Core Course Review Documentation
Foundational Component Area: LIFE & PHYSICAL SCIENCES
Component Area Option? No
Yes – Cultural & Global Understanding
Yes – Undergraduate Inquiry & Creativity
Proposed Course: BIOL 1234
Credit Hours: 4
Proposed by: Biology Department
Date: September 24, 2012
Please document how the proposed course meets each of the following requirements. (You
may provide a written explanation or copy and paste the appropriate information from the
syllabus.)
Content: Courses in this category focus on describing, explaining, and predicting natural
phenomena using the scientific method.
Course Description:
The lecture component of the course focuses on structure and function of the endocrine,
cardiovascular, lymphatic, immune, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive
systems of humans.
Concurrent laboratory participation with animal dissection and physiology of the above
mentioned organismal systems is required.
SKILLS: Courses involve the understanding of interactions among natural phenomena and the
implications of scientific principles on the physical world and on human experiences.
Students are introduced to basic biological concepts as functions of chemistry and physics.
Students are expected to consider the chemical and physical principles that govern life
processes from the cellular level up through the organ system level.
In the laboratory, students develop skills in evaluating the chemical and physical principles
associated with life. Students also develop interpersonal skills by working with instructors,
teaching assistants and laboratory partners. Skills include the use of the microscope, dissection,
recognition and classification of anatomical structures, making solutions, application of the
scientific method and organizing / presenting information to a group.
ASSESSMENT OF CORE OBJECTIVES: Assessments should be authentic, intentional and
direct. The following four Core Objectives must be addressed in each course approved to fulfill this
category requirement:
Critical Thinking Skills - to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation
and synthesis of information
The students will be asked to provide a proposal for a case study presentation based on their
understanding of the topics taught in lecture and covered in the laboratory. They will be provided
with a template of Scientific method to utilize in the development of the proposal and eventually of
the presentation (Attachment: Getting Started – What to Expect, The Scientific Method, and
Metrics).
A standardized rubric will be used to assess the critical thinking skills employed by the students to
develop the case study presentation. (Attachment; Anatomy and Physiology Case Study
Presentation Assessment Rubric).
The Biology Benchmark rubric will be used in assessment to determine if the student has achieved
or exceeded the “benchmark” status of critical thinking skills. The benchmark is derived in-part
from the AACU in the Critical Thinking Skills VALUE rubric (attached).
Communication Skills - to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas
through written, oral, and visual communication
The students will present the case study chosen and developed by the group members in the
laboratory section. The presentation must include a poster board, PowerPoint or a handout of the
presentation and an oral presentation of the case study by individual members of the group. The
students will be provided with instruction on how to develop the poster, PowerPoint or a handout
of a case study. (Attachment: Instructions for Poster/Case Study Presentation).
A standardized rubric will be used to assess the communication skills employed during the case
study presentation. (Attachment: Anatomy and Physiology Case Study Presentation Assessment
Rubric)
The Biology Benchmark rubric will be used in assessment to determine if the student has achieved
or exceeded the “benchmark” status of communication skills. The benchmark is derived in-part
from the AACU in the Written and Oral Communication VALUE rubrics (attached).
Empirical and Quantitative Skills - to include the manipulation and analysis of numerical data or
observable facts resulting in informed conclusions
Students will be required to learn the metric system and convert from traditional measurements to
metric measurements utilizing the exercise for performing quantitative skill from the Anatomy and
Physiology Laboratory Manual (Attachment: Getting Started – What to Expect, The Scientific
Method, and Metrics).
In the preparation of the case study for presentation, students will also use scientific journal
articles and obtain data from websites such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
They will analyze and present the data in an understandable format to their peers (Attachment:
Anatomy and Physiology Case Study Presentation Assessment Rubric).
The Biology Benchmark rubric will be used in assessment to determine if the student has achieved
or exceeded the “benchmark” status of empirical and quantitative skills. The benchmark is derived
in-part from the AACU in the Quantitative Literacy VALUE rubric (attached).
Teamwork - to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with
others to support a shared purpose or goal
The teamwork objective will be assessed by the Teaching Assistants in each laboratory section. The
TAs will assess the ability of the students to work together during animal dissections and will grade
individual students on their participation to the teamwork (Attachment: TA Evaluation of the
Student Teamwork Rubric).
The Biology Benchmark rubric will be used in assessment to determine if the student has achieved
or exceeded the “benchmark” status of teamwork skills. The benchmark is derived in-part from the
AACU in the Team Work VALUE rubric (attached).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Provide any additional information supporting course
inclusion in the core (optional).
PLEASE ATTACH THE FOLLOWING
1. Syllabus
2. Assessment for Critical Thinking Skills
3. Assessment for Communication Skills
4. Assessment for Empirical & Quantitative Skills
5. Assessment for Teamwork