Tools

BSC 108 Section 001: Intro Biology Non Maj I

Fall, 2010
4 Credit Hours
Primary Instructor: Karen Marcus
Core Designation: Natural Science

Office Hours

Tues/Thurs 9:00 to noon, Tues 3:30-4:30, Mon 1:15-2:15, and by appointment.


Prerequisites

From the Student Records System

No prerequisites found.


Course Description

 Survey of the basic principles of cellular biology, genetics, plant and animal diversity, and evolution.  Three lectures and one two-hour laboratory period. Not open to biology majors or minors, pre–health professions students, or students with credit for BSC 114:115 and BSC 116:117.

The laboratory portion of BSC 108 is designed to give non-majors a “hands on” opportunity to investigate basic biological principles using an inquiry-based approach.  By doing active research on the internet and in the laboratory student will increase their scientific literacy.


Objectives

Course Objectives

1. To provide students with an understanding of major concepts in cellular and molecular biology, genetics, evolution, biodiversity and ecology.

2. To acquaint students with some current issues relating to biology.

3. To familiarize students with the process of science and its role in society.

 

Student Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

1.  Explain how the molecules of life are synthesized and utilized for cellular processes and reproduction.

2.  Correlate the structure of cellular organelles to their functions and relate the interplay of photosynthesis and respiration to energy production necessary for life.

3.  Solve simple genetic crosses and interpret phenotypes.

4.  Analyze how the molecules of life form the basis of modern technologies that are changing medicine and agriculture.

5.  Relate how genetics underlies populations, speciation, and evolution of organisms and predict population structure.

6.  Apply the scientific method to solve problems.

7. Relate some current issues in biological research.

As a collaborative and active learning course, at the end of the course students will be able to:

1.  Recognize and identify key concepts in science to provide a broad perspective on the human condition.

2.  Critically discriminate between reliable and less reliable information when making decisions and discuss scientific information as related to real world problems.

3.  Be knowledgeable of some scientific research methods.

       4.  Develop skills in working together in teams


Outline of Topics

Ch 1 Bio Today

Lab  Module 1

Ch 2 Essential Chem

Ch 2/3 Chem / Molecules 

Ch 3 Molecules

Ch 4 Tour of the Cell

Lab Module 2

Ch 4/5  Tour/ The Working Cell

Exam 1 ch1-4, Module 1, safety

Ch 5 The Working Cell

Ch 6 Respiration

Lab Module 3

Ch 6/7 Respiration / Photosynthesis

Ch 7 Photosynthesis

Ch 8 Cell Reproduction

Ch 9 Patterns of Inheritance

Lab Module 4

Exam 2 ch5-9, Modules 2-3

Ch 9/10 Inheritance / DNA

Ch 10 DNA

Lab Module 5

Ch 11 Gene Control

Ch 12 DNA Technology

Ch 12/13  Technology / Evolution

Ch 13 Evolution

Lab Module 6

Exam 3, Ch 9-13, Modules 4-5

Ch 14 Biological Diversity

Ch 14/18  Biodiversiy / Intro Ecology

Ch 18 Intro Ecology

Labs Global Issues Pres

Ch 18/19 Intro/ Population Ecology

Ch 19/20 Populations/ Communities

Ch 20 Ecosystems

Exam 4, Ch14-20, Mod 6, global 


Exams and Assignments

Clicker Questions:  We are using Turning Technologies clickers which must be registered online. Refer to the general information folder on the eLearning website for further information.

·       Questions are based on newly assigned material and concepts learned the day of the questions or on the previous lecture. Students may also occasionally be required to read material not covered in class in order to answer quiz questions. This material will be brought to student’s attention during the prior class and through the announcement tab on eLearning.

  • Students are encouraged to discuss the answers with each other before responding.
  • Clicker questions given on 8/24 and 8/26 will be for practice only. The first lecture in which questions will count for credit will be Tuesday, August 31.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure that your clicker points are uploading accurately into the system. If you think that quiz points have not been recorded, you must contact the instructor within one week of an inaccurately recorded quiz grade or those points will be forfeited.  No exceptions.

 

Mastering Biology homework assignments: Assignments will be posted on www.masteringbio.com. To access this website, you must use the access code provided when you purchased the textbook. If you purchased a used book, you can purchase access to the web site at the book store or online. Refer to the document in the general information folder on eLearning for further information. You also need the Course ID for this particular course; it is: MBMARCUS67855.

