Survey of Biology

 BIOLOGY 100

Winter 2010

COURSE INFORMATION

Bio 100: Survey of Biology 

Section BK and CK, 5 credits

APH 114 Tuesday and Thursday Lecture 11-12:10

Labs: Monday 9-11:50 or Wednesday 9-11:50

Conference: Fri. 9-9:50 or 10-10:50

Prerequisites: None

INSTRUCTOR

Steven Clark

Office: APH 203F.  Phone: 992-2203

Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 12-2.  I’m usually on campus everyday and can meet with students.  The 12-2 is simply a time when the likelihood of my being available is high.  It would be best to call me or make an appointment.  Drop-ins at any time are welcome.

E-mail: sclark@clark.edu

Mailbox: APH Science Office

TEXTBOOK, READING STUDY GUIDES, AND OTHER RESOURCES

Textbook: Biology A Guide to the Natural World Custom Edition for Clark College by David Krogh.  

We will use the book’s website for tests and animations and lecture reinforcement. Please read the directions for using your access just inside the front cover of your book.

My website: http://web.clark.edu/sclark/

In the event of snow or any other odd occurrence that may impact class, look at my web site for pertinent information.

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES

Students at Clark College need to study sciences as part of their degree.  Successful completion of this class fulfills 5 credits of the laboratory science distribution requirement for an Associates of Arts degree and also fulfills the prerequisite for BIOL 251 (Anatomy and Physiology), BIOL 168 (Human Genetics).  Topics that we will discuss during the quarter include biochemistry, cell structure and function, metabolism, photosynthesis, cell division (meiosis and mitosis), molecular genetics, diversity of life, and heredity.

I’m happy you’ve chosen Biology 100 as your introduction to sciences at Clark.  I love biology—for me it has answered countless questions about the living world.  Biology has also exposed me to some fascinating creatures and some intricate relationships between organisms.  I realize that college classes entail time pressures and performance pressures.  I hope I can help you to manage these pressures with newfound competence.  Throughout this class, I encourage you to come to me when you need help.  I also hope that those pressures notwithstanding, you can come to appreciate and enjoy aspects of the biological world. 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Clark College has identified key abilities that it wants students to acquire through their education.  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 100 class.

In addition to learning specific biology subject matter, 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.  Although we will involve aspects of all of these abilities during the quarter, I will specifically promote critical thinking and communication (through class discussions, small group discussions, reading assignments, and video presentations).  The table below shows how I will endeavor to promote specific Student Learning Outcomes in this class:

COURSE POLICIES

A tentative schedule is included in this syllabus.  I suggest that you read the text sections relevant to class discussion before class.  If you follow this suggestion, your comprehension during lecture will be higher.  You can also bring any questions with you to class.

I will not take formal attendance for the lecture portion of the course.  If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get copies of any handouts from another student or from me. 

I walk around during lecture.  I also ask students to write questions and answers on scratch papers during lecture.  Occasionally I will ask students to cluster together during lectures to work on some task.  To facilitate these lecture activities I will need students to sit in specific areas of the lecture hall (close to the front, leave spaces so I can move among the seats, etc.)  I may design a seating pattern soon and expect students to help make that seating design work.

Attendance at the conference/laboratory: Students who miss a lab will not be able to make up the assignment, and as a result will lose the points.  If you know ahead of time that you may miss a lab, you may talk with me to see if you can join my other lab group.  If you join my other lab but did not make arrangements with me beforehand, that lab will be worth only 12 points maximum.  I will not be sympathetic to those who schedule routine doctor or dental appointments during lab time.

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. I will give four tests during the quarter plus a comprehensive final exam.  Students may drop their lowest exam but they may not drop the final exam.  I reserve the right to develop an alternative grading strategy in the event of extreme personal circumstances.

2.  If class is canceled for any reason, scheduled activities will be take place at the next class meeting.

Missed and Late Assignments:  If you are absent for a lecture, you are still responsible for any assignments made during the class. If class is canceled for any reason, then assignments will be collected at the next class period. All assignments are due on time and no late assignments will be accepted.

Class Participation: I like students to be engaged by questions coming either from me or from other students.  Conversation, questions and comments are a welcome part of this class.  The success of these interactions is enhanced by students reading their text before class.

