BISC208-012 INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY
SPRING 2011
Index
Explanation
of t-test on excel
Samples
of graded long reports
Class Activities
Group
Assignments
(also see Formation and Functioning of Groups
below)
Course Schedule
Attendance
Grading
COURSE INFORMATION
Course Instructor | Linda K. Dion |
Course Time, Place |
Lecture: MWF 11:15; 208 Gore Hall Lab: Tues 2-5 pm |
Office | 241 Wolf Hall |
Office Hours | These will be announced in class |
ldion@udel.edu - best way
to contact me |
|
Class web page | http://www.udel.edu/biology/dion/208012syllabus.html |
Text | Brooker, Widmaier, Graham, Stiling. Biology 2nd ed |
Phone | 831-2476 |
COURSE CONTENT
The physiology of plants and animals, in addition to evolutionary and ecological concepts will be the topics of this course. Lecture is supplemented by labs which teach these topics.
COURSE METHODS
This section of Iintroductory Biology will combine lecturing
with an active student-centered approach. During some class meetings,
you will work with your group to analyze biologically relevant,
real-life problems in light of what you have learned from lectures or
you may work on other group activities such as practice quizzes or
exercises..
CLASS ACTIVITIES
Preparation: You as students
will work as individuals and as members of a group. At the beginning of
each major topic, you should always do the assigned reading
before listening to a lecture or doing a group activity. It will
be VERY helpful for you to
print
out the Power Point notes, so you can more easily follow a lecture
(more
about that below).
Key Concepts and Practice Quizzes: for
each topic, I will provide some key concepts with which you should be
familiar. Use these as a guideline when reviewing your notes and the
readings. They will be linked to the syllabus (Class Schedule) for the
first day on which a topic will be covered. Each document may also list
a practice quiz on the publisher's website which you can use for
practice. This website is accessible at www.brookerbiology.com
When
this site opens, choose edition 2, then choose the appropriate chapter,
then choose Post Test. I've
omitted some questions from each quiz because the answer is wrong,
ambiguous, or because we are not covering it in class. If you wish to use the electronic
version of the textbook you must access Connect Plus. If you bought
your 2nd ed. text new from the UD bookstore, an access code for this
should be included (same one used in fall 2010). However, you must
first log in to this "course" managed by the McGraw-Hill company before
you can log in to Connect Plus. The log-in you should use is:
http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/l_dion_section_12_mwf
Quizzes & Exams: Three
quizzes
will be given this term. They should be an incentive to review material
already covered in class so that studying for the exams will be less
overwhelming.
Quizzes will consist of approximately 10-12 questions. In
addition
to
the quizzes, there will be three "hourly" exams and a final exam.
The format of the exams will be similar to that of the quizzes but will
be a more extensive synthesis of the material previously covered in the
course up to that time. See comments below about attendance
at exams and quizzes. All hourly exams and quizzes are given in the
regular
classroom during a regularly scheduled class. Grades are not posted,
nor may they be sent
by email - you
must
get your exam in class to learn your grade. Anything that
is done in class, or
that's
assigned for reading is fair game for exams. It's usually best to
concentrate
on what we do in class when you study for an exam.
The final exam's date will be determined by the Registrar and will be
posted later in the semester. I have no control over the date scheduled
for the final exam. Please do not make any travel arrangements until
the exam date is known. There will be no exceptions made to taking the
final exam on the assigned date. The final exam will be comprehensive -
i.e. will cover all course material, with the exception of lab material.
Lecture days and Group Work Days:
Class time will be spent in Lectures and "Group Work". Two to three
class
meetings
will usually be required to cover a topic. For two of them, I will
lecture and for the third, there will be some type of group activity.
Such an activity could be analyzing
a real life problem related to the
week's topic, or it could be taking a practice quiz or drawing and
labeling an assigned structure. Information learned from group work
will be included on exams and quizzes. Group work and problems will not
be linked to the class syllabus.
Accessing Power Point Notes, Key
Concepts and other restricted files: To access Power Point
notes or other restricted files you will
need
to use a computer linked to the campus network. Using one from
off-campus
will not allow access, since these items 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 direct link:
https://proxy.nss.udel.edu/login?qurl=http://www.udel.edu/biology/dion/208012syllabus.html).
