life." Overall, statewide student achievement improved in all of the end-of-course assessment areas. Compared to last year, students improved in U.S. History by 10 percentage points, followed by a 2 percentage point increase in Biology 1 and a 1 percentage point increase in both Algebra 1 and geometry. Passing the Algebra 1 EOC is a graduation requirement in Florida. RELATED: Duval County's Summer Algebra Nation program starts In Duval and some other counties, the release of report cards was delayed because the EOC scores were not released before the end of the school year. The Algebra 1 EOC was administered for the first time in spring 2011, the Biology 1 and Geometry EOCs were first administered in spring 2012, and the U.S. History … Continue reading →

Duval County students improved significantly in some subjects but continue to lag behind the state in proficiency in Algebra 1, Biology 1, geometry and U.S. History, according to end of course exam scores released Monday by the Florida Department of Education. Duval showed a 19 percentage point increase from 2013 in the number of students meeting or exceeding the passing/proficiency level of 3 in U.S. History. However, the number of students at proficiency declined in the other three subjects end of course assessments. The district dropped two percentage points from 2013 in the number of students proficient at both Algebra 1 and geometry. Duval declined 4 percentage points from 2013 in Biology 1 for the number of students at proficiency, the results showed. And overall, Duval was below the statewide passage rate in all four subjects. Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said the data shows the district is making gains in some subjects at some schools but as yet the improvement is not consistent district- or subject-wide. Duval ninth and 10th grade students increased 8 and 10 percentage points, respectively compared to 2013 in Algebra 1, with 90 percent of schools showing gains in that area. Our challenge is taking that progress … Continue reading →