Southern Maine Community College Biology 100 Syllabus Summer 2015 Course Information TITLE: Biology with Lab for Non-Majors CREDIT HOURS: 3 Lecture/1 Lab (4.00 total) CATALOG LISTING: BIOL 100 01 LECTURE: HILD 101 (Monday/Wednesday 8:00am-9:45am) LAB: HILD 102 (Monday 10:00am – 12:35pm) Instructor Information INSTRUCTOR: Matt Simon, M.S. EMAIL: msimon@smccme.edu PHONE: 207-646-9282, ext. 5157 OFFICE HOURS: Available by appointment Course Description BIOL 100 is a four-credit hour, one-semester survey course, designed to give students who are nonscience majors a solid foundation in the basic principles and unifying concepts of biology. Students develop an understanding of science, the nature of scientific inquiry, and how evolution explains the unity and diversity of all life on Earth. The course focuses on common features that all organisms (living things) share, as well as their unique characteristics. The “basics” of living things are explored: their biochemistry, structure, classification, ecological role, genetics, and evolution. Pre-requisite(s): ENGL 050, ENGL 075 Co-requisite(s): MATH 050 Required Texts Lecture Text: Krogh, D. 2011. Biology: A Guide to the Natural World. 3rd Custom Edition for Southern Maine Community College. Pearson Custom Publishing. San Francisco, CA. Lab Text: Tarbox, B. and Willink, W. 2005. General Biology Lab Manual. SMCC. Course outline (topics) 1. Characteristics and basic classifications of life (domains of life, kingdoms of Eukarya, organizational levels of life, virus, definition/explanation of “science,” science’s impact on society, Darwin’s ideas and evolutionary theory) 2. Biochemistry and its importance in understanding biology (atomic structure, periodic table, compounds, water and pH, DNA structure, macromolecules [biomolecules]) 3. Metabolism in living things (active transport, energy transference, cellular respiration, DNA Southern Maine Community College Biology 100 Syllabus Summer 2015 replication, cell cycle, meiosis, protein synthesis, photosynthesis, evolutionary theory) 4. Characteristics and functions of cells (cell theory, cell structure and function, cell types, cell cycle, meiosis, biotechnology, virus, evolutionary theory) 5. Genetics (DNA structure, chromosome structure, chromosome abnormalities, Mendel’s work, trait inheritance [dominant and recessive traits], evolutionary theory) 6. How ecology explains the biodiversity in our environment (populations, communities, ecosystems, biomes, evolutionary theory). Course Objectives After successfully completing this course, students should be able to: 1. Apply the scientific method of inquiry. 2. Communicate the relevance of science in society. 3. Describe evolution as a theory that works to explain the unity and diversity of life. 4. Perform hands-on and interactive lab experiments/activities, using selected biology lab equipment and proper safety practices. 5. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the following topics: characteristics and basic classifications of life, biochemistry, metabolism, cells, genetics, and ecology. Course Policies/Student Responsibilities Students should read the assigned material in the text before attending lecture on that topic and the assigned material in the lab manual before doing the lab activities. Students are responsible for all material covered during lectures and laboratory activities as well as for all arrangements to make up any work or material missed. Makeup exams will not be offered. An absence on an exam day will result in a grade of 0 for that exam. Lab activities missed for any reason cannot be made up. The student should be aware that lab content and procedures will be assessed as part of the scheduled exams. Lab reports that are not handed in during lab are due at the beginning of the next lab period. Lab reports not handed in at that time will not be accepted for full credit. Lab reports for a lab may only be submitted if the student actively participated in lab that day. Answering a cell phone, talking on the cell phone, checking text messages, or sending text messages while a class or lab is in session is considered to be disrespectful and should not be done. Conduct these activities when class is not in session or in between class and lab. Cheating of any kind will result in the recommendation to the administration that the student be expelled from the class. Specific policies of this course follow those stated in the SMCC Student Handbook. Students are expected to become familiar with these policies prior to beginning this course. Southern Maine Community College Biology 100 Syllabus Summer 2015 Attendance/Late Work Policies Attendance Because of the nature of summer