CELL 787-02 Seminars in Cell and Molecular Biology
Spring 2010
Wed. 2-4pm and Fri. 3-4, Boggs rm. 239
Course Director: Dr. Garic Grisbaum
Office Hours: By appointment
4011 Percival Stern Hall
865-5582
ggrisba@tulane.edu
Course Description: This course has been designed to promote oral communication,
listening skills, professionalism, research skills, presentation skills, and critical analysis
of various Medical, Dental, and Research related topics. It is intended to improve the
students overall understanding of the various topics presented and discussed in class and
Departmental Seminars. The primary goal of the course is to expose these future health
care professionals to material that will increase their understanding of various topics,
while also allowing them to become more familiar with topics they choose to research
and present to their fellow classmates. It will also give each student the confidence and
experience needed to strive in oral presentations while in their future professional school.
Course Objectives: To acquire a fundamental understanding of various diseases
processes at the cell and molecular level. Students will have the opportunity for selfdiscovery of knowledge by working with other course participants in researching and
preparing their oral presentations. Each presentation will involve discussion and
questions from the audience, which will allow students the ability to develop listening
and reasoning skills. Emphasis will be placed on active participation on the part of the
students and the instructor will serve as a guide and facilitator.
Specific Learning Objectives:
Students will be able to
1. Generate, evaluate, and organize material for an effective oral power-point
presentation
2. Deliver an effective oral presentation in a professional manner.
3. Speak clearly and project voice sufficiently, employing the appropriate verbal and
nonverbal strategies
4. Utilize visual aids effectively
5. Lead and participate effectively in group discussions
6. Apply active listening skills in interpersonal settings
7. Clearly communicate and defend each position or conclusion by evaluating the
validity of information and ideas, providing evidence and support, and arguing
against any competing claims, if they arise
8. Approach learning and inquiry with open-mindedness.
9. Successfully work as a team member by working collaboratively and working
through “difficult” situations
10. Communicate effectively as part of a team and learn time management skills
11. Successfully prepare and present a well designed power-point presentation, while
being comfortable and confident in doing so
Grading/Notes:
50% Presentation: Students may not use other topics or presentations given in
another class . A requirement of this class is each student will pair up with another
student and give a 20 minute presentation, with 10 minutes given for questions and
answers, for this semester and this will count for total of 50% of your grade for the
seminar course. Please come by my office, 4011 Percival Stern, and sign up your
group and topic no later than Friday, February 12th. Topic’s and dates are on a
first come first served basis and we do not want more than 3 presentations given on
a Wed. and no more than 2 presentations on Fri. You are also required to email all
classmates, on or before that same date February 12th, and cc me your group topic
so that there are not numerous presentations on the same topic, failure to do so will
negatively affect your grade. You may not use any presentations or topics used in
another class or this will negatively affect your grade. The dates for these
presentations can be found on the Semester Schedule and will be filled in the 2-4pm
hours on Wed. and the 3-4pm hours on Fri. The dates for presentations for this semester
are: March 17th, 19th, 24th, and 26th, - April 7th, 9th, 14th, and 16th. For those students
not doing service learning, meaning the Dental and Research students, you are only
required to attend the class when presentations are being given; otherwise Dr. Inglis
will inform you about class time and when you will be meeting as a group. It is the
Departments hope that each of you will be able to pick a topic for your presentation
which can vary from a case presentation, a disease process, or other things that you might
be interested in presenting. Those students doing research will present individually on
their research projects. It is important that each research student get with the faculty
member, overseeing their research, and get as much background information to read in
order to understand the purpose of their project and to assist them in their presentation.
This will help the student to understand this information and be able to explain the reason
for conducting their project, including their results. Also, it may be a good idea for the
dental students to combine into 2 groups and pick a dental related topic. Each member
of the group will be assessed individually and your grade will be determined by the
attending Faculty members on: 1. Quality of your presentation (Clearly audible, voice
well modulated, well paced) 2. Visual Aids (Clear, well presented, appropriate,
supportive of presentation) 3. Structure and Organization (Well prepared and organized;
Case clearly and persuasively made) 4. Knowledge and Understanding (Relevant, clear;
scientific principles clearly explained. Responds well to questions) 5. Professionalism
6. Turning in a completed presentation 2 days before your scheduled presentation, via
email to Dr. Grisbaum 7. Emailing your fellow students and cc Dr. Grisbaum your group
topic 8, as well as, signing up on the sheet outside of Dr. Grisbaum’s door. 9. Everyone
in the group must present information at the Cell and Molecular level on the topic or their
individual grade will suffer. Remember that our Department is called Cell and
Molecular Biology and we would like each student in the group to emphasize their
topic at the cell and molecular level, first and foremost. All students must know the
information that they are presenting well enough not to have to look at the screen to
present their talk. You should use the slides only to jog your memory, explain
diagrams, figures, pathways, etc., and for your audience to be able to follow your
talk. If you read directly from the screen you will not receive a grade higher than a
B +. If you have any questions please see Dr. Grisbaum on an individual basis, and he
will explain what is required of you in these presentations. The students that are making
their presentations that day must wear appropriate attire (ladies-a dress, dress slacks,
blouse/men-slacks, nice shirt and tie). Each individual should know their material well
enough (i.e. recite talk without looking at the power point at the front of the class) that
they could present the material while making good eye contact with the audience. This
will help each student become more confident in public speaking, as well as, mastery of
the information that they will present. The above mentioned presentations must be done
on power-point and the presentation, including bibliography, must be saved on the
department computer, in the master student study room on the 4th floor of Stern
Hall, as soon as you finish your presentation that day or your grade will suffer.
25% Attendance/sign-in at Departmental Seminars: The department will be hosting a
number of speakers for this coming semester and each of you must attend these seminars.
Ms. Marnie Mercado will be sending out emails telling you the specifics about the
seminars, but usually they are given on Friday afternoons at 4pm. All of you should get
in the habit of checking your emails for these seminars and the Departmental website. If
for any reason you are late to the seminar, please see Dr. Inglis or Dr. Grisbaum after the
seminar speaker is done with his or her presentation to sign in, if the sign in sheet is still
not in circulation. This will be done to give our guest speaker the utmost respect and
courtesy while he or she is giving their talk. (If any of you are late to the seminar, absent,
or do not turn in a critique, it will be reflected in this portion of your grade). As of now
there are 7 seminars scheduled for Fridays, so check out the seminar schedule
online.
25% Attendance/sign-in and Participation at all student presentations: At the start
of each scheduled presentation day, Dr. Grisbaum will hand out a sign-in sheet and each
student should make sure to sign it. All students are required to sit in front of the Faculty
members in attendance that day and there will be no computer use or doing anything
other than listening to the scheduled presentation that day or it will negatively affect your
grade. You are also required to participate in the discussion phase of each presentation
which will count in this portion of your grade. The above mentioned presentations are
the required talks that you will be making this semester. Again, if any student is late,
please see Dr. Grisbaum after the presentations are completed for the sign-in sheet, if it is
not in circulation. This will be done to promote professionalism and common courtesy
for your fellow graduate student
Honor Code: Students are expected to adhere to the Honor Code of Tulane University
and the School of Science and Engineering. Any violations of the Honor Code will be
referred to the Honor Board to be sanctioned according to the Universities guidelines.