Frequently Asked Questions
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What ages/grades can I use Life Science or Biology with?
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Is each course a one-year course?
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Is Science Shepherd Curriculum accredited?
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How are creation and evolution handled?
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Will Biology prepare my student for the CLEP ® and/or AP ® tests?
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Are the biology labs required?
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Which labs are included in the Lab Manual and Lab DVD?
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Are lab supplies included?
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What is the Question & Answer DVD?
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Do you plan on developing Chemistry, Physics, or any other science courses?
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Why can't I view the demo content?
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How can I place an order?
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What methods of payment do you accept?
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What is your return policy?
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What are your terms of use?
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What ages/grades can I use Life Science or Biology with?
Life Science was designed for 6th - 8th grade and Biology for 9th - 12th grade.
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Is each course a one-year course?
Yes. A 36-week schedule is included, but may be adapted to meet the needs of your family.
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Is Science Shepherd Curriculum accredited?
Educational institutions become accredited by meeting certain standards and following specific documentation guidelines. Because we are NOT an institution, we cannot be accredited.
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How are creation and evolution handled?
"Since these are science courses that were written by a Christian, probably the most common question I am asked is, "What about evolution and creation?" There are several facets to the answer of this critically important question. I took great care to try to present the information in Life Science and Biology in an objective way. As a physician, I have learned that there should not be any bias to the presentation of objective facts. Science is the systematized method to collect and analyze objective information to help explain the natural world around us. Science does not deserve to be presented in a biased fashion. Scientific facts are scientific facts, regardless of whether you look at them through a creation or evolution filter. Animals can be classified into Kingdoms and phyla and orders, etc. regardless of their supposed evolutionary relationships to one another. A lobster's anatomy and a human's anatomy is exactly as it is whether or not you believe in creation or evolution. The biochemical reactions of photosynthesis and the Krebs cycle occur exactly as they do without regard to evolution or creation. Science is the study and explanation of what we observe in nature and, when you get right down to it, what we observe scientifically is what we observe scientifically irrespective of the creation/evolution debate. In that sense, I try to present the information in a straight-forward and easily understandable way that is often lost when the attempt is made to relate the observable science as having a creation or evolution basis.
"As I wrote these two courses, I read many other Biology, Life Science, Physical Science, etc. textbooks and was constantly struck at how confusing the facts (in other words, the information that the student was supposed to be learning) became when the authors went out of their way to try to use the scientific data to "prove" that evolution or creation is true. The bottom line is that there is absolutely no "scientific" way to prove that either creation or evolution is true because neither one of those concepts is "science;" rather, they are philosophies that relate - in general terms - to the origin of everything in the universe and - specifically - to the presence of life on earth. If a person's philosophy is that the Bible is the unerringly accurate word of God and that the earth and stars were created, as was life on this planet, through the act of God speaking, then you believe in creation. However, if a person is an atheist or agnostic, then creation can't possibly explain the presence of life, and so another explanation is needed - evolution. That creation and evolution are diametrically opposed viewpoints is obvious, as is the fact that neither one of those viewpoints has anything to do with the actual observable scientific facts as collected using the scientific method. I try very hard to present these courses in a straight forward way so they are easy to learn. The only time that science is "hard" is when the teacher gets too fancy trying to teach it.
"However, the treatment of creation and evolution is very thorough. Ignoring these two critical philosophies in the development of a science course would be irresponsible. My point in the chapters in both Biology and Life Science is to discuss the information in much the same way that your child will encounter it in the real, secular world. However, I take a turn and look at much of the actual scientific "evidence" that evolutionists use to "prove" their case and see if it actually holds up to objective scrutiny.
"In Biology, I present creation and evolution in three chapters, The Origin of Life, Evolution and Creation: Principles and Evidence, and Speciation and Adaptation. These chapters critically evaluate the observed, objective scientific information as it relates both to evolution and creation. This allows students to review the merits of both ways of interpreting the pertinent science relating to the ultimate question of where we came from. However, as they read through these three chapters (and watch them on DVD) and dissect the scientific data, it is obvious that there is very little, if any, truly scientific merit to the philosophy of evolution. It also becomes obvious that the creation viewpoint is very well supported by observed scientific information. Students clearly see the data just does not support "molecules to man" evolution and will come away with the ultimate understanding that evolution is really only the biased opinions (primarily of atheists), and not objective interpretation of scientific data, that has shaped the evolutionary thesis. Students will come to understand that, as a hypothesis to explain the origin of life, evolution makes many predictions about what type of scientific data should be uncovered, but the data that has been found is absolutely contrary to what evolution predicts. As well, students will learn that, as an explanation for the origin of life, creation also makes predictions about what type of scientific data should be found, and creation holds up quite well. Students will learn that most of the scientific data that has been found to date support not only the Biblical account of creation but also the Genesis account of the Flood. After this objective presentation of the evolutionist and creationist viewpoints, it is clear creation is the best explanation for earth's wonderful biodiversity.
