FALL 2007 BIO 212 Human Physiology Syllabus
PREREQUISITES: BIO 105 "Introductory Biology: Unity", grade of C or better; and BIO 211 "Human
Anatomy", grade of C or better.
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
o TEXTBOOK: Seeley, Stephens, & Tate's Anatomy & Physiology 7th Edition (2006). Same text as
in BIO 211. You should already own this item and are URGED by your major programs to KEEP it
for reference in future courses in their departments. Since we use the same Seeley text in
Physiology that you used last semester in Anatomy, we make the following assumptions in BIO
212:
o You have already read the Anatomy half of each book chapter, with at least an average
understanding of the main points,
o You can locate and use the text's glossary and subject index,
o You will read the Physiology half of each book chapter before you hear the lecture on the
topic.
o OSMOBEAKER LAB CD-ROM: Buy through bookstore for $12.50. You will need this item no
later than the first full week of class.
o LAB EXERCISES to be found just-in-time on this course's D2L web site. Print out your own
copy, read ahead of lab, and bring to lab.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE WELCOME IN THIS COURSE. Please contact your lecture
AND lab Instructors in the first week of class so that we may arrange all possible accommodation
ahead of time.
EMAIL COMMUNICATION and D2L: will be used frequently throughout the semester to
communicate between Instructors and Students. These constitute legal, official University
communication. Not checking your email is not an excuse for performance problems in the class.
Contact Academic Computing for assistance with email and D2L.
ACADEMIC HONESTY policies are clearly defined at this University and all students are expected to
abide by them. Penalties for violations are severe. Cheating on an exam (including looking at
someone else's paper) at a MINIMUM leads to zero on that exam, with no opportunity for a make-up
or extra credit. A second offense is an F in the course and a report to Dean of Students.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. To understand the central physiological principle of HOMEOSTASIS.
2. To understand physiological SYSTEMS INTEGRATION.
3. To understand physiology on MOLECULAR to ORGAN SYSTEM levels.
4. To build physiology VOCABULARY & QUANTITATIVE SKILLS.
5. To prepare students for FURTHER PHYSIOLOGY COURSEWORK such as Exercise Physiology
or Pathophysiology.
FALL 2007 BIO 212 TIMETABLE & INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION:
Lectures MWF Clow 101
10:20 am - 11:20 am
Dr. Vaughan
HS 249, 424-3076,
vaughan@uwosh.edu
Lab 001
M
HS 120
1:50 pm - 3:50 pm
Ms. Olsen
HS 255,
olsenk10@uwosh.edu
Lab 002
Tu
HS 120
9:30 am - 11:30 am
Dr. Kent
Jkent3@charter.net
Lab 003
Tu
HS 120
12:40 pm - 2:40 pm
Ms. Olsen
HS 255,
olsenk10@uwosh.edu
Lab 004
W
HS 120
11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Ms. Olsen
HS 255,
olsenk10@uwosh.edu
Lab 005
W
HS 120
1:50 pm - 3:50 pm
Ms. Olsen
HS 255,
olsenk10@uwosh.edu
Lab 006
Th
HS 120
9:30 am - 11:30 am
Dr. Kent
Jkent3@charter.net
Lab 007
Th
HS 120
1:20 pm - 3:20 pm
Ms. Olsen
HS 255,
olsenk10@uwosh.edu
DR. VAUGHAN'S OFFICE HOURS (Halsey 249): M 11:30a-12:30p, Tu 12:40-1:40p, WF 9:10a10:10a. Appointments as available.
Check with your Lab Instructor for his/her office hours.
EMAIL COMMUNICATION via student uwosh.edu email accounts will be used by all BIO 212
Instructors at any time. The University considers uwosh.edu email an official line of communication.
BIO 212 students are expected to check their uwosh.edu email accounts on every business day and
abide by all messages sent by any BIO 212 Instructor.
FALL 2007 BIO 212 SCHEDULE OF TOPICS & EXAMS:
Week
No. - Tests
Dates
Lecture Topics & Chapters
Ch. 1: Principles
1
Sep
5-7
Ch. 2, 3, 25: Biochemistry, Membranes,
& Metabolism
Ch. 2, 3, 25: Biochemistry, Membranes,
& Metabolism
2
Sep
10-14
NO lab.
Lab MEETS this week for Orientation.
