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This course is meant for students who are mastering their middle school writing and analytical skills and transitioning to high school. Students will engage in the full process of writing, including pre-writing, drafting, editing and revising. Emphasis will be placed on drawing evidence and insights from close readings of model literary works and multimedia texts (e.g., film, documentaries, interviews). Students will investigate the many purposes for which authors write and will become purposeful readers and writers. They will also study qualities of good writing, consider how to write persuasively on different topics, and become thoughtful readers and reviewers of their classmates' work.

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This course, taught at the advanced high school level, will allow students to strengthen their analytical reading and writing skills. Students will practice reading with care and will hold meaningful discussions about the texts they study, which may include visual texts as well as written texts. They will learn to incorporate critical thought and deep textual analysis to produce well-organized, well-written, well-developed, and intellectually complex essays. They will perform the stages of writing from clarification of the assignment to final revision, working on research, composition, and editing.

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Students will read short stories, poems, and a novel, as well as many past student exemplary narratives to learn a variety of creative writing techniques. They will discuss the form and purpose of meta-fiction, and revise their writing through many peer and teacher feedbacks before presenting a choice finished work. In all stories and their clever meta-narratives, students will also learn to be mindful to develop thoughtful tones anchored in rhythmic cinematic world-building and character dialogues that ring true in compelling, thematically weighted plots.

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Students in this course will develop the writing and performance skills needed to become clear, compelling, confident, and persuasive public speakers. We will practice a variety of speaking styles, including impromptu (speaking “off the cuff” with minimum preparation time), dramatic interpretation (of monologues from novels, plays, and films), debate (defending a position on a controversial issue), and oratory (a formal speech that seeks to inform, inspire, or persuade on a topic of your choice). We will also study, view, and analyze the performances of some of the most powerful orators of the past century. If you are seeking to reduce your anxiety about public speaking, this course provides a friendly, nonthreatening environment in which to increase your confidence. If you already enjoy public speaking, you will have an opportunity to enhance and practice your skills.

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This course will introduce students to the discipline of architectural design. They will learn about the causes and consequences of architectural design through contemporary and historical examples. They will develop critical skills of observation that will allow them to see the built environment as the materialization of design, but also as the representation of societal constructions that respond to specific cultural ideas. By learning to analyze and design the space critically, they will understand the power of architectural design in building human relations, from the scale of the house to that of the city. They will learn the basic drawing and drafting skills necessary to design and re-imagine spaces. Overall, this course aims to offer students the possibility to see architecture as a means to their creativity and their potential professional path.

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This course is based on a fun, playful, and effective approach to learning Japanese. This method is a synthesis of many innovative teaching techniques developed to help accelerate students' language learning. The two major components of this course are: (1) acquisition of basic communication skills of elementary Japanese and (2) learning hiragana and katakana syllabaries as well as some kanji characters. The language is taught through multiple mediums including pictures, graphics, audio, video, and conversation practices. Students also learn about modern Japanese life. This course is equivalent to one year of high school Japanese.

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This course is designed for complete beginners with no previous background in computer science. The course is highly visual, dynamic, and interactive, making it engaging for new coders. This course teaches the foundations of computer science and basic programming, with an emphasis on students developing logical thinking and problem solving skills. In this course students will learn material equivalent to a semester high school introductory course in Computer Science and be able to program in Python. Conditionals, looping, functions and data structures are all covered extensively. The course utilizes a blended classroom approach. The content is fully web-based, with students writing and running code in the browser. Teachers utilize tools and resources to give focused one-on-one attention to students.

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In this course, students will learn to combine computer code with graphic design to create their own websites. No programming experience is necessary; students begin with the concept of syntax and character encoding. They will become familiar with computer networks and file systems as they build standards-based web pages from the ground up using HTML and CSS. Students should be prepared to flex their creative muscles: coding topics will be balanced with a discussion of good visual design and layout, including digital graphics production and manipulation. They will also explore non-technical topics such as viral misinformation, the role and responsibilities of Big Tech, intellectual property & copyright, internet history & law, the digital divide, and yes: memes. This course provides the necessary foundation for students who want to continue on to contemporary web/mobile app development.

