Spring 2012

Class begins: Feb. 1

Class ends: May 16

Last Day to Withdraw: April 16

Meeting Day(s) and Time: Lab – Wednesday 11:00 – 1:30 pm in room C120

Instructor Information:
Name: Charlie Cottingham	Office: C-116
E-mail: ccottingham@frederick.edu	Phone Number: 301-846-2577
Contact Hours: T- 8:30-9:30 a.m., 2:00-3:00 p.m.; W- 10:00-11:00 a.m.; Th- 8:30-9:30 a.m., 1:30-2:30 p.m	Campus Mail Box #: 238

Course Information: Biology 100 Fundamental Concepts of Biology
Credits: 4
On-campus Meetings: 15 (1 per week)	On-campus Exams: 3
Prerequisites: Prerequisites: EN 50A and EN 52 or ESL 95 and ESL 99, and MA 82	Corequisites: None

Course Description:

Develops an understanding of biological systems through the study of selected biological principles for the non-science major. Topics provide an understanding of biological systems as a whole.

Core Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this course students should be able to:

1. Apply fundamental biological concepts and principles.

2. Assess the role of science in our daily lives.

3. Use scientific processes to solve biological problems.

4. Determine the impact of biology and biotechnology in society.

5. Use critical thinking and problem solving skills.

6. Display the traits of a life long learner.

Instructional Methods:

As a hybrid course, there are both online and classroom components to instruction. Methods will include lecture, online and in class discussions, demonstrations, group problem solving, and take-home/laboratory investigations.

How is this course organized:

This is not a self-paced course. Biology 100 is composed of 8 modules that focus on biological concepts and applications within the context of real world problems and situations. Modules extend for one or two weeks after its initial posting. The online, or home, part of the course is composed of:

Online lecture slides, with accompanying required text readings
Miscellaneous online resources (video clips, podcasts, animations, etc.)
Supplemental reading assignments
Blogs, discussions boards, etc. for posting questions about course material, discussing current events, and sharing self-directed explorations.
An online module quiz or activity that must be completed by a specified time.

The on-campus component will consist of a mix of laboratory investigations, group problem-solving, discussion, lab quizzes/reports, and related class activities. This represents the laboratory component of this course. Every attempt will be made to link lab activities directly to the current module topic. There will also be time set aside each week as needed to review questions about concepts and course materials.

Text(s) and Course Materials: These are the required textbooks for the course.

BIOLOGY: Science for Life, 3^rd. edition; Colleen Belk and Virginia Borden, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004.

Fundamental Concepts of Biology Laboratory Manual, Charlie Cottingham, Academx Publishing, 2010.

Progress Report:

By the end of the 6th week of the semester, you will have an opportunity to evaluate your progress in this course and decide if you need to make any adjustments (additional study, tutoring, conference with instructor) to assure your success in this course.

Evaluation Methods:

Tests / Papers / Projects / Participation

Point Value

Final Grade Scale

3 Exams	100 each = 300	630 ³ = A 560-629 = B 490- 559 = C 420-489 = D <420 = F
Take Home Final	60
8 Module Quizzes	15 each = 120
8 Misc. module assignments (blog post, self-directed activities, etc.)	10 each = 80
6 Class participation activities	10 each = 60
Lab Midterm	40
Lab Final	40
Total =	700

If the graded performance for online assignments differs significantly from the grade average for proctored assignments, the instructor reserves the right to administer additional tests.

Time Commitment for Academic Success

At Frederick Community College, in all credit courses, students are expected to invest a minimum of two hours completing out-of-class course work for every hour of in-class instructional time. For example, in a 3-credit course, students experience a total of 37.5 hours of instructional time and should invest a minimum of 75 hours in out-of-class time preparing for the course and completing assignments. In a traditional 15-week, 3-credit course, this equates to an average minimum of 5 hours per week. For online and hybrid courses, students can expect active instructional time and “out-of-class” course work comparable to face-to-face courses with the same number of credits.

Student Services

A variety of services are available to assist students in succeeding at FCC. Students can learn more about these services by visiting the Student Services web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/index.aspx.

