Previewing Problems and Power
Point Files
Course Methods & Structure
Presentations
Groups
Grading
Class Schedule
Peer Evaluations
Laboratory
Grading
Communication
Guidelines
for Success
Academic
Honesty
Useful
Links
BISC 100
Freshman Seminar
Biobowl
1
Group
exam I - explanation
Biobowl
3
COURSE INFORMATION
Meeting Time: | Monday, Friday 9:05 - 9:55; Wednesday
8:00-9:55 (BISC100 is combined with BISC207) Laboratory - Wednesday 11:30 to 2:00 |
Meeting Place: | 110 Memorial - lecture; 035MkL - lab |
Instructor: | Linda Dion |
Office: | Room 241 Wolf Hall |
Phone: | 831-2476 |
E-mail: | ldion@udel.edu |
Office Hours: | Monday and Thursday 1- 2:00 pm |
Course Web Page on www | http://www.udel.edu/biology/dion/207_81syllabus_2010.html |
BISC207 Laboratory Manual - note that the same manual is being used by honors and non-honors sections; any other required laboratory materials will be listed in the laboratory manual
COURSE CONTENT & CO-REQUISITES
This course includes: the biology of cells - their structure and function; heredity; and gene expression. Laboratory focuses on experimentation and data analysis. Pre- or co-requisites include C101, C103, C105 or C111. Note also that anyone registered for Honors BISC207 must also be registered for the SAME section of BISC100.
Course Philosophy:
Introductory Biology is intended to be a survey course which introduces
students to the breadth of biological sciences and prepares them for
higher
level courses in biology or other science majors. Therefore a
broad-based
understanding of content is important. But so are the skills which will
be needed to continue learning later in life. These include: the
ability
to learn independently, the ability to think critically and explain
your
understanding with clarity, and an ability to work constructively with
others toward shared goals. Although the lecture format of teaching has
the potential to deliver content, there is no assurance that a student
will develop the skills mentioned above, since listening to lecture is
a very passive activity. Furthermore, studies have suggested that
collaborative learning improves productivity, professional
self-esteem,
problem-solving skills, and positive social relationships. Therefore,
although this
course will include lecturing, it will also have an active
student-centered
component of learning through the analysis of problems, or case
studies.
Information about this method of learning, called problem based
learning
(PBL), can be found here.
Course Structure
BISC207 and BISC 100 will be combined on Wednesdays, so that the two
courses will provide approximately four hours of instruction
throughout
the week. About half of this will be devoted to problem-based
group
learning
and half will be devoted to more traditional lecturing and evaluation
of
your progress. Class activities are planned roughly in the following
way:
for every topic covered, out of three classes, two will be used for
lecture,
and one (on Wednesday) will be used for analysis of a problem related
to the
topic. Since your text is a good resource for this problem, bring your
text on Wednesdays.
For some of the class activities you will work as individuals and for
some
of them you will work as members of a group. Groups will be assigned in
class.
Lectures will be given in Power Point format. Slides
will be available for viewing or for downloading through the links on
your
course syllabus under Class Schedule (see the appropriate topic).
See instructions in the next major section of this syllabus for how to
view files from an off-campus computer. If you do not have Power Point,
you can download a free read-only version from the Microsoft website.
This
will allow you to read slides, but not create them. Slides will be
posted
no later than the night before a lecture and may be removed about a
week
after the topic has been covered. The lecture portion of this course
will
NOT be taught as a WebCT or Sakai course. Do NOT
hunt for Power Point notes among the WebCT or Sakai Biology courses.
Quizzes: Quizzes will be given periodically to check your
understanding.
If a quiz is scheduled before the lectures on the topic, it is
your
responsibility to do the readings and come prepared to class to
take
the quiz. This quiz will be taken at the
beginning of the class period. It will consist of 10-12 multiple choice
questions. . Quizzes will be
returned in the next class period (arrangements will be made to return
quiz 4). If a fifth graded quiz is given, the
value of each will be adjusted accordingly (so that total of all
quizzes equals 20% of lecture grade.)