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This course is accessible for beginning programmers, but covers all of the content included in the AP Computer Science Principles course and will prepare students to independently take that exam in May 2024. In this course, students will develop computational thinking skills vital for success across all disciplines, such as using computational tools to analyze and study data and working with large data sets to analyze, visualize, and draw conclusions from trends. The course engages students in the creative aspects of the field by allowing them to develop computational artifacts based on their interests. Students will also develop effective communication and collaboration skills by working individually and collaboratively to solve problems, and will discuss and write about the impacts these solutions could have on their community, society, and the world. Students cultivate their understanding of computer science through working with data, collaborating to solve problems, and developing computer programs as they explore concepts like creativity, abstraction, data and information, algorithms, programming, the Internet, and the global impact of computing.

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Want to build your own online store, personality quiz site, or even your own Discord-style platform? This project-based course will teach students how to build complex, dynamic websites using mainstay languages like PHP and Javascript. This course expands on the concepts in Elements of Web Design and computer programming classes. While we will spend some time on interactive graphical elements, most of our attention will focus on how data flows from the backend. Students will become familiar with several new languages and the basics of database programming & relational data design. As the complexity of coursework increases, students will be introduced to topics in programming ethics, examining how these capabilities impact modern societies and culture, such as through AI and "Big Data." Particular attention will be paid to the reading and comprehension of programming APIs, affording students the skills to learn the newest technologies as independent computer scientists.

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This course will introduce you to the fundamentals of innovation and entrepreneurship, providing you a blueprint for the ideas and strategies to build a successful venture. Students will launch their own venture with collaboration from classmates and with mentorship from the instructor and other Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. This course explores the fundamentals and principles of entrepreneurship for the modern day, and provides real-world, hands-on learning on "what-ifs" to successfully transfer knowledge into products, processes and services that benefit society. Student teams will engage with industry, talking to customers, partners and competitors, as they encounter the chaos and uncertainty of transferring knowledge into products and processes for a successful launch.

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This course will provide an overview of the social institutions and functions addressed in the practice of law. Students will participate in each of the lawyer’s roles: investigation, research, factual analysis, advocacy, trial preparation, and dispute resolution. In the process, students will examine the nature and history of law, interrogate parties, argue hypothetical cases, present evidence, and draft legal pleadings and documents. This class will encourage open participation in lively classroom activities and projects, including roundtable debates and discussions, oral argument, evidentiary inquiry, and forensic analysis, with a premium placed on the robust exchange of diverse ideas and opinions. Substantive areas covered will embrace the core curriculum of American law schools, including torts, criminal law, trial practice and procedure, constitutional law, evidence, contract law, and legal research and drafting. The course will feature a whole-class mock trial.

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Clinical psychology is the scientific study of mental illness, abnormal behavior, and psychiatric problems. It involves understanding how to assess, treat, and even prevent psychological distress and promote an individual’s well-being and development. The primary goal of this course is to introduce you to major perspectives, diagnostic criteria, treatments, and empirical findings of clinical psychology. We will use a college-level textbook along with supplementary readings to cover various topics: definitions of abnormality, types of disorders (mood disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorder etc.), types of psychotherapies, and resilience. Throughout the course, emphasis will be placed on developing critical and integrative ways of thinking about the positive and negative consequences of diagnostic labels and the role of culture/social environment on mental health.

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"We use our brains at every moment of our lives, and yet few of us have the first idea how they work." -Aamodt & Wang, Welcome to your Brain

This course is an introduction to brain basics and a chance to answer everyday questions about how we think and act: Can you trust your brain? Is the brain like a computer? Do we only use 10% of our brain? Why are yawns contagious? Through readings, demonstrations, activities, and short lectures we will study neurons, neurotransmitters, and the parts of the brain responsible for memory, sensation, and emotions. Students will be required to participate in projects and short presentations as we cover various topics, including perception, amnesia, sleep and dreams, anxiety, brain misconceptions, and famous neuroscience discoveries and techniques. By the end of the course you should have a better understanding of your own brain, mind, and behavior.

