BSC 2010L - Biology I Laboratory
Fall 2014
Instructor: Mrs. Susan Popa
Phone: 727-712-5498
Email: Through Angel or
Office Hours: By appointment
Academic Department
Dean: Dr. John Chapin
Office: UP 337B (Seminole campus)
Phone: 727-394-6995
Academic Chair: Dr. Meg Delgato
Office: LY 206
Phone: 727-712-5459
Course Information
Course Description: Fundamentals of Biology Lab (BSC 2010L) is designed for students who are planning a science-related career. It is designed to provide the general concepts pertinent to all biological science courses. This course is designed as an in depth sequence to give students an aggressive look at the field of biology.
Course Prerequisite/Corequisite: Prerequisites include ENC 0010 or satisfactory on the SPC placement test and CHM 1025 or one year of high school chemistry. The corequisite for this course is Fundamentals of Biology Lecture (BSC 2010). Please note that students who withdraw from lecture or lab will be withdrawn from the appropriate corequisite course.
Recommended Class Prerequisites: Although it is not formally listed as a prerequisite, it is strongly recommended that a student take Composition I and II prior to this course. The lab section requires research papers. MAC 1105 (College Algebra) is also strongly recommended.
Major Learning Outcomes:
1. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the scientific method in the design, application and analysis of laboratory investigations.
2. The student will demonstrate an understanding of basic manipulatory skills using instruments and equipment in biological laboratory studies.
3. The student will demonstrate an understanding of cellular structure and cellular processes such as mitosis, meiosis, diffusion, osmosis.
4. The student will demonstrate an understanding of testing and investigative methods used to study the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
5. The student will demonstrate an understanding of current research techniques in biochemical, molecular, genetic and embryological research that address newly arising questions in these and other rapidly changing fields.
Course Objectives Stated in Performance Terms:
1. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the scientific method in the design, application and analysis of laboratory investigations by:
a. correlating steps of investigation logically between observations and testing for significant data.
b. identifying biological questions and designing appropriate experiments to produce data for scientific analysis.
c. determining appropriate controls, sample sizes and reasonable goals.
2. The student will demonstrate an understanding of basic manipulatory skills using instruments and equipment in biological laboratory studies by:
a. using various types of microscopes with proficiency.
b. exhibiting correct and efficient use of data-gathering and measuring devices.
3. The student will demonstrate an understanding of cellular structure and cellular processes such as mitosis, meiosis, diffusion, osmosis by:
a. describing cell structures and their biological function.
b. comparing mitosis and meiosis and their respective purposes and locations.
c. describing the similarities and differences between diffusion and osmosis.
4. The student will demonstrate an understanding of testing and investigative methods used to study the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration by:
a. describing the cellular structures and biochemical requirements necessary for accomplishing these processes.
b. devising and executing appropriate and controlled experiments to demonstrate the occurrence of these processes; their rate of production and how individual variables influence these rates.
c. assessing, analyzing and graphing data from experiments relating to these processes.
5. The student will demonstrate and understanding of current research techniques in biochemical, molecular, genetic and embryological research that address newly arising questions in these and other rapidly changing fields by:
a. becoming proficient in current research techniques and their usage.
b. evaluating current studies and their applications in advancing future research.
c. reporting procedures, experimental data and analyzed results in appropriate form suitable for scientific publication.
Required Textbook and Materials:
Penchenik. A Short Guide to Writing About Biology.
All Handouts on class website (Angel) or provided in lab.
Library: http://www.spcollege.edu/central/libonline/
Important Dates
August 18 First Day of Classes
August 22 Last Day to Drop and Receive Refund
September 1 No classes – Labor Day
October 22 No classes – All college day workshop
October 23 Withdrawal deadline
November 11 No classes – Veterans Day
November 26-30 No classes – Thanksgiving break
Financial Aid: http://www.spcollege.edu/central/SSFA/HomePage/calendar.htm
Attendance and Active Participation Policy: Regular class attendance is expected of all students. Successful completion of this course requires regular class attendance. If you miss a class, you are responsible for making up the material; however, there are no make-up labs. Students who miss the first two weeks of class will be automatically withdrawn from the class. If you decide to no longer attend class or must withdraw for any reason, you are responsible for ALL paperwork to be completed and turned in by October 23, 2014.
