BIOT 307 – Biotechnology and Society
Fall 2019 Syllabus
Welcome to BIOT 307! This online course examines the emerging impact of biotechnology in
our lives and the world around us. Basic concepts in biotechnology are introduced for a
general audience to explore advances in medicine, agriculture, and other fields. This course
also includes social and ethical issues related to biotechnology.
Instructor:
Adam Telleen, PhD
Email: telleea@arc.losrios.edu
Phone: (916) 484 - 8771
Office Hours:
Day
Time
Location
Monday
2:00-2:50pm Online
Tuesday
2:00-2:50pm Science 449
Wednesday 2:00-3:50pm STEM Center
Thursday
3:00-3:50pm Science 490
Student Learning Outcomes for BIOT 307
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Explain biotechnology applications in medicine, agriculture, and industry.
2. Correlate recent advances in biotechnology research with new products and processes
3. Evaluate social and ethical issues involving biotechnology.
Disabled Student Program & Services (DSPS)
Accommodations
This course is designed to be welcoming to, accessible to, and usable by everyone, including
students who are English-language learners, have a variety of learning styles, have
disabilities, or are new to online learning. Please let me know immediately if you encounter a
required element or resource in the course that is not accessible to you. Also, let me know of
changes we can make to the course so that it is more welcoming to, accessible to, or usable
by students who take this course in the future.
Disabled Student Program and Services (DSPS)
Students who may need an academic accommodation based on the impact of a disability and
who require instructional, curricular, or test accommodations are responsible for making such
needs known to the instructor as early as possible. Every possible effort will be made to
accommodate students in a timely and confidential manner. Individuals who request
accommodations must be registered with the Office of Disabled Students Programs and
Services which authorizes accommodations for students with disabilities. The philosophy of
DSPS is to encourage maximum independence and personal empowerment through a
successful educational experience.
You can reach these services in a number of ways:
Disabled Student Programs & Services (DSPS) website (Links to an external site.)
Phone: (916) 484-8382
Video Phone: (916) 484-8798
Fax: (916) 484-8888
Communication
Instructor - Adam Telleen, Ph.D.
Email: telleea@arc.losrios.edu
Phone: (916) 484-8771 (email is preferred!)
Office: Science 449
I will communicate with you via your school email address, announcements, and Canvas
Inbox. I respond to student emails and voice messages within 24-48 hours on weekdays holidays and weekends might take me a little longer.
What to Expect from your Instructor
As your instructor, I will also monitor all discussions and provide feedback to the entire class
where needed at least weekly. I will provide individual feedback on
assignments/papers/projects/assessments within one week of the due date and work with you
so you will have a successful learning experience in this course! Late work may take
additional time to provide feedback, so be sure to turn things in on time or communicate with
me about the situation in a timely manner if you cannot.
Course Policies & Grading for BIOT 307
BIOT 307 Course Format
This course includes the following components:
Background Materials - For each lesson, you will review the background information (lesson
guides) and Web resources to help you with the readings and assignments. We will examine
specific examples or case studies for each of the general biotechnology topics in the course.
For example, some issues that we will explore include DNA testing, biomedical drugs, gene
therapy, and genetically modified foods.
Discussion Topics - You will post your comments about various biotechnology applications
and issues. Usually, the discussion thread will start from an initial question assigned for
discussion. A separate discussion forum will be available for each topic of the course. You are
graded on the quality and promptness of your comments on the discussion boards. You are
required to post a response to the initial question and at least one thoughtful response to
other student postings, in other words at least two postings per discussion board. Postings
and your responses to others are due by 11:59pm local California time on the listed dates.
Problem Sets - You will be given an assignment for most lessons that consists of questions
and tasks related to the materials from one or more lessons. You can use your notes, texts,
and other materials to complete assignments; however, the work you submit must be your
own. Please submit your assignments using the Canvas submission tool on each assignment
page and turn in your work as one or more files. Weekly assignments are due by 11:59pm
local California time on the listed dates.