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In this course, students will be introduced to the principles and techniques of molecular biology that are used to study and manipulate DNA in basic research, medicine, forensics, and agriculture. We will begin by studying the structure and chemistry of DNA, and we will then learn about many of the laboratory techniques used in recombinant DNA technology, including restriction digests, PCR, bacterial transformation, and immunological assays. In each class meeting, students will conduct hands-on experiments and learn about the real-world uses and implications of biotechnology. Additionally, students will complete weekly current events reports and examine the ethical considerations raised by advances in the field.

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Climate change is the defining crisis of our time, and today's students are the last generation that can mitigate its worst effects. In this class, we will study the causes, effects and feedback loops of climate change, then take a deep dive into solutions. Students will learn how they can work for the climate at the personal, regional and global scale. We will start with some key questions: "what is important to you?" and "how do you know what information to trust?" Students will conduct independent research on electricity production, regional scale solutions and a topic of personal interest, and present their work through writing, slides and posters. We will take field trips to the botanical garden and an energy efficient building that houses several climate friendly projects. Lectures, discussions, and educational videos round out the class.

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In this exploratory chemistry course, we will focus on developing analytical and quantitative skills to observe chemical and physical changes, examine the properties of substances, and understand how to use data to make explicit claims that are based on evidence and backed up with chemical principles. To achieve this goal, each class session is comprised of homework review and a lecture on the chemistry principle behind the day's lab investigation. The second half of the time will be dedicated to an inquiry-based laboratory experiment. Students will develop their observational and analytical skills by recording their results and performing quantitative analysis. Through their analysis, they will learn about some of the fundamental concepts in chemistry, such as atomic structure, the periodic table, solutions molarity, reaction types and the natural tendencies and forces that make chemicals react with one another. They will leave this course with laboratory chemistry skills and a greater understanding of how chemistry is at work in the world around them.

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This course is an invitation to discovering electronics by creating successively complex projects, through the iterative process of refining, troubleshooting, and modifying circuit designs and creating meaningful extensions. The course emphasizes group work among students and promoting modular design principles, where students create barebones circuits with limited functionality and then add features based on user-friendliness, interface requirements, and practical and economic considerations, and then learn to integrate modules. This lies at the heart of engineering design. In the process, they arrive at an operational understanding of currents and voltages as it relates to passive components like resistors and capacitors as well as the semiconductor behavior underlying transistors, diodes and microchips. Students will learn about the basics of electrical engineering principles through a visceral understanding about how body resistance affects current by shorting batteries, intentionally destroying some components to understand the reasons behind their failure, and then graduate to understanding the basics of analog circuits through the switching operations of electromechanical relays. They will then connect and extend their ideas about timing circuits controlled by capacitors and explore the electrical equivalent of a spring by building oscillators. The principles underlying this behavior are then extended to solid state devices like the transistor, where students will explore and learn about the advantages of using it as a switching device. The first project will be to build a light and sound modulator, the principle behind the operation of a radio. Finally, we will explore the operation of integrated circuits using the versatile 555 timer and put it to work in interesting projects like an intrusion alarm and a reflex tester. Time permitting, we will delve into the world of digital electronics by understanding the operation of logic gates and building projects using digital logic and interface it with the analog electronics we have learnt.

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This class will develop the tools to analyze motion which happens quickly (and sometimes slowly) introducing and applying Newton's laws in their full generality. We will be using cell phone sensors extensively. Students will be working collaboratively on experimenting with setting their phones in motion as well as using the same phones to film experiments in slow motion to capture events that happen too fast for the eye and analyze them. We will be exploring the stability of teeter toys and learn how ubiquitous springs can be used to model solids, as well as understand complex forces like air drag. Their work will culminate in a final project of their choice where they will share their findings with a presentation to the class.

