Course Descriptions
African American Studies
Course Description: This workshop is designed for teachers of AP African American Studies. We will focus on examining the diversity of African American experiences through the course’s direct encounters with authentic and varied sources. The workshop will demonstrate how students will explore key topics that extend from early African kingdoms to the ongoing challenges and achievements of the contemporary moment. This interdisciplinary course foregrounds a study of the diversity of Black communities in the United States within the broader context of Africa and the African diaspora. Our workshop will explore lessons proven to effectively teach the main skills required for success in the course: applying disciplinary knowledge, source analysis, and argumentation.
Because AP African American Studies students need many opportunities to discuss complex texts in multiple genres, participants will gain hands-on experience with evaluative and analytical reading approaches to historical documents, literary texts, music lyrics, works of art, material culture, maps, tables, charts, graphs, and surveys. If available, we will conduct simulated readings of recent Free-Response exam questions and APAAS projects to inform teaching and learning. Please bring a laptop or tablet for immediate access to multiple digital resources.
Workshop Goals:
- To identify and apply the standards of the AP African American Studies (APAAS) exam to classroom practices
- To explore and develop effective APAAS units, lessons and syllabi
- To expand participants’ repertoire of successful instructional strategies
- To explore online resources such as AP Classroom and AP Daily (if available)
- To develop a network of valuable colleagues
- To promote the cross-disciplinary benefits of APAAS curriculum
English Literature and Composition
Course Description: Students in an AP Literature course are expected to be presented with college-level work. They will read and analyze literature written in a variety of time periods, from the 16th century through the contemporary period. The AP Summer Institute prepares teachers of AP courses to best prepare their students for the course and the exam, by combining the examination of methodology and content with sharing ideas, discussion of effective creative thinking and writing strategies, and review of samples from the 2025 AP Lit Exam. participants can expect interactive sessions where they will learn and practice the basics essential for maintaining a successful AP English Literature course with their students. Also, participants will examine strategies to help students better understand aesthetic, cultural, and historical approaches, and reasons to analyze and explain literary texts. This course uses College Board developed materials and other resources to expand the participants’ knowledge base, providing a framework for teachers to develop and/or enhance their AP curricula.
Course Objectives:
- Explore each section of the course and exam description, including the unit guides, while making connections to the course curriculum requirements
- Discuss curriculum adjustments and instructional strategies that will help to recruit and retain underrepresented students and identify classroom-level policies and practices that enhance or restrict student opportunities to participate in AP
- Examine formative and summative assessment items to identify content and skill pairings that are the targets of these assessments and create lesson plans to reinforce content and skill connections
- Practice applying the scoring guidelines from the most recent AP Exams to samples of student work
- Identify student strengths and weaknesses using data available through AP Classroom and instructional planning reports
- Explore ready-to-use strategies, instructional materials, and pedagogical tools pertinent to the content and skills required for success in your AP course
Course Requirements:
- Complete all course readings during the week
- Actively participate in model lessons
- Actively participate in class discussions
- Work on developing or revising lessons
- Work as a learning community
Environmental Science
Course Description: The AP Environmental Science Institute will focus on the College Board’s curriculum framework, using the updated 2020 Course and Exam Description (CED). The primary goal of the summer institute is to equip participants with the skills needed to plan, teach, and assess the AP Environmental Science course. The workshop will integrate the newly recommended labs provided by the College Board.
Participants will gain in-depth knowledge on how to effectively utilize AP Classroom for creating assessments, leveraging AP Daily videos, and using pre-made progress checks and practice exams. Additionally, the workshop will cover how to assign practice free-response questions, as well as how to properly grade and evaluate student responses. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a clear understanding of the content and skills students need to succeed on the AP exam and become engaged environmental scientists.
Psychology
Course Description: During this AP Psychology APSI led by Jason DeLucco, you’ll explore the course framework, the exam, and the new AP resources that will help you plan and focus instruction – and give you feedback throughout the year on the areas where individual students need additional focus. You’ll also learn about completing the digital activation process at the start of the school year that will give you immediate access to the new resources and will help ensure that your students can register for AP Exams by the new fall deadlines. By attending this Online APSI, you’ll gain deeper insight into the following key takeaways, among several others: Understand the Course; Plan the Course; Teach the Course; Assess Student Progress; and Engage as a Member of the AP Community. In addition, specific attention will be paid to the following AP Classroom resources: unit guides, personal progress checks, AP teacher community, and the AP question bank.
Language and Composition
Course Description: This workshop is designed for teachers of AP English Language and Composition. Using the College Board’s revised AP Lang Course and Exam Description, we will explore contemporary units and lessons proven to effectively teach the three primary skills required for success in the course: argument, rhetorical analysis, and research (synthesis). Participants will receive several model composition exercises and assessments, including a comprehensive overview of new online AP resources (question banks, progress checks, etc). We will conduct a simulated reading of recent Free-Response exam questions using the analytic scoring rubrics, and participants will receive full sets of sample student papers along with strategies for using those samples to inform teaching and learning.
Workshop Goals:
- To identify and apply the standards of the AP English Language and Composition exam to classroom practices
- To explore print and digital resources, including the College Board’s unit guides and AP Classroom question banks and progress checks
- To develop effective syllabi
- To expand participants’ repertoire of successful instructional strategies
- To develop a network of valuable colleagues
Precalculus
Course Description: This 4-day institute will deepen your understanding of the AP Precalculus course and exam. We will focus on effective strategies for helping students master essential concepts and skills in the AP Precalculus Course and Exam Description (CED). We’ll examine high-impact resources and supports for classroom instruction, assessment, and AP exam preparation—including those available on AP Classroom. In addition, we will discuss issues related to planning and organizing the course, such as student recruiting, diversity and inclusion, sequencing and pacing, the AP Audit, technology, and projects.