The SHSID High School Biology course aims to build an energetic and efficient learning platform, allowing both the teachers’ teaching process and the students’ studying process full of knowledge and fun. Through daily homework, experimental study, lab reports, practice tests, and various other studying methods, students can have a basic understanding of the Biology field, and thus are further equipped with the ability to analyze and explore scientific issues with creativity.

Curriculum

The SHSID High School Biology course includes: the Ecology and Evolution course (9th grade), the Cells and Genetics course (10th grade), the Pre-college Level Basic Biology course (11th-12th grade), and the Energy and Environment course (11th-12th grade).

The Biology course for each grade is divided into Standard Level (S) course and Honors Level (H) course based on students’ learning ability and language skills. During 9th and 10th grade, students can also choose to attend Biology-related Project-Based Learning (PBL) courses and Academy courses to experience independent or group exploratory learning outside of textbooks. At the end of the semester, they will complete a final report to demonstrate the hard work they put in during the learning process.

During 11th and 12th grade, the Pre-college courses including A-level Biology, AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, IB Biology (SL and HL), IB Environmental Science and Societies are provided to students who aim to study Biology-related majors in college, and those who need to have a firm foundation for Biology.

Approaches to Teaching

SHSID High School Biology course aims to develop students’ literacy in the life sciences, and cultivate students’ passion and the spirit to explore Biology-related fields. It allows students to learn with fun, leading them to pay attention and care for the environment and ecosystems around them. Furthermore, it enables students to apply the scientific method to biological learning and experimental inquiry, improving students’ logical thinking skills. The High School Biology course also guides students to develop the interest of engaging in Biology learning and research after high school and lays the foundation for further study. In addition, it improves students’ independent inquiry ability and teamwork spirit when conducting in-depth exploration in the field.

There are a variety of approaches to the teaching of Biology in SHSID. By its very nature, Biology lends itself to an experimental approach, and it is reflected throughout all the courses provided to students. The experimental approaches collaborated with class lectures and activities, internet and technologies, are presented in a way that is: based on inquiry; focused on conceptual understanding; developed in local and global contexts; focused on effective communication and collaboration; differentiated to meet the needs of all students; informed by assessment (formative and summative). The course also guides students to change from a single receptive learning to a combination of experience, research, and discovery; from a single individual learning to a combination of independence and group cooperation and communication.

We hope that through high school learning, students can explain Biological concepts, processes, and models in written form; visually demonstrate and analyze Biological concepts and process; identify scientific problems and methods; represent and describe data; analyze and interpret data; perform statistical tests and mathematical calculations; as well as develop and demonstrate scientific arguments through the use of evidence.

Technologies and Labs

Lab work accompanies our Biology courses and will be focused on acquiring basic lab and critical thinking skills. The use of computer and web-based technologies are integrated into the classrooms and labs, and is a tool that aids students in data collection, data processing, and communicating their understanding of scientific concepts. In high school the research and teaching labs include: General Biology Lab, Neuroscience and Molecular Biology Lab, Microbiology Lab, Cell Culture Lab, and Ecology Data-logging Lab, providing students with innovative teaching and learning spaces.

Faculties

Faculties in the Biology department are recognized for their excellence in teaching. All of the teachers are certified, all holding master's degrees. They bring energy, enthusiasm and creativity to the classroom. They are aimed to help students to develop problem-solving, critical thinking, and analytical skills in a lab-based setting.

Achievements

Biology is one of the most popular courses in SHSID. The faculties in Biology department have created an environment of high achievement, where academic rigor and creativity are celebrated and supported through clubs and classes. Exam results of IB Biology is consistently above score 6.5, and AP score above 4.5. There are many Biology related school clubs provided to students in high school, providing students a broad platform for scientific research and innovative thinking. Each year, students won great results in various Biology competitions and contests.