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This hands-on, project-based robotics class is designed to develop students’ creativity and technological savvy, and engineering skills through the process of building, programming and operating robots designed to perform specific tasks/challenges. The course begins with simple experiments involving sensors and motors. More-complicated tasks involve building integrated prototype devices that collect data using sensors, process this data using computer-language code (Robot C), and execute tasks via computer-controlled motorized manipulation of simple machines follow. Students are responsible for developing devices in teams and communicating the reasons why they chose a particular method for achieving their team’s goals. This will be done in various ways, including maintaining an engineering notebook, designing websites/blogs/posters and making presentations. The course fosters cooperative interaction and emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of robotics and the social and real-world application of technical enterprise.

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Cognitive neuroscientists aim to answer one of the last remaining fundamental questions of science: how does a three-pound lump of organic material—the brain—support such a wide array of functions, such as perception, thinking and reasoning, emotion, movement, and consciousness? In this class we will explore modern theories and applications of adult and developmental neuroscience, along with the research methodologies used (e.g., single unit recording, fMRI, EEG, psychophysics). We will use diverse college-level reading materials to introduce key topic areas of Cognitive Neuroscience, including cells and systems, sensation and perception, attention, learning and memory, emotion, and development. An end-of-year project will provide the opportunity to learn how to read and evaluate primary research articles directly from the scientists in the field and propose an experiment on a brain topic of special interest.

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This course is meant for students who are mastering their middle school writing and analytical skills and transitioning to high school. Students will engage in the full process of writing, including pre-writing, drafting, editing and revising. Emphasis will be placed on drawing evidence and insights from close readings of model literary works and multimedia texts (e.g., film, documentaries, interviews). Students will investigate the many purposes for which authors write and will become purposeful readers and writers. They will also study qualities of good writing, consider how to write persuasively on different topics, and become thoughtful readers and reviewers of their classmates' work.

ONLINE CLASS STRUCTURE
Class format will vary. Students will spend 2-3 hours per session together with substantial breaks throughout. Class meetings will have a highly interactive, interdependent, and collaborative structure which may include whole-group meetings, small group discussions and writing critique sessions, self-directed writing lab time, short film viewings, and partnered work, depending on the session.

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This class will focus on reading critically and passionately while fostering creative writing skills. Students will read poetry, short stories, and other works of literature, and write responses to the readings. They will visualize the imagery and explore the themes of literature in relation to their own lives. For more inspiration, class activities may include drawing and art, film, and simple nature explorations. Students will share their insights into the mind of the author and seek to understand their own writing processes. Through improvisation, class discussion, and writing exercises, students will learn to identify and experiment with various narrative techniques. They will develop a portfolio of their own creative writing and may also write one analytic essay that will reflect their growing expertise as readers and writers.

ONLINE CLASS STRUCTURE
The class format will vary. Students will often spend 2-3 hours per class in interactive lecture and discussion over Zoom. Occasionally the class plan may shift to include longer segments of self-directed writing assignments with live help available or to incorporate short film viewings. We will take substantial breaks throughout.

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This class will provide a vehicle for students to sharpen their high school level reading and writing skills. Students will mold facts, speculations, beliefs, and opinions into cogent, powerful statements. Through readings, class discussions, and group work, students will learn how to develop arguments to answer complex questions and then support their original claims with sufficient and significant evidence. From carefully constructed paragraphs to complete essays, successive assignments will allow students to investigate different approaches to their writing. Emphasis will be on learning to refine thinking and on improving writing through outlining, editing and rewriting.

ONLINE CLASS STRUCTURE
Students will spend 2-3 hours per class in interactive lecture over Zoom. We will take substantial breaks throughout

Schedules

Full course description

This course, taught at the advanced high school level, will allow students to strengthen their analytical reading and writing skills. Students will practice reading with care and will hold meaningful discussions about the texts they study, which may include visual texts as well as written texts. They will learn to incorporate critical thought and deep textual analysis to produce well-organized, well-written, well-developed, and intellectually complex essays. They will perform the stages of writing from clarification of the assignment to final revision, working on research, composition, and editing.

ONLINE CLASS STRUCTURE
Students will spend two to three hours of class time engaged in synchronous, interactive lecture over Zoom, including participation in structured, task-oriented break-out rooms. Students will be afforded generous breaks as well as offered multiple opportunities to seek feedback and support from the instructor and TA interns.