PBL Problems or Case Studies: Problems will be complex
real-world scenarios
which
you will analyze in the context of a biological foundation. Working
with
other members of your group, you will address a series of questions
which
will require that you use resources (text, notes, classroom laptop
computers) to
solve the problems. Although the text is very useful as a resource and
therefore can be brought to class on problem day, if you register for
eConnect (instructions below), you can access the eBook while in class
using the laptops in 110 Memorial. The goal of the problems is to
reinforce your understanding
of the content material and give you experience in addressing real life
issues which relate to biology.
Sometimes you will be
asked to do
research
to prepare for a problem, or you will be asked to read a "preview" of
the problem. If so, this preview can be accessed from the syllabus
(this
preview link is
restricted to the UD community). There will always be a group
"product"
due at the end of the PBL period (usually answers to questions, or
opinions).
These will be read, graded, and returned in the next class. Everyone in
the group receives the same grade.
Exams In addition to the quizzes, there will be 6 exams.
Three
of them will be taken as individuals, and three will be taken as a
group. They are typical hourly exams, and are
scheduled
during a regular class period. There will be no final exam in this
section of BISC 207.
Individual
exams will be similar in format to the quizzes (i.e. mostly multiple
choice but with a more extensive
synthesis
of the material), and will also include one or two essays. The group
exams will be in essay format. Each group will take its exam together,
with all members receiving the same score. Exams will
be returned in class.
A general rule for individual exams is that for
questions which are answered on a scantron sheet, ONLY the answers on
that scantron sheet will be counted. If you have a different answer
circled on your exam, or have stray marks on your scantron sheet, they
will NOT substitute for the answer which you gridded in on your
scantron. If you forgot to grid in an answer on your scantron sheet,
you will unfortunately lose credit for that question. I will
gladly entertain any questions that you have
about answers on an exam. However, you must come to see me about these
within one week of returning your exam in class. If you wait until the
end of the semester, it is TOO LATE.
Accessing McGraw-Hill's "Brooker 2nd ed"
Resources
Everyone should have bundled with their NEW Brooker 2nd
ed textbook some materials about eConnect Plus+, namely a password that
can be used to access this website. However, your access is limited
without linking to a virtual "course" on the website. Therefore I have
set up this "course", whose URL is:
http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/l_dion_fall_2010_section_81_1
; when you first try to access this "course", you will be asked to
register, using your email and provided password. Someone who is
not registered will still be able to use the open access site of
McGraw-Hill, which is www.brookerbiology.com
(then click on 2nd ed of Brooker)
BISC100 is integrated with BISC207 in that Wednesdays are a combination of the two courses. Different instructors of Honors Introductory Biology will treat BISC100 differently. In this section, we will use the period for problem based learning, and for presentations of papers which are further extensions of class topics. Information about these presentations is given below. For BISC 100, you will also be expected to attend one research seminar during the semester, and write up a half to one-page typed summary of it. This can be a biology seminar (given usually on Wednesdays at 4:00 pm in 318 Wolf Hall - list of topics is posted on bulletin board outside of Biology Office in Wolf), a seminar in another science associated department (Chemistry, Entomology for example), or a special seminar (I'll try to announce special seminars as I learn about them). For BISC100 you will also visit Morris Library to learn about accessing primary sources in biology, and DBI (Delaware Biotechnology Institute). BISC100 is designated as a Pass-Fail course. Your satisfactory presentation, attendance at other presentations, attendance at a research seminar, attendance and engagement in group work, and completion of any other BISC 100 assignment will count towards a Pass in BISC100. Details are given in the Grading section. The group work which you do on problems (PBL) will be factored into your BISC207 grade. A list of the research seminars scheduled for this fall in the Biology Department can be found here.
Presentations: Presentations of
8-9 additional
topics will be given during the semester (usually based on papers
from Scientific American or scientific journals which are accessible
through
Delcat or in the library). These may correlate with course material,
and
will supplement the information covered in the textbook. You will
each
be responsible, working with another 1 other person, for one of
these.