Ch. 4: Tissue Physiology; Transport
Epithelia; Excitability
Ch. 9: Muscle Physiology
3
Sep
17-21
Ch. 9: Muscle Physiology
4
Sep
2428
Lab Activity & Tests
We may go faster or slower than the schedule
indicates.
Fri: Exam 1 during
lecture hour (covers
Sept 5-24)
5
Oct
1-5
6
Oct
8-12
7
Oct
15-19
8
Fri: Exam 2 during
Oct lecture hour (covers
22-26 Sept 5-Oct 22)
9
Oct
29Nov 2
10
Nov
5-9
Lab MEETS this week for Quiz 1 over the Course
Syllabus, Grading Policy, & Attendance Policy
sheets posted on D2L, plus your Diffusion
Workbook is Due to your Lab Instructor.
Lab MEETS, your Osmosis Workbook is Due to
your Lab Instructor at start of lab, Quiz 2 over
Diffusion & Osmosis Computer Simulations, Lab
activity TBA (will be posted on D2L)
Ch. 19: Blood
Ch. 11, 12, 13, 14, 16: Neurophysiology Lab MEETS, Quiz 3 over previous lab, Lab activity
TBA; will be posted on D2L
Ch. 19: Blood
Ch. 11, 12, 13, 14, 16: Neurophysiology Lab MEETS, Quiz 4 over previous lab, Lab activity
TBA; will be posted on D2L
Ch. 15: Sensory Physiology
Ch. 17, 18: Endocrinology
Ch. 20: Cardiovascular Physiology
Lab MEETS, Quiz 5 over previous lab, Lab activity
TBA; will be posted on D2L
Lab MEETS, Quiz 6 over previous lab, Lab activity
TBA; will be posted on D2L
Ch. 20, 21: Cardiovascular Physiology
Lab MEETS, Quiz 7 over previous lab, Lab activity
Ch. 22: Lymphatics & Immunology
TBA; will be posted on D2L
Ch. 23: Respiratory Physiology
Lab MEETS, Quiz 8 over previous lab, Lab activity
TBA; will be posted on D2L
11
Fri: EXAM 3 during Ch. 24: Digestive Physiology
Lab MEETS, Quiz 9 over previous lab, Lab activity
Nov lecture hour (covers
TBA; will be posted on D2L
12-16 Sept 5 – Nov 12)
Ch. 26, 27: Osmoregulatory Physiology
12
Yes class on Mon
No lab
Nov
No
class
on
Wed
19
13
Nov
26-30
14
Dec
3-7
Ch. 26, 27: Osmoregulatory Physiology
Lab MEETS, Quiz 10 over previous lab, Lab activity
TBA; will be posted on D2L
Ch. 28, 29: Male & Female Reproductive Lab MEETS, Quiz 11 over previous lab, Lab activity
Physiology
TBA; will be posted on D2L
Mon: that part of Ch. 25 dealing with
Fri: EXAM 4 (FINAL) Thermoregulation
15
during lecture hour
Dec
(covers Sept 6 – Dec Weds: Catch up, review, student
10-14
13)
evaluations
No lab
Wed Dec 19: Final course grades posted to D2L and submitted to Records Office by 6:00 pm
BIO 212 Fall 2007 Attendance Policies
Lecture: Regular lecture attendance has proven to be required for success in BIO 212. If you
miss lecture, you don’t have to tell Dr. Vaughan, but you do need to ask a classmate for notes.
About lecture hall noise: The pit classrooms are designed to carry sound well despite
holding many people. Please do not chat during lecture as this disturbs other students.
We DO have a lecture on the Monday before Thanksgiving (note that all UW Oshkosh
faculty are required to teach through Tuesday evening that week; we are not at liberty to
cancel classes).
Lab: Regular lab attendance is required for success in the course. If you miss lab, you should
contact your Lab Instructor and explain why, because absence without explanation will reduce
your earned lab grade. One of your lab quiz scores will be dropped, so in that sense “you can
miss one lab”, but we still expect you to know what happened in that lab that you missed, as you
will be tested on the missed lab the following week!