·       Internet assignments a worth 3% of your grade.

·       Assignments have been customized for this course and are excellent study tools. After completing an assignment, you may practice it multiple times before the test.

·       Assignments for chapters covered in exam 1 are due the day of exam 1, assignments for chapters covered in exam 2 are due the day of exam 2 etc…

·       Do not wait until the night before the test to complete these assignments! Your power might go out or the Internet might go down for some reason etc.

 

Exams:  Three multiple choice exams will be given during the regularly scheduled lecture periods. Exam 4 will be during finals week.

   Exam 1 – Tuesday, September 14

   Exam 2 – Thursday, October 7

   Exam 3 -  Thursday, November 4

   Exam 4 will be given on Thursday, December 9, 8:00-10:30 am.  It will cover only the material presented after the

   third exam. 

·       Questions on all exams will be multiple choice ( about 50 questions / exam).  Exams will cover required reading and lecture notes and additional information presented in lecture.

·       Different versions of each exam may be given, the different versions will have the same questions and answer options, the questions and the answers will be in a different order on each version.

 

Exam Rules:

     1.  If you arrive late for an exam and anyone else has finished and left, you will not be

          allowed to take the exam and you will be required to take a makeup exam.

     2.  Baseball caps must be adjusted so that the rim is to the back and no MP3 players are

   allowed.

     3.  When possible, students should sit with at least one seat in between them.

     4.  Exam versions cannot be switched among students after exams are handed out.

     4.  Every effort should be made to keep answer sheets covered.

     5.  Cell phones must be off (bring a watch if you want to know the time).

     6.  Use a #2 lead pencil with a good eraser.   

     7.  Scantrons will be provided. You will need to enter your campus wide ID, your name,

   the course number and the exam number on the scantron.

     8.  You must sign your exam and turn in both your scantron and exam as you leave.


Grading Policy

Grading Policy:  The following is the policy for the lecture portion of your grade only. The lecture portion of your grade is 75% of your total grade.

The grade for the entire course will be determined based on the following grading scheme.  Lab grading policy will be utilized to determine the lab portion of the overall class grade.

4 lecture/lab exams                                    70%

            Approximately 93% of the questions will be from the lecture portion of the course

              Approximately   7% of the questions will be from the lab portion of the course

            Lecture class activities                                   15%

                             Clicker responses, online homework assignments etc.

            Lab worksheets and quizzes                        15% 

 

A. Determining the clicker questions grade

·       Clicker questions will be scattered throughout each class period in which there is no exam.

·       There will be a potential to earn 2 points for each class period with clicker questions (23 lectures @ 2 pts. each).

·       The final clicker grade will be expressed as a percentage and will be about 12% of the overall course grade.

·       For the entire semester, 46 potential points can be earned by answering clicker questions.

·       Of those 46 points, only 40 are necessary to earn a 100% for the required clicker points. The 6 additional points can serve as either:

1. Clicker questions that can be missed without your grade being lowered below 100%.

In the event you came to class unprepared, left your clicker at home, the batteries are dead, you were sick etc

2. Bonus points that result in your clicker percentage grade to be potentially >100%.

 

B. Determining the Mastering Biology Homework Grade:

·       Homework assignments on this online site will constitute 3% of your final grade.

 

C. Final grade calculation

     (Average exam grade x .7)

 +  (Clicker grade x .12)

 +  (Mastering biology percentage grade x .03)

 +  (Lab worksheets and Quizzes Average x .15)

           Final Grade

 

                                   

D. Letter Assignment:

A+ = 99-100                        B+ = 88-89                        C+ = 78-79                        D+ = 68-69                        F < 60

A   = 92-98                        B   = 82-87                        C   = 72-77                        D   = 62-67

A- =  90-91                        B- = 80-81                        C- = 70-71                        D- =  60-61

 

E. Midterm Grades: Midterm grades must be posted for 100 level courses. Since these grades are due October 6 by midnight, they will be equivalent to the grades earned on exam 1.  Midterm grades do not include an option for an incomplete. So, anyone not taking exam 1 will receive an F. Midterm grades do not become a part of your permanent record; once your final grade is posted, the midterm grade is no longer in the system.


Policy on Missed Exams & Coursework

Policy on Missed Exams and Clicker question points:

Exams: If you do not show up for an exam, and if you have a legitimate excuse, you may take a makeup exam. To take a make up exam, you must present a written legitimate excuse from a doctor, or some other valid excuse such as a note detailing a school related function. An Airplane ticket for a personal vacation is not a valid excuse. It is your responsibility to make arrangements with the instructor to take a make up exam.