I will assign the topics and groups randomly. Presentations should be
about 20 minutes long which includes time for questions. They
should be
done using Power Point. I will provide copies of (or reference
to) 1 or more articles
to each group, but these are by no means meant to be the only sources
used; in fact,
at least one additional source
(other than your text) should
be used. Wikipedia, although useful for general
information, should not
be considered a valid reference for research - it can be altered by
anyone, expert or not. If you use web references, try to find those
authored by scientists or medical professionals (often with extension
.edu
or .gov). On the day of
presentation,
each group should furnish hand-outs of notes to other class members, as
well as a list of references (I will provide a form for you to take to
Quick Copy in Trabant or Perkins). Exams may have one
or more questions from each
of these presentations. A list of topics, with tentative schedule, is
found
here.
A list of guidelines for preparing talks is here.
The list of presenters, by date, is here.
PREVIEWING
THE PROBLEMS AND POWER POINT SLIDES: This course syllabus is
linked to the World Wide Web, but Power Point notes are not. To find
this syllabus on-line, you can use any computer and simply type in the
URL for this course. To access Power Point notes
before class, or to
preview
a problem the day before it's done in class, you will need to use a
computer
linked to the campus network. Using one from off-campus will not allow
access, since these items (notes and previews) are restricted to the UD
community. However, if you live off-campus you can connect through a
proxy
server available only to UD students by using this link:
https://proxy.nss.udel.edu/login?qurl=http://www.udel.edu/biology/dion/207_81syllabus_2010.html).
When you click on this link, you will get a log-in prompt; after
logging in, you should be taken
back to the syllabus page, but you are now on the proxy server, so you
should now
be able to access restricted files. (If you have any problems, consult
the "Technology help-desk"
link
from the UD home page for instructions).
To access a Power Point
file,
or Problem preview, find the link in the "Class Schedule" for the
respective date on this
course syllabus page. If you do not have Power Point as a program on
your
computer, you can download a Power Point Viewer (see the Microsoft.com
website). It will allow you to read PP files, but not create new ones.
FORMATION
AND
FUNCTIONING OF GROUPS
I will assign Groups
of 3-5 people each before the first class period. Unless someone
drops
or adds the course, these groups will be permanent for the whole
semester.
They will be as heterogeneous as possible, since a group’s successful
functioning
is related to its members being tolerant of views different from their
own. On PBL days (most Wednesdays) an upperclass biology major will
attend
class as a peer tutor to help your group. In addition, assigning
various
roles
of responsibility should ensure smooth group functioning.
One of the first group activities will be to formulate ground rules, or operating rules of conduct that each member agrees to abide by. Once you agree on these, please assign someone to email these rules to me and to all group members. Each group will be given a folder in which attendance will be recorded and quizzes and problems can be stored. An explanation of the peer evaluation process will also be in the folder.
Attendance and punctuality to group functions is very important for the optimum functioning of the group. Someone who is careless with punctuality or attendance may be penalized grade-wise for disrupting the functioning of the group (see the section on Instructor/Peer Evaluations). In the case of illness or an unavoidable absence, please notify me, as well as your group members to avoid being penalized. If you are absent on a lecture day, Power point slides for each lecture are available through a link for each class topic (see the class schedule). However, it's very likely that I will supplement these notes during lecture. Even if you do not anticipate absence, you may still want to access the power point notes before each lecture so you can print them out and follow along with the lecture. You should read about Attendance Policies for both lab and lecture in BISC207 here.
Back to Index
GRADING
The final BISC 207 grade is a reflection of effort both in the
classroom
(lecture)
and the laboratory. Lecture will constitute 75% of the final grade, lab
25%. Information about your laboratory grade will be provided during
the
first meeting of the lab. BISC 100 is devoted to both group and
individual work; therefore,
your final BISC 100 grade will be a Pass, with the following
exceptions, any one of which would result in a Failure of BISC 100:
Failure to participate in a presentation, or
grade of 50% or less in a presentation.
Unexcused absence from 3 or more presentations
given by others
Failure to attend a research seminar
Unexcused absence from 25% of group work (this
includes the problems and the group exams; there are 13 classes in
which groups will collaborate,
thus unexcused absence from 3 of them would result in failure of BISC
100)
Failure to complete any other assignment for
BISC 100
Your B207 grade in lecture will be based on three criteria: Individual Performance, Group Performance, and Instructor and Peer Evaluation.