This will connect you to the proxy server, which will then require that
you log in. After logging in, you will get immediately back to the
syllabus (now through the proxy server), so you should now
be able to access any restricted files. To
download the Power Point slides, you will need Power Point on your
computer (if someone does not have this, speak to me). I will create
Power Point
files in Office 03 and Office 07. (If you only have Office 03,
you can download a free converter package from Microsoft's website).
Power Point
notes can be accessed through the link under "Class Schedule"
for the respective date on this syllabus. Do NOT search in WebCT
or Sakai for
lecture notes for this course, although the laboratory portion of it
may use Sakai - this will be announced by your TA if she/he decides to
use Sakai for your lab section.
FORMATION AND FUNCTIONING OF GROUPS
Heterogeneous groups of 6 people each will be formed by at least the
3rd class period. I will determine who is in these groups, and they
will
remain intact for the entire semester, with the exception of changes
due
to students dropping or adding the course. A list of groups and their
members are
provided here.
If you wish to see which group you are in, you can access the
alphabetized
list here.
One of the first group activities will be to formulate some "rules of
the
road", that is, a series of ground rules
for conduct that each member
agrees
to abide by. There will be a few suggestions provided for
reasonable
conduct. Your list of ground rules should be signed by everyone.
COMMUNICATION
I use email frequently to communicate with the class at-large, and with individuals. Often, announcements will be made by email. In addition, comments about exams or problems may be put on the course web page, as well as the links to Power Point notes. In laboratory, data may be shared and transmitted through Sakai, which will be explained in lab (note: lab work is the only part of this course which may be on Sakai). Lab TAs will expect all writing assignments to be typed and double-spaced; they will tell you whether graphs can be hand-done or done in Excel. As you can see, it will be necessary for you to have easy access to a computer which has Excel, Word and Power Point. You will also need your campus email access, since this is the only way you would receive class emails from me..
Class | Date | Lecture Topic | Chapter | Lab Topic of Week |
- |
- |
EVOLUTION |
||
1 |
M 2/7 | Introduction to Course and to evolution |
23*, 24 |
No Lab |
2 | W 2/9 | Microevolution Key concepts |
24 | - |
3 |
F 2/11 | Hardy Weinberg problems. Microevolution |
- |
- |
4 |
M 2/14 | Group Activity on an
endangered species Speciation |
25* to p. 520 (omit section 3 & 4) |
Lab 1: Introduction to lab; Evolution |
5 |
W 2/16 | Speciation Key
Concepts |
- |
- |
6 |
F 2/18 | Systematics
Key
Concepts |
26* to p. 535 (though other pages will help you with lab) | - |
- |
- |
PLANT
BIOLOGY |
- |
- |
7 |
M 2/21 | Quiz
1 on Evolution; Plant
Diversity Key
Concepts |
29* (omit section 2), 30 to p. 626 |
Lab 2: Systematics |
8 |
W 2/23 | Plant
Structure |
35 |
- |
9 | F 2/25 |
Plant Structure Key
Concepts |
35 |
- |
10 |
M 2/28 |
Nutrition
and Transport Key Concepts Practice Quiz on Plants |
37*, 38 |
Lab 3: Animals I: Invertebrates: Dissection & pulsation rate in blackworm |
11 | W 3/2 | Transport
|
- |
- |
12 | F 3/4 | Review
|
- |
- |
13 |
M 3/7 |
Exam 1 on Evolution and Plants |
- |
Lab 4: Animals II: Invertebrates: Blackworm project - affect of drugs on pulsation rate |
- |
- |
ANIMAL BIOLOGY | - |
- |
14 | W 3/9 | Animal
Diversity Begin Circulation Key Concepts |
32* & 34*; Read Ch.40 for Intro. to
Animals - I will not lecture on it |
- |
Class | Date | Lecture Topic | Chapter | Lab Topic |
15 | F 3/11 | Circulation | 47 |
- |
16 | M 3/14 | Circulation Key
Concepts |
47 |
Lab 5: Plants I: Anatomy & Transport |
17 | W 3/16 |
Gas Exchange | 48 | - |
18 | F 3/18 |
Gas exchange Key Concepts | 48 |
- |
19 | M 3/21 | Gas Exchange |
48 |
Lab 6: Plants II: Transpiration Project |
20 |
W 3/23 |
Quiz 2 Begin
Nervous Control |
41 |
- |
21 | F 3/25 |
Nervous
Control Key concepts |
41 |
- |
- |
- |
SPRING
BREAK |
- |
- |
22 | M 4/4 |
Nervous Control; begin muscles |
41 | Lab 7: Animals III: Touch & Temperature Senses |