Attendance is mandatory and will be used to determine active participation in the course. Laboratory exercises and exams may not be made up. Tardiness will not be tolerated, and will be counted as an absence. A total of 3 or more absences prior to the voluntary withdrawal deadline of October 23rd will result in the recording of a non-participating status being entered into PeopleSoft. Students who violate the attendance policy after the voluntary withdrawal date will be assigned a grade of “F” at the end of the semester. If this is your third attempt (or greater) in this course and you violate the attendance policy at any time you will be assigned an “F.” Attendance is required to complete the laboratory assignments, so it is very important to attend class! To qualify as an excused absence, you must have a valid, written document that I can verify. Attendance will be recorded in Angel, so you may keep track of your attendance.
ALL LABS ARE SCHEDULED TO MEET FOR 2 HOURS AND 40 MINUTES. This time schedule will be strictly adhered to for the entire semester. Leaving early will result in an absence and a lower participation grade.
Lab Safety: Please refer to the “Laboratory Safety Rules and Procedures Agreement” for information about safety precautions specific to a laboratory class.
Class Web site: I maintain a website for this class in Angel. It contains weekly lab handouts and weekly checklists. It also has a discussion area where you can post questions, a calendar, an email area where you may communicate with me and with one another, and an announcement page where I will post important announcements. You can also check your grades and your current class average. Please check the Angel website on a daily basis.
Assigned Readings: Student's should read the assignments before lab by reviewing the class schedule and printing the necessary materials from the website. I expect you to come to lab prepared to perform the experiments, with the reading already completed. You must print out the handouts from the website PRIOR to coming to lab. Lab printers are NOT to be used for this purpose.
Academic Integrity: The college has an official policy on academic honesty and proper classroom behavior. If there are any questions, please refer to the brochure, "Academic Honesty and Student Behavior: Expectations of Students at SPC" (also available online). I take this subject very seriously and will not tolerate academic dishonesty or inappropriate/disruptive behavior in the classroom. College policy states that a first offense (cheating, plagiarism, etc) is given a “zero” for the assignment with no possibility of replacing the score, a reduced grade on the assignment with no possibility of replacing the score, or a failing grade in the course. In addition, on the first offense, a form is filed in the Assistant Provost’s office. This does not go onto the student’s transcript, but should a second offense occur, it will. If either the first or second offense is of severe consequences, expulsion is possible. You need to be very clear about this procedure and about what constitutes cheating and/or plagiarism. Since you will be writing papers, you must be VERY CAREFUL not to plagiarize. You must correctly document all resources used. It is important to remember that everyone’s goal should be to learn. Behavior that impedes the learning process of others will not be tolerated.
Disruptive classroom behavior is any behavior that impedes the teaching/learning process, which includes talking or text-messaging during class, leaving before class ends, etc. Students are expected to be actively engaged in the learning process, and should ask the instructor questions as needed. Please also remember that tutoring in the Information Commons is a privilege, and that the staff and lab assistants are to be treated with the consideration and respect they deserve. Individuals not complying with this request will be denied access to tutoring opportunities.
Tips for Success: The average amount of time spent on this subject is 3:1. For every one hour of class, you will likely need to spend three outside the classroom. I find this to be the minimum for most students. Attend class regularly. Read the assignments before class. Be prepared to perform the experiments/lab activities when you arrive. Take notes during lab. Perform the experiments carefully and ask questions when necessary. Make sure you understand what you did and why before you leave lab each week. DO NOT JUST MEMORIZE DEFINITIONS – UNDERSTAND CONCEPTS. Ask questions during class and/or office hours for clarity. I strongly encourage you to visit the Writing Lab in the Information Commons when writing lab papers. Much of your grade on papers will be based on correct organization of a scientific paper, writing mechanics, effective data presentation and thorough data analysis. We will discuss these aspects in class. You may submit (in person) a paper early for me to offer suggestions before handing in your final draft.
