Great Basin College, Pahrump Valley Campus, 551 East Calvada Blvd, Pahrump,
Nevada – 89048- Phone:(775) 727-2000 -Fax:(775) 727-2014
Course Syllabus for BIOL 191 – Introduction to Organismal Biology- Spring 2014
Instructor: Dr. Rita Bagwe
Office: 101B
Email:
Phone: 775-727-2005
Office Hours: Monday thru Thursday 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.; Friday – 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon or by appointment.
Teaching Assistants:
Ms. Holly Brice - : Mon & Tue: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Ms. Jani Johnston – ; Wed & Thur: 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Teaching assistants will meet strictly by scheduled appointment only. Sign-up sheet for scheduling appointments is kept in the Academic Success Center.
Course title: Introduction to Organismal Biology
Course number/ section numbers:BIO 191 /1004 lab/ 1005 lecture
Number of credits:4 Credit
Meeting dates / time/ place: Tuesdays & Thursdays 4.00 p.m. – 5.15 p.m. and lab will be held on Thursday 1:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. / Room number 116
Dates when classes will not be held:Classes will not be held on holidays listed in the school academic calendar.
Prerequisite:Must have completedBIO 190.
Corequisite:Concurrent enrollment in a corresponding lab section is required for this course.
Course description:The study of the evolution, ecology, and diversity of life, both past and present. Required for biology majors, but will partially satisfy the science requirement for all associate’s degrees. Concurrent enrollment in a corresponding lab section is required for this course.
Texts:Lecture - Required text –Biological Science,
Publishers- Pearson, Benjamin Cummings Publishing Company,
Authors – Scott Freeman, Kin Quillin and Lizabeth Allison;
5th edition (required); Published – 2013;
ISBN 13: 978-0-321-74367-1
Lab:lab manual is needed for this course.
Title - Laboratory manual for non – majors in biology,
Authors - James. W. Perry, David Morton, Joy. B. Perry,
Publishers - Brooks/Cole – Cengage learning,
6th Edition, Publishing year - 2013
ISBN-13; 978-0-8400-5380-0
Learning outcomes and Measurements
Objectives / Expected Learning Outcomes / Outcome MeasurementsUpon completion of the course the student will be able to: / The expected outcomes will be measured by:
1. Communication Skills / Students will have several opportunities to exercise written and oral communication skills throughout this course. They will complete laboratory reports and written assignments accessing scientific information as well as written exams. Oral communication skills will also be utilized during discussions involved in completing laboratory assignments. / Lecture Exams: Students will be able to read and answer exam questions in written form.
Lab Practical Exams: Students will read and answer exam questions in written form.
Written Lab Report: Students will clearly communicate scientific information in written form. (See “lab reports” below for grading rubric)
Class Discussions: Students will be able to communicate scientific ideas orally. (Ungraded)
2. Critical Thinking / Quantitative Ability: Students will use mathematical principles and quantitative methods to complete the laboratory assignments. They will also learn how to quantitatively measure molecular-biological and cellular characteristics.
Reasoning and Individual Thought: Students will use reasoning and independent thought to complete laboratory experiments and answer exam questions.
Scientific Understanding- Students will comprehend molecular-biological and cellular systems and the process by which the scientific knowledge is discovered. They will develop the ability to understand molecular-biological and cellular information and how it relates to them. / Lab Exams (written and practical)
Lab Notebook
Quizzes
Lecture Exams
3. Personal and Cultural Awareness / Sense of the Individual in Society- Students will gain an understanding of molecular and cellular biology and how this affects them and the population.
Sense of the Past- Students will gain an understanding of how biological knowledge was discovered and how this knowledge has changed society and their lives.
Sense of Accountability- Students will comprehend the consequences of human discoveries in molecular and cellular biology and their implications.
Appreciation of Fine Arts- Students will develop an understanding of the value of biological diversity and individual curiosity and creative thought. / Lecture Exams: Students will be able to answer exam questions on the importance and place of cell and molecular biology in society, on the history of biological research, and how their actions affect them and their environment.
