DIVE Biology

No Pre-requisite required.

This is the second of 4 college-preparatory, high school science courses offered by DIVE. DIVE Biology, along with Physical Science and Chemistry, are standalone courses, supplemented with a textbook or the Internet. We recommend Bob Jones’ Biology 3rd ed., Abeka Biology 3rd ed., or Apologia’s Biology and Advanced Biology texts. Glencoe’s Biology is a good secular text. Cross-reference syllabi to these texts and more are available by clicking the Syllabus link to the left. Dr. Shormann’s book, The Exchange of Truth, is optional, but recommended for anyone wanting a deeper understanding of the problems with evolution theory. Typically completed in 9th or 10th grade, DIVE Biology is a full year course teaching concepts found in a typical high school biology course, plus a whole lot more. Topics include but are not limited to Science and Christianity, biochemistry, cells, genetics, Creation/evolution, bacteria, protozoans, fungi, plants, animals, ecology and human anatomy. DIVE Biology contains 38 lessons, each with definitions, and review questions. About half of the lessons also contain a lecture, because many topics in biology require memorization of names and facts, and little explanation is required. There are over 500 total review questions, and many of these are essays or problems with multiple answers.

There are 28 video labs, most of which are taught using the scientific method. Students formulate a hypothesis, perform the experiment, and then use the results to determine whether their hypothesis was correct. DIVE Biology labs incorporate labs required by the College Board’s AP Biology program. The AP Biology labs usually follow the scientific method, but also emphasize important laboratory techniques used by biologists, including chromatography, colorimetry, and gel electrophoresis. Optional kits are available for completing about half the labs at home. Students use the video lab to learn how to properly conduct the experiment, and then complete it using their own equipment. Some of the labs are too cost-prohibitive or time-consuming to complete at home, and supplies are not included in the kits for these labs.

Quarterly exams are an integral part of DIVE Biology, as they promote study habits similar to what a student should expect in college, where exams are given infrequently, yet cover several weeks of material. Students that take good notes, complete their homework, and study will do fine on the quarterly exams. A grade calculator is also provided. Parents simply enter homework, lab and exam grades into the calculator, and it automatically calculates the student’s overall grade.

DIVE Biology will also encourage students to become naturalists. One of the first tasks God assigned Adam was to name the animals, giving Adam a chance to become familiar with the animals he had been given responsibility for. Today’s science classes typically don’t emphasize the naming of plants and animals, and most students probably could not name 10 bird species that live near them, not to mention plants, mammals and other organisms. DIVE Biology encourages the memorization of plant and animal names through the use of Biology Facts Quizzes. These are computer-based quizzes that give students an opportunity to memorize a list of plants or animals, plus other lists such as the names of human bones.

Upon completion of DIVE Biology, students who want to go a step further can also purchase the CLEP Professor course to prepare for either the CLEP or AP Biology Exam. CLEP Professor is designed to bridge the gap between high school science and college credit. By using DIVE Science, the bridge becomes much shorter, and with a little extra study with CLEP Professor, the student can attempt the CLEP or AP exam, saving themselves both time and money on future college coursework. Students using DIVE Biology will also become skilled at working with the scientific method, will be familiar with the use of technology in science, will develop their skills as a naturalist, and will develop their lab skills above and beyond most of their peers Most importantly, students will have a better understanding and appreciation for the rich Christian heritage that exists in science, and will better understand the importance of studying His word and His works as they seek to become good rulers of His creation.