Course Syllabus General Biology I: Organismic Biology Biology 1300 (formerly Biology 1200), Fall 2014 This syllabus is, in essence, a contract between me, the instructor, and you, the student. I have spent a significant amount of time putting it together, and will stick to the information and policies contained within it. Please spend a significant amount of time reading and understanding it. Thank you! Instructor Information: Nicole J. Huber Office: Osborne B327 Phone: (719) 255-3765 E-mail: nhuber@uccs.edu Office Hours: M 11:00 AM 12:00 PM, Th 9:00 10:00 AM, by appointment, and walk-in. If I am in my office, I am usually available, but please note that I am on partial leave this semester. I will be on campus on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. If I am not available in person, e-mail is the best way to contact me. Course Information: This is the lecture component of an integrated lecture-laboratory course that presents the diversity of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms emphasizing structure, function, ecology, and evolution. Prerequisites: High school biology and chemistry or consent of the instructor. Although this is an introductory-level course, knowledge of basic biological and chemical principles from high school is assumed. Meeting Times: M/W 9:25 10:40 AM (Section 001) in Centennial 186; M/W 12:15 1:30 PM (Section 002) in Osborne B134 Credit Hours: 3 credits; concurrent enrollment in the one-credit lab component of this course, Biology 1310, is strongly recommended. Concurrent enrollment in Chem 1301 (formerly 1030) is strongly recommended as well, as both Biol 1300 and Chem 1301 are prerequisites for General Biology II. Major Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, I hope you will be able to: Understand how science both relates to and differs from other academic disciplines; describe the scientific method and how to do science through the process of scientific inquiry Use scientific knowledge combined with critical thinking to evaluate current societal concerns Explain how evolution is the unifying theme in biology; be able to describe the process of natural selection, mechanisms and patterns in evolution, and how these can explain many of the phenomena we observe in nature Recognize that all living organisms are intertwined and, ultimately, affected by all other organisms Describe the characteristics of, and compare and contrast organisms from the three domains of life Understand how organisms are related to one another; recognize that even diverse organisms from bacteria to fungi to humans share common features Understand how organisms are uniquely adapted to their environments; recognize that differences between organisms exist due to varying adaptations that utilize specialized structural and behavioral features Understand humans in the context of the natural world; recognize that they are just a small part of the living world and its history; understand and explain the importance of organisms that you may not have appreciated before Above all, develop an appreciation for both the unity and diversity of life on earth, as well as an understanding of the profound impact humans have on life on earth N. J. Huber: Biology 1300 Syllabus and Schedule 1
General Information This course is designed for biology majors and selected health sciences majors. While the difficulty level of the course will depend largely upon your academic background and academic abilities in general, the majority of students find the material to be challenging, and have to put in a significant amount of time and effort to succeed. You need to be realistic about how much time you will need to devote to this class, and plan your schedule accordingly. Required Materials: A good attitude, and willingness to work hard Access to online course materials on Blackboard at http://bb.uccs.edu An e-mail address on record that you check regularly Four 100-question scantrons and a #2 pencil with a good eraser for exams Optional Materials: Textbook: This course has been designed around the information in Campbell Biology (9 th edition) by J.B. Reece et al., Pearson Benjamin Cummings Publishers, 2011. The 10 th edition of this text is available in the bookstore and there are several copies (varying editions) on reserve at the library. Many students have told me they did not need the textbook to succeed in this class. However, if you do not plan to attend class regularly (and pay attention!), I highly recommend that you purchase (and read!) the textbook. It s your decision. i>clicker: I assess class participation and attendance through the use of clickers. If you do not wish to purchase a clicker and/or attend class, you can complete the online quizzes instead (see Methods of Evaluation ). Methods of Evaluation Grading Criteria: There are three unit exams, worth 100 points each, and a comprehensive final exam, also worth 100 points. Your lowest exam grade will be dropped. Additionally, there are 100 points for clicker questions, homework, and miscellaneous activities throughout the semester. Exams 4 exams, 3 scores count 3 exams @ 100 points each = 300 points (75%) Clicker Questions or Online Quizzes 3 units @ 10 points per unit = 30 points (7.5%) Homework and Miscellaneous Activities variable = 70 points (17.5%) Total points possible = 400 points total A 93% + B 83-86.99% C 73-76.99% D 63-66.99% A- 90-92.99% B- 80-82.99% C- 70-72.99% D- 60-62.99% B+ 87-89.99% C+ 77-79.99% D+ 67-69.99% F below 60% N. J. Huber: Biology 1300 Syllabus and Schedule 2
