HUMAN BIOLOGY LAB 161

Spring 2008

COURSE INFORMATION

You are enrolled in one of the following:

• Section B TTh 10:30-11:50 AM

Prerequisites: None

Credits: 1

Room: Anna Pechanec Hall (APH) 114

INSTRUCTOR

Steven Clark

Office: APH 203F

Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 1:00-2:30 PM.  I’m usually on campus everyday and can meet with students.  The listed time is simply a time when the likelihood of my being available is high.  It would be best to call me or make an appointment.

E-mail: sclark@clark.edu

Website: http://web.clark.edu/sclark/

Mailbox: APH Science Office

LAB TEXT

Essential Atlas of Anatomy Barron’s

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (see my web page for the online sites below)

1. Jim Campbell’s website: http://cs.clark.edu/~biolabs/check161.html.  You’ll need a password for this site.
2. Histology Online.  This site gives additional help for understanding features on slides.
3. Visit Dr. Cushwa’s web site: http://cs.clark.edu/~bio/.  This site has several practice tests you may take.
4. Tutoring Center in Joan Stout Hall (992-2253).

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES

A laboratory class is a hands-on class.  Lab learning involves different parts of the brain than does lecture learning.  Lab learning also attempts to mirror the kind of processes scientists use in their work.  In addition to learning about the form and structure of the human body, students also are exposed to the methods of scientific discovery.  We will use microscopes, body models, videos and dialogue as we learn human biology.  Most students take this class concurrently with Human Biology Lecture (BIO 160).  I hope this class appeals to those who have a special fascination with the workings of the human body or those who have a broad enjoyment of learning things.  I realize that the pressures of grades and tests strain the native enjoyment of learning but I do enjoy biology and I hope that we can establish a class that challenges students to achieve while still preserving the fascination with the information at hand.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Clark College has identified six campus-wide Student Learning Outcomes or Abilities that form the foundation of our educational emphasis: 1) critical thinking/problem solving, 2) information/technology, 3) communication, 4) life-long learning, 5) effective citizenship, and 6) global/multicultural awareness.  Similarly, the science department has identified education requirements that are important to the sciences.  The table below shows how this class will address the goals of the college, the science department and of the Biology 161 class.

COURSE POLICIES

The lab room is your resource center: Typically, I will start the class with an overview of what will be studied during the lab.  Students then study using all the resources they need:

• Models
• The Campbell web site
• The Instructor for individual help
• Mini-lectures: Occasionally, I’ll call all students up front for a mini-lecture about some human system.  Take notes and learn that material for exams.

Open Labs: These are times when the lab room will be open and staffed so you can study.  Typically these are offered the weekend before an exam.

Students will be allowed to drop a class, without instructor signature, through the seventh week of the quarter. (Note: Classes that meet less than 10 weeks, including summer classes, will have a pro-rated deadline.) Students who drop after the 10th day of the quarter receive a 'W' grade on their transcript, which does not affect their GPA. No drops will be allowed after the seventh week. Students who feel they have extenuating circumstances may appeal this policy by contacting the unit dean before the end of the last scheduled day of the quarter (before finals). The refund policy remains the same.  [This is Clark College policy].

Missed Tests:

1. There will be no makeup tests. If you have a conflict, see me ahead of time and you may be able to take the test with another lab class. 
2. If class is canceled for any reason, scheduled activities will be take place at the next class meeting.

Student Conduct: In the appendix of the Clark College catalogue is a section on student conduct (G3-G11) that all students ought to be aware of.  I’ll highlight a few pieces of that appendix below.

Academic Honesty: Academic honesty is required at all times.  Cheating will result in a zero for that particular test/exam/assignment and may also result in a dismissal from the course with a failing grade.  Plagiarism, which is representing another’s work as your own, is considered academic dishonesty.  If you intend to quote someone’s idea or sentence, use quotations or a footnote or a parenthesis to tell me what you are doing.  If you don’t declare where the idea or sentence came from, it looks like copying or plagiarism and you will be held accountable for that.  In addition to helping you to footnote properly, I would be happy to help you become skilled at reading someone’s work then closing the book and developing your own opinion honestly and confidently.

Classroom Behavior: Students engaging in disruptive behaviors during class will be asked to leave the classroom.  Repeated occurrences will lead to dismissal from the course. You may not leave and reenter the classroom during a test or exam so take care of any bathroom needs before tests begin.  

Graded Items: We will have three exams worth 100 points apiece.  I may have several smaller quizzes during the quarter (e.g. past quiz topics included 15 points for a diffusion quiz; 15 points for a heart circulation quiz).   There will be no final exam in this class.

Grade Scale:

Your final grade will be based on the percentage of the total class points that you earned. 

            92%-100% = A                                               78%- 79% = C+

            90%- 91% = A-                                               72%- 77% = C

            88%- 89% = B+                                              70%- 71%   = C-

            82%- 87% = B                                                            60%- 69% = D

            80%- 81% = B-                                               Below 60% = F

Disability Support Services: Any student with a disability requiring any auxiliary aids, services, or other accommodations should do both the following.

A.    Contact the Disability Support Services office at 992-2314 or 992-2835 (TTY), or stop by PUB room 45.

B.     Contact me within the first few days of class

Student Help Sessions: On the Clark College web page students may follow links to from Support and Services to Student Help Sessions.  This page features a long list of student resources from time management workshops to note taking skills to services provided by our library. 

EMERGENCIES

In emergencies (weather, power outage, crisis, etc.), students should do the following:

1. Inclement weather or emergency information
   1. Go to www.clark.edu or call 360-992-2000 as your first means of getting information.  The College does send notices to radio and television stations, but the College’s web site and switchboard are the official platforms for the most accurate information.
2. Immediate emergency communication alert
   1. To receive immediate notice on emergencies, you can register your cell phone number to receive text pages and your email address to receive email messages.  To do this go to www.flashalert.net .  Select “Subscribe” on the left, and follow the instructions.  Mass communication will also be sent to all college employee phones and computers.
3. Fire Alarm
   1. Evacuate the building through closest exit; evacuation maps are located in the hallways.  Take personal belongings only if it is safe to do so.  Remain at least 50    feet from the building.  Notify other of evacuation.  Do not re-enter building until instructed to do so.
4. Parking Lot Identifiers
   1. New parking lot identifiers using colors and number have been assigned to all Clark parking lots.  To help emergency or security personnel locate you, please refer to these identifying features.
5. Security Escort
   1. Security Officers are available for escorts please call 360-992-2133.  Use this service anytime you would otherwise feel uncomfortable.
6. For information check the web first.  Our website is created by Clark College and therefore less likely to have errors than a news outlet.
   1. Do not have loved ones drive to campus without checking the web.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (I expect this to change but it may give you a feel for our pace, reading requirements and our topics)

[There will be 6 labs before the first exam, 5 labs before the second exam and 6 labs before the last exam].