Lab Practical Exams: Students will be able to answer lab practical exam questions on the importance and place of cell and molecular biology in society, on the history of biological research, and how their actions affect them and their environment.
Class Discussions: Students will be able to discuss the importance and place of cell and molecular biology in society and how their actions affect them and their environment- ungraded.
Written Lab Report: Students will calculate and present quantitative results clearly in the lab reports.
4. Personal Wellness Objective / Students will develop skills in determining the consequences of their actions in relation to the environment and their personal health. They will gain knowledge needed to make important decisions involving personal health. / Lecture Exams and Lab Practical Exams: Students will be able to answer exam questions on the molecular basis of human health.
Class Discussions: Students will discuss the molecular basis of human health, ungraded.
5. Technological Understanding / Students will gain knowledge of how advancing technology in the field of biology will affect their lives and their personal health. / Lecture Exams: Students will be able to answer exam questions on technology in cell and molecular biology, and human health.
Lab Practical Exams: Students will demonstrate the ability to use technological lab equipment used in biology and relate the use of this equipment to cell and molecular biology and human health.
Written Lab Report: Students will present, in written form, the use of technology to discover knowledge in the area of cell and molecular biology – the “procedures” section of their lab reports.
Summary of the Assessment of Objectives:Learning and general education objectives will be assessed with three distinct tools. Lecture exams will consist of multiple choice questions, True or false statements, Fill in the blanksand short essay type questions that will test three types of knowledge: recall of factual information; definitions of terminology; and conceptual and integrative thinking. Laboratory practical will emphasize recall of the various manipulative and study objects used in the exercises, as well as testing that the students understand the concepts and principles that were generated with these devices. The written laboratory report will assess their written communication skills, as well as their conceptual understanding of a critical lab experiment.The experiments have been chosen for its mix of conceptual, numeric, and technical skills.
Method of instruction:Each week there will be two lecture classes and one laboratory class. Homework assignments will be assigned every week.It is your responsibility to read the chapter before the class.
Goals of this course:Students taking this course will have an understanding of cells, biomolecules, composition and physiology of cellular organelles, cell metabolism, reproduction, motility, and gene function in both plants and animals. The GBC General Education Objectives are addressed at the end of this syllabus.
Use of computers in this course:WebCampus: This course will make use of WebCampus. To log in, go to webcampus.gbcnv.edu. Your WebCampus ID is your Great Basin College email address ID. If you don't have a GBC email address or don't remember your address go to swami.scsr.nevada.edu or the Technology Help Desk , or 775-753-2167. Passwords will be sent by mail to students who register for their course(s) 5 days before the semester begins. If you register after this time or did not receive a letter by mail, contact the Help Desk as soon as possible.
Grading system:The grade for this course will be based on two components: performance in lecture and laboratory. The total score for the course is 700.
400 Points- Lecture Grade based on 4 one hour exams (100 points each)
100 Points- 10 Lecture or Lab quizzes (10 points each)
50 Points- 10 Homework assignments (5 points each)
50 Points- 2 Lab reports (25 points each)
100 Points- 2 Lab Practical Exams (50 points each)
Lab Reports: The use of color pencils is mandatory for all students. All the experiments should have an aim, materials used, procedure, principal, results, conclusion and graphs, figures, tables, flow charts wherever necessary. The report must be typed, single spaced, 12 point font, times new roman. It is due by the next lab class period (1 week) after being assigned. The report should follow the following outline:
Aim: Title of the experiment
Introduction: Give the background to the topic. Why is it important? Briefly tell what you are going to do in the experiment.
Procedures:Explain what organisms, materials and methods were used in the experiments. How did you do it?
Results: Present the results. Point out key or unexpected results.
Conclusion: What was the significance of your results? Explain the importance of the experiment, and whether or not your outcome was consistent or inconsistent with what was expected.
Reference:Citing material used in writing of lab report
Diagram / Figure/ Tables/ Calculations/ Graphs: Wherever necessary. Clear, legible and labeled.