Exams: Attendance at all four (4) lecture exams is required.
o If you miss an exam due to a University-sponsored activity (e.g. athletics contest), you will
know ahead of time and your coach will have provided you with a letter. Bring a copy of
that letter to Dr. Vaughan ahead of time, to permit a make-up to be arranged.
o If you miss an exam for any other reason (e.g. illness or bereavement), go to the Dean of
Students Office in Dempsey Hall, obtain a written excuse, and provide this written excuse
to Dr. Vaughan to permit a make-up to be arranged.
o Absolutely NO early or late exams will be scheduled due to holiday or end-of-term travel,
so don’t even ask.
BIO 212 Fall 2007 Lecture Policies
1. Silence all cell phones and pagers when you enter the lecture hall.
2. If you cannot keep yourself from talking during lecture, please sit in the last rows of the hall to
minimize your disturbance of your classmates and me.
3. I will provide PARTIAL lecture powerpoints on D2L, to make your note-taking easier. However,
you must attend lecture and take notes to “fill in the blanks”. Simply downloading the
powerpoints is no substitution for class attendance.
4. Most images shown in lecture will be from the required Seeley textbook. However, I reserve
the right to introduce new images from other sources.
5. Human learning is improved by hand movements, so take notes throughout lecture. Develop a
personal "shorthand" so that you can write faster (somewhat like the special language of text
messaging). Examples: fxn (instead of function), rxn (instead of reaction), fdbk (instead of
feedback).
6. To tap into the natural human visual learning style, convert your notes from words and phrases
to flow charts and sketches whenever possible.
7. To tap into the natural human auditory learning style, read your notes aloud to yourself or –
best of all – work with a study partner or two, to give yourselves rehearsal verbalizing these
concepts.
8. You may record my lectures if you like.
9. You may raise your hand to ask questions during lecture.
BIO 212 Fall 2007 Grading Policies
LAB IS WORTH 25% for performance on workbooks and quizzes.
Workbooks are like homework. Only the ORIGINAL (purchased) OsmoBeaker workbook will be
accepted. Photocopies are NOT permitted.
Lab quizzes will be timed at only 10-15 min. Quizzes are CLOSED BOOK, NO NOTES.
Lab workbooks and quizzes are not curved. Instead, percentage grades are computed against the
points possible.
Individual lab assignment grades will not be posted on D2L, but will appear on assignments handed
back a week or two later.
A single “Lab grade” is computed at the end of the term by the Lab Instructor as follows:
Your lowest Lab Quiz score is identified and dropped.
Since there are 11 Lab Quizzes, this leaves 10 scores.
These 9 Quiz scores, plus the 2 Workbook scores (which may not be dropped), are averaged.
This average is reported to Dr. Vaughan.
At the Lab Instructor’s discretion, deductions may be made against the final Lab grade for lack of
participation.
LECTURE IS WORTH 75% for performance on four (4) comprehensive exams.
Lecture exams are CLOSED BOOK, NO NOTES.
Lecture Exams are “weighted”: Exam 1 = 10%, Exam 2 = 15%, Exam 3 = 20%, Exam 4 = 30%.
Lecture Exam scores will be posted on D2L after all exams have been graded, generally a day or two
after the exam has been taken by all students.
Lecture Exam grades are curved as follows: There is a total number of points possible, and there is
the high score achieved by a student. The midpoint between points possible and high achieved is
identified, and all raw scores are then curved off that midpoint. A percentage grade is ultimately
recorded for that assignment.
Example: 100 points possible, high score is 92, midpoint is 96; your score of 88 is curved off
96, yielding a percentage of 91.6%.
Letter grade scale: Above 92.00% = A, above 88.0% to 92% = AB, above 82.0% to 88% = B, above
78.0% to 82% = BC, above 72.0% to 78% = C, above 68.0% to 72% = CD, above 60.0% to 68% = D,
60% or below = F.
o These cut-offs are firm. Changing them only disappoints a new group of students. However,
regarding final course grades: at Dr. Vaughan’s discretion, the final course letter grade may be
increased above what the points total suggests for any student whose Lecture Exam scores
evidence sustained, significant improvement over the term.
o There is NO extra credit in the course.
o There will be NO special consideration for students who contact the Instructor about a problem
only after an exam or assignment has been graded.
o There is NO credit for effort because it cannot be fairly and objectively assessed.
Exams are all considered comprehensive because the material builds on itself.
Exam coverage cut-offs are date-dependent, not topic-dependent. See schedule.