Exams and Quizzes - The exams and quizzes are designed to test your factual knowledge of
biotechnology and related societal issues as well as your ability to apply these concepts to
new situations. Quizzes may consist of multiple choice, free response, problem solving,
and/or data analysis questions, while exam questions are problem-solving/essay-bases.
Exams and quizzes are "open-book" format: you are allowed to consult your notes and other
resources, but you must work alone and submit your own answers. Course exams are
submitted as file attachments using Canvas submission, while quizzes are completed entirely
online in Canvas. Although exams and quizzes emphasize recent course material, these
assignments will also assess earlier course material.
Technical Issues - For technical problems with Canvas, consult the Canvas Help link on the
navigation bar for the course. The Canvas Help page lists resources and phone numbers for
direct help with your technical problems with Canvas. If you need to contact me, send me a
message using the Canvas Inbox.
Participation and Attendance
In this online classroom course participation is mainly determined by your level and frequency
of interaction and communication in the discussions, taking quizzes/exams and submitting
assignments or projects on time. This 2 unit course requires approximately 6-8 hours per
week of work. It’s important to check in a few times a week and stay current with your
assignments and discussions.
Participation during the FIRST week of your online course: (required)
1. Complete the Student Learning Contract, which outlines your participation and
expectations
2. Read the entire Syllabus.
3. Complete the Student Introductions Discussion. Post by Wednesday evening at
11:59 pm Pacific Time and respond to at least two classmates by Friday evening at
11:59 pm Pacific Time.
4. Take the Prerequisite and Syllabus Quiz by Friday evening at 11:59 pm Pacific Time.
5. Begin reading Module 1 and working on Problem Set 1.
Course Drop Policy
During the first week of this course, you are required to participate or you may be dropped
from the course. Please complete the Student Learning Contract, post your introduction,
respond to at least two classmates then complete any activities required for Module 01.
These activities are very important so you won't be dropped from the course for nonparticipation during this first week. If you have any challenges with these tasks during the first
week, please notify me as soon as possible so we can get you started! Click on the Canvas
Inbox link in the Global Navigation area on the far left to send me a message.
Throughout the semester, I will review your participation and assignments. If you have not
participated or logged in within the previous 10 days, you can be dropped from the course. A
student may be dropped from any class when that student's absences exceed six percent
(6%) of the total hours of class time. It’s your responsibility to notify me if you have any
challenges as soon as possible. It is also your responsibility to drop the course if you feel you
can no longer participate and complete the course.
Please refer to the Los Rios Academic Calendar (Links to an external site.) for specific course
refund, drop and withdrawal/“W” deadlines. If you don’t drop the course before the end of the
course, you will unfortunately earn a failing grade for the course. After the final withdrawal
deadline, you will receive a grade regardless whether you completed the work or not,
potentially resulting in a failing grade on your permanent academic record.
Late Work Policy
In this online course you are required to submit all work (including discussions, assignments,
and problem sets by the due date. If the assignment is late, you will lose 10% for each day it
is late, up to two days. After two days after the due date, you will receive zero points. Once a
discussion closes, you won’t be able to post or respond so please set a reminder for those
due dates. If you anticipate being unable to complete an assignment or post on time, contact
me before the due date (the earlier the better!) to discuss potential options. Check the
calendar in the Global Navigation area on the far left for due dates and reminders. A handy tip
is to set a calendar item or alarm on your phone to remind yourself of the due dates.
Course Grading Policy
Assessments
Problem Sets
Discussion Forums
Quizzes
Exams
Total Points
Point Value
5 @ 15 points each
5 @ 5 points per topic
2 @ 20 points each
2 @ 25 points
Maximum Points
75
25
40
50
190
You will be awarded points for each assigned task (see table) and your final letter grade is
determined by percentage of total points earned:
A = 90.0% or above
B = 80.0 - 89.9%
C = 70.0 - 79.9%
D = 60 - 69.9%
F = <60%
Please note that the percentage ranges are absolute and are not negotiable.