1. Individual performance (individual quizzes, individual exams) : 65%
of lecture grade
2. Group performance (group exams, problems) : 35%
of
lecture grade
3. Instructor
and Peer Evaluation (modifies the group performance grade.
The
peer evaluation component of your grade is described in the next
section
of this syllabus). It includes not only your peers' evaluation of your
group efforts, but also incorporates credit for attendance.
A more detailed breakdown of the individual and group components of
the BISC 207 lecture grade is shown below:
Individual Component | _ | 65% |
- | % of lecture grade | - |
Quizzes |
20% | - |
3 Hourly Exams | 45% | - |
Group Component | - | 35%* |
- | % of lecture grade | - |
3 Hourly Exams | 15% | - |
9-10 Problems | 20% | - |
* The group grade will be modified by a value from the Instructor/peer evaluation (described in next section).
The total grade for lecture will be multiplied by 75%
An example of a grade calculation can be found here.
GRADING IN
LABORATORY
The laboratory grade will be based on some or all of the
criteria
shown on the
table
below. The weight of each toward the lab grade, and a list of what is
due will be explained at the
first lab meeting and in your manual .
Unless otherwise explained, a "short report" is the Results section,
complete with appropriate graph or table (a graph is preferred if data
are appropriate for a graph). A "Long Lab
Report" is a more full report, consisting of a Title page, an
Introduction section, a Results Section and a Discussion Section. A
Materials and Methods section should not be included in these reports,
unless a brief description of methods is necessary as part of a figure
caption to clarify the figure. More information about these will be
provided in lab.
ACTIVITY | % OF LAB GRADE | %
OF FINAL GRADE |
Short lab report (Results section) - Labs 2, 4,
8 @14 pts |
42 |
4.2 |
Long lab report
(Title, Introduction, Results, Discussion sections) - Lab 7 (Catalase
II, including data from Catalase I) |
20 |
2 |
Quizzes - Labs 1, 4, 5, 9 @ 3
pts each; quiz for lab 6 @ 5 pts |
17 |
1.7 |
Flowsheets - Labs 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 @ 3 pts |
15 |
1.5 |
Worksheet - Labs 1, 3, 5, 9 @ 14
pts |
56 |
5.6 |
Lab Final Exam | 100 |
10 |
Total Points |
250 | 25 |
The following are very rough approximations of
numerical
conversions
to letter grades:
A = 90-100
B = 80-89
C = 70-79
D = 60-69
F = below 60
Plus and minus grades may
be
given for the upper and lower limits
of each grade range. I am not committed to a certain grade
distribution. There will be no curve. Nor will there be any extra
credit allowed to raise a grade.
INSTRUCTOR/PEER EVALUATIONS for
Lecture
For group exams and problems, all members of a group receive
the same grade. The expectation is that everyone made equal
contributions
and expended equal effort. However, in reality, that may not be true -
some may work very hard, while others may "coast". To acknowledge
differences
in effort among group members, you will have a chance to evaluate one
another
with respect to attitude, participation and contributions.
Peer evaluations will be
done twice during the semester. The first time will be in about four
weeks - these will be done as practice and to provide constructive
feedback
to improve group performance. End-of-term peer evaluations will be done
quantitatively. They will be used to advise me in determining how, or
whether,
to modify a person's group score.
I will also take attendance into
consideration.
Evaluation scores will be
given by assigning 0-10 points to fellow group members. A score of 10
indicates
that a person is a fully functional group member (comes to class on
time,
comes prepared to work, contributes to group) - in other words, he/she
merits 100% for group effort. In the past, Honors students have usually
earned a 9 to 10. If a group is not functioning well because of one or
more weak members, this should be brought to my attention as early as
possible
so that the situation can be corrected, and low evaluation scores can
be
avoided.
