Frederick Community College BIOLOGY 101-HYBRID SPRING 2012
Class begins: 2/3/12	Class ends: 5/18/12	Last Day to Withdraw:4/16/12

Instructor Information:
Name: Rhonda Martin	Office: none
E-mail: rhmartin@frederick.edu	Phone Number: 301-846-2510
Contact Hours: by appointment	Campus Mail Box #: 929

Course Information:
Credits: 4
On-campus Meetings: FRIDAY 2 PM-4:35 PM – Lab Room C120	On-campus Exams: 1-2
Prerequisites: EN50A and EN52 or ESL 95 and ESL 99, and MA 82	Corequisites: none

Course Description:

This course presents a comprehensive survey of modern biology. Organisms from all kingdoms are used as examples to illustrate basic biological principles operational at the cellular and molecular level. Fundamentals of classical and molecular genetics and principles of systematics are also presented.

Core Learning Outcomes:

By the completion of the course students will:

1. Discuss “life”, define biology, and identify subdivisions of biology.

2. Describe the scientific method of investigation and be able to employ it.

3. Identify and describe the fundamental chemical elements of life.

4. Effectively use microscopes to study the internal and external morphology of given organisms, tissues, and cells.

5. Describe the basic structure and functional significance of the cell organelles in terms of homeostasis in organisms and the growth, reproduction, and survival.

6. Describe the basic processes involved in the metabolism of nutrients, energy utilization and waste excretion in organisms.

7. Define “genetics” and describe the process of transmission of both normal and abnormal characters from one generation to another.

8. Describe the control of gene expression.

9. Identify and describe the major evolutionary theories and the related concepts of natural selection and speciation

10. Describe the method of classification of plants and animals, describe the general and unique characteristics of the organisms used for placing them in a given taxa, and identify the relationships between the various taxa.

11. Describe the relationships and interactions between organisms and environment in terms of survival potential.

Instructional Methods:

Power point presentations for each chapter will be posted on blackboard along with links to web sites that will help to review the presented material. There will also be a study guide posted that covers all of the chapters. Laboratory time will include lectures and hands on activities.

 How is this course organized:

Lecture components are on line and laboratory components are face to face.

Text(s) and Course Materials:

Symbiosis-Benjamin Cummings custom laboratory program, Nicole Gerlanc (2^ND)

Hillis, Saldave, et al, Principles of Life

WEBSITE: www.BioPortal.com (access with textbook)

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:

Assignment	Max point value
2 Lecture Exams (100 points each)	200
Written assignments/ Presentation	100
Lecture Assignments (homework/quizzes)	50-70
Lab Quizzes/Assignments, 7-8 @ 10 pts each	70-80
Lab Final/Group presentation	100
Comprehensive final (up to 150 points)	150
Total Points for BI101	670-690

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.

Assignment of grades

Students earning 90% or more will receive an A in BI101. Students earning at least 80% will receive a B, at least 70% a C, at least 60% a D. Students earning less than 60% will receive an F. Additionally, it is necessary to earn at least a 60% in the laboratory portion of BI101 to pass the course.

Components of the grade

Exams: Three comprehensive exams will be given. They will cover material from blackboard notes, lectures, class discussions, textbook readings, and other assigned readings. Exams dates are given on the topical outline below. Exam formats are quite variable and may include multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. Exams 1 and 2 will not be cumulative. Exam 3 is a cumulative final and will cover material from the entire semester.

Lecture quizzes/assignments: A total of five assignments will be given and will be homework assignments or quizzes.

Project/Presentation: Each student will be assigned or asked to pick 1 or more topics to research and present to the class. The date of the presentations is on the topical outline.

Lab quizzes/assignments: Students should be prepared for short quizzes (5-10 short answer/multiple choice questions) at any time in lab. Students will also be assigned lab reports or other written work to be turned in for a grade. There will be a total of 7 lab assignments, worth a total of 70 points.

Laboratory Presentation: Students will give a group presentation for a selected lab. A detailed handout will be forth coming.

