BIOL 1112 Section A/A1 Syllabus Spring 2017
BIOL 1112 Introductory Biology II for non-science majors, Online Hybrid, Credit Hours: (3-2-4)
Spring semester: January 11, 2017 – May 3, 2017
Course prerequisite: Completion of BIOL 1111 or BIOL 1107; not open to students who have credit for
BIOL 1108.
Course co-requisite: None
Lecture Section A CRN 265: Course content and assignments in Brightspace by Desire2Learn (D2L), no lecture class scheduled.
Lab class Section A1 CRN 266: Mondays 4:30PM-6:20PM, IC 320. Lab materials and assignments in D2L. Graded lecture classwork will be completed in lab class.
Instructor: Dr. Lynn Rumfelt
Office: IC 225, 2nd floor of IC building in Biology Department
Office phone: 678-359-5470
Email:
I will reply to your emails within 24 hours during the week (Monday-Friday) and to emails sent on Saturday - Sunday on the following Monday, at the latest.
Office hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 2PM-6PM. I am available at other times by appointment: contact me by email or telephone to schedule.
Website: http://www.gordonstate.edu/Faculty/lrumfelt/
I. Course description
This course covers general topics include diversity of viruses and prokaryotes, plant and animal diversity and classification, structure and function of major plant and animal systems, and ecology. This course is intended for non-science majors. If a student takes both BIOL 1112 and BIOL 1108, only one of these courses will count towards the Area D science, math and technology requirements. The other course may be used in Area B. Link to catalog: 2016-17 Gordon State College Catalog.
II. Course Materials
1. The course textbook is an open education resource and is available at no cost to the student. I have downloaded individual chapters into D2L course lecture folders.
Concepts of Biology by OpenStax College, non-science major text book, ISBN-10 1938168119, ISBN-13 978-1-938168-11-6, Revision CB-2013-005(03/16)-RS (download link: https://cnx.org/contents/:Pj8cW7X1@4/Introduction).
If desired, student may purchase a print version of the textbook from Amazon for less than $30.00.
2. Safety glasses may be purchased from the Gordon State College bookstore. Alternatively, student may borrow used lab glasses available in our lab facilities.
3. Dissection Kit for laboratory classes. These are available for purchase from the Gordon State College Bookstore.
III. Success in the course
Success in this course with a passing grade requires the following from enrolled students:
i. Active studying on regular and frequent basis:
a. Preview of lecture and lab materials before lab class
b. Regular lab class attendance.
c. Review of lecture and lab materials after lab class.
d. Dedicated study time outside of class to review course materials, complete assignments, and prepare questions for the instructor.
ii. Knowledge of the learning management system Brightspace by Desire2Learn (D2L) to access course materials. If unfamiliar with D2L, please watch the instructional video by our Instructional Technologist, Professor Autumn Schaffer, in the link below: http://faculty.gordonstate.edu/autumns/videos/desire2learnorientationforstudents/desire2learnorientationforstudents.html
iii. Completion of assignments by their due dates. Late work is not accepted.
iv. Check D2L course homepage and D2L email regularly each week for important information from the instructor.
v. If need help, then ask.
vi. Visit with peer tutors at the Gordon State College Student Success Center (SSC): http://www.gordonstate.edu/successcenter/home. This service is free, beneficial, and available Monday through Friday in the Student Center Building.
IV. Student learning outcomes
The student will read the course text book and complete assignments and assessments pertaining to the general student learning outcomes for this introductory biology course:
1. Understand how population evolve and the process of speciation
o How populations evolve, Hardy-Weinberg, gene flow, genetic drift, population bottlenecks, founder effects, adaptations, agents of selection, effects of selection,
o Species concept, isolating mechanisms, speciation, allopatric and sympatric speciation, extinction