"In Life Science, the philosophies of evolution and creation are explored as explanations for the origin of life in one chapter. Evolution is first exposed not as a scientific fact (as we are all constantly told it is), but rather as a philosophy that attempts to explain the origin of life and the presence of biodiversity without God being involved. Creation is explained as a philosophy that explains the origin of life and all species through the miraculous creation process described in Genesis. Several common evolutionary "truths" are also looked at by dissecting the actual scientific data. It is obvious by the end of the chapter that evolution does not hold up to true scientific scrutiny and that creation is a much more reasonable, and scientifically sound, explanation for the origin of life." ~ Scott Hardin
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Will Biology prepare my student for the CLEP ® and/or AP ® tests?
This is a somewhat difficult question to answer with 100% accuracy since there is no specifically defined "AP®" or "CLEP®" approved program; rather, in the case of the AP® program, the company provides a syllabus around which a teacher designs their specific AP program. When I review that syllabus (many different AP syllabi are on the web and you will find them by typing "AP biology syllabus" into a search engine, or the recommended AP® content http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap-biology-course-description.pdf ), I find that our program covers 100% of what the AP® syllabus recommends be covered (as well as all of the recommended topics students should learn for the CLEP® http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/ex_bio.html), with the exception of in-depth treatment of evolutionary concepts.
Noteworthy is that when I developed our program, I had 10 high school, including Campbell's and Miller-Levine ("The Lion Book") and 1 introductory college texts with which to gauge ours, and I developed ours to specifically contain as much in depth, but none of the distracting side-bar, material as the most comprehensive of the texts. So, in that regard, I believe that our Biology covers a significant portion, if not all, of the non-evolutionary topics upon which the AP® and CLEP® tests measure the students (again, with the exception of evolutionary concepts). Science Shepherd Biology covers some of the evolutionary tenets, but not in as great detail as the evolutionary based texts and so your student would need supplementary material in that regard.
I should also note that the AP® program focuses extensively on students not memorizing facts, but learning about biological principles and how they interrelate. That concept is one of the driving forces behind how I designed the material presentation and wrote the end-of-chapter and test questions. There are no fact memorization processes in our program. I want the student to learn Biology, not to regurgitate stuff without any knowledge as to why they know what they know. In that regard, both the AP® concept and our programs share a common thread.
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Are the biology labs required?
In order for the student to get the most out of the course, we encourage students to perform the labs at home. A student may choose to perform the labs at home while following along with the instructor on DVD, or do the labs independently and simply refer to the DVD before or after performing the labs at home. However we realize this is not always financially or logistically possible. Therefore, since the DVD is a comprehensive presentation of all lab steps and findings, if the student follows the DVD diligently, completes all written portions in the lab book and completes the write ups, then the student will have completed all of the salient features of the laboratory experience. For a complete review of our lab DVD, please click here.
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Which labs are included in the Lab Manual and Lab DVD?
Record Keeping: Notebooks & Reports
Diffusion-Osmosis
General Cell Structure in Animals
Reproduction: Cellular
Protista: The Protozoans
Cell Structure: Plant
Leaf Structures
The Cell Interior and Function
Root Structure
Reproduction: Pollen Germination
Dissection: Clam
Dissection: Earthworm
Dissection: Grasshopper
Dissection: Fish
Dissection: Fetal Pig
Classification of Animals
Nervous System: Reaction Time
Muscular System: Fatigue
Population Succession Study
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Are lab supplies included?
An optional lab kit containing the supplies used in our biology labs is available for purchase separately. A microscope and microscope case are also available for purchase. These are optional and may be purchased here.
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What is the Question & Answer DVD?
The Q & A DVD is a comprehensive explanation of every study question from the text, with video, audio and illustrations used to drive the answers and concepts home.
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Do you plan on developing Chemistry, Physics, or any other science courses?
It is our sincere prayer that God will free enough time so that more courses can be researched and written. If that happens, the first course would be Chemistry. We are simply waiting on God's timing.
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Why can't I view the demo content?
Certain security settings prevent links to WMV or PDF files from working properly.
If a demo link doesn't work, right click on the link, then left click on "copy shortcut" or "copy link location" and paste into the address bar.
If you are still having trouble, please contact us.
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How can I place an order?
For fastest order processing, orders should be placed online.
Orders may also be placed by:
Phone
262-522-6901
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What methods of payment do you accept?
We accept MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover. Personal checks are also accepted.
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What is your return policy?
Products that are in new, resalable condition (no markings or highlights, no wear or damage), may be returned for a full refund within 30 days of purchase. Shipping charges are non-refundable. Please include a copy of the packing slip in each box. All refunds will be issued in the same method used for payment.
Please send all returns to:
Science Shepherd
1405 Capitol Dr.
Suite C-202
Pewaukee, WI 53072
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What are your terms of use?
When you purchase any Science Shepherd curriculum, you are agreeing to the following terms of use:
Science Shepherd textbooks and DVDs are copyrighted, and may be NOT be reproduced. However, you may reproduce study questions, lab sheets and tests for use within your own family.
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