The make up exam date is Wednesday, Dec 1 at 4:30 – 6:00. You may only take a makeup exam on a different date if you have a legitimate excuse for not taking it on that date. Makeup exam questions will be multiple choice and short answer.

 

Students missing an exam for reasons that are not considered legitimate may be allowed to take a rigorous comprehensive final exam to replace the missed exam. The decision to allow a student to take a comprehensive final is solely at the discretion of the instructor and may involve discussions with higher authorities. The comprehensive final will be in an essay and short answer format.

 

Exam 4 cannot be given early for any reason. This is a campus wide policy.

 

Clicker questions: Clicker questions to which a student does not respond cannot be made up; except in the rare event that a student misses three consecutive days of questions with a legitimate excuse. A legitimate excuse includes a serious event that prevent a student from attending class such as hospitalization. The ability to make up clicker question points is dependent upon notification of the instructor within one week of the missed points and it is at the discretion of the instructor. In the event the instructor determines the student should be allowed to make up missed questions, a written assignment will be provided to the student. 


Attendance Policy

 Class attendance is required!!!  A minimum of 10% of test material will come from class material such as current news events, questions and discussions NOT in your textbook.   Also, studies show that students remember and understand class material and perform better on exams when present in lecture. 


Required Texts

UA Supply Store Textbook Information

  • NONE / RESPONSE PAD XR (XRC-01)
    (Required)
  • SHEFFERLY / LAB MANUAL FOR BSC 108 (FALL 2010)
    (Required)
  • CAMPBELL / UA ESSENTIAL BIOLOGY BUNDLE W/VIRTUAL LABS
    (Required)


Other Course Materials

Turning Technologies Clicker

Access to Textbook online homework site, Mastering Biology

Laboratory Manual and access to virtual lab materials: see laboratory syllabus


Extra Credit Opportunities

Students have the opportunity to earn extra points by answering clicker questions.


Disability Statement

If you are registered with the Office of Disability Services, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss any course accommodations that may be necessary. If you have a disability, but have not contacted the Office of Disability Services, please call 348-4285 or visit 133-B Martha Parham Hall East to register for services. Students who may need course adaptations because of a disability are welcome to make an appointment to see me during office hours. Students with disabilities must be registered with the Office of Disability Services, 133-B Martha Parham Hall East, before receiving academic adjustments.

Policy on Academic Misconduct

All students in attendance at the University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student.

The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic misconduct.


Severe Weather Protocol

In the case of a tornado warning (tornado has been sighted or detected by radar; sirens activated), all university activities are automatically suspended, including all classes and laboratories. If you are in a building, please move immediately to the lowest level and toward the center of the building away from windows (interior classrooms, offices, or corridors) and remain there until the tornado warning has expired. Classes in session when the tornado warning is issued can resume immediately after the warning has expired at the discretion of the instructor. Classes that have not yet begun will resume 30 minutes after the tornado warning has expired provided at least half of the class period remains.

UA is a residential campus with many students living on or near campus. In general classes will remain in session until the National Weather Service issues safety warnings for the city of Tuscaloosa. Clearly, some students and faculty commute from adjacent counties. These counties may experience weather related problems not encountered in Tuscaloosa. Individuals should follow the advice of the National Weather Service for that area taking the necessary precautions to ensure personal safety. Whenever the National Weather Service and the Emergency Management Agency issue a warning, people in the path of the storm (tornado or severe thunderstorm) should take immediate life saving actions.

When West Alabama is under a severe weather advisory, conditions can change rapidly. It is imperative to get to where you can receive information from the National Weather Service and to follow the instructions provided. Personal safety should dictate the actions that faculty, staff and students take. The Office of Public Relations will disseminate the latest information regarding conditions on campus in the following ways:

  • Weather advisory posted on the UA homepage
  • Weather advisory sent out through Connect-ED--faculty, staff and students (sign up at myBama)
  • Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA at 90.7 FM
  • Weather advisory broadcast over Alabama Public Radio (WUAL) at 91.5 FM
  • Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA 7. WVUA 7 Storm Watch provides a free service you can subscribe to that allows you to receive weather warnings for Tuscaloosa via e-mail, pager or cell phone. Check http://www.wvua7.com/stormwatch.html for details.