Exams: Exam questions are based off the material from lectures, homework, and online quizzes. If you attend lecture and pay attention, do a good job on the homework, and complete the online quizzes, there will be no surprises on the exams. Although some questions are simple factual recall, many will require you to demonstrate an indepth understanding of the material and apply concepts discussed in class to novel scenarios. Plan to study for this level of comprehension. Each unit exam focuses specifically on the material from that unit; however, all the exams are cumulative in the sense that most scientific knowledge builds on prior knowledge. After the first exam, each subsequent exam assumes you have retained knowledge of prior course content and can apply it to new material. The final is a comprehensive exam covering the major concepts from the entire semester. No electronic devices of any type are allowed during exams. Cell phones must be OFF and in plain sight during exams. ANY use of your cell phone or any other device during exams is strictly prohibited, and will have severe consequences. Because you are allowed to drop your lowest exam score, no make-up exams will be given. If you miss an exam for any reason, whether it be that you slept too late or were abducted by aliens on the way to class, the score will be dropped at the end of the semester. If you miss more than one exam for any reason, you will get a zero for one of them. Clicker Questions and Online Quizzes: For each unit, you will be evaluated on either clicker points or online quizzes, whichever score is higher. Clicker Questions: Class participation and attendance will be assessed through the use of clickers. If you are present and answer the clicker questions, you will receive credit. If you are absent from class, regardless of your reason, there is no way to make up the points. Additionally, if you forget to bring your clicker or your clicker malfunctions, you are out of luck. It is your responsibility to make sure your clicker is registered by the deadline and functioning properly. Bringing your friend s clicker to class so you can answer in his or her absence is cheating, and will result in severe consequences for both of you. Clicker points will be calculated one time per unit, after the last day of class before the unit exam. If you respond to 90% or more of the clicker questions in a unit, you will receive 10 points for that unit; 80-90% = 9 points; 70-80% = 8 points; 60-70% = 7 points; less than 60% = 0 points. Online Quizzes: If you do not wish to purchase a clicker and/or attend class, or you are unable to attend class for any reason, you may complete online quizzes throughout the semester to earn points in lieu of attending class and responding to clicker questions. There will be two quizzes per unit, each worth five points. Your total for the two quizzes will be the total number of quiz points for the unit. Quizzes must be completed before the stated deadline, which will always be midnight on a Friday night. It is your responsibility to leave enough time to deal with possible technical difficulties. Once the deadline has passed, there is no way to receive points for an online quiz. You may attempt each quiz as many times as you wish; only your highest score will be counted. Please note: Even if you plan to attend class regularly and answer every clicker question, it is still a good idea to complete the online quizzes. Not only will they provide you with extra practice, but they will also provide you with an additional level of security in the event that you must miss class due to some unforeseen life happens circumstance or you lose/forget your clicker, etc. In short, this policy has been put in place to give you the greatest chance to succeed in the class, but you must take advantage of it! N. J. Huber: Biology 1300 Syllabus and Schedule 3
Homework and Miscellaneous Activities: The focus of most homework assignments is on understanding selected topics in depth and applying information to understand novel situations/concepts. There will also be miscellaneous activities throughout the semester to help you review or preview information, or to serve some other function as class needs arise. Some activities may require class attendance; this may or may not be announced ahead of time. If you are absent from class during a graded, in-class activity, regardless of your reason, there is no way to make up the points. Also, if you are physically present but do not actually participate because you are too busy texting your friends, talking about things not related to the course, sleeping, playing on your computer, or whatever else, you will not receive any points. I am very strict with deadlines. Assignments submitted even a minute past the specified due date and time are considered late. Late penalties are as follows: Homework submitted up to 24 hours after the deadline will receive no more than 70%. Homework submitted two days late will receive no more than 60%. Homework submitted three days late will receive no more than 50%. Homework over three days late is not accepted. It is your responsibility to leave enough time to deal with possible technical difficulties that may arise if an assignment is to be submitted online, and to be sure to be on time for class if an assignment is due in person. You can work together on homework assignments, but everyone needs to turn in an assignment individually, unless I specify otherwise. Working together does not mean copying someone else s assignment. If I receive more than one assignment with the exact same answers, or assignments that have been plagiarized, everyone involved will receive a zero, and face further