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 an example of 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.   

Texting/Cell Phones:  Do not use your phone in class. 

·         If you have an important call, leave class then answer the call. 

·         If your phone rings in class, turn it off without looking at it or I’ll ask you to leave

·         If you are asked to leave, see me before you rejoin class.  I like to meet and talk anytime a conflict arises.

Laboratory: Labs may involve pathogens (disease-causing organisms), and/or chemical and physical hazards.  Failure to follow appropriate lab precautions may result in your removal from the lab.  Students will work in groups.  I will change the lab groups once or twice during the term.  This gives students fresh roles in their new groups and it allows students an opportunity to achieve better group work habits.

GRADED ITEMS AND GRADING SCALE

Lecture Exams: There will be four tests during the quarter plus the final exam.  Each test is worth 100 points.  Tests will cover material from lecture and material from the reading that I did not discuss in lecture.  This is important to me because I value the text and by including reading questions on the test I hope to provide accountability to the reading assignments.  Tests may also include material from the lab(s) that have been completed during the same time interval.  Students may drop their lowest of the first four exams but may not drop the comprehensive final.

Weekly Reading Questions (part of lecture): I want students to read the text as a primary source of biology information.  I also want to guide students as they read.  To facilitate both of these, I will give out weekly reading study guides.  These will be a series of questions that I expect you to answer as you read.  I will ask you to bring your answered questions to class (there will be about ten and I want the answers typed).  I will collect your answers and grade them.  They will be worth 10 points each.  Expect about 10 of these in the quarter though that number is dependent on our pace.  Your lowest weekly grade will be dropped.  I will not collect these from late arriving students.  If you email them to me on time, they will be worth 8 points, maximum.

Genetics Problems (part of lab): In week 7, students will be given a handout with genetics problems to solve.  These require time outside of class to complete.  The lab quiz that week will cover our lab activity as usual.  Additionally, I will give a 20 point quiz based on the genetics problems that were handed out earlier.

Other Assignments: I may assign additional homework during the quarter.  You are responsible for that homework.  Points awarded will be added to your class point total.

Conference: Lab quizzes will be given at the start of conference or at the beginning of the following week’s lab.  Latecomers will not be given extra time for quizzes.  If necessary, I will lecture during conference.  This could be to make up ground or to clarify a topic.  Students will be responsible for such lecture information.

Laboratory Activities: Throughout the quarter, we will have 10 laboratory sessions.  You will work in a group of 3-4 students to complete the written portions of the lab report.  The groups are not permanent, so the first few weeks may involve some shuffling until we achieve compatibility.  If a group member is not actively participating, don’t hesitate to let me know and I will work to help resolve the problem.  It is also important to remember that the lecture tests will include questions from the laboratory activities.  Ten points will be awarded at the end of each lab period for satisfactorily completing the lab work.  I will visit/watch each lab group during the lab session and look for the following:

·         All members are involved with the procedures (I don’t want the group to be dominated by one worker nor do I want one person to be idle).

·         The group follows the printed lab instructions rather than simply relying on observations of what others seem to be doing.  I find this reduces lab errors.

·         The group thoughtfully addresses the lab questions rather than quickly writing down answers that were given by one member.

·         The activity is done with care as opposed to being done for speed.

At the conclusion of the lab activity, I will give students a 0-15 grade based on the four points above.  If you attend another instructor’s lab, you will not be able to earn a full 15 points because I will not be the one gauging your performance.  If the lab instructor indicates you did a satisfactory job, I will award you 11 points. [On days when students attend a different lab due to a school closure, those students will be eligible for a full 15 lab points]. If a Monday lab student attends my Wednesday lab it is worth 15 if I give permission beforehand and 12 if I am not contacted earlier.

Final Grade

Your final grade will be based on the percentage of the total class points (from exams, quizzes, lab points, graded homework etc.) that you earned.  The table below gives an estimate of the total points possible.  Don’t forget that I may have additional homework that would boost that point total upwards.

Your final grade will be calculated based on the following scale:

            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 Gaiser Hall 141.

B.     Contact me within the first few days of class

Student Help Sessions: On the Clark College web page students may follow links 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. 
 

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

**I will assign additional readings to be completed before lab this week.  15.2, 15.4 and pp 299.

In Cases of 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.