WHAT BIO 212 IS LIKE, AND HOW TO DO YOUR BEST
This is one of the most practical, useful classes you will ever take. The information presented
here will assist you in health care for years to come, whether you are a provider or a consumer of that
care.
This is one of the most difficult classes you will ever take. Its difficulty lies in two features:
1. The human body is like a large city, with separate, yet interdependent, neighborhoods all
connected by roads. You may learn one neighborhood at a time, but your real goal is to know
the entire city by the end of the semester.
2. The human body is undergoes constant change. To stay alive, the body must constantly
adjust its function to current conditions. It also ages and responds to infection. Thus,
physiological functions change moment to moment, day to day, year to year. Physiology is a
more like a “moving target” than Anatomy was, and mastery of human physiology cannot be
obtained simply by memorization. In addition to memorization, you also need to “see”
physiological functions in action in your mind’s eye, and to understand their changing nature.
This takes a real adjustment for most students.
A BIO 212 student once said, “It’s hard for an average student to earn an A in your class”. That is
correct. Here are the grade-earned data from the past two years:

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Fall 2006: Averages on four exams: 78.3%, 80%, 83.5%, 80%. Average in lab: 83.7%. Average
grade earned: 80.9%, a BC. Final grades earned: 9 A, 13 AB, 44 B, 41 BC, 30 C, 11 CD, 5 D, 1
F.
Fall 2005: Averages on four exams: 78.3%, 80%, 78.5%, 81.2%. Average in lab: 78.9%. Average
grade earned: 79.5%, a BC. Final grades awarded: 14 A, 14 AB, 30 B, 25 BC, 28 C, 15 CD, 6 D,
1 F.
Exams include critical thinking and problem solving skills. If you ever intend to work in any
health field, you will need these skills for working with clients. If you find that you need help with
these general intellectual skills, you should make use of the services of the Reading Study Center.
A class of 150+ is simply too large for me to test your writing skills. However, I do test your reading
skills, and reading ability generally mirrors writing ability. Accordingly, exams are multiple choice,
choose all that apply, which boils down to True/False. I will provide sample questions (from material
scattered throughout the semester) so that you can learn this format. In general:



Flawless memorization generally earns a C.
Flawless memorization plus limited ability to apply concepts to unfamiliar situations (i.e. to perform
on “story problems”) generally earns a B.
Flawless memorization plus broad ability to apply concepts (i.e. to perform on “story problems”) is
what it takes for an A.
o Students who have earned A grades in other courses usually find they must work harder for
an A in this course.
(continued next page)
It’s in your interest and mine for everyone to succeed, so here is important advice:

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Re-read the previous lecture’s notes for each lecture you attend. Your Instructor will “pick up
where s/he left off”, and you should, too.
Keep up, don't catch up. Experience with hundreds of students in this course shows that it is
impossible to catch up if you fall behind. Make at least 5 study hours outside of class per week
available for this course; MORE when there is a scheduled exam. Do not wait for the week of the
exam to study. Cramming only boosts anxiety, and anxiety lowers performance. Get plenty of
sleep.
Ask questions promptly; don’t hope that you’ll “get it later”. Attend office hours and/or post
your question on the D2L Discussion board. Don’t wait till the night before the test!
Work with a Tutor. The Center for Academic Resources will provide a free tutor (in Fall 2006, we
had THREE tutors for this course). Your tutor is someone who took this class recently and earned
an “A” grade in it.
Start a study group, or join one. Group study affords you the chance to rehearse your
physiology vocabulary and to use all your senses to “attack” concepts. It is also a great motivator
to spend blocks of time on the course. Studies suggest that you remember 10% of what you read,
20% of what you hear, but 70% of what you say out loud!
Don’t limit your study time to re-reading your notes. Notes are delivered in chronological
fashion, day-to-day. What you need to achieve is a holistic understanding of each topic,
regardless of when you learned about it. Therefore, your best strategy is to re-write your notes in
blocks based on concepts. I suggest that you tape pieces of paper together to make a large
“study poster” sheet. Leave plenty of space because we tend to come back to the same core
topics throughout the semester. Some suggested topics for study posters are: cellular
metabolism, Joe Cell gradients & membrane transport, excitability, epithelial transport, Ca++
management, blood, skeletal muscle, cardiovascular system, respiratory system; you will think of
others as the semester progresses.