After averaging your peer
evaluation scores, (for example, if you receive scores of 9.5, 10, and
9 from
your
other group members, your average is 9.5 pts) I will then also take
into consideration your
attendance. Let's
say you attended class only
75% of the time; I would multiply your peer
evaluation (9.5 pts. or 95%) by your attendance (75%), for a total
of 71.2%. I will use
this to determine whether, and how much, to modify your group
grade. It is possible that you might receive only 71.2% of your group
grade. A sample of
the end-of-term peer evaluation form can be seen here.
CLASS SCHEDULE (may be modified as
needed - please check on-line periodically)
CLASS NUMBER |
DATE | LECTURE TOPIC | CHAPTER | LAB TOPIC (WED.) Credit for work may change - please check after labs begin |
- |
- |
|
- | -Note: quizzes are always given at start of lab, so be prompt |
1 |
W 9/1 |
Introduction
to Courses - B100 and B207 Introduction to Chemistry |
9/1 No Lab | |
2 |
F 9/3 |
Chemistry
and Water |
2 | - |
- |
M 9/6 | Holiday - No class |
2 |
|
3 |
W 9/8 | Write ground rules; Problem 1 "Adirondack Alert" |
2 | 9/8 No Lab |
4 |
F 9/10 | Biomolecules | 3 | - |
5 |
M 9/13 | Lecture on Biomolecules |
|
|
6 |
W 9/15 | Problem 2 "Sick Sally" Presentation #1 - Protein Folding and Disposal |
3 | Lab 1: Ex. 1 -Introduction and DNA Bring goggles & manual Quiz - 3 pts Worksheet - end of lab- 14 pts |
- |
|
|
- | - |
7 |
F 9/17 | Quiz 1 on Ch. 2 & 3 Internal Cell Structure |
4 |
- |
8 |
M 9/20 | Cell Structure and Introduction to Membranes |
4 - 5 |
- |
9 |
W 9/22 | Problem 3 - "Salty
Sweat"; Preview Presentation #2 - Autophagy and Apoptosis |
4 - 5 |
Lab 2 - Ex. 2 - Extraction &
Isolation of Plant Pigments Flowsheet - start of lab - 3 pts Short report (Results) - due start of next lab - 14 pts |
10 |
F 9/24 | Membranes and Transport | 5 | - |
11 |
M 9/27 |
Finish Transport;
Review
for Exam |
- |
|
12 |
W 9/29 |
Exam #1 Group Exam and Individual Exam | - |
Lab 3: Ex. 3
- BSA Standard Curve Flowsheet - start of lab- 3 pts Worksheet - end of lab - 14pts |
- |
- |
METABOLISM |
- |
- |
13 |
F 10/1 |
Metabolism
- Enzymes |
6 |
- |
14 |
M 10/4 |
Metabolism |
6 |
- |
15 |
W 10/6 |
Problem 4 - "Summer
in Training preview" Presentation 3: Origin of Life on Earth |
6 |
Lab 4: Ex. 4 - Studying Cell
Structure Using the Light Microscope Quiz - 3 pts Results - next lab - 14pts |
16 |
F 10/8 |
Respiration | 7 |
- |
17 |
M 10/11 | Respiration |
7 | - |
18 |
W 10/13 | Problem 5 - "A Souvenir"; Presentation #4 - Sources of Biofuel |
7 | Lab 5: Ex. 5
- Scientific Method Quiz - 3 pts Worksheet - end of lab - 14pts |
19 |
F 10/15 |
Quiz 2 on Ch.7; Photosynthesis | 8 |
|
20 |
M 10/18 | Photosynthesis |
|
- |
21 |
W 10/20 | Problem 6 " A
Tough Ethical Decision" Presentation #5 - Strategies for Cooling the Earth |
8 | Lab 6: Ex. 6 - Catalase I - pH
optimum Flowsheet - start of lab - 3 pts Quiz - 5 pts |
22 |
F 10/22 |
Cell to Cell Communication | 9, to p. 189* |
- |
23 |
M 10/25 |
Cell Signaling;
Review (or problem on cell signaling or possible presentation on ATP as
signal molecule) |
9, to p.189* | - |
24 |
W 10/27 |
Exam
2 - Individual; Chapters 6-9 Group Exam #2 |
Lab 7: Ex. 7
- Catalase II -
Student designed experiment Flowsheet - start of lab- 3 pts Lab report, including data from Catalase I(due next lab) - 20 pts |
|
- |
CELL DIVISION, CLASSICAL AND MOLECULAR
GENETICS |
- |
- |
|
25 |
F 10/29 |
Cell Cycle & Mitosis |
15 |
- |
26 |
M 11/1 |
Meiosis Return exams |
15 |
- |
27 |
W 11/3 | Problem 7 -
