RobinL in Canada Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 I've been looking at the Chemistry 101 program and the sample episode is quite engaging, But what is the Biology 101 program like? Does it heavily promote YE creationism? (X-posting as I received no responses on the Logic board.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in MN Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 (edited) Are you asking what it is like in general, or just what it is like on that topic? Yes, Biology 101 is clearly a YE program. The entire series is organized around the days of creation, rather than the current taxonomy, so water animals are studied together, rather than putting some with land animals (whales etc), and so on. Current taxonomy is also taught. It's virtually impossible for a biology textbook author to remain neutral on this topic. Biology just *is* about this topic. Even the secular materials bring up creationism these days (to criticize it, of course). Julie Edited March 10, 2012 by Julie in MN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindee Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 It IS engaging, but rather light. We added reading to it, but really enjoyed the talks and things dd did! It does do Biology by the days of creation, that's one part we really liked! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinL in Canada Posted March 11, 2012 Author Share Posted March 11, 2012 Are you asking what it is like in general, or just what it is like on that topic? Yes, Biology 101 is clearly a YE program. The entire series is organized around the days of creation, rather than the current taxonomy, so water animals are studied together, rather than putting some with land animals (whales etc), and so on. Current taxonomy is also taught. It's virtually impossible for a biology textbook author to remain neutral on this topic. Biology just *is* about this topic. Even the secular materials bring up creationism these days (to criticize it, of course). Julie Thanks for the description. I would certainly hope that any biology text would critique creationism as well as evolution as all perspectives on the origins and nature of life should be covered in a serious biology study (though as an OE believer, I do not agree that YE creationism is scientific). I did have some email exchanges with the author of Shepherd Science Biology and while he does critique evolution in his book, he was very clear that biological facts are biological facts (eg, structure of organisms, functions of organs, etc) and should be presented as such, no matter what one's perspective on how they came to be. He also said he would be revbising his text to more adequately discuss OE creationism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in MN Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 (edited) Thanks for the description. I would certainly hope that any biology text would critique creationism as well as evolution as all perspectives on the origins and nature of life should be covered in a serious biology study (though as an OE believer, I do not agree that YE creationism is scientific). I did have some email exchanges with the author of Shepherd Science Biology and while he does critique evolution in his book, he was very clear that biological facts are biological facts (eg, structure of organisms, functions of organs, etc) and should be presented as such, no matter what one's perspective on how they came to be. He also said he would be revbising his text to more adequately discuss OE creationism. Yes, i imagine all science authors would agree that facts are facts. It's just that so much of science is theory and educated guess. I mean, no one has ever seen below the earth's crust or back into the origins of life or so many other things kids have to memorize in science. But if YE/OE is the deal breaker for you, then Bio 101 probably wouldn't work for you. I think the order of creation has to be switched around a bit to fit with current evolutionary theory, so reorganizing the typical order of study around the Biblical order might be odd for your family. It's a nicely done series but really not a whole course, anyways, as Brindee mentioned. It looks like Chem 101 is quite a bit longer and might not touch on these issues, I don't know. HTH, Julie Edited March 11, 2012 by Julie in MN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TGHEALTHYMOM Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 I appreciate all of your commments as I already have the old Apologia Biology someone gave me recently and I saw this DVD series wondering if it would be a good supplement, or how it would stand on it's own. I wondered if the 101 series covered the science efficiently or focused too much on Creationism. What books if any are recommended to supplement it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in MN Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 I appreciate all of your commments as I already have the old Apologia Biology someone gave me recently and I saw this DVD series wondering if it would be a good supplement, or how it would stand on it's own. I wondered if the 101 series covered the science efficiently or focused too much on Creationism. What books if any are recommended to supplement it? 101 is serious science, and isn't really "about" creationism so much as it organizes and presents science from a creationist point of view. That said, the series just cannot cover a complete textbook worth of material. It isn't long enough. So, each lecture includes good science, but there just aren't that many hours of lectures. The 101 DVDs do suggest adding books for a full credit. 1. Some folks have posted the ones they used. I'd do a tag search for "biology 101." Here is a collection of resources I checked out: Word file from Jamie, living books & links: http://homelearninglifestyle.squarespace.com/planning-a-biology-unit/ Word file from Fifiruth at WTM http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2566107&postcount=2 Word files from Tina at WTM http://www.squidoo.com/apologiabiology Word file from Jill Pike (IEW?) – wow! (teacher file & student file) Brindee at WTM http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1648947&postcount=5 Some book ideas from Heather at WTM http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1524216&postcount=33 Sarah on MCT group: Quarks and Quirks, Homeschooling Two Twice-Exceptional Boys, http://quarksandquirks.wordpress.com/biology-hs-level/ Science in the Movies sites: http://csm.jmu.edu/biology/rosecs/gsci104topics.html#week5 Worldbook scope & sequence http://www.worldbook.com/typical-course-of-study.html 2. At my house, I added books I had and wanted to use, and focused on topics I wanted covered, rather than just loosely having my son read any books. Some that I used: - Genesis of Germs, by Gillen - Bldg Blocks in Life Science, by Parker - Apologia Biology for a few topics - Experiences in Biology, by Julicher (labs) - Barb Shelton's science book & Private Eye that she sells too (more lab ideas) - Usborne World of Plants; Animals; Microscope - Some literature and biography - Tons of websites, movies, etc. I ended up needing to not teach so much, so we didn't use this the whole year. If we had continued, I had planned to use The Teaching Company's Anatomy & Physiology, as well as In His Image/Fearfully & Wonderfully Made, Body By Design, etc. I did like that 101 includes plenty of human systems topics. HTH, Julie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinL in Canada Posted March 21, 2012 Author Share Posted March 21, 2012 I decided to go ahead and order both the Biology 101 and Chemistry 101 programs to watch with my youngest. Once we're done with some of them, I can post some comments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.