University of Alberta, Department of Biological Sciences

Course Review Information

Student Entry Level

The majority of students entering the University of Alberta Introductory Biology courses will have taken the High School Biology curriculum developed by Alberta Education.

Biology 20 - 30

Clicking on the highlighted text will allow you to read the Alberta Education Biology 20 - 30 curriculum in an Adobe Acrobat format. On the Alberta Education site first click on 'Science', on the next page 'Programs of Study' then 'Biology 20-30'.

The curriculum opens with a Vision Statement that covers all Alberta Education Science curricula. The document then lists all the learning outcomes expected of students completing the program.

Outcomes are stated in three areas:

Knowledge: the scientific information and processes that are to be learned. Knowledge is developed around six overarching themes:

change
diversity
energy
equilibrium
matter
systems

Skills: the identified skills are:

initiating and planning
collecting and recording
organizing and communicating
analyzing
connecting, synthesizing and integrating
evaluating the process or outcomes.

STS Connections: students are required to demonstrate an understanding of the processes by which scientific knowledge is developed, and the interrelationships among science, technology and society.

A Global Issue?

The following link is to an Australian Broadcasting Corporation Radio National broadcast on High School Biology Curricula. The transcript is from the weekly science program named Ockham's Razor.

Is Science Talent Squandered?

A link to an article in Science News Online.

Science - Far More Than Required High School Coursework

A link to an article in the Science series Essays on Science and Society

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Further information on this topic can be obtained by contacting John Hoddinott.