Grading criteria for the report are identical to those used by the English department:
1. Focuses and develops ideas effectively, showing creativity and insight.
2. Organizes ideas in a purposeful and logical manner, moving the reader (listener) smoothly through the text (subject).
3. Uses sentence structure and word choice effectively with a sense of control.
4. Commits few, if any, errors in grammar/usage and mechanics.
Lab Notebook:A lab notebook has to been maintained by everyone and it will be graded during lab exams. The use of color pencils is mandatory. A plain notebook should be used as lab notebook and should include certificate page and index page. All lab exercise questions should be answered and written legibly. The use of neat, well labeled graphs/diagrams should be included when necessary. Attendance in lab is mandatory, there will be no make-up labs.
Technical Evaluation:Each student will be graded on my technical evaluation of your proficiency in the laboratory. Use and care of equipment(s), station cleanliness, and overall participation in labs are some of the factors that will be judged. Excessive tardiness/absences and careless behavior will also be factored into the technical evaluation.
Homework Assignments:Will be posted on the web campus. Homework assignments will be given by Friday evening and must be turned in by the following Thursday evening by 5:15 p.m. The grading scale is as follows: Homework must be handwritten on a plain piece of paper and submitted without any reminders on the due date. Late homework assignments will not be accepted at all.
Score Letter Grade
97 – 100 A
94- 96.99 A
90-93.99 A-
87-89.99 B+
84-86.99 B
80-83.99 B-
77-79.99 C+
74-76.99 C
70-73.99 C-
67-69.99 D+
64-67.99 D
60-63.99 D-
00-59.99 F
Your “up to the minute” grade for the lecture portion of the course will be posted on WebCampus in an anonymous spreadsheet. Log on to the WebCampus course and follow the instructions (filed permanently in the announcement area) to view your grade.
Instructions for dropping the course:If you do not complete the course and do not formally withdraw by the drop deadline, your instructor will automatically assign you a grade of "F".And, of course, it would be lovely for you to include the drop deadline for each of your courses.For the Spring 2014 semester the drop deadline is Monday, March 24, 2014. Support staff and Admissions & Records staff can give you the specific drop date for any of your courses; just ask.
Congruent with this policy, "Incompletes" assigned for Fall 2013 courses and beyond, will no longer automatically become W's when the March 15, deadline hits. Instead, if you have not submitted an alternate grade before March 15 (or Oct 15 for spring courses), the "I" will become and "F".
Attendance policy:Attendance in lecture is mandatory. Attendance will be taken in lecture and Labs. Students remaining absent for more than three lecture or lab classes will be given a letter grade down. Even if you come to class late or leave early it will count as half attendance. That means if you do it twice it will be counted as one complete absence. Regular attendance is the single most important thing you can do to get and maintain a good grade. Do not forget to sign attendance sheet for every class and lab separately.Six unexcused absence will automatically result in being expelled from the class.
Student support information:The Student Support and Retention office provides individualized coaching to students who are struggling in college, either academically or personally. The office houses both professional staff and peer mentors to help students navigate obstacles in their college experience and reach their academic goals. For more information visit http://www.gbcnv.edu/retention/ or call the Retention Coordinator at 775-753-2255.
Lecture exam makeup policy:All the students have to take at the exams at a given time schedule. I am not going to give the exam at any other time other according to your convenience. Make sure that you do not schedule anything during the lecture and lab time for the semester. In order to be fair to students taking the exams on the assigned days I am extremely restrictive with makeups. You will only be allowed to take a makeup if you present a written approved excuse before the next time the class meets. You must take the makeup exam before the exam is passed back to the rest of the class, which is usually the next class meeting. These options are only available for approved written excuses at my discretion. If you have missed an exam or know that you are going to miss one see me ASAP.
Lab practical exam makeup policy:Since the lab practical are very difficult to set up, makeups will only be given in exceptional circumstances with an approved written excuse.
Lab quizzes: There will be few Lab quizzes to be given at the beginning of each lab period when there is not a lab practical exam. You will be informed a week in advance of impending lab quiz. They will be based on the previous lab’s material with a few questions from the lab that will be done on the current day. These quizzes cannot be made up.
Schedule:This is a preliminary schedule. I reserve the right to change any part of it. Exam dates will likely not change. But if they do, I will attempt to announce the change one week ahead of time in class.