23 | W 4/6 |
Muscles |
44 |
- |
24 | F 4/8 |
Muscles Key
Concepts Class Activity |
44 |
- |
25 | M 4/11 |
Thermoregulation Key Concepts |
46, sec. 3 & 4 |
Lab 8: Animals IV: Respiration |
26 | W 4/13 |
Finish
thermoregulation or Review for exam |
- |
- |
27 | F 4/15 |
Exam 2 (on material since Exam 1) | - |
- |
28 | M 4/18 |
Digestion | 45 |
Lab 9: Animals V: Chordate Anatomy |
29 | W 4/20 |
Digestion Key
Concepts |
45 |
- |
30 |
F 4/22 |
Digestion; begin
Osmoregulation; Practice
Quiz |
49 sec 1-4 |
- |
31 | M 4/25 |
Osmoregulation | 49 sec 1-4 |
Lab 10: Ecology |
- |
- |
ECOLOGY |
- |
- |
32 | W 4/27 |
Quiz
3 on digestion and osmoregulation Population Ecology |
56 |
- |
33 | F 4/29 |
Population Ecology Key
Concepts |
56 |
- |
34 | M 5/2 |
Group
Activity on Populations Community Ecology |
57, 58* |
Week 11: No formal laboratory; prepare for exam |
35 | W 5/4 |
Community Ecology Key
Concepts |
57, 58* | - |
36 | F 5/6 |
Communities | 58*, 59* |
- |
37 | M 5/9 |
Problem on Communities; Ecosystems | 59*, 54 |
Lab 11 (week 12): Final Laboratory Exam |
38 |
W 5/11 |
Ecosystems; Key
Concepts Biomes |
||
39 | F 5/13 | Exam 3 on material
since Exam 2 |
- |
- |
40 |
M 5/16 | Return exams; comment
on final exam |
- |
No Labs this week |
- |
F 5/20 |
FINAL EXAM - |
- | - |
Attendance in lecture is EXPECTED and will
be recorded daily on your folder, using the Honor System.
Announcements will be made, or
activities
started, at the beginning of class, so promptness is important. If you
miss a lecture, notes must be obtained from another student, or Power
Point
notes can be consulted. However, I supplement the Power point notes in
my lectures, so you will learn best by coming to lecture. If you
miss an exam or quiz, credit will not be received.
Exceptions are the following:
1. documented
illness
2. documented
personal tragedy
3. documented
official University business
If you miss a quiz for one
of the above reasons, then a make-up quiz will be given. This make-up
must
be given before the next class meets. If you miss an exam for
one of the above reasons, the portion of the final exam which contains
this material will substitute for that exam grade. Students who know they
will
miss a quiz or exam for an excusable
reason must inform me before or on
the
day
of the exam (no later than two hours after the class has met)
through phone or e-mail; otherwise, absence will be
considered
unexcused and a zero will be given. An exception will be made for
someone who is hospitalized - in that case, I expect to be notified by
the end of the day by a parent or Dean. Later explanations will not be
accepted.
Attendance in laboratory is MANDATORY. We
place
high importance on the laboratory experience. Therefore unexcused
laboratory
absences will result in a grade reduction for lab, or possibly for the
whole B208 course.
One or two unexcused absences will result in NO credit for work
done that week in lab (quizzes, assignments)
and
three unexcused absences will result
in a failure of BISC208. Excused
absences
fall into the categories listed above and must be made
up
by attending a lab at another time during the same week. Responsibility
for arranging this lies with the student after FIRST checking with me to explain
the reason for missing the lab, and also writing to your TA. Once I've
accepted your explanation, you must then (with help of your TA)
arrange to take a lab later in the week. Make up during a later week cannot
be accomodated, since labs are stripped of their equipment on Thursday
evening and set up for the following week's labs on Friday. As in BISC
207, students who have 3 excused
absences and are unable
(due to excusable extenuating circumstances)
to make up those missed labs during the course receive an automatic
incomplete in the course. Missed labs and the final lab exam must be
made up in the following semester. Additional
laboratory policies will be explained in lab
by your laboratory instructor, and they should also be read in your lab
manual. Your Lab Instructor may give grade deductions for tardiness
of lab reports, or late lab arrival, so please do things promptly to
ensure your best chance of success in lab. If you arrive late to lab on
a quiz day, you might not be allowed to take the quiz.