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This course will introduce students to object-oriented programming in Java. Programming experience is highly recommended; students applying for this course must already feel comfortable with file systems, rules of syntax, and mathematical thinking, particularly the ideas of variables and functions. Students learn about object-oriented structures like classes very early in the course, along with basic Java syntax and graphics. Students will also learn how to process data structures like arrays and lists. Students will use searching and sorting algorithms to create powerful programs. Throughout the course, students will demonstrate their creative skills through various labs and projects that explore advanced applications, such as graphical user interfaces, as well as their ability to write formal documentation.


ONLINE CLASS STRUCTURE
Online classes will be synchronous but students will watch the lecture videos on their own (to allow self-pacing and minimize the effects of remote teaching). However a brief introduction/overview will be provided by the instructor. Following lectures, some lesson exercises will be done individually and some in groups of two. The instructor may provide live solutions to some of the exercises as necessary. Plenty of help will be available from the instructor and teaching interns.

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This course is designed to strengthen and develop skills that are essential for students who will be entering an Algebra I course in the fall. We will study strategies for problem solving, patterns, graphing, equations, properties, and exponents, with a focus on explaining and justifying our thinking. During the six-week course, we will identify individual student curricular needs and then design instruction to challenge all students in the class. Students will approach problem-solving to be more in tune with their original way of thinking: defining the problem, making predictions and hypotheses, testing assertions, using algebra to generalize from specifics, making conclusions and supporting them with logical arguments. Working with the Common Core Curriculum, student work will entail writing the process of the solution in complete form, thus demonstrating students’ mastery of the curriculum. Community building through mathematical problem-solving will also be a focus of this class with students working in small groups/pairs on problems. This class is for students who have not taken Algebra I.

ONLINE CLASS STRUCTURE
Students will meet as a whole class for the first 30-60 minutes (synchronous). Following that, students will be self-directed, participating in project-based learning as pairs or small groups with live help available and structured breaks, before returning for the last 30-60 minutes of class to showcase their work with a full class discussion.

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This six-week course covers a full year of Algebra I and is aligned with Common Core standards for high school Algebra classes. Topics to be covered include patterns and graphs; writing and solving equations; numeric, geometric, and algebraic ratios; slopes and rates of change; linear functions and graphing; factoring quadratics and other polynomials; systems of linear equations and inequalities; radicals and exponents; rational and irrational numbers; and graphing quadratic functions and finding roots. Students frequently spend eight hours outside of class preparing for each class session. The atmosphere of the class is cooperative; the emphasis is on working together.

ONLINE CLASS STRUCTURE
Students will have 2.5-3 hours of interactive lecture and small group work over Zoom. Students will be required to complete independent work on non-instructional days.

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This fast-paced course completes all topics of first-year Geometry: points, lines, planes, and angles; deductive reasoning; parallel lines and planes; congruent triangles; quadrilaterals; inequalities in geometry; similar polygons; right triangles; circles; constructions and loci; areas of plane figures; areas and volumes of solids; coordinate geometry; transformations; and an introduction to trigonometry. Because the course covers a full year of Geometry, students spend at least eight hours outside of class preparing for each class session.

ONLINE CLASS STRUCTURE
Students will spend 2-3 hours per class in interactive lecture and group work time over Zoom. We will take substantial breaks throughout.

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This extremely fast-paced course completes all topics of second-year Algebra with trigonometry: linear functions and relations; systems of linear equations and inequalities; quadratic functions and complex numbers; exponential and logarithmic functions; rational and irrational algebraic functions; quadratic relations and systems; higher degree functions and polynomials; sequences and series; graphing techniques; circular and trigonometric functions; and use of mathematical models for applications and problem solving. Because the course covers a full year of material, students spend a great deal of time outside class preparing for each class session.

ONLINE CLASS STRUCTURE
Students will spend 2-3 hours per class in interactive lecture and group work time over Zoom. We will take substantial breaks throughout.

