GSci 165
How Life Works
Claire Clemens
&
Jeff Kushner
Catalog Description
• GSCI 165. The Way Life Works. 1 credit.
• Patterns, energy, information, life’s
machinery, feedback, community and
evolution. These are major themes in how
life works. This course will use these
themes as a backdrop for looking at the
way life works.
Course Goals
• Explore How Life Works from an
assemblage of atoms into molecules, into
macromolecules (CHO, lipids, proteins,
nucleic acids) to cells, tissues, organs,
organ systems, organisms, and
populations via mutations and evolution.
• Conduct investigations to be able to
diagram and identify cell structures and
organelles, and describe similarities and
differences between plants and animals.
Course Objectives
•
•
•
•
Students will be able to diagram patterns of cellular organization,
including cells, tissues, organs, and systems; and functions and
processes of cells, tissues, organs, and systems (respiration,
removal of wastes, growth, reproduction, digestion, and cellular
transport).
Students will investigate and describe the basic physical and
chemical processes of energy transformations in living systems
including photosynthesis, fermentation, respiration and energy
and matter flow through ecosystems.
Students will investigate and understand that organisms
reproduce and transmit genetic information to new generations,
including the role of DNA; characteristics that can and cannot be
inherited; genetic engineering and its applications; and historical
contributions and significance of discoveries related to genetics.
Students will be able to provide examples of how organisms
change over time. Key concepts include the relationships of
mutation, adaptation, natural selection, and extinction; evidence of
evolution of different species in the fossil record; and how
environmental influences, as well as genetic variation, can lead to
diversity of organisms.
Information Literacy Competency
Standards for Higher Education
An information literate individual is able to:
• Determine the extent of information needed
• Access the needed information effectively and
efficiently
• Evaluate information and its sources critically
• Incorporate selected information into one’s
knowledge base
• Use information effectively to accomplish a
specific purpose
• Understand the economic, legal, and social
issues surrounding the use of information, and
access and use information ethically and legally
Information Literacy
Competency for GSci 165
• Use information effectively to
Complete Homework Assignments
– Determine what information is needed
– Access that information effectively and
efficiently
– Incorporate selected information into one’s
knowledge base
Learner-Centered IL Learning
Objectives for GSci 165
• Use a variety of information resources to
answer homework questions.
• Demonstrate the ability to find information
from readings.
• Summarize, organize, and synthesize the
information found.
• Demonstrate knowledge of a range of
biology/life sciences information resources
for answering homework questions
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS
•
•
•
•
•
Assignment #1
Assignment #2
Assignment #3
Assignment #4
Assignment #5
Cells & Membranes
Mitosis & Meiosis
Genetics, I, II, & III
DNA and Protein Synthesis
Cancer, Biotechnology
Additions to Homework
• Find the answers to all questions in each
subject area. Use at least two sources
from each information resource type (and
cite using APA style) to complete each
homework assignment. A given category
may be used only once.
INFORMATION RESOURCE
TYPES
Resource
Reference Works
Non-Reference Works
Description
Encyclopedias, Handbooks, Dictionaries
Identify by searching LEO, Library Catalog.
Find in Carrier Library Reference Collection
(1st floor).
Textbooks, books from Carrier Library
general collection
Identify by searching LEO, Library Catalog.
Find in Carrier Library Stacks.
Examples
Encyclopedia of Biology QH309.2 .R58 2004
The Facts on File Dictionary of Biology QH302.5
.F38 2005
Encyclopedia of Life Sciences (10 Volumes)
QH302.5 .E53 2002
Frontiers of Life (4 volumes) QH302.5 .F76 2002
The Cambridge Dictionary of Human Biology and
Evolution
QP34.5 .M24 2005
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Bioscience
QH302.5 .M382 2003
Human chromosomes : structure, behavior, and
effects /
QH431 .T436 1993
Genes and DNA : a beginner's guide to genetics
and its applications QH430 .O47 2004
Life sciences for the non-scientist / QH307.2 .Z36
2005
Professional Websites
Search Engines
Research Databases
http://www.lib.jmu.edu/education/BiologyEducation.aspx
Part 2
• After answering all of the homework questions,
identify one lesson plan which a teacher could
use to communicate any one of the concepts
contained in each of the 5 homework
assignments.
• The intended audience for the lesson should be
students in an upper elementary or middle school
class (your choice of Grades 4-8).
• You are strongly encouraged to use the
recommended sources, although you may consult
additional resources, that you have evaluated to
be professional, reliable and stable sources.
Rubric
Criteria/Level
Answering Questions
1
3
5
Provided
No/incorrect/incomplete
answers
Provided all correct
answers not
demonstrating
understanding
Provided all correct
answers
demonstrating
understanding
Invalid AND Insufficient
Invalid OR Insufficient
Valid AND Sufficient
Cite Sources
None Cited
Non-APA or
Incorrect/incomplet
e APA style
All cited properly
Lesson Plan
None attached
Inappropriate lesson plan
or source, no SOL,
or no source cited
Lesson plan attached,
source correctly
cited, SOL listed
Sources