classes, your attendance at each class is very important. The amount of material we will cover in each class/lab period will be an onerous task to make up outside of class. As such, more than four missed lectures and/or more than three missed labs for any reason over the course of the semester will result in failure to pass the course. Extreme circumstances – and a willingness by both the student and instructor to devise appropriate make-up methods – may be cause for some slight wiggle room on this policy. However, please keep in mind that any absence requires an appropriate note in order for your grade to remain unaffected. That is, an unexcused absence will result in a grade of 0 for whatever you missed that class. Late Work Any work completed outside of class and turned in for a grade is expected to be handed in on the due date (see schedule) at the beginning of the lecture or lab period. Late work will be penalized as follows: Same day (but not at the start of class class) – -5% from grade Next day – -10% Two days late – -20% Three days late – -30% More than 3 days late – Grade of 0 If you need to hand in an assignment late (beyond the due date), please send it to me via email. Final-Week School Closings If the scheduled final exam is missed due to a weather-related (or any other reason) school closing, a required take-home exam will be electronically distributed to all students via email and blackboard. The details for this exam will be given at the time of distribution. Grades Exam 1 – 20% Exam 2 – 20% Exam 3 – 20% Lab Reports – 20% Quizzes – 5% Discussions – 15% EXAMS 1-2 – Each of these exams will cover the material since the previous exam (they will not be cumulative exams). Exams will consist of multiple choice questions and a few short answers. Exams will be graded out of 100. EXAM 3 – This exam will focus most heavily on the material covered after Exam 2. However, it will have a cumulative aspect to it. Expect a greater proportion of short answer questions on this exam. This exam will be graded out of 100. Southern Maine Community College Biology 100 Syllabus Summer 2015 LAB REPORTS – The lab reports will be submitted directly from the handouts supplied in the lab manual. QUIZZES – Each week there will be one short multiple choice quiz (5-10 questions) covering the material from the previous lecture. DISCUSSIONS – The format of these assignments will vary but will often include written homework and in-class discussion components. Grades will be posted online prior to assignments being returned in class. To calculate your class grade at any time, use the following equation: (Average Exam 1-3 grade * 0.60) + (Average Lab Report grade * 0.20) + (Average Quiz grade * 0.05) + (Average Discussion grade * 0.15) Grading scale 100-93 = A 92-90 = A89-87 = B+ 86-83 = B 82-80 = B79-77 = C+ 76-73 = C 72-70 = C69-67 = D+ 66-63 = D Below 63 = F End-of-course evaluation (online) In order to gain access to final course grades, students must complete evaluations for each course attended at SMCC. Evaluations are submitted online and can be accessed through the student portal site. Students can access the course evaluation report beginning two weeks before the end of classes. The deadline for submission of evaluations occurs 24 hours after the last day of classes each semester. Instructors will announce when the online course evaluation is available. ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Southern Maine Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and employer. For more information, please call 207-741-5798. If you have a disabling condition and wish to request Southern Maine Community College Biology 100 Syllabus Summer 2015 accommodations in order to have reasonable access to the programs and services offered by SMCC, you must register with the Disability Services Coordinator, Sandra Lynham, who can be reached at 741-5923. Further information about services for students with disabilities and the accommodation process is available upon request at this number. Course policies about online testing are modified to suit each individual’s accommodations. Student printing policy (new) This policy identifies the cost per page for black and white as well as color printing in varying page sizes. Specifics of the policy are outlined below: Per Page Costs Each semester students receive a $20 printing credit. The balance resets at the end of the semester and any remaining credits are removed. The cost varies depending upon page size and whether printing is done in black and white or color. a. There is a $0.10 per page fee for standard 8.5” by 11” black and white documents. b. The reverse sides of duplex (double-sided) documents are