.
The final grade is a reflection of effort both in the classroom and in the laboratory. Lecture will constitute 75% of the final grade, lab 25%. Your laboratory grade will be explained during the first meeting of lab & is also in your lab manual. It will be based on the criteria shown below, whose due dates are listed in the laboratory manual:.
Laboratory - Graded Items | Percent of Course Grade |
Lab Final Exam |
|
2 Long Reports |
|
4 Short Reports |
5 |
4 Quizzes |
|
3 Workplans |
0.5 |
6 Assignments |
2 |
Total |
|
Your grade in lecture will be based on these criteria: Quizzes,
Hourly Exams and Final Exam, and Attendance & Participation
(modified by your Peer Evaluation Score)
A more detailed breakdown of the components
of the lecture grade is shown below:
Component | % of Course Grade |
3 Quizzes @ 4% each |
12% |
3 Hourly Exams @ 15% each |
45% |
Final Exam |
13% |
Attendance & Participation* |
5% |
*Modified by Peer Evaluation Score
The final grade will be determined from the following approximate
range which is shown below. HOWEVER, this range is NOT set in
stone. Assignment of the final
course grade can be influenced by such things as the entire class
average.
Additionally, assignment of final course grade to each student will be
considered on an individual basis and COULD be influenced by my
consideration of circumstances which include (but are not limited to)
the following: laboratory
grading by TA is significantly different
(more or less rigorous) than that of other TA's (in which case,
laboratory grades may be "normalized" among sections). Adjustments to
grading, if made, will be done fairly for all students.
A plus or minus MAY be assigned for upper and lowermost grades in
each range. For example, a grade of 78 & 79 could be a C+, while a
70 and 71 could be a C-
A | 90 - 100 |
B | 80-89 |
C | 70-79 |
D | 60-69 |
F | below 60 |
PEER EVALUATION SCORE
When problems are discussed
by groups
in class or practice quizzes are done, the expectation is that
everyone makes equal
contributions
and expends equal effort. However, in reality, that may not be true -
some
may work much harder than others. To acknowledge
differences
in effort among group members, you will have a chance to evaluate one
another
with respect to attitude, participation and contributions by doing peer
evaluations. These will be done at the end of the term, in a
quantitative
way; i.e. an average "score" for each group member will be determined.
These
will then be used to advise me in determining how, or whether, to
modify
a person's "Attendance and Participation" grade component.
Evaluation scores will be
given by assigning 0-5 points to fellow group members. A score of 5
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. Usually students receive between 4-5
points
for their peer score. 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.
I reserve the right to modify peer evaluation scores if I think someone
has been unfairly evaluated by group members.
A peer evaluation score
would be used to modify your grade in the following way. I will
determine
how much of the 5% you deserve for attendance alone. If your
attendance
was perfect, you deserve the total 5%; this would be multiplied by
your peer evaluation score
(if
you attended 75% of the time, you would automatically start at 5 x 75%
or 3.75% ,
multiplied
by your peer evaluation score). If for example, you receive scores of
4, 5, 5, 4 and 4.5 from your other group members, your average is
4.5
pts. If you had perfect attendance, your Attendance-Participation grade
of 5%
will
be multiplied by 4.5/5 to give a grade of 4.5%.. If your peer
evaluation average is 4 out of 5 pts., and
you attended only 75% of classes your Participation grade is determined
by multiplying 5 x 75% x 4/5, to give 3% toward your grade.
Everyone should strive for an
attendance/participation score of 5%. This can be
accomplished through perfect attendance, a concerted effort to work
constructively with your group, and diligent work on problems,
demonstrating that you have understood their application.
NOTE ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
For lab and lecture, be familiar with the
university
policy on Academic Dishonesty. All work submitted for grading in lab
and
lecture, must be the original work of each individual. Although you
will
work as a group in lab, lab reports are to be written individually.
This
means that graphs or tables should also be done individually.
Exceptions will be explained in lab.
The most common problems of
academic dishonesty among
freshmen students are plagiarism and cheating (both usually done
unintentionally because of misunderstanding of what constitutes these
infractions). Therefore, based on the Student Guide to University
Policies (http://www.udel.edu/stuguide/10-11/code.html#honesty ), here
are
definitions of each. These definitions are not necessarily
all-inclusive.
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: