Online BIOL 109
HUMAN BIOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Intersession 2006
Important information you need to know before taking this course:
1. The mandatory orientation is scheduled on 5:00 pm, Tuesday, December 6, 2005 at CH 330.
Students missed the orientation will be removed from the course.
2. Students will HAVE to use FSU email accounts, and be responsible for all information sending
to their FSU email accounts.
3. Course material will be posted at: http://blackboard.frostburg.edu/ and you are responsible for
all teaching material posted at Blackboard. So you need to known how to use Blackboard:
4. Special Requirement:
1) Be able to use EXCEL to collect and calculate data, and to use the data to generate graphs.
2) Be able to use a scientific calculator (it is on your computer) with log function.
3) Be able to access a Scanner and a Fax Machine, just in case you need them for communicating with your
instructor.
5. Required Textbooks (both are available at FSU bookstore):
1) W. P. Cunningham and M. A. Cunningham, 2006. Principles of Environmental Science. 3rd Edition.
McGraw Hill, New York
2) The special combination of chapters selected from two textbooks, available only from FSU bookstore.
6. Other requirements:
1) You need to have a regular and reliable access to a computer with Internet connection. Internet
disconnection cannot be used as excuse for missing a test and uncompleted assignments, unless under
some extremely unusual situation.
2) You need to have basic tech skills, including ability to connect the Internet and contact your Internet Service
provider, to maintain a good Internet connection.
3) You should know how to navigate the World Wide Web though a Web browser (either Netscape or I.E.), knowing
and opening URLs, and how to surf web pages back and forth, etc.
4) You should know how to find, open, rename and save files on a computer, and send and receive e-mail with
attachments.
5) You should be able to download and install some program, and troubleshoot course-specific plug-ins and
applications on your computer.
7. Hardware required:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
128 MB of RAM, 1 GB of free disk space.
56K (or faster) modem (recommended).
8-bit (16-bit recommended) sound card and speakers.
800x600 16-bit color display (or better); graphic card
Operating system: Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP and newer; or Mac OS 9, Mac OS X and newer
8. Software required:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Microsoft Office 2000* (Microsoft upgrades available at nominal cost at FSU bookstore).
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Browser (JavaScript & Cookies must be enabled)
PC: Internet Explorer 6.0 or newer version; or Netscape Navigator 6.1 or newer version
Mac: Internet Explorer 5.1 or 5.2; or Netscape Navigator 6.0 or 6.1
9. Online tests should be done within a limited time. Students who are documented (e.g., study
disability) need extra test time are suggested take tests at the FSU student service office or
make some special arrangement (contact instructor for this).
10. Students meet all of the above requirements please contact Dr. Li hli@frostburg.edu by FSU email with a
statement as below: “I have read the information and meet all requirements, and will come to the
obligatory orientation on 5:00 pm, Dec. 6, 2005, at CH 330. Please enroll me into the online Biol 109, if
it is not full enrolled yet.” Of course, don’t forget tell me your name.
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Online BIOL 109
HUMAN BIOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Intersession 2006
COURSE SYLLABUS
Instructor: Dr. Hongqi Li
Office: 306 Compton Science Center
Office Phone: 301-687-4168 (leave message if I am not available).
Communication: Mainly by email at least twice or more times each day to answer your questions.
URL: http://faculty.frostburg.edu/biol/hli/
E-mail: hli@frostburg.edu
Required Textbooks (both are available at FSU bookstore):
1) W. P. Cunningham and M. A. Cunningham, 2006. Principles of Environmental Science. 3rd Edition.
McGraw Hill, New York
2) The special combination of chapters selected from two textbooks, available only from FSU bookstore.
The course is hosted at: http://blackboard.frostburg.edu/
1. You are responsible for all announcements, materials, and assignments posted at the Blackboard
2. Uncompleted assignments & untaken tests after the scheduled time will be graded as zero.
3. You must use your FSU email address to communicate with FSU instructors.
Course Description: Study of the human species with emphasis on the interdependence of humans, other forms
of life, and the physical environment. Total 24 lectures and 10 labs, 4 credits. Not for majors or minors.
Course Objectives: This course is designed to teach students about humans, the environment and the issues
created by their association. Objectives include:
1) Understanding scientific thinking and how to use scientific methods in problem-solving,
2) Understanding basic human biology and how human beings relate to the environment,
3) Understanding how nature works and how we function in nature,
4) Analyzing our impact on the environment and the environment's impact on us, and
5) Understanding resource problems and related social and political issues.