free. c. There is a $.50 per page fee for standard 8.5” by 11” color documents. d. There is a $.20 per page fee for 8.5” by 14” (legal) or 11” by 17” (tabloid) black and white documents. e. There is a $1.00 per page fee for 8.5” by 14” (legal) or 11” by 17” (tabloid) color documents. Duplex charges (printing on both sides of a page) work in the following fashion: One page is $0.10, two pages are $0.10, three pages are $0.20, and four pages are $0.20, etc. The flipsides are free, but another sheet of paper is $0.10. Please be aware that a document with any color at all (when printed to a color printer) will by default be printed in color. You are responsible for setting the print job to print black and white if you do not need color. For directions, please go to the IT Help tab in My SMCC. How does it work? The College’s pay-for-print system monitors printing on all printers (including those in general access labs, library printers, the Academic Achievement Center, Noisy Lounge and technology labs). Students can check the number of pages they have printed by using the Printing Balance tool available on SMCC computers (located in the lower right corner of the screen, near the clock). Departments with work study students who need to print documents for the department should contact the HelpDesk at 741-5696 to have a special account set up. Southern Maine Community College Biology 100 Syllabus Summer 2015 Refunds Print jobs are eligible for a refund in the event of mechanical or electronic error on the part of the printer, print server, or software used to submit the job. Jobs are not eligible for a refund in cases where the job was not set up correctly, was submitted multiple times, or the student is not satisfied with the result. To request a refund, please bring the offending print to the IT Department in the basement of the Ross Technology Center. Refunds will be granted in the form of a credit to the student’s account. Why is SMCC charging for printing? The pay-for-print system is an effort to control escalating printing costs. Charging for printing helps offset the increasing cost of supplies and encourages students to conserve resources. To find ways to reduce your printing charges, please go to the IT Help tab on My SMCC. If you have questions about the pay-for-printing policy or your printing charges, please contact the HelpDesk at 741-5696 or send an email to helpdesk@smccme.edu. Be sure to log OUT of the system when you’ve finished your printing, to prevent unauthorized access to your account. Late Start policy In the event of a late start due to adverse weather, etc., classes scheduled to begin earlier than the late start time but which run past that time will start late but will meet. For example if the College has a 10:00 a.m. late start, a class scheduled to meet from 8 AM until noon will now meet from 10 AM to noon. Add-drop policy Students who drop a course during the one-week “add/drop” period in the fall and spring semesters, and the first three days of summer sessions, receive a 100% refund of the tuition and associated fees for that course. Please note any course that meets for less than the traditional semester length, i.e., 15 weeks, has a pro-rated add/drop period. There is no refund for non-attendance. Remaining enrolled after Drop/Add week means you understand and accept the requirements, policies, and instructions spelled out in this syllabus. Withdrawal policy A student may withdraw from a course only during the semester in which s/he is registered for that course. The withdrawal period is the 2nd through 12th week of the fall and spring semesters and the 2nd through 9th week of 12-week summer courses. This period is pro-rated for shorter-length courses. To withdraw from a course, a student must complete and submit the appropriate course withdrawal form, available at the Enrollment Service Center (no phone calls, please). The designation “W” will appear on the transcript after a student has officially withdrawn. A course withdrawal is an uncompleted course and may adversely affect financial aid eligibility. Failure to attend or ceasing to attend class does not constitute withdrawal from the course. There is no refund associated with a withdrawal. Southern Maine Community College Biology 100 Syllabus Summer 2015 Plagiarism policy Adherence to ethical academic standards is required. Cheating is a serious offense, whether it consists of taking credit for work done by another person or doing work for which another person will receive credit. Taking and using the ideas or writings of another person without clearly and fully crediting the source is plagiarism and violates the academic code as well as the Student Code of Conduct. If it is suspected that a student in any course in which s/he is enrolled has knowingly committed such a violation, the faculty member should refer the matter to the College’s Disciplinary Officer and appropriate action will be taken under the Student Code of Conduct. Sanctions may include suspension from the course and a failing grade in the course. Students have the right to appeal these actions to the Disciplinary Committee under the terms outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. Administrative failure (grade of “AF”) 1. “Administrative failure” is the consequence of three consecutive absences, without notifying the instructor ahead of time as to the reason. 