academic penalties. Extra Credit: I occasionally grant extra credit opportunities to the entire class, but there is no extra credit other than that. I do not offer any extra credit on an individual basis. Miscellaneous Information and Policies Reviewing Exams: Exams are part multiple choice and part open response (fill-in-the-blank, short answer, short essay, etc.). I do not return the multiple choice portion of the exam to you. However, I strongly encourage you to come by my office and review your exam/scantron. During this time, you may take notes by hand, but no electronic devices are allowed. This includes laptops and cell phones. It is best to review your scantron as soon as possible after the exam, before the next exam. Understanding your mistakes will help you avoid making the same mistakes in the future, as well as improve your thought processes and understanding of the material. Being a proficient testtaker is an essential skill in science courses. Fortunately, test-taking, just like any other skill, can be improved with practice and effort. Contesting a Grade: I attempt to evaluate your work as objectively as possible. If you believe that your work has been graded unfairly, you have the right to request that it be re-graded. You must state the specific reasons you believe your grade was unfair and submit your re-grade request within a week of when I handed the work back and/or made the feedback available online. Your entire exam and/or assignment will be re-graded and you must accept the new score, even if it is lower than the old one. N. J. Huber: Biology 1300 Syllabus and Schedule 4
Here are some other things that can happen, and how you should deal with them: Sometimes I add up points incorrectly. It is your responsibility to go over your homework and exams promptly after I have returned them and notify me of any mistakes within a week. If you are absent from class when work is returned to you, it is your responsibility to come by my office to pick up and look over your work. You will not get extra time to contest your grade simply because you were not in class when your work was returned. On occasion, the scantron reader will misread your scantron. This can occur if you do not color in the circles adequately, do not fully erase an answer that you have changed, or have extraneous markings on your scantron. Additionally, there are multiple versions of each exam; if you turn your scantron into the wrong pile, it will not be graded using the correct key. Reviewing your scantron promptly after the exam will help you catch any of these problems. Requests for a change of grade due to errors of this nature must be made before the next exam. In other words, be sure to review your scantron from Exam #1 prior to Exam #2; from Exam #2 before Exam #3, etc. Make-Up Policies: As noted previously, any missed in-class course work cannot be made up. Missed exams cannot be made up, either, but your lowest exam score will be dropped. Academic Honesty: I strongly encourage you to choose the honest route when it comes to your education. You are much better off putting your energy into studying and learning the material than trying to figure out ways to pass exams or complete homework assignments without having to learn anything! I do not tolerate cheating, and will make sure there are severe consequences for any students I catch in an act of academic dishonesty. If you choose the dishonest route, not only are you depriving yourself of the valuable education you are paying for and participating in voluntarily, but you are also putting your academic career and future in jeopardy. You are responsible for knowing the university s academic honor code, as well as other academic procedures, which are outlined on the UCCS web site at http://www.uccs.edu/history/research/uccs-policies-on-academichonesty-and-civility/uccs-academic-honor-code.html. Disruptive Students: Disruptive students in the academic setting hinder the educational environment. Disruptive student conduct is prohibited by Regent Laws and the CU-Colorado Springs Students Rights and Responsibilities: Standards of Conduct, and will be reported to the Dean of Students. For more information about the Standards of Conduct, see the Dean of Students web site at http://www.uccs.edu/doc/student-conduct/student-classroom-behaviorpolicy.html. Please note that incessant and obnoxious use of your cell phone during lecture is considered disruptive student behavior, as it is distracting to me and those around you. I will report it to the Dean of Students. Dropping or Withdrawing: You are responsible for following and understanding the university s policies regarding deadlines and conditions for adding, dropping, and withdrawing. The last day to drop this course without special permission is Friday, October 31 st. I will not sign drop slips after that. Military Students: If you are a military student with the potential of being called to military service and/or training during the course of the semester, please contact me no later than the first week of class for discussion. For more information, please see http://www.uccs.edu/~military/. N. J. Huber: Biology 1300 Syllabus and Schedule 5
