AP Biology is an introductory college-level biology course where students cultivate an understanding of biology through exploratory investigations. The topics covered include evolution, cellular processes, energy and communication, genetics, information transfer, ecology, and interactions.
Let’s take a look at the AP Biology online learning resources recommended by the College Board. Mastering AP Biology can provide crucial assistance in various professional fields.
HHMI Biointeractive:
An online simulated laboratory where students can practice independently, explore case studies, and access experiment videos and various graphical analysis data. It facilitates self-directed learning at an appropriate length and level.
Bozeman Science:
Covers course content and series videos for all major topics in AP Biology. The videos are clear, interactive, humorous, and student-friendly, presenting foundational and challenging concepts. They not only teach essential knowledge but also demonstrate how to enjoy learning and establish connections with the content. Plenty of image-based and information-based questions are available for practice(quotes from usms.ac.ma).
Jon Darkow’s Simulations:
A website with program simulations allowing students to manipulate variables independently and observe effects. It covers experiments related to photosynthesis, cellular respiration, enzymes, cell cycle, fruit flies, etc.
Khan Academy — AP Biology:
Khan Academy provides asynchronous guidance and assessments for the AP Biology course, offering unit reviews synchronized with the new framework of the AP course.
ScienceMusicVideos:
This website offers online interactive tutorials and instructional work to help students step-by-step review MCQ/FRQ content.
National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science (NCCSTS): University of Buffalo:
Offers a variety of case studies for all areas of biology. However, a subscription fee is required to access answer keys and teacher teaching notes. These case studies can be used in Zoom classrooms to help students connect knowledge points with real-world events.
Crash Course — AP Biology:
A YouTube channel with short educational videos on specific AP Biology topics. They are beneficial for introducing concepts with “clear, visually appealing/animations.” Topics covered include biomolecules, plant cells, photosynthesis, genetics, ecology, and more.
Data Nuggets:
Aims to bring contemporary research and real data into the classroom, connecting activities with scientists behind the data and the real stories of their research. Each activity allows students to practice handling messy data and interpreting quantitative information.
PhET Interactive Simulations: University of Colorado, Boulder:
Provides online simulations for data collection, allowing students to analyze it. The glacier simulation is particularly helpful, offering a good way to envision events occurring over an extended period(sources from usms.ac.ma).
Albert.io — Biology:
Offers a collection of thousands of AP Biology practice questions of various types, allowing students to complete an all-in-one exercise without needing to search different websites.
Biology: with the Amoeba Sisters:
Another YouTube channel with videos, gifs, and various forms of teaching. These cartoon-based short videos provide a foundation for more exploration, being “fun, interactive, and helping students learn and review content.”
BioRender:
Allows students to create professional-looking scientific charts in minutes, aiding them in recording from scratch in the laboratory or tests.
