Course Descriptions
These courses are designed to give teachers an overview of the basic structure and content necessary for an Advanced Placement course in the subjects listed. In addition, instructors review the Advanced Placement Examination in each subject as it applies to that content area by discussing sample multiple choice and free-response questions. A major portion of each course involves the development of an Advanced Placement curriculum by each participant. In the past, these courses have proven to be beneficial to experienced teachers of Advanced Placement as well as to prospective new instructors for AP classes. Each course is offered for 3 graduate credits in Education.
Ed. 611- ART HISTORY FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
This course will provide a thorough description of the theory, content, and requirements for a successful Advanced Placement Art History course. Suggestions about approach, activities, assignments, texts, resources, pace, and evaluation will be shared. Sample lessons will be presented along with strategies to help students to improve their writing of short and long essay responses. Past years’ exam slides and questions will be reviewed along with in-depth discussion of exam development, standard setting and the reading of essay questions. The course will include demonstrations of ways computer technology and digital resources can enhance AP Art History programs. One day of the course will be spent visiting art museums in New York City.
Ed. 605 - BIOLOGY FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
This laboratory-intensive course will provide an overview of the basic structure and content necessary for an Advanced Placement Biology course. This course will incorporate insights from recent work of the AP Biology Development Committee as well as some recent administrations of the AP Biology Examination. The examination and its grading will be discussed. Participants will develop a detailed syllabus and course calendar for an AP Biology course, which will, in large part, satisfy the requirements for the recently-instituted AP Course Audit. Participants will have the opportunity to perform most of the laboratory exercises mandated for an AP Biology course.
Ed. 601 - CALCULUS AB FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
This course provides a complete overview of the Calculus AB course. The emphasis in the course will be on teaching suggestions, ideas, and activities. The Rule of Four applied to topics in the course description, will be the basis for a through discussion of the content of the course. The use of the graphing calculator and other technology to enhance lessons and learning will be a major focus. There will be an in depth discussion of teacher resources, textbooks, assignments, and student preparation for the exam. The course will be of use to new and experienced AP teachers. The calculator used throughout the week will be the TI 89.
Ed. 617 - CALCULUS BC FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
Although this course will include materials covering the full range of Calculus BC content, the "C" topics in the curriculum will receive special emphasis. In particular, the mathematics the teacher needs to know and the mathematics the student is expected to learn will be covered. Teaching strategies directed towards approach, activities, time frame, and assignments will be developed. The role of the graphing calculator as a powerful instrument for enriching and enhancing the study of calculus will be explored, and a collection of student-ready activities will be distributed. Current textbooks related to the new technology will be available for participants to examine. Evaluation techniques, including the development of teacher-made tests, will be discussed and the Advanced Placement examination will be analyzed. Participants will be familiarized with grading standards and the application of grading scales to free-response questions. They are asked to bring a graphing calculator (such as a Ti-84 or TI-89). Participants are also asked to bring any materials, which they may wish to share with the members of the class.
Ed. 606 - CHEMISTRY FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
This course surveys the basic structure and content necessary for an Advanced Placement Chemistry course. Chemistry topics such as equilibrium, kinetics, “how to" problem solving, will be presented along with special emphasis on the descriptive chemistry of reactions. Class size, student selection, textbooks and labs will also be addressed. Special attention will be paid to teaching strategies, the AP exam and it’s grading. Some lab experiments suitable for AP classes will be incorporated into the course. Participants will receive examples of past AP exams, appropriate tests, worksheets, and lab experiments.
Ed. 627 - COMPUTER SCIENCE FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
This course will focus on the Java Language features included in the AP CS A curriculum and those topics listed in the current AP CS A topic outline. The GridWorld Case will be included in the curriculum where appropriate. If time allows, selected AB topics will be discussed. Resources and textbooks will be available for teachers to review.
Ed. 619 - ENGLISH LANGUAGE FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
This course provides an overview of the structure and content necessary for a course in AP English Language and Composition. Using a multitude of materials including teacher-designed lessons, AP Examinations, and sample student responses, the class will address the design of writing assignments and assessments, selection of readings, and development of instructional methods. The instructor will emphasize strategies that promote close reading and rhetorical analysis, as well as strategies to engender clear, cogent, and critical writing. We will pay particular attention to the recent changes to the examination and to their effect on curriculum and instruction. Each participant will develop a syllabus suitable for use in an AP English course.
