STEAM Courses

AP Physics course aims to build a strong scientific foundation for students in their first year of university and to improve analytical and scientific thinking skills of them. One of the main goals of the program is to prepare students for AP Physics 1 exam. The topics of the course can be gathered under three basic titles; mechanics, electricity, and waves. Mechanics constitutes a great part of the program. Lectures are designed as both including theoretical and experimental studies. In addition to the emphasis of AP curriculum on conceptual understanding and scientific decision making, problem-solving skills of students are improved during the process. So a good level of mathematics background in grade 9 and 10 is expected to take the course.

This course is offered to 12th grade students who completed 11th grade AP Physics 1 and AP Calculus AB courses. This program is primarily recommended by the teachers to students who are successful in 11th grade AP Calculus and Physics courses. In this course, electrostatics; conductors, capacitors, and dielectrics; electric circuits; magnetic fields; and electromagnetism topics are given at university level by using introductory differential and integral calculus. The AP Exam is not a requirement of our AP program. AP Physics C course is recommended for students who want to study engineering at the University. Some universities provide Physics 1 course credit to the students who have successfully completed this course.

This course is offered to 12th grade students who completed 11th grade AP Physics 1 and AP Calculus AB courses. This program is primarily recommended by the teachers to students who are successful in 11th grade AP Calculus and Physics courses. In this course, kinematics; Newton’s laws of motion; work, energy and power; systems of particles and linear momentum; circular motion and rotation; and oscillations and gravitation topics are given at university level by using introductory differential and integral calculus. The AP Exam is not a requirement of our AP program. AP Physics C course is recommended for students who want to study engineering at the University. Some universities provide Physics 1 course credit to the students who have successfully completed this course.

AP Chemistry course is designed as equivalent to one year course of Chemistry branch in college. The program allows students to gain strong experiences in concepts of chemistry and labs. As a result, the students are exempt from general Chemistry courses of the first year in college. Students must be prepared for an intensive and original study program to be successful. The course is organized around six main ideas. These ideas include; Atomic Structure and Spectroscopy, Bonds and Intermolecular Forces, Thermodynamics, Chemical Equilibrium, Kinetics, Electrochemistry and Chemical Reactions. Moreover, it helps students to develop their verbal and written skills through laboratory reports, and scientific researches. The AP Chemistry course is intended to provide the foundation for the exam given by the ’College Board in May every year. Before this examination, a practice test is carried under the conditions of a real AP Chemistry test to prepare students for the exam day.

Calculus AB is primarily concerned with developing the students’ understanding of the concepts of Calculus and providing experience with its methods and applications. The course emphasizes a multi-representational approach to Calculus, with concepts, results, and problems being expressed graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally. The course provides opportunities for students to implement algebraic/computational processes; to build notational fluency and to communicate mathematical ideas in words, both orally 
and in writing. 
Technology is used regularly by students and teachers to reinforce the relationship among the multiple representations of functions, to confirm written work, to implement experimentation, and to assist in interpreting results.

Calculus BC is primarily concerned with developing the students’ understanding of the concepts of Calculus and providing experience with its methods and applications. The course emphasizes a multi-representational approach to Calculus, with concepts, results, and problems being expressed graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally. Technology is used regularly by students and teachers to reinforce the relationship among the multiple representations of functions, to confirm written work, to implement experimentation, and to assist in interpreting results by means of conducting explorations, graphing functions, solve equations numerically, approximating the derivative at a point using numerical methods, approximating a definite integral using numerical methods, analyzing and interpreting results, justifying and explaining results of graphs and supporting conclusions obtained by algebraic methods.

PreAP Calculus is a course that combines reviews of algebra, geometry, and functions into a preparatory course for calculus. Topics include fundamental concepts of Algebra, functions, and graphs, polynomials and rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, trigonometric functions, analytic trigonometry, topics in trigonometry, systems of equations and inequalities. Throughout the course, Common Core standards are taught and reinforced as the students learn how to apply the concepts in real life situations. Students are also expected to become proficient in utilizing and interpreting the results from graphing calculators and dynamic geometry software, as important investigative tools.

Advanced Biology course is offered to 12th grade students completed AP biology course. The course focuses on the biological concepts beyond AP Biology and MEB (Ministry of Education) curriculum in order to contribute the students’ biological understanding and help them become scientifically literate citizens. The course includes pharmacogenetics and personalized medicine/drugs, human physiology, neuroscience, and biochemistry of cancer. The course is designed as a seminar course and the curriculum is enriched with students’ research and presentations.

With the developing technology, the influence of visual communication grows and individuals are able to express themselves more clearly. Videos and animations enable a more effective way of sharing messages by blending visual communication with motion and sound.

As part of the Multimedia and Animation class, our students engage in video montage, motion graphics and animation works in line with the principles of design. The core topics of the class include graphics, sound and music, history of animation, storyboarding, editing and composition. Students edit the videos they create, while creating a digital product by combining objects of montage, sound and music and typography. In this context, they follow the branding and corporate identity development process, creating works associated with introductory films that we frequently encounter in the digital world. This class builds a significant foundation for students who wish to pursue studies in the field of visual communication design and multimedia.

The purpose of the Scientific Research and Project class is to expand our students’ knowledge in the existing scientific methodology, and to expand their experience in active laboratory works through a wide array of research projects (e.g. physics, chemistry, biology or interdisciplinary projects).

Theoretically, our students are required to develop their scientific literacy skills, while reading research papers and deepening the arguments and their knowledge in their fields of interest.

As a practical study, they are encouraged to develop their own research projects under the supervision of a mentoring teacher. Successfully-completed projects are presented in national and international meetings and competitions, while our students get to experience the final stage of a scientific study.