Students with disabilities who are in need of accommodations or who have questions related to disabilities services should contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office at 301-846-2408. Students can learn more about these services by visiting the Services for Students with Disabilities web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/disability.aspx.

Participation Policy:

Experience has shown that students perform better when they are actively engaged in ALL aspect of this course. A variety of learning activities are planned for the course, some are scheduled and others unannounced. If you miss a class, YOU are responsible for determining what was covered in your absence. The ability to make-up missed learning activities is at the discretion of the instructor in accordance with the “Attendance Policy” in the College Catalog. The ability to make-up scheduled learning activities REQUIRES prior notification and permission of the instructor.

Full credit for classroom participation activities may require attendance and participation in classes preceding the graded activity.

Email Policy:

With the exception of MOL students, all FCC students will receive and are expected to use their FCC email address for correspondence with faculty and staff at the college. Students can establish and access their FCC email accounts at https://myfcc.frederick.edu. Email is an instructional tool essential to student-instructor and student-student communication. In the Blackboard environment by default, your email address is available to all students in this course.

However, students are permitted to use email addresses of other students in this course only for the purpose and the duration of this course.

The instructor can be expected to respond to regular student email inquiries (grades, posted assignments, and tests excluded) within the time frame of 24 to 48 hours.

Academic Integrity:

Work in this course is subject to the provisions of the FCC Code of Academic Integrity. Plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated. As a student, it is your job to practice academic honesty at ALL times. Make sure that all sources, particularly Internet sources, get proper credit for quotations, paraphrases, and ideas. More information about this and the Student Conduct Code are available at http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/studentpolicies.aspx

You must send your Academic Integrity Pledge to the instructor. The form is available at http://courses.frederick.edu/_utilities/regform.htm

Topical Outline

Every effort will be made to keep to this schedule; however, the instructor reserves the right to alter or amend it as necessary. Additional dates, as published in the academic schedule of classes and listed below, may be required as make-up days for inclement weather.

Week	SUBJECT	ACTIVITY ONLINE	ON-CAMPUS ACTIVITY
1 (2/1)	Introduction, Process of science, Chemistry for BI100 (Ch. 1, 2)	Module 1	Lab-Doing Science
2 (2/8)	Nutrition, Diabetes (Ch. 3)	Module 2	Lab- Using Microscopes
3 (2/15)	More nutrition, Membrane transport, Enzymes (Ch. 3)	Module 2	Lab- Molecules on the move
4 (2/22)	Greenhouse effect (Ch. 4)	Module 3.	Lab- Enzymes
5 (2/29)	Photosynthesis, Respiration (Ch. 4)	Module 3.	Lab-What’s in your milk?
6 (3/7)	Making connections	Review module	Exam 1, Lab-Cell division

7 (3/14)	Cancer (Ch. 5)	Module 4	Lab Midterm Exam
8 (3/21)	Spring Break
9 (3/28)	Inheritance (Ch. 6,7)	Module 5	Genetics
10 (4/4)	Gene expression (Ch. 8)	Module 6	DNA to Protein
11 (4/11)	Biotechnology (Ch. 8)	Module 6	Sickle cell detection
4/16 Last day to withdraw from this class
12 (4/18)	Making connections	Review module Exam 2	Co-curricular Day and Earth Week activities

13 (4/25)	Evolution (Ch. 9, 10)	Module 7	EvoBeaker Flowers and Trees
14 (5/2)	Conservation Biodiversity (Ch. 11, 12)		EvoBeaker Sickle-Cell Alleles (or small group field trip)
15 (5/9)	Environmental biology (Ch. 13-15)	Module 8	EcoBeaker Nutrient Pollution (or small group field trip)
16 (5/16)	Making connections		Exam 3, Lab Final Exam
(5/21, 5/22)	Inclement weather make-up dates

Spring 2012

How is this course organized:

Tests / Papers / Projects / Participation

Point Value

Every effort will be made to keep to this schedule; however, the instructor reserves the right to alter or amend it as necessary. Additional dates, as published in the academic schedule of classes and listed below, may be required as make-up days for inclement weather.

Week