Students with Disabilities: If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to register with Disability Services and provide them with documentation of your disability. They will work with you to determine what accommodations are appropriate for your situation. To avoid any delay, you should contact Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive and disability accommodations cannot be provided until a Faculty Letter has been given to me. Note that if you receive test-taking accommodations, you must fill out the required paperwork for each exam and turn it in to me at least one week before the exam if you want to ensure that your accommodations are met. Please contact Disability Services for more information about receiving accommodations at Main Hall, room 105, 719-255-3354 or dservice@uccs.edu. Instructor and Student Responsibilities We each hold responsibilities to each other. I will try my hardest to do each of the following: Come to class prepared Respect your time by starting class on time and finishing on time Teach you the course material to the best of my ability Grade your work in a timely manner, evaluate your work as objectively and fairly as I can, and provide you with feedback as to why you received the grade that you did Communicate with you respectfully and professionally; in class I will answer all of your questions and address your concerns to the best of my ability; out of class I will respond to e-mails in a timely manner Hold you to high standards and attempt to give you the knowledge and skills that will allow you to be successful in a highly demanding, highly competitive, but very rewarding field Respect the fact that your education is a big investment; I take my job seriously and will try to help you to get the most out of this class and your educational experience in general. In return, I ask that you try your hardest to do each of the following: Come to class prepared Arrive on time and give your full attention to the class until the end Contribute to a positive learning environment and refrain from behavior that hinders my ability to teach effectively and your peers right to learn (examples: talking throughout class, letting your cell phone ring, texting, playing video games on your computer, reading novels, sleeping, snoring, etc.) Recognize that attending class is your choice. If you have better things to do than come to class, don t come. Respect deadlines and get your work done on time, but accept the penalties outlined in this syllabus if you do not Look over your evaluated work and read my comments when it is returned; inquire in a timely manner if you have questions about how your work was evaluated Take responsibility for your own education; understand that ultimately, the quality of your education will depend on what you choose to make of it. I want to help you to succeed, but I cannot read minds. If you don t understand something, are generally confused, or have any concerns and/or questions about any facet of the class, it is your responsibility to come talk to me, e-mail me, or do whatever you need to do until you are satisfied. N. J. Huber: Biology 1300 Syllabus and Schedule 6
General Biology I: Organismic Biology Tentative Schedule: Fall 2014 Note: The schedule is subject to change depending on uncontrollable variables and class needs. However, barring any major catastrophic events, exam dates are set in stone. If the university cancels class due to weather or other circumstances on a scheduled test day, the test will occur during the next class meeting. Unit 1: Evolution and Ecology Unit 2: Prokaryotes, Protists, and Plants Unit 3: Fungi and Animals Lecture outlines with supplemental notes will be provided for each lecture. These will be posted on Blackboard under Lecture Outlines and Study Guides My PowerPoints are also available on Blackboard, under PDF files of PowerPoint Presentations. The chapters from Campbell Biology that correspond to the lecture material are noted below. Date Lecture Topic(s) Campbell Biology August 25 M Course introduction The study of life Chapter 1 27 W Scientific method Natural selection and evolution Chapter 1 Chapter 22 September 1 M Labor Day: no classes! 3 W The evolution of populations Chapter 23 8 M Speciation Phylogeny Chapter 24 Chapter 26 10 W Introduction to ecology Chapter 52 12 F Deadline for Online Quiz #1 15 M Population ecology Chapter 53 17 W Community ecology Ecosystem ecology Chapter 54 Chapter 55 22 M Conservation biology and sustainability Chapter 56 24 W Catch up, review and/or test prep none 26 F Deadline for Online Quiz #2 29 M Unit 1 Exam October 1 W Introduction to prokaryotes Chapters 6 (background) and 27 6 M Prokaryotes Chapter 27 8 W Prokaryotes Chapter 27 10 F Deadline for Online Quiz #3 13 M Protists Chapter 28 Schedule continued on back N. J. Huber: Biology 1300 Syllabus and Schedule 7
October 15 W Introduction to plants Plant diversity 20 M Plant diversity Angiosperm life cycle and reproduction 22 W Plant structure and growth Resource acquisition and transport 27 M Stomata Chapters 6 and 10 (background) Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapters 30 and 38 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Chapter 38 Plant biotechnology 29 W Catch up, review and/or test prep none 31 F Deadline for Online Quiz #4 Last day to drop the course without special permission from the dean November 3 M Unit 2 Exam 5 W Fungi Chapter 31 10 M Introduction to animal diversity Invertebrates Chapter 32 Chapter 33 12 W Vertebrates Chapter 34 14 F Deadline for Online Quiz #5 17 M Animal form and function Chapter 40 19 W Animal behavior Chapter 51 24 M Animal behavior Chapter 51 26 W Happy Thanksgiving! No classes! 28 F Deadline for Online Quiz #6 December 1 M Catch up, review and/or test prep none 3 W Unit 3 Exam 8 M 10 W Group work on animal behavior reports 17 W Final Exam Section 001: 8:00 10:00 AM Section 002: 10:20 AM 12:20 PM Please note that these are different times than the class usually meets. N. J. Huber: Biology 1300 Syllabus and Schedule 8