Ed. 603 - ENGLISH LITERATURE FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
This AP Literature and Composition workshop is a college/university level course that focuses on different genres, contexts, literary skills, and sociocultural issues in order to prepare students for the exam in May and to also teach beyond the exam—so as to help students conceptualize what English can mean in the larger context of their lives. Together, we will carefully and critically analyze literature; understand the way writers use language to provide meaning; consider a work’s structure, style, and themes as well as literary elements such as: figurative language, point of view, tone, diction, allusion, syntax, imagery, symbolism;
study representative works from various genres and time periods (from the sixteenth century through contemporary times- poetry, prose, plays, short stories, young adult literature, film, TV, radio, music[hip-hop, punk, EMO, grunge, Indi-rock, country, rock]); apply different critical lenses to reading including but not limited to: classical/ancient, feminism, archetypal, cultural studies, formalism/new criticism, postcolonialism, deconstruction, Marxism, psychoanalysis, structuralism/poststructuralism; study characterization and development; consider the social and historical values a work embodies and reflects; consider how ethnicity, social class, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, and ability are reflected by literature; explore ways to write in different genres for different audiences and purposes including but not limited to: expository, analytic, rhetorical, and prose; engage, when possible, with multi-modal literacies, for reading, writing and presenting; reflect on the writing revision process as a way to help students become a more effective critic of one’s own writing; become a more effective communicator and thinker about reading and writing; and, discuss ways to prepare students for the college application process. Most of the week will be taught through constructivist (hands-on) and liberatory pedagogies as teachers will be invited to discuss, engage, participate, reflect, share, question, probe, teach, re-teach, and push beyond where their current practices reside. The week will provide teachers with an overview of an AP curriculum, offer tools for immediate application to their practice, test taking practice and strategies for the essays and multiple choice sections, and provide essential networking opportunities with other AP experts in the field.
Ed. 626 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
This laboratory and field-intensive course will provide information and a diversity of experiences (water, soil, air, forest, energy, bioassays) designed to prepare teachers for this interdisciplinary course within the context of varying school environments (urban, suburban, and rural). Scientific principles, analysis of data, and application of scientific concepts will be emphasized, along with discussions of text selection and student prerequisites. The latest APES exams will be discussed, with focus on successful essay writing and grading. Each participant will be expected to develop a detailed syllabus appropriate to their school's schedule and calendar.
Ed. 604 - EUROPEAN HISTORY FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
This course provides participants with a content overview that covers the period from the late Middle Ages to the 21st century. The instructor will focus on the development of materials and how to apply them in the organization of a course. The participants will develop the economic, political and social themes necessary in a European History course. The writing of both essay and multiple-choice questions will be addressed as will the scoring procedures used at the AP Reading. The course will also focus on getting students to analyze materials through a variety of teaching methods.
Ed. 608 - FRENCH LANGUAGE FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
This course will survey the curricula of the Advanced Placement French language course. In addition, relevant materials and specific instructional techniques for teaching the curricula will be presented, discussed and evaluated. Constant attention will be given to the manner in which the examination tests the curriculum. Class members will develop materials for use in their own classes and through simulated grading, will learn how to grade AP essays and tapes according to the established grading criteria. Class members will receive material that will help them with the literature program.
Ed. 623 – GERMAN FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
This course will offer participants an in-depth study of the AP German exam, especially its development and scoring. Relevant materials, including Internet sources, and specific instructional strategies designed to support the curriculum will be examined. Participants will engage in a wide range of activities aimed at preparing students for each section of the exam. Throughout the course, emphasis will be placed on exploring activities geared toward the goals and expectations set by the exam. Participants will learn how to grade written and oral work according to the established grading criteria. Class members will have the opportunity to air concerns and share their successful strategies.
Ed. 624 - HUMAN GEOGRAPHY FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
This course will provide an overview of the content and structure of the AP Human Geography course and exam. Particular attention will be given to the content of each of the six designated areas of population, political organization of space, cultural patterns and processes, cities and urban land use, industrialization and economic development, and agriculture and rural land use. Sample test questions and sample course syllabi will be discussed. An emphasis will be placed on comparing strengths and weaknesses of particular textbooks, reviewing supporting curriculum materials for an AP Human Geography course, and discussing strategies for teaching human geography content. Participants will receive copies of sample lesson plans and curriculum materials in their copy packets as well as several textbooks from publishers. During the institute, participants will be required to develop one in-depth unit of the course.
Ed. 628 - ITALIAN LANGUAGE & CULTURE FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
This course gives participants an overview of the AP Italian Language and Culture course. They will examine the requirements of the course and the exam and engage in a professional exchange of ideas. Special emphasis will be placed on the teaching of the four skills, curriculum issues related to the course, integration of the ACTFL Standards, and how to prepare students to be successful on the final assessment. In addition, participants will review AP teacher workshop material, including the teacher's guide, activities for various learning styles and content-specific strategies will be presented and discussed. Other highlights include: ideas for syllabus development, scoring student work with rubrics, becoming acquainted with the electronic media used to support AP teachers (AP Central, Electronic Discussion Group, useful websites) and the results of the program thus far.