"Sex and Other Stories" Presentation #6 Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells |
15 |
No Lab this week. However, we
will meet at 12:30 pm in Morris Library for a presentation on searching
scientific primary literature. This will last until 2:00 |
28 |
F 11/5 |
Finish meiosis; begin Genetics | 16 |
|
29 |
M 11/8 |
Genetics | 16, 17* to p.359 | - |
30 |
W 11/10 | Problem 8
-Genetics |
16 | Lab 8 - Ex. 10 Photosynthesis Flowsheet -start of lab - 3 pts Results - next lab - 14 pts |
31 |
F 11/12 |
Finish Genetics; begin history of DNA Structure | 16 |
- |
32 |
M 11/15 | Quiz 3 on ch. 15 & 16, plus 17*; DNA Structure | 11 |
|
33 |
W 11/17 | Problem 9 "Night
People"; Advising |
11 | Lab 9 - Ex. 8 RBC permeability Quiz
- 3 pts
Worksheet - end of lab -
14pts |
34 |
F 11/19 | DNA and Transcription | 11 |
- |
35 |
M 11/22 | Transcription Presentation #7 - Control of Transcription |
12 |
No Lab this Week |
W 11/24 | No Classes today |
- | - | |
F 11/26 | THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY | - | - | |
36 |
M 11/29 |
Translation
or review |
12 |
- |
37 |
W 12/1 |
Exam 3 - Individual and
Group- on Ch. 11, 15, 16, part of 17; part of 12 (transcription) |
- |
12/1 - Visit
to DBI; host: Dr. Jeanette Miller DBI webiste: http://www.dbi.udel.edu/ Directions: follow link on web page Meet inside DBI by 12:30; end tour by 2:00 |
38 |
F 12/3 |
Translation; Problem 10 on translation (if time permits) |
12 |
- |
39 |
M 12/6 | Mutations; Presentation #8 - Silent Mutations and Disease |
- |
- |
40 |
W 12/8 | Quiz 4 - material
covered since Exam 3 Peer and Peer Tutor Evaluations Other wrap-up activities Return exams |
- |
Lab 10: Lab Final Exam |
* For reference - entire chapter will not be covered; refer to class notes for studying material in this chapter
You will need access to a computer. If you do not have
your
own, you can use one in a campus computing site. You will also
have
to activate your UD email account, which you will need for email
related
to this course. I will use email to communicate with the whole class,
and
with individuals. Often, announcements will be made by email. In
addition,
comments on exams and problems may be put on a link from the course
web
page. The web page should be checked frequently for changes or
additions,
and will need to be accessed for problem previews. In
laboratory,
your TA will explain how you can share data with group members and the
class. (Sakai may be used in lab for this, but lecture material will NOT be found on
Sakai or Web CT). All lab reports must be typed and
double-spaced;
graphs should be done in Excel, except for those which are done in your
lab manual as part of workbook assignments. More information about lab
reports will
be provided in lab.
Plagiarism is the inclusion of someone else’s words, ideas, or data as one’s own. When a student submits academic work that includes another’s words, ideas, or data, whether published or unpublished, the source of that information must be acknowledged with complete and accurate references and, if verbatim statements are included, with quotation marks as well. By submitting work as his or her own, a student certifies the originality of all material not otherwise acknowledged. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:
USEFUL LINKS
Textbook on-line review and instruction - open access site:
www.brookerbiology.com - Click on 2nd edition of Brooker.
Virtual course (gives access to eBook):
http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/l_dion_fall_2010_section_81