2. Describe evidence suggesting the likely origin of life, traits of early organisms, and how organisms are classified.
o Early organisms, endosymbiont hypothesis, overview of evolution from early life to present major groups Taxonomy, binomial nomenclature, Linnaeus, systematics, domains of life, current diversity
3. Describe the major groups of organism, traits that define them, diversity found within each group, and significance of each groups
o Prokaryotes, diversity and distribution, characteristics, reproduction, exchange of genetic info, important roles, virus structure, important roles, reproduction
o Protists, diversity, major groups, distinctive characteristics of groups, roles
o Plants, key traits, alternation of generations, nonvascular, vascular, seedless, gymnosperms, angiosperms, reproduction of each group
o Fungi, key features, reproduction, major groups, characteristics, roles, interaction with other species
o Invertebrates, characteristics, diversity, major groups, characteristics, roles
o Vertebrates, characteristics, diversity, major groups, characteristics, roles
4. Describe how populations grow, patterns of growth, factors regulating growth, interactions between members of a community, and how community members are linked ecologically.
o Principles of population ecology, population growth curves, carrying capacity, population demographics
o Principles of community ecology, niche, competition, competitive exclusion, predator-prey interactions, types of symbiosis, trophic levels and food webs
V. D2L access to course materials, assessments, and grades
Student are given access to the textbook, course materials, assignments, assessments, and grades through the web-based learning management system, Brightspace by Desire2Learn (D2L).
Directions to access course materials in D2L
It is important to use the internet browser Mozilla Firefox for better functioning in D2L because Internet Explorer is not sufficiently reliable.
You may check your web browser using the D2L System Checker: http://www.usg.edu/usgweb/d2lchecker/ to make sure your computer configuration is compatible with D2L.
1. Go to MY GORDON web page and open the link for “Brightspace/Desire2Learn” which opens up a new window.
2. Log in to D2L
Enter your Gordon State College email name and password. Note: The instructor does not have access to student login and password. If the password is forgotten, then click on the link “forgot password?” to receive new password through Gordon State College email (not D2L email system).
3. Access course materials
Select the BIOL 1112 course under My Courses in the right hand column to enter the course. Note: Lab content is available in BIOL 1112 lecture course only.
VI. Exams Schedule and Statement of Alternative Testing Facility in Lieu of On-Campus Assessment
If the student feels they cannot attend the required on-campus Lecture exam 6 (final exam), then they will need to contact the instructor of the course to make alternative arrangements at the beginning of the semester to set up alternative testing site for this exam. If a testing facility is required for the student to be assessed off-campus, then it is the student’s responsibility to make and pay for the alternative arrangements with the Gordon State College testing center. The student will then contact the instructor, Dr. Rumfelt, who will determine if the off-campus arrangements are acceptable. Dr. Rumfelt will notify the student of the final decision about testing at the alternative site.
Exam schedule is available at the end of this syllabus and will be posted in the D2L calendar in advance of each exam date.
VII. Student Rights and responsibilities
Section 1. Availability of services by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Gordon State College is committed to making reasonable efforts to assist individuals with disabilities in their efforts to access a high quality post-secondary education. Gordon State College will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with documented qualifying disabilities in accordance with the policies of the University System of Georgia and Gordon State College. If you have a disability and feel you need accommodations in this course, you must present a current letter to the instructor from Counseling and Accessibility Services, indicating the existence of a disability and the approved accommodations. To register a disability, contact Counseling and Accessibility Services, Student Center Room 212, 678-359-5585 under the direction of Ms. Alicia Dorton for documentation review and assessment for an accommodation. Upon approval, you will be given a letter stating the accommodations allowed, which the instructor signs and then the student returns the signed accommodation letter to Ms. Dorton.
Section 2. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §1681 et seq.
Title IX is a comprehensive federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity. The principal objective of Title IX is to avoid the use of federal money to support sex discrimination in education programs and to provide individual citizens effective protection against those practices.
Gordon State College is committed to providing an environment free of all forms of discrimination and sexual harassment, including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. If you (or someone you know) has experienced or experiences any of these incidents, know that you are not alone. All faculty members at Gordon State College are mandated reporters. Any student reporting any type of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence or stalking must be made aware that any report made to a faculty member under the provisions of Title IX will be reported to the Title IX Coordinator or a Title IX Deputy Coordinator. If you wish to speak with someone confidentially, you must contact the Counseling and Accessibility Services office, Room 212, Student Life Center. The licensed counselors in the Counseling Office are able to provide confidential support.