Ed. 629 – JAPANESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
Participants will review and realign their programs and teaching to incorporate the National Standards, ACTFL proficiency guidelines and the target proficiency levels of the AP Japanese Language and Culture examination. Participants will review available sample student responses and develop plans to create or enhance the course of study and teaching/learning materials that meet the AP Japanese examination specifics and its target levels. Discussions will include ways to incorporate technology into the program and methods of assessment of student learning. Participants will also share teaching/learning
materials they create during the institute.
Ed. 613 - MUSIC THEORY FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
This course helps participants to develop a curriculum/course of study, which parallels the content of the AP Music examination. The objectives of the class include becoming familiar with the structure, format, and workings of the AP Music exam, to discuss tasks and skills necessary for student achievement on the exam, to develop teaching strategies for student success at mastering these tasks and skills, to assemble and evaluate teaching materials, and to determine methods for assessment of student learning. A strong emphasis is placed upon the teaching of Ear Training and Aural Skills.
Ed. 609 - PHYSICS FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
The program provides an overview of the basic structure and content areas necessary for an Advanced Placement Physics course on both the B and C levels. The program is designed so that the new as well as the experienced teacher may gain from the presenting and sharing of ideas. This course will deal with many of the common concerns facing the AP B and the AP C Physics teacher as well as the presentation and review of specific topics. The make-up and grading of the AP Exams will be discussed, and free-response problems and multiple-choice questions will be written, reviewed and evaluated.
Ed. 620 – PSYCHOLOGY FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
This course provides an overview of the basic structure and content necessary for an Advanced Placement Psychology course. The course will focus on effective teaching strategies, learning activities, and the preparation necessary for success on the examination. The use of easily and inexpensively built apparatus for lab sessions will be demonstrated. The course will include a review of past multiple choice and essay questions and a simulated "reading" (grading) experience.
Ed. 610 – SPANISH LANGUAGE FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
With major changes implemented last year in the AP Spanish Language Examination, a detailed study of the test and its grading is undertaken. Special emphasis is placed on the integrated skills necessary to analyze and synthesize different sources prior to engaging in formal writing and speaking. Topics include course development, organization, and implementation of a relevant syllabus. Participants engage in lesson planning, performance assessment and production of materials to use in class. Teaching strategies include pre-reading and pre-writing exercises, a variety of activities within a cultural context, ways to improve listening and speaking skills, cooperative learning, and use of technology and internet resources. The latest available rubrics and sample responses will be distributed and discussed.
Ed. 625 - SPANISH LITERATURE FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
The course will deal exclusively with the literary analysis of the texts on the required reading list. Participants will learn modern concepts of literary theory and how to apply these concepts to the texts. We will discuss ways to make the new texts relevant and exciting for high school students. Participants will be introduced to a wealth of auxiliary resources (e.g. videos, tapes, URLs, CDs, bibliographic material, slides, etc.) aimed to make the works more accessible and understandable to students. Some time will be dedicated to teaching how to write essays dealing with literary topics.
Ed. 616 - STATISTICS FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
This course is intended for AP Statistics teachers who feel uncertain about the content or the expectations of the course. We will discuss a variety of questions from previous exams, along with their scoring rubrics and some student solutions, as a spring-board for investigating the content and how to present it. There will also be discussions regarding the use of available technology in the course, available resources, test-taking strategies, and ideas for projects and activities.
Ed. 612 - STUDIO ART FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
This Summer Institute will cover all three Studio Art Portfolios with overviews of the Breadth and Concentration sections plus strategies for organizing the Quality section. Discussions will center on best practice in developing curriculum for student understanding and excellence. Examples of ideation and ideation problems in constructing the concentration will be focused on through viewing images and a visit to Manhattan. There will also be discussions on vertical teaming, the Reading process, critiquing techniques, and slide taking. Mock Readings using the 2007 rubric will also be part of the curriculum.
Ed. 615 – U. S. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
This course provides participants with an overview of the basic structure and content necessary for an Advanced Placement course in U.S. Government and Politics. Emphasis will be placed on teaching strategies, learning activities and exam preparation. An analysis of past AP examinations will be included as well as the standards established for the grading of the annual exams. A major portion of the course is devoted to the development of an U.S AP Government and Politics course by each participant including the resources necessary for the implementation of such a course.
Ed. 602 - U.S. HISTORY FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
This course provides students an overview of the basic structure and content necessary for an Advanced Placement U.S. History course. The instructor emphasizes the practical aspects involved in teaching an AP course in U.S. History. Samples of multiple-choice and essay questions, including the document-based question, are reviewed in class. Attention is also given to how standards are established for grading student responses. A major portion of the course is devoted to the development of an AP U.S. History syllabus, by each student.
Ed. 622 – WORLD HISTORY FOR TEACHERS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT
This course will prepare participants to construct an AP World History course based on the latest revisions to the AP Course Description and upcoming changes in the exam. Participants will use periodization and global themes and interactions to select content coverage and develop or revise a world history syllabus.
Small class sizes |
One-on-one interaction with class instructors. |