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This course guides you through the fundamental ideas that build a foundation for calculus: topics include elementary functions including inverses and transformations; polynomial and rational functions and their graphs; exponential and logarithmic functions; trigonometric functions and their inverses, identities and equations. We will introduce polar coordinates, parametric equations, and complex numbers, including polar and exponential form of complex numbers as well as vectors, including the dot product and linear independence. Some optional topics: conic sections; arithmetic and geometric series, which will depend on student preparation and interest. The course will conclude with rates of change of functions, and using limits. The course emphasizes collaborative problem-solving, conceptual understanding, and using mathematics to model the real world.

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Data science is all about patterns, and foundational to learning the skill of analyzing information and communicating results. This course introduces examples of the applications of data science, allowing us to explore the three basics of data science: (1) collecting data, (2) finding patterns in the data, and (3) making decisions from data. Data can be collected using databases, observational data, or conducting surveys. Once the data has been collected, coding is important for statistical analysis and visualizing the data. From there, visualizations should allow data scientists to recognize trends to predict best courses of action for the future. The skills required for data science are programming, statistics, and communication, all of which we will touch on during the course.

ONLINE CLASS STRUCTURE
Course meetings will be a mix of lecture, discussion, and lab work done individually or in small groups, with breaks throughout. Students will spend 2-3 hours each class day in live online meetings.

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Social psychology is the scientific study of the way people think about, feel, and behave in social situations. It involves understanding how people influence, and are influenced by, others around them. A primary goal of this course is to introduce you to the perspectives, research methods, and empirical findings of social psychology. We will use a college-level textbook along with supplementary readings to cover topics including: impression formation, conformity, pro-social behavior, interpersonal attraction, persuasion, stereotyping and prejudice. Equally important is the goal of cultivating your skills for analyzing the social situations and events that you encounter in your everyday lives. Finally, throughout the course, emphasis will be placed on developing critical and integrative ways of thinking about theory and research in social psychology.

ONLINE CLASS STRUCTURE
For the first half of each class, students will participate in synchronous discussion-based lecture. For the second half of each class, students will work in small groups to collaborate on learning projects with live help from the instructor. We will also take 3-4 scheduled breaks throughout.

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This course is an introduction to the interrelated fields of philosophy and critical thinking. Philosophy is the exploration of the fundamental questions of existence, life, and reality, aiming to reconcile our understanding of things from various domains of inquiry. Philosophers seek to address philosophical problems, such as the problem of free will or the problem of consciousness, and construct philosophical systems that enable us meaningfully to organize our knowledge. Critical thinking is the activity of taking a critical look at our beliefs, and at the method by which we form and justify these beliefs and convey them—in writing, speech and debate—within a community of knowers and inquirers. Critical thinking offers guidance in logic and reasoning, and helps us gain awareness of the ways in which we can be led astray in the search for truth. The study of philosophy and critical thinking provides students with the resources and experience to become deeper and clearer thinkers and more capable writers, learners and researchers.

ONLINE CLASS STRUCTURE
Students will collaborate in groups in project-based learning, attend interactive lectures, and participate in guided seminar discussions.

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This course provides a rigorous introduction to the fundamental concepts in psychology and prepares students for the May 2024 AP examination in psychology. Topics include the neurological processes that lead to thought and behavior, the processes that allow people to sense and perceive information from the environment, sleep and dreams, behavior, sources of the motivation to act, emotional experiences, language, memory, human development across the lifespan, personality, psychological disorders, types of therapies, bias and discrimination, research methods, and statistics. The course uses a college textbook and requires that students do a significant amount of independent reading. Students come to class prepared to engage in interactive work, such as the analysis of case studies and current or historical events. Students also design and carry out an independent research project. In order to fully prepare students for the AP examination, students get ample practice answering AP-style questions.

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Data science is the practice of extracting knowledge from data in a reproducible fashion and then effectively communicating the results. This course introduces college-level data science concepts, combining three perspectives: (1) inferential thinking, (2) computational thinking and (3) real-world relevance. Given data arising from some real-world phenomenon, how do you analyze that data so as to understand that phenomenon? The course teaches critical concepts and skills in computer programming and statistical inference, in conjunction with hands-on analysis of real-world datasets, using technology platforms such as RStudio and GitHub. The course will also explore social issues surrounding data analysis such as privacy and bias.