Grading Procedures:
Two online midterm exams (100 pts on lectures + 25 pts on labs)
Online Final exam (175 pts on lectures + 25 pts on labs)
21 online quizzes for lectures
9 online labs
Orientation (3 assignments)
Total


= 250 points
= 200 points
= 178 points
= 210 points
= 12 Points
850 points
Grading will be: A = 90-100%, B = 80-89%, C = 70-79%, D = 60-69%, F < 60%.
Note: CS (Continued Study Required) or NC (No Credit) grades will not be considered for this course.
Academic Dishonesty: The University policy of academic dishonesty as published in the student handbook, The
Pathfinder, states, "Academic dishonesty is defined to include any form of cheating and/or plagiarism. Cheating includes,
but is not limited to, such acts as stealing or altering testing instruments; falsifying the identity of persons for any
academic purpose; offering, GIVING OR RECEIVING unauthorized assistance on an examination, quiz or other written
or oral material in a course; or falsifying information on any type of academic record. Plagiarism is the presentation of
written or oral material in a manner which conceals the true source of documentary material; or the presentation of
materials which uses hypotheses, conclusions, evidence, data, or the like, in a way that the student appears to have done
work which he/she did not, in fact, do. In cases involving academic dishonesty, a failing grade or a grade of zero (0) for
either an assignment and/or a course may be administered. Students who are expelled or suspended for reasons of
academic dishonesty are not admissible to other institutions within the University System of Maryland. Suspension or
expulsion for academic dishonesty is noted on a student's academic transcript." This statement will be enforced without
exception, and the student should become familiar with it. If cheating or plagiarism is encountered, the instructor may
administer a grade of zero, an F in the class or file a charge with the judicial board depending on the severity of the
offense.
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Attention: The above statement will be enforced without exception, and the student should become
familiar with it. If cheating (e.g., a test is found with more than 90% of wrong answers identical
with another student’s test) or plagiarism (e.g., more than 5% content of a lab paper is found
identical with a paper from any other source, including quotation) is encountered the instructor
may administer a grade of zero, an F in the class or file a charge with the judicial board depending
on the severity of the violation.
A New Class Schedule, 2006 Intersession
Date
12/6
1/3
1/4
1/5
1/6
1/7
Weekday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1/8
1/9
1/10
1/11
1/12
1/13
1/14
1/15
1/16
1/17
1/18
1/19
1/20
1/21
1/22
1/23
1/24
1/25
1/26
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Activities
Orientation: How to use blackboard, course syllabus, and labs .CH 330, 5-7 pm
1. Scientific Method (should be studied before you work on Lab 1)
2. Basics of Biology.
Lab 1 Due (30 points)
3. Cells and cell division
Lab 2: Genetics, Blood types
4. Human Life Cycle and Tissues
Lab 2 Due (25 points)
5. Organ Systems (I): Digestive, urinary,
Lab 3: Human Physiology
cardiovascular, lymphatic, & respiratory
6. Organ Systems (II): The rest systems.
Lab 3 Due (25 points)
Exam 1 Covers lectures 1-6 and Syllabus
7. Introduction to Environmental Science.
Lab 4: Photosynthesis and Respiration
8. Energy, Photosynthesis and Respiration
Lab 5: Biodiversity
9. Ecosystem and material Cycles
Lab 5 Due (25 points)
10. Ecology of Community.
11. Population Dynamics
Lab 6: Survivorship Lab 6 Due (15 pts)
12. Human Populations
Lab 4 Due (30 points)
Exam 2 Covers lectures 7-12
13. Biodiversity, Nutrient, & Food sources
Lab 7: Diet Nutrients survey
14. Biomes, Restoration, and Management
15. Environmental Geology
Lab 8: Air Pollution
16. Atmosphere and Climate
17. Air Pollution
Lab 8 Due (20 points)
18. Water Use and Management
Lab 9: Sewage Treatment Plant online.
Lab 9 Due (20 points)
19. Water Pollution
20. Conventional Energy
21. Sustainable Energy
Final Exam Covers lectures 13-21
All lectures, online quizzes, labs, lab quiz, and tests can be done ahead of the schedule.
Note: Some online material may be updated/changed, and the updates will be announced in the
Blackboard.
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