Attendance/Participation Policy:

Lab attendance: Even though there is not a point value or credit assigned to attendance you are expected to attend all labs. Missing classes leads to missed assignments and not understanding the topics. Be present and prompt for all classes.  Tardiness to class is disruptive and indicates a lack of commitment.  I reserve the right to reduce your grade for attendance problems.  Should you miss a class(es), be advised that quizzes, in-class assignments, and tests may not be made up.

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:

To maintain the highest quality of academic work, students are expected to participate fully in all course activities.

In case of serious illness, emergency, religious holidays, or participation in official college functions, students remain responsible for completing the requirements of the course. 

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

General Course Policies

1. Please do not arrive late or leave class early. This is disruptive for me and for the other members of this class. If you must enter late or leave early, please sit near the exits to minimize class disruption. Have your materials out and ready before you get into the classroom (i.e. do not rummage through your book bag looking for a pen after you’ve come in 20 min late).

2. Absence from lab will negatively affect your grade. It will not be possible to make up missed labs or quizzes due to an absence.

3. Exams or other types of assignments cannot be made up without prior approval of the instructor, and only then in the case of a documented medical or family emergency. Make-up exams must be taken within four days of the scheduled time and will be given at the testing center. Failure to follow this procedure will result in no make-up exam!

4. Lab reports and other assignments that are turned in after the scheduled due date will have their assignment grade reduced by one letter grade.

5. All students are expected to uphold the Code of Academic Honesty. This means that you will use your own efforts, ideas, and materials and that you will give full credit when borrowing from another’s work. Refer to the FCC Student Handbook for further information on this policy. In this class you will sometimes work in groups on certain assignments. It is expected that while you may work together you will write up your own version of the assignment and that you will not copy another’s work.

The instructor and the College believe that students who work consistently with their instructors learn more and have higher academic achievement than those who do not.

Topical Outline (ONLINE and HYBRID COURSES)

Week	ACTIVITY ONLINE	ACTIVITY CLASSROOM (Lab)
Week 1- 2/3	Chapter 1 Principles of Life PRE-ASSESSMENT	INTRODUCTION Scientific Investigation
Week 2-2/10	Chapter 2 (2.1 to 2.2) Life Chemistry and Energy	Scientific Investigation Blackworm observation
Week 3-2/17	Chapter 2.3, 2.4 and Chap 3.1 and 3.2 Carbohydrates, Lipids Nucleic Acids, Proteins	Water Blackworm Experiment Set-up
Week 4- 2/24	Chapter 4 Cells: The Working Units of Life	Microscopes and Cells
Week 5- 3/2	Chapter 5 Cell Membranes and Signaling	Diffusion and Osmosis
Week 6- 3/9	EXAM 1(Chapters 1-5)- In test center Chapter 2 (2.5) & Chapter 3.3 & 3.4 Energy and Enzymes	Inoculations/Blackworm Experiment
Week 7- 3/16	Chapter 6.1 and 6.5 Pathways that Harvest and Store Chemical Energy-Photosynthesis	Metabolism Results (Enzyme, Fermentation, & Respiration)
Week 8- 3/23	SPRING BREAK	SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS
Week 9- 3/30	Chapter 6.2 to 6.4 Pathways that Harvest and Store Chemical Energy- Cellular Respiration	Photosynthesis
Week10- 4/6	Chapter 7 The Cell Cycle and Cell Division (Mitosis and Meiosis) QUIZ CHAPTERS 2.5, 3.3, 3.4 AND 6	Mitosis and Meiosis RESEARCH PROJECT DUE
4/16	LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW FROM THIS CLASS
Week 11- 4/13	Chapter 9 DNA and Its Role in Heredity	Blackworm Presentations (group)
Week 12- 4/20	Chapters 10 and 11 From DNA to Protein: Gene Expression Regulation Gene Expression	DNA Extraction
Week 13- 4/27	EXAM 2 (Chapters 6-11)- In test center Begin Chapter 8	Mendelian Genetics: Frufly packet
Week 14- 5/4	Chapter 8 Inheritance, Genes, and Chromosomes	Molecular Biology
Week 15- 5/11	Chapter 13 Biotechnology Review	LAB FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATIONS
Week 16- 5/18	FINAL (cumulative)	TBA
5/21-22	INCLEMENT WEATHER MAKE-UP DATE

NOTE: your instructor reserves the right to make changes to this outline as needed.