ONLINE CLASS STRUCTURE
Course meetings will be a mix of lecture, discussion, and lab work done individually or in small groups, with breaks throughout. Students will spend 2-3 hours each class day in live online meetings. Optional workshops may be available for students who want additional skill-building in programming.

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In this course, students will learn about many of the objects that make up our solar system and surrounding galaxy, as well as some of the physics responsible for the appearance, behavior, and interactions of these objects. Students will gain a quantitative understanding of the movement of celestial objects through the sky and how astronomical tools such as telescopes, astronomical cameras, spectroscopy, space probes, and orbital observatories help gather data to support claims. Topics include interactions of the Earth, Sun, and Moon; Kepler’s Laws and bodies of the solar system; types of stars; nebulae and stellar evolution; discovery of extrasolar planets; galactic structure; and relevant cosmology. Students will utilize authentic astronomical data and interpretation tools using current statistical techniques to establish the identity of objects in our Local Group. This course will include multiple observations of the sun, late-night sky observations, virtual feild trips, and even a potential interview with a practicing astrophysicist.

ONLINE COURSE FORMAT
Students will have 2-3 hours of synchronous lessons via Zoom each day. This time will be a mix of whole-class instruction, discussion, and presentations, along with small group breakout sessions and off-screen individual work time, with break periods throughout.

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Through daily lectures, labs, and discussions, we will investigate how chemists describe matter and its changes. Students will develop their writing skills, reading comprehension, and critical thinking through labs, daily news readings, and formative assessments. Lab work will require the application of algebra to solve problems; a strong math background is highly recommended. This course provides a grounding in scientific principles equivalent to the first-semester high school chemistry curriculum which include measurements, significant figures, dimensional analysis, atomic structure, electron configuration, quantum numbers, the periodic table, trends, chemical bonding, chemical compounds, chemical equations, and reactions, and stoichiometry.

ONLINE CLASS FORMAT
A typical day will consist of the following activities conducted in Google Meet:
- One minute flash talk by student presentation over their choice of daily science news.
- One hour presentation covering the material for today’s topic
- Fifteen-minute break
- One hour daily lab exploring today’s topic
- Fifteen-minute break
- One hour discussion of the day’s presentation and lab.

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In this relevant and engaging course, we will explore the essential principles and techniques of molecular biology, which are used to study and manipulate living material. Applications reach far and wide: research, medicine, forensics, and agriculture, to name a few. Students will conduct authentic experiments, involving DNA extraction, PCR, bacterial transformation, gel electrophoresis, antibody testing, genetic manipulation, and so much more! And because the topics from our class are so interdisciplinary in nature, we will engage in several whole class and small group conversations to discuss the social, ethical, political, economic, and psychological implications of biotechnology practices (for example, genetically modified organisms, COVID-19 vaccine development, stem cell research, CRISPR gene editing, disease-gene testing, and designer baby technology). After taking this class, students will feel exceptionally prepared to pursue advanced life science courses in college and beyond.

ONLINE CLASS STRUCTURE
Students will have 60-75 minutes of synchronous lessons via Zoom each day. This time will be an even mix of whole class instruction and group collaborations via breakout rooms to discuss case studies and application problems. The asynchronous time will be spent on readings, virtual labs, and guided inquiry.

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Researchers are working harder than ever to understand the mystery behind the unregulated growth of cells, otherwise known as cancer. They strive daily to develop novel ways to detect and stop the growth of these rogue cells in the body. In this course, key topics of study will include the regulation of cell division, including how cell regulation goes awry in organisms, the metabolic needs of cancer cells, the molecular basis of metastasis or spread of cancer, and how cancer cells escape detection by the immune system. In addition to understanding the basic cell division processes, higher level analytical case studies, experimental data analysis drawn from primary research articles, and genetic pedigree analysis will also be used to augment understanding. An end-of-class project will allow students to explore treatment strategies in use, such as CAR T-cell immunotherapy, and other innovations under development. Students will showcase their understanding of the research methodologies by presenting on a topic of their choice in the field of oncology.

Schedules