Course Syllabus
BI 100 – Fundamental
Concepts of Biology (Hybrid)
Spring 2008
Instructor
Information:
|
Name: Charlie Cottingham |
Office: C-116 |
|
E-mail: ccottingham@frederick.edu |
Phone
Number: 301-846-2577 |
|
Office
Hours: M: 1:00-2:00*, TTh: 11:00am -12:30pm, W: 11:30-12:30 |
Campus
Mail Box Number: 115 |
*denotes
on-line office hour
Course Information:
|
Credits: 4 |
Last
Day to Drop: Nov. 3 |
|
Prerequisites:
EN 50A, EN 52, MA 82 or MA 91 |
|
|
Meeting
Day(s): Wednesday and Online |
Meeting
Time: 12:30pm – 3:00pm (Wednesday,
C-120) |
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:
By
the completion of the course students will:
|
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. |
|
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. |
|
BIOLOGY:
Science for Life, 2nd edition; Colleen Belk and Virginia Borden,
Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004. |
If
you have taken an online course before you probably have realized that they are
not necessarily easier or less demanding than traditional classes; online
courses are designed to require the same effort and participation, sometimes
even more, as a face-to-face course. The
great benefit to online courses is the flexibility they offer so that you can
complete course requirements as your schedule allows, making it a little easier
to juggle family, work, and education responsibilities and time demands.
A
hybrid course attempts to offer some of the flexibility of an online course
with the benefit of meeting with the professor and other students in a classroom
learning environment. We will meet on campus once a week for the
laboratory component of the course; the remaining assignments, lecture notes,
and course resources will be offered online. There is an expectation that you are able to
work online multiple times throughout the week.
Remember that any FCC student has online access on available computers
on campus.
I expect that most students will spend between
6-8 hours per week outside of the campus laboratory in preparation, studying,
and completing assignments. If you have
some experience with the subject matter you may spend less time; if you have little
experience with the subject you may spend more time.
Course Organization: An Overview
Biology
100 is composed of 10 modules that focus on biological concepts and
applications within the context of real world problems and situations. Each becomes available on Thursday and
extends to the following Wednesday, with the in-class laboratory experience
serving as the “final” day of the module topic.
The online, or home, part of the course is composed of:
The
on-campus component will consist of a mix of laboratory investigations, group
problem-solving, discussion, and related class activities. This represents the laboratory component of
this course. There will also be time set
aside each week as needed to review questions about concepts and course
materials. Exams will be administered
during these sessions.
Exams: There are three exams throughout the
semester and a take-home final. The
exams will primarily consist of multiple-choice and short answer questions and
will cover assigned readings, assignments, and classroom content. The format for the take-home final will be
essay and it will be comprehensive.
Please be aware that I collect each exam after it has been graded and
you have had a chance to review it.
Module Quizzes: Each module contains a multiple-choice quiz
that you will complete and submit on Blackboard. Quizzes are open notes and open text and must
be submitted prior to Wednesday’s class.
Quizzes will generally include questions from the laboratory
introduction.
Discussion
Postings: Participation in
on-line discussions is an important part of the course. A minimum of three postings are required for
full credit. These responses include an
initial post to the discussion prompt questions and at least two meaningful responses
to comments posted by your group members.
Points will be based on instructor monitoring of discussion groups and a
self-scored rubric.
Self Directed
Activities: During the semester you
will be asked to participate in a few additional activities. A number of options will be available
including optional lab activities, presentations, and service-learning
opportunities. Some will introduce new
material, others will enable you to practice, apply, and connect ideas and
concepts. For example, you may be asked
to calculate your household’s carbon footprint using an on-line resource. Details
of these assignments (including submission deadlines) will be posted on
Blackboard.
Lab Attendance and
Participation: Your attendance and participation in the
on-campus/lab sessions will be monitored and subjectively evaluated by the
instructor. You are expected to be on
time, participate fully in all assigned lab activities, keep a lab journal, be
respectful of the instructor, your fellow students and of college property and
leave your lab area clean when done. Please
note that while you may miss one lab session without penalty (see Course
Policies), questions associated with lab skills and exercises will appear on lab
practicals.
Lab
Practicals: On the day of each exam you will also complete a lab practical; each
covering the previous 3-4 labs. The
practicals consist of lab skills, exercises, and concepts. While exams are closed notes you may use your
lab journal for the practicals. The more
complete, accurate, and legible the lab journal, the more useful it will be for
you on the practicals.