2. A grade of AF is submitted to the Registrar immediately after the third consecutive absence. Basically, an AF grade drops the student from the course. The student may then contact the instructor to request reinstatement in the course. Reinstatement is at the instructor’s discretion and is generally not granted because too much work has been missed by that time. 3. An AF student can contact the Registrar and request that the grade be changed to “W” (withdrawn) if done before the final drop date. Students earning an AF are still financially responsible for the course. Early Alert and Academic Alert 1. The first four weeks of the semester is the “Early Alert” period. Student progress is monitored closely during this time. The 5th through the 9th week is the “Academic Alert” period. Student progress continues to be monitored during this time, essentially halfway through the semester. These alerts raise students’ awareness about their performance. 2. If your overall course grade is below a C at the end of either the Early Alert or Academic Alert period, you will be assigned a grade of “U” (unsatisfactory) and your advisor will be notified. Your advisor will notify you about scheduling a meeting to discuss strategies for improvement. Think about specific ways you can improve your performance and take these ideas with you to the meeting. 3. If your overall course grade is C or above (satisfactory), no grade will be assigned and your advisor will not notify you. 4. These alert grades do not change. They do not become part of your permanent record and no other schools have access to them. They only reflect your performance for those time frames. However, these grades DO eventually affect your final course grade, of course, because your course grade continues to change as the semester progresses and you complete more work. Your final course grade may be different from your Early Alert and Academic Alert grades, i.e., higher, lower, or the same, depending on your Southern Maine Community College Biology 100 Syllabus Summer 2015 performance. You should calculate your grade often and know where you stand (see how to calculate your grade at any time in the course syllabus above). Course Schedule Date LECTURE SCHEDULE Topic Readings 5/27 Introduction, Fundamentals of Science Chapter 1 6/1 Basics of Biology Chapter 1 6/3 Foundations of Chemistry Chapter 2.1-2.5 6/8 Biochemistry Chapter 3 6/10 Cell Structure/Function Chapter 4.1-4.7 6/15 Cell Structure/Function, Membranes Chapter 5.1-5.2 6/17 EXAM 1 6/22 Viruses, Prokaryotes, Protists Chapter 21.1-21.10 6/24 Fungi Chapter 22 6/29 Cellular Respiration Chapter 7 7/1 Plants Chapter 24.1-24.3 7/6 Photosynthesis Chapter 8 7/8 Cell Cycle: Mitosis Chapter 9.1-9.5 7/13 DNA and RNA Chapter 13 7/15 EXAM 2 7/20 Protein Synthesis Chapter 14.1-14.4 7/22 Genetics Chapter 11.1-11.4, Chapter 12 7/27 Taxonomy Chapter 18 7/29 Invertebrate/Vertebrates Chapter 23 8/3 Invertebrates/Vertebrates Chapter 23 8/5 Ecology TBD 8/10 Ecology/Evolutionary Biology TBD 8/12 EXAM 3 *This schedule is subject to minor changes over the course of the semester. Any alterations in due dates or reading assignments will be made with an appropriate amount of notice. Southern Maine Community College Biology 100 Syllabus Summer 2015 LAB SCHEDULE Week Topic Assignments Due___ 6/1 Scientific Method (Lab 1, Lab 2) 6/8 Chemistry of Life (Lab A1) Lab 1 6/15 Microscopes (Lab 3) Lab 2, Lab A1 6/22 Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes, Protists (Lab 4) Lab 3 6/29 Cellular Respiration (Lab 6) Lab 4 7/6 Photosynthesis (Lab 5) Lab 6 7/13 Cell Cycle/Fungus (Lab 7, Lab A4) Lab 5 7/20 Protein Synthesis (Lab A2) Lab 7, Lab A4 7/27 Genetics, Taxonomy (Lab 8, Lab A3) Lab A2 8/3 Invert/Vert Anatomy (Lab A6, Lab A9) Lab 8, A3 8/10 Ecology/Evolution (Lab A8, Outside) Lab A6, Lab A9 *This schedule is subject to minor changes over the course of the semester. Any alterations in due dates or reading assignments will be made with an appropriate amount of notice.