Kelsey Deverell
E-Portfolio
My Coursework
Project Lead The Way | (PLTW)
Biomedical Sciences: This class involved investigating various health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, sickle-cell disease, hypercholesterolemia, and infectious diseases. I worked to determine the factors that led to the death of a fictional person, and investigate lifestyle choices and medical treatments that might have prolonged the person’s life. The activities and projects introduced me to human physiology, medicine, and the research processes. I gained sufficient skills in problem solving and time-management of a college structured corse. This work also prepared me for my following years of PLTW.
Human Body Systems: Here, I examined the interactions of human body systems as I explored identity, power, movement, protection, and homeostasis. I worked to design experiments, investigate the structures and functions of the human body, and used data acquisition software to monitor body functions such as muscle movement, reflex and voluntary action, and respiration. While exploring science in action, I built organs and tissues on a skeletal manikin, worked through interesting real world cases and often played the role of a biomedical professionals to solve medical mysteries. This hands on class was significant in my development of the human body, which is essential knowledge in any medical career I plan to pursue in the future.
Medical Interventions: This class involved investigating a variety of interventions involved in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease as I followed the life of a fictitious family. This course is a “How-To” manual for maintaining overall health and homeostasis in the body. In this class I explored how to prevent and fight infection; screen and evaluate the code in human DNA; prevent, diagnose and treat cancer; and prevail when the organs of the body begin to fail. Through these scenarios, I was exposed to a range of interventions related to immunology, surgery, genetics, pharmacology, medical devices, and diagnostics. This class was the most beneficial to my understanding of the medical field and its various types of treatment.
Highlighted Courses
Science & Math Based
AP Chemistry: This course involved completing preparation for the Advanced Placement exam. The physical and chemical properties of common chemical compounds are investigated in the laboratory. We placed special emphasis on thermochemistry, acids, bases, redox reactions, chemical equilibrium, precipitation equilibrium, reaction spontaneity, electrochemistry and the nomenclature and structure of compounds and reactions. This course was a key component to my development in the field of Chemistry. The extensive labwork introduced me to the type of in depth studies I will perform as a Biochemistry major.
AP Calculus 1: This Advanced Placement course provided me with the equivalent of a first semester of college calculus. I concentrated on analytic geometry, limits, the derivative, differentiation and the applications of the derivative, the integral, numerical integration, derivatives and integrals of transcendental functions, and the application of integration.
AP Calculus 2: This Advanced Placement course addressed second semester college calculus. In this class I learned advanced integration techniques with an emphasis on application, and work on series and sequences. Both Calculus 1 & 2 were key to my development in the mathematical field. On top of this extensive coursework, I feel as though I can apply what I have learned to any college Calculus courses that I take in the future.
Previous lab write ups
Attached are some examples of rigorous lab write up's I have completed throughout my PLTW classes. These were week long labs that my partner and I designed to conduct and carry out experiments on the subjects of skin cancer and biofeedback therapy. These subjects were chosen by us; we then conducted and wrote up our own experiments in order to make educated conclusions about these processes. Many other projects were completed throughout the duration of this course, these are some that my teacher highlighted as execptional. Click on the links to the left to see a full document of these projects.
Highlighted Courses Continued
Project Examples
Transcript & Other Advanced Courses
The highlighted coursework listed pertains specifically to my main areas of interest, math and scienece. On top of this extensive coursework I have completed other Pre-AP and AP classes. These can be found on my attached transcript below, along with listings of my final grades in these classes. As I continue to learn and develop in math and science based areas, my coursework has steadily become more rigorous. I feel as though all the coursework I have taken thus far has better prepared me for my upcoming college classes.