Exams / Assignments / Labs
|
Pts. Each |
Total Pts. |
|
Exams
(3) |
100 |
300 |
|
Take-home
Final |
60 |
60 |
|
Weekly
Module Quizzes |
10 |
100 |
|
Discussion
Postings |
5 |
50 |
|
Self-Directed
Activities |
10-20 |
50 |
|
Lab
Attendance & Participation |
|
50 |
|
Lab
Practicals (3) |
30 |
90 |
|
Total |
|
700 |
|
By
the end of the sixth 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. |
|
Attendance: Biology is a
sequential course. Attendance and
participation in laboratory and keeping up with the online component are
essential in order to obtain a good grasp of the material. Students are expected to attend all labs
except in the cases of serious illness, emergency, religious holidays or
participation in College functions. Work related absences do not count as
excused absences. Registration for
this course implies this is your first
commitment during the stated times and that sufficient time has been
scheduled for preparation. One
unexcused absence will be allowed.
Additional unexcused absences will result in a 10 point deduction for the first occurrence,
followed by a 20 point deduction for following (3rd unexcused
absence). A student with more than 3
unexcused absences will automatically receive an F for the course. Please be aware that even if you are
excused from an on-campus lab activity you are responsible for the material
covered. After 4 absences for any
reason you will be advised to drop the course. Honesty: Students are expected to adhere to FCC’s
Code of Academic Honesty, including policies regarding plagiarism and
cheating. Violations of this code may
be cause for a failing grade for the assignment in question and/or a failing
grade in the course. Please note that
this policy applies to ALL parties involved in any situation involving
copying, cheating, etc. You may refer
to the FCC Student Handbook for more information about these policies. Email: 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.
Make-up Exams: Make-up exams will be given at the instructor’s discretion. Students who fail to make arrangements with the instructor to take a missed exam PRIOR to the exam date should not expect to be able to make it up. Any emergency situation must be verified with appropriate documentation and contact information.
|
Additional Notes:
|
Tentative Topical
Outline
(Please refer to
Blackboard on a frequent basis for updates to this schedule)
|
Week |
On campus |
On-line Module |
|
Assignments (due
by Wed.) |
|
1 Aug 27 |
Introduction;
The Scientific Method |
1: Nutrition |
|
None |
|
2 Sept 3 |
Using
Microscopes, Rx for Health DVD |
2: Global Warming |
|
Disc.
1; Module 1 Quiz |
|
3 Sept 10 |
Functions &
Properties of Cells |
3: Photosynthesis & Respiration |
|
Disc.
2; Module 2Quiz |
|
4 Sept 17 |
Factors that
Affect Enzyme Activity |
Prepare
for Exam 1 |
|
Disc.
3; Module 3 Quiz |
|
5 Sept 24 |
Exam 1; Lab
Practical 1 |
4: Understanding DNA |
|
|
|
6 Oct 1 |
Work
with DNA models |
5: Cancer, Mitosis |
Ch.5 and lab manual |
Disc.
4; Module 4Quiz 4 |
|
7 Oct 8 |
Mitosis |
6:
Inheritance |
|
Disc.
5; Module 5 Quiz |
|
8 Oct 15 |
Genetics & Inheritance |
7: Genetic engineering |
|
Disc.
6; Module 6 Quiz |
|
9 Oct 22 |
Transcription,
Translation & GMOs |
Prepare
for Exam 2 |
|
Disc.
7; Module 7 Quiz |
|
10 Oct 29 |
Exam 2; Lab
Practical 2 |
8: Evolution basics |
|
|
|
11 Nov 5 |
T.B.A. |
9: The Problem of antibiotic resistance |
|
Disc.
8; Module 8Quiz |
|
12 Nov 12 |
Theory of
Evolution |
10: Biodiversity & Ecology |
|
Disc.
9; Module 9 Quiz |
|
13 Nov 19 |
Natural Selection |
Prepare
for Exam 3 |
|
Disc.
10; Module 10 Quiz |
|
Nov 26 |
THANKSGIVING
BREAK |
|||
|
14 Dec 3 |
Exam 3; Lab
Practical 3 |
Take-home
final exam |
|
|
|
15 Dec 10 |
Submit take-home
final |
|
|
Take
home final |
* Please note that this only gives you an idea of
where the material is generally found in the text book. More specific textbook
reading suggestions and additional readings will be found in the individual
learning modules. Lab activities listed
in italics can be found in your lab
manual.
HAVE A GREAT
SEMESTER!