Late assignments will be accepted up to 2 days late, but may be subject to a 10% point
deduction each day after the due date. If you anticipate not being able to complete a task on
time, contact me as soon as possible to discuss options.
Tips for Taking Quizzes or Exams
1.
2.
3.
4.
Before you take the quiz, notice the time limit and number of attempts allowed.
Arrange your schedule so you will not be interrupted.
You may want to post a "Do Not Disturb" sign outside your door or computer area.
Make sure your Internet connection is reliable for a continued connection while taking
the quiz.
5. Use a desktop or laptop instead of a phone or tablet to take the quiz.
6. Contact your instructor via the Canvas Inbox immediately if you experience any
problems while taking a quiz.
7. Instructions: How Do I Take a Quiz?
Student Expectations & Conduct for BIOT 307
Student Expectations
To be successful in this course, you are expected to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Read the entire Syllabus.
Consistently check Announcements, your school email account and Canvas Inbox.
Review the Calendar for due dates.
Participate in Discussions (post weekly and response to your classmates).
Turn in your own work that's been thoughtfully completed. Proofread for errors in
spelling and grammar.
6. Communicate with your instructor with any problems or confusion well in advance of
the due date.
7. Complete all projects, discussions, assignments, online quizzes and/or exams on time.
Student Learning and Academic Integrity
The college values academic integrity as an essential component of academic excellence.
Students are expected to be truthful and ethical in pursuing their learning and demonstrating
their knowledge and skills. Commitment to academic integrity is the responsibility of every
student, as well as every faculty and staff member at American River College.
The college community at ARC has the responsibility to make every effort to foster honest
academic conduct in the development of its students. Faculty are committed to clearly stating
well defined standards that help clarify academic and learning expectations, and specify
behavioral manifestations of such expectations in our classrooms, laboratories, co-curricular,
and on-line settings. Learn more about the Expectations of Student Behavior &
Conduct (Links to an external site.) for American River College students.
Defining Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty defrauds all parties who depend upon the integrity of the college, its
courses and its degrees and its certificates. Academic dishonesty is an act of deception in
which the student claims credit for work or effort of another person or uses unauthorized
materials or fabricated information in any academic work. It occurs when students
fraudulently attempt to show possession of a level of knowledge or skill that they do not
possess.
What You Need to Know About Cheating & Plagiarism
Academic dishonesty is a violation of the ARC “Student Standards of Conduct” and will not be
tolerated. It diminishes the quality of the scholarship at the college and hurts the majority of
students who conduct themselves earnestly and honestly.
Ignorance of these academic and behavioral standards will not absolve any student from
being held responsible for them or from any disciplinary action that may result from their
actions. The two most common examples of academic dishonesty are 1) cheating; and 2)
plagiarism.
Cheating
Cheating is the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for academic work through the
use of dishonest, deceptive, or fraudulent means. Cheating includes the following:
1. Copying from someone else's test.
2. Submitting work that is not your own.
3. Submitting work presented previously in another course, if contrary to the rules of
either course.
4. Altering or interfering with grading.
5. Using material during an exam that is not allowed.
6. Consulting with someone other than the instructor during an exam.
7. Committing other acts that defraud or misrepresent.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is representing the work of someone else as your own and submitting it for any
purpose. Plagiarism includes the following:
1. Incorporating the ideas, works, sentences, paragraphs, or parts of another person's
writings, without giving appropriate credit, and representing the product as your own
work.
2. Representing another's artistic/scholarly work as your own.
3. Submitting a paper purchased from a research or term paper service.
Other Examples of Academic Dishonesty:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Forging signatures on Add/Drop slips or altering other college documents.
Stealing examinations, tests, quizzes, or scoring key for tests.
Removal of class exams or class assignment projects without instructor approval.
Altering graded work after it has been returned from the instructor and resubmitting
without instructor knowledge or approval.
5. Having any other person or student submit academic work in your name.
6. Giving your academic work to another student to plagiarize.
7. Purposely sharing your paperwork with another student to copy for a test or an
assignment especially when it is not a group project or group response to a test.
