AUDRA BROWN WARDAudra Brown Ward is an Upper School Biology teacher at the Westminster Schools of Atlanta, where she teaches AP® Biology. She is a College Board Workshop Consultant, as well as a reader and table leader for the AP® Biology exam. Audra has also led numerous AP® Biology Summer Institutes and one-day workshops and has contributed to various teacher guides and ancillary materials for AP® Biology textbooks. She is currently in the process of writing the next edition of the AP Biology review book, Fast Track to a 5.
Audra's commitment to excellence in teaching has earned her numerous accolades, including the 2007 NABT Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for Georgia, and two Westminster awards: a 2021 O. Wayne Rollins Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, and a 2023 William A. Parker, Sr. Mentoring Faculty Award. A dedicated member of the professional community, Audra served as the Region VI Coordinator for the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT), a position she held from 2022 to 2024. She is also actively involved in various organizations, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., and the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College. Audra currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Twenty Pearls Foundation, Inc. |
Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Audra holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from Spelman College and an M.S. in Biochemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her dedication to fostering educational growth and her extensive background in biochemistry make her a respected and influential educator in the field of biology.
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AP BIOLOGY COURSE DESCRIPTION
Over the course of this 4-day workshop, new and experienced teachers alike will become familiar with the newly updated Course and Exam Description (CED) in AP Biology. The updated CED organizes the course into eight commonly taught UNITS
Unit 1: Chemistry of Life Unit 5: Heredity
Unit 2: Cell Structure and Function Unit 6: Gene Expression and Regulation
Unit 3: Cellular Energetics Unit 7: Natural Selection
Unit 4: Cell Communication and Cell Cycle Unit 8: Ecology
Participants will learn about the AP Biology Curriculum Framework, how to incorporate inquiry into the AP Biology curriculum, and perform selected laboratory investigations, and share ideas for implementing these activities in the classroom. We will conduct laboratories that will satisfy the requirement for 25% of the AP Biology course to be laboratory-based.
We will take a deep dive into the 2024 AP Biology exam, trends and patterns noticed in student responses, and strategies for improving student performance through intentional instructional design. There will be time allotted for teachers to work on syllabus development and lesson design. Participants will also learn strategies for making their courses accessible for all students through creation of equitable learning environments and equitable course design.
You’ll also learn about completing the digital activation process at the start of the school year that will give you immediate access to the new resources and will help ensure that your students can register for AP Exams by the new fall deadlines.
By attending this APSI, you’ll gain deeper insight into the following key takeaways, among several others: Understand the Course; Plan the Course; Teach the Course; Assess Student Progress; and Engage as a Member of the AP Community. In addition, specific attention will be paid to the following AP Classroom resources: unit guides, personal progress checks, AP teacher community, and the AP question bank. Teachers will leave prepared to successfully teach AP Biology, including audit approval, College Board curriculum alignment, and preparing students for the AP Biology exam.
Over the course of this 4-day workshop, new and experienced teachers alike will become familiar with the newly updated Course and Exam Description (CED) in AP Biology. The updated CED organizes the course into eight commonly taught UNITS
Unit 1: Chemistry of Life Unit 5: Heredity
Unit 2: Cell Structure and Function Unit 6: Gene Expression and Regulation
Unit 3: Cellular Energetics Unit 7: Natural Selection
Unit 4: Cell Communication and Cell Cycle Unit 8: Ecology
Participants will learn about the AP Biology Curriculum Framework, how to incorporate inquiry into the AP Biology curriculum, and perform selected laboratory investigations, and share ideas for implementing these activities in the classroom. We will conduct laboratories that will satisfy the requirement for 25% of the AP Biology course to be laboratory-based.
We will take a deep dive into the 2024 AP Biology exam, trends and patterns noticed in student responses, and strategies for improving student performance through intentional instructional design. There will be time allotted for teachers to work on syllabus development and lesson design. Participants will also learn strategies for making their courses accessible for all students through creation of equitable learning environments and equitable course design.
You’ll also learn about completing the digital activation process at the start of the school year that will give you immediate access to the new resources and will help ensure that your students can register for AP Exams by the new fall deadlines.
By attending this APSI, you’ll gain deeper insight into the following key takeaways, among several others: Understand the Course; Plan the Course; Teach the Course; Assess Student Progress; and Engage as a Member of the AP Community. In addition, specific attention will be paid to the following AP Classroom resources: unit guides, personal progress checks, AP teacher community, and the AP question bank. Teachers will leave prepared to successfully teach AP Biology, including audit approval, College Board curriculum alignment, and preparing students for the AP Biology exam.