Gordon State College does not discriminate against any student on the basis of pregnancy, parenting or related conditions. Students seeking accommodations on the basis of pregnancy, parenting or related conditions should contact Counseling and Accessibility Services regarding the process of documenting pregnancy-related issues and being approved for accommodations, including pregnancy-related absences as defined under Title IX.
Section 3. Academic Dishonesty Policy – Plagiarism and Cheating
Plagiarism is defined as “the act of using another person's words or ideas without giving credit to that person”, (reference: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plagiarism).However, plagiarism may also be use of another’s words or ideas, even with citations, if the work has not been written in one’s own words that are significantly different from the original wording.
All course work, in general, is expected to be done using the student’s own words and ideas, and not to be achieved by plagiarism. If citing a source then the student’s work should paraphrase using their own words the work of another and include the reference for where this citation was found.
Examples of work expected to be completed by each individual student on their own, without plagiarizing, are quizzes, exams, and classwork. Lab reports are expected to be collaborative effort between the two students working together as a team but not achieved by plagiarizing the work of other lab teams or anyone else.
Plagiarism and cheating are serious academic offences. If the instructor determines the student’s work has been plagiarized then this may result in a 0% grade for the particular assignment for all parties involved. If continued incidences of plagiarism or cheating occur after the first incident then all students engaged in plagiarism/cheating may receive an additional 25% reduction of final grade for the course. If the plagiarism/cheating offense is deemed severe enough or the student continues this behavior after discussion of the issues with the instructor, then this may result in the student not passing the course and receiving an F grade.
In addition, the plagiarism/cheating incident, as per college procedures, may be reported to the Department Head of Biology and Physical Sciences, Dr. Durojaiye, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Finazzo, and/or the Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Knighton. In cases where further action is warranted, a recommendation to that effect will be made to the Vice President of Student Affairs, and the Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs. Per the student catalog, students may be also required by the instructor to complete a documentation workshop given by the Student Success Center and show proof of this completion to the instructor in the same semester as enrolled in this course.
Review the academic catalog concerning plagiarism and cheating in the student conduct code: Student Code of Conduct and Academic Dishonesty Policy in current catalog. The student code of conduct mandated by the college constitutes policies to guide and direct the student in their actions in campus life. If there are any questions concerning these policies then please discuss them with your instructor. More information on plagiarism: http://www.gordonstate.edu/pdf/2016-17_Catalog_072516_%28pdf%29.pdf
Section 4. Couse enrollment verification, course attendance policy, and class tardiness
A. Course enrollment verification
§ Our first lab class is January 23, 2017. If the student does not attend the 1st lab then the student will be reported as non-attending to the Registrar and will be dropped from the course rolls.
B. Course attendance policy
§ Attendance in lab class is documented in the D2L attendance by the instructor which may be viewed by the student starting January 23, 2017, our 1st lab for the semester.
o Student attending lab signs a sheet as they enter lab class prior to the start. It is best to arrive slightly early to lab class. This signed sheet is used by instructor to post attendance in D2L.
o If student is absent then the absence is documented by the instructor and posted in D2L attendance.
o If student is late and misses signing the sign-in sheet then the instructor documents the student as absent in D2L course attendance.
o If the student is absent or late for a lab, then the lab may not be made up, and the student will receive 0% grade for the missed lab. Make-up labs are not possible due to space, material, and time constraints. No excuse for absences or lateness will be accepted by the instructor.
o Lecture classwork will be completed in class at the beginning of most lab classes. This classwork will be graded by a grading rubric. If the student is absent or late for a lab, then the lecture classwork may not be made up, and the student will receive 0% grade for the missed classwork. No excuse for absences or lateness will be accepted by the instructor. Classwork will be posted in the D2L content folder for that chapter.
o Student who is absent or late to four labs will receive a 25% grade reduction on the Lab Exam.
o Student who is absent or late to five labs will receive a 25% grade reduction for the course. The 25% reduction will be calculated at the end of the semester during the final grade calculation.