8. Taking a quiz or examination for another person.
9. Lying to an instructor or to a college official to improve your grade.
10.
Accessing the college computer system to change grades.
Note: These lists are merely illustrative of the types of conduct that will not be tolerated. They should in no
sense be considered an exhaustive list of prohibited conduct.
Disciplinary Consequences
Depending on the seriousness of the infraction, students may incur the following
consequences:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Receive a failing grade on the assignment, quiz, or exam.
Have a course grade lowered.
Be placed on disciplinary probation or suspension.
Be expelled.
Please refer to Expectations of Student Behavior & Conduct (Links to an external site.) for
more information.
Copyright and Fair Use
Academic work, especially criticism and research, involve using the work of other writers,
researchers, and artists. Students need to know they are allowed to use this material, so long
as they supply attribution. The ARC Library has resources that will help you (Links to an
external site.) to avoid plagiarism and to cite sources properly. In addition, if you use the work
of any other writer, researcher, or artist, even an image from the internet, you need to provide
attribution and ensure you are modeling fair use. Refer to the Creative Commons
website (Links to an external site.) and the Creative Commons page on attribution (Links to
an external site.) for further information.
Course Materials for BIOT 307
Required Textbook
Instead of a traditional textbook, we use open-access materials that are available for free. For
background biology concepts that underpin biotechnology, the open-source publisher
OpenStax College provides a general biology textbook we will use for this course:
OpenStax College: Concepts of Biology (Links to an external site.)
(note: if you prefer, you can browse the science majors version of this textbook (Links to an
external site.) instead)
Open-access Biotechnology Resources
In addition, this course also uses open-access internet resources, including:
Nature Education Scitable (https://www.nature.com/scitable (Links to an external site.))
Nature Education Scitable e-books (https://www.nature.com/scitable/ebooks (Links to an
external site.))
National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (Links to
an external site.))
NCBI Learning and Tutorials (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/home/learn/ (Links to an
external site.))
In addition, we will use other web-based articles and multimedia during the course for
background concepts and recent biotechnology applications. Biotechnology is a rapidly
changing field, so the materials keep the course updated and provide other perspectives on
biotechnology.
Other Resources/Materials
1. American River College Library (Links to an external site.)
2. American River College - Beaver Bookstore (Links to an external site.)
3. You will find Academic Pricing for various software/hardware at
CollegeBuys (Links to an external site.).
Technology Requirements & Help!
Technology Requirements
If you are having any technology problems such as your computer crashed or no connection
to the Internet, I will not be able to help you. It is your responsibility to find a working computer
to complete your course work on time. The various ARC campuses have computer labs (Links
to an external site.) and you can always check with your local library for their hours.
If you are having any technical problems with Canvas, your first line of defense is the 24/7
Canvas Support. I will not be able to help you with Canvas technical problems, but if there are
any problems with the course materials or access to any part of the course, contact me. You
can also ask technical questions of your peers in the Student Lounge discussion or course
related questions in the Q&A: Course Related Questions discussion.
Because Canvas is built using web standards, it runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android,
or any other device with a modern web browser. It is your responsibility to make sure you are
using an updated browser.
We highly recommend updating to the newest version a current browser as well as the most
up-to-date plug-ins. View Canvas Computer Specifications and links to the latest
Browser versions. (Links to an external site.)
Other Technical Requirements for this Course
I typically use Linux rather than Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android, so it is your responsibility to
understand how to use and troubleshoot your own device(s), operating system, and software.
You will mostly just need to run Canvas, a web browser (such as Firefox or Chrome), and a
word processor (such as Microsoft Word or Libre Office). Ask me if you have any questions
about this!
Additional Software/Tools
Microsoft Office, Microsoft Office 365* or other word processing software. If you are
using Pages on a Mac, export the file as .docx or .rtf
*Microsoft Office 365 is available for all ARC students. Follow these steps:
1. Enter this link in your search bar: https://products.office.com/en-us/student/office-ineducation (Links to an external site.)