Grading and Assignments
Midterm and final exams* – 200 points each = 400 points
5 Pre-lab quizzes – 10 points each = 50 points
10 Weekly assignments – 10 points each = 100 points
Enzyme mini research paper – 100 points = 100 points
Cellular respiration mini paper – 50 points = 50 points
Total points 700 points
Final Grade
627 –700 pts = 89.5-100% = A
557 – 626 pts= 79.5-89.4% = B
487 –556 pts = 69.5-79.4% = C
417 – 486 pts= 59.5-69.4% = D
0 – 416 pts = 0-59.4% = F
*Make-up Practical/Exams
There are no make-up practicals given in this course. You need to make sure you attend class and take each scheduled practical.
Exams. Note that exams make up a large portion of your grade. You should always know what we did in class, why we did it, what the results were and how to interpret those results. You should know all major concepts from handouts. There are NO makeup exams and none of them are dropped. The exams will be given at the beginning of lab. If you arrive late, you will not be permitted to take it.
Prelab Quizzes are found in Angel and must be completed before the start of class time. These quizzes will include questions about the lab we will be doing and are meant to help you prepare for class. Because you have an entire week to complete the prelab quizzes online, no prelab quiz grades will be dropped (you will be assigned a zero if you do not complete a prelab quiz). Prelab quizzes can be taken over until a perfect score is obtained.
Mini research Papers must be done using Microsoft Word and computer-generated graphs that can be imported into your word document (I will teach you how to graph on Excel). Papers must be submitted both in hard (printed) copy and electronically via Angel in the Turn-it-in Folder. Please make sure that your electronic copy can be opened using MS Word in the Windows platform. To avoid plagiarism, ALL REFERENCES must be properly cited using the CSE format. The proper format for lab papers is covered in links provided on the lab website and in the Penchenik book. The writing tutors in the information commons can also supply you with proper CSE format and can assist you in writing your papers. You will be required to visit the writing center to have them proofread your papers! An entire biological research paper consists of an Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion and References sections. You will be writing two mini papers just covering the results, discussion, and references section for the Enzyme lab and Cellular Respiration lab.
Weekly Lab Assignments should include supplement materials, answers to questions in the supplement, answers to objectives, completed assignments, and notes taken and data collected during class. These will be handed in weekly and accumulated into a notebook. Assignments will be graded for thoroughness, accuracy, neatness, etc.
No late papers or assignments will be accepted. All papers and assignments are due at the start of class time.
All papers turned in to me must have your name on it and must be stapled if more than one page. Failure to follow proper instructions WILL result in deduction of points from the assignment.
MY EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS:
· Your participation in this class is critical for the learning process.
· You should read lab assignments before lab and come to class prepared to conduct the experiments and discuss the concepts.
· You should treat the opinions of others with respect and tolerance.
· You should complete all assignments on time and with thoughtfulness.
· You should practice academic honesty in all your work. This includes working independently on ALL assignments unless you are told otherwise. All work you submit should be YOUR OWN. Unauthorized collaboration will result in a zero for the assignment, which cannot be dropped as your lowest grade.
· You should come to class on time and remain for the entire class. The door will be locked 5 minutes after class starts.
· For all classes cell phones should be turned off and put away.
· Texting, web-browsing, working on projects for other classes, chatting with friends, entering and leaving during lecture and other disruptive behaviors will NOT BE TOLERATED. You will be dismissed from the class. Two such dismissals will result in an automatic withdrawal prior to October 23rd or a “F” after October 23rd.