2. Enter your losrios Gmail (w + ID number @ apps.losrios.edu)
3. Click on Get Started
4. Confirm that you are a student, reply to the email, and create your account
5. Install!
Los Rios Google Apps (Links to an external site.): unlimited online file storage, create,
collaborate on, and publish text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and forms and
drawings.
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (Links to an external site.) to open PDF
Documents (Links to an external site.)
How to Get Canvas Help!
You can use the HELP button on the lower left corner of the navigation bar of your course to
contact the Canvas support team.
1. Call the Canvas 24/7 Support phone number (916) 568-3199 for direct access to
Canvas.
2. Review the Canvas Student Tour
3. Review the Canvas Student Getting Started Guide
4. Find answers in the Canvas Student Guide
5. Gain hands-on experience through ARC's Canvas Free Sample Class
Additionally, the Student Tech Center is available to ARC enrolled students who need
assistance with accessing online campus resources or Los Rios District services and
programs.
1. Webpage: ARC Student Tech Center (Links to an external site.)
2. Phone: (916) 484-8667
3. Location: Learning Resource Center (LRC)
Online Class Discussions
To get the most out of each week's resources, you will participate in a discussion using the
Canvas Discussions tool. Each student will be responsible for a minimum of one initial post
and two replies. Each original post and reply will be evaluated using the discussion rubric
based on the following criteria:
1. Post is completed on time.
2. Post meets the length specified.
3. Posts are polite, professional, and on topic (see Netiquette below!)
Postings should be thoughtful and reflect your understanding of the subject matter. Please
use proper Netiquette when corresponding, posting or commenting in the online environment.
Discussion Netiquette Tips
1. Include the person's name you are replying to.
2. Avoid sarcasm. People who don't know you may misinterpret its meaning.
3. Be courteous to the other students in the class. You might find it helpful to read your
posting out loud before you submit it: the "tone" is a very important part of electronic
communication. When you read your message out loud does it sound the way you
would speak to another student in the classroom?
4. Refrain from inappropriate language.
5. Never make derogatory comments toward another person in the class.
6. You can disagree with ideas, but do not make personal attacks.
Have a general question or need help?
If you have a general course question, post it on the Q&A: Course Related
Questions Discussion. Keep in mind that if you have a question, many other students might
have the same question and this gives students the opportunity to communicate with each
other. All other chat and non-course material related questions should be posted to the
Student Lounge.
I will monitor all discussion forums to make sure you are on the right track, and will respond at
least one per week with a summary of the thoughts of the class. If someone asks for help or
posts a question in the Q&A section, please feel free to respond. I will monitor that board as
well to clarify any misinformation when needed.
General Question Examples: When is the assignment due? I need help with the steps on
page __. Can you explain ____?
Have an urgent or personal question?
If you have an urgent course related or personal question, send me an email message
through the Canvas Inbox (sometimes called Conversations). Type the course name/number
in the subject line of your e-mail and include your first and last name with your StudentID#.
Personal Question Example: What did I miss in the _____ assignment or quiz?
ARC Library Resources
Visit the ARC library homepage (Links to an external site.) for library hours and to find books,
eBooks, academic articles, news articles, videos, and more.
Can’t make it to the library? Check out the Services for Distance Students (Links to an
external site.) guide for more information about online library resources.
Want to learn more about how to do library research? Enroll in our free, self-paced Library
Research Tutorials (Links to an external site.) course in Canvas. This set of seven 15-30
minute lessons will guide you through how to be an effective student researcher.
Questions?
Stop by the Research Help Desk. Librarians are available on a drop-in basis whenever the
library is open.
Call the Research Help Desk at (916) 484-8458 for research help and other questions.
Call the Circulation Desk at (916) 484-8455 for questions about your library account,
renewals, overdue fines, holds, etc.
Email (Links to an external site.) your library questions.
Research Appointments are one-on-one, in-person sessions with a librarian. Use the
Research Appointment Calendar (Links to an external site.) to schedule your appointment.
Note that research appointments must be made at least two business days in advance.
ARC Student Support Highlights
If you don't see what you need here, check out the ARC Student Support Services and
Resources webpage (Links to an external site.).
Financial Aid
The ARC Financial Aid Office administers financial aid (including loans). Please note that
financial aid is handled in accordance with federal and state regulations, and rules are not set
by the college. Funds are distributed to students who have documented financial need
determined by the total resources available to them Contact Financial Aid (Links to an
external site.).
Grades
Each term has it’s own deadline for posting grades. Refer to the Academic Calendar (Links to
an external site.) for Grades Due. Grades will be available for viewing online 24 hours after
the Due Date (i.e. if Grades Due is August 8, the grades will then be available through your
eServices on August 9)
Use this option when you want to see a recorded grade for a course.
1. Log in to your Los Rios eServices (Links to an external site.) account
2. From the Student Center home page, select the Student Center tab (at the top of the
screen).
3. In the Academics area (left hand side on the screen).
4. From the Click Down Arrow list, select Grades.
The linked image cannot be displayed. The file may have been moved, renamed, or deleted. Verify that the link points to the correct file and location.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Click the
button.
Select any of the previous semesters (i.e. Spring 2013).
Click the CONTINUE button (at the bottom of the screen).
This page displays your Class Grades and Term Statistics for the term you selected.
Click Home link (at the top of the screen) to return back to the Student Center home
page.
Registration Issues
For issues related to registration and transcripts, visit our Admissions and Records
website (Links to an external site.) or call (916) 484-8261.
Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS)
If you have a verifiable disability, e.g. physical, communication, learning, acquired brain injury,
psychological, or other disability and would like to request an accommodation; it is your (the
student’s) responsibility to make such a request. Visit our Disabled Student Programs &
Services (DSPS) website (Links to an external site.) or call (916) 484-8382.
Student Services
Visit ARC Support Services (Links to an external site.) for a full list of resources.
Contact American River College Counseling (Links to an external site.) at (916) 484 8572
Associated Student Body (Links to an external site.) (ASB) provides diverse representation
and serves as a platform for the wide-ranging needs of ARC's student population. Questions?
Call 916-484-8471.
Tutorial Center
The LRC Tutorial Center (Links to an external site.) offers free tutoring, both face-to-face and
online (Links to an external site.) for all students. For more information, send a message to
Tutoring@arc.losrios.edu or call 916-484-8808.
Technical Support
You can use the HELP button on the lower left corner of the navigation bar of your course
to contact the Canvas support team.
1. Call the Canvas 24/7 Support phone number (916) 568-3199 for direct access to
Canvas.
2. Review the Canvas Student Tour
3. Review the Canvas Student Getting Started Guide (Links to an external site.)
4. Find answers in the Canvas Student Guide (Links to an external site.)
5. Gain hands-on experience through ARC's Canvas Free Sample Class
Additionally, the Student Tech Center is available to ARC enrolled students who need
assistance with accessing online campus resources or Los Rios District services and
programs.
1. Webpage: ARC Student Tech Center (Links to an external site.)
2. Phone: (916) 484-8667
3. Location: Learning Resource Center (LRC)
Veterans Resource Center (VRC)
The American River College Veterans Resource Center (Links to an external site.) (VRC) is
dedicated to assisting Veteran students and their families with their ARC educational and VA
related needs.
For more information regarding the VRC email: arcvaservices@arc.losrios.edu or phone: 916-484-8135
Withdrawals
As a student, you are responsible for withdrawing or dropping from classes in which you are
officially registered/enrolled. Students can drop classes online by logging into their Los Rios
eServices (Links to an external site.) account or by visiting the eServices Registration Lab,
Student Center building.
If you fail to attend or drop the class in which you are officially registered/enrolled by the drop
deadline dates, you are still liable for the fees and may receive an "F" or "W" grade. It may
also effect Financial Aid. Drop dates can be found in the Academic Calendar (Links to an
external site.). Deadlines vary for dropping summer and short-term classes.
For more information
If you don't see what you need here, check out the ARC Student Support Services and
Resources webpage (Links to an external site.).