General Biology (BIO 10)
MWF 12:00 - 12:50
Fall 2015
DATE
TOPIC
TEXT
Aug 19-21
The Science of Biology
1-2
LAB BOOK
The Chemistry of Life
LAB Aug 18 or 20
Scientific Method & Metric System
Aug 24-28
Macromolecules, Cells, Energy
LAB Aug 25 or 27
Microscopy & Cells
Aug 31 – Sept 4
Photosynthesis,
Handouts & 2
3-5
3&4
6-7
How Cells Harvest Energy
LAB Sept 1 or 3
Cell Environment
Sept 7
HOLIDAY!
Sept 9- 11
Mitosis Meiosis
LAB Sept 8 or 10
Cell Division
Sept 14-18
Genetics, DNA, Genes
LAB Sept 15 or 17
DNA Biology
Sept 21-25
EXAM 1 MONDAY September 21
Evolution & Natural Selection
LAB Sept 22 or 24
Genetics
Sept 28 -30, Oct 2
How We Name Living Things
5
8-9
10
10-12
11
14
12
15-16
Prokaryotes
LAB Sept 29 or Oct 1 Bacteria
Oct 5-9
Protists, Fungi
LAB Oct 6 or 8
LAB EXAM 1
Oct 12-16
Fungi (cont), Evolution of Animals
LAB Oct 13 or 15
Natural Selection
Oct 19-23
History of Vertebrates
16
17-18
18-19
14
20-21
How Humans Evolved
LAB Oct 20 or 22
Classification & Evolution
15
DATE
TOPIC
TEXT
Oct 26-30
The Animal Body & How it Moves
22-24
LAB BOOK
Circulation & Respiration
LAB Oct 27 or 29
Enzymes
Nov 2-6
Digestion,
7
25-26
Homeostasis
LAB Nov 3 or 5
Senses and Perception
Nov 11
HOLIDAY!
Nov 9 & 13
The Immune System
17
27
EXAM 2 FRIDAY November 13
LAB Nov 10 or 12
Biotechnology
Nov 16-20
The Nervous System & Senses
13
28-30
Chemical Signaling
LAB Nov 17 or 19
Plants
Nov 23-25
Reproduction & Development
8
31-32
Evolution of Plants
LAB Nov 24
Carbohydrates
Nov 26-27
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Nov 30 - Dec 2-4
Plant Form and Function
6
33-35
Plant Reproduction and Growth
Populations & Communities
LAB Dec 1 or 3
Ecology
Dec 7-11
Ecosystems
18
36-38
Behavior & the Environment
Human Influences
LAB Dec 8 or 10
LAB EXAM 2
Wednesday, December 16 11:30-2:30 Final Exam
General Biology (BIO 10)
MWF 12:00 - 12:50
Fall 2015
Instructor: Ms. Nancy Wheat
Office: N5
Office Hours: MWF 11:00 – 12:00
nwheat@hartnell.edu
Purpose: Introductory Biology (BIO 10) is a course designed for non-science majors. It fulfills
the lab science course requirement for graduation from Hartnell.
Course Description: This course will focus on the diversity of life on this planet with respect to
morphology, ecology, heredity, and evolution. We will explore cell structures, chemistry and
functions in order to understand the fundamental similarities and differences between living
organisms. We’ll examine the interactions between organisms and the physical environment in
order to think critically about topical issues such as global warming and alternative energy
sources, habitat conservation efforts, and fisheries management policies among others.
Resources:
Text: The Living World 8th edition, by George Johnson
Lab Manual: Biology Lab Manual
Course website: I have set up a website for our course http://www.hartnell.edu/general-biologybio-10.. This website will have the PowerPoint lectures, copies of the syllabus and handouts, as
well as many valuable links to websites that we will use in class or that may help you with your
studies.
Visionlearning: Our class has an excellent resource for your use - www.visionlearning.com.
Your course calendar has various Visionlearning modules listed for some weeks. You will need
to register at the Visionlearning website and go to the MyClassroom link for Introductory
Biology at Hartnell College. Once you have registered, you will have access to our
Visionlearning syllabus and links to all modules listed. These are excellent lessons covering
many of the topics that will be covered in lecture. They can be viewed in Spanish if you prefer.
This provides an excellent review for those of you having trouble with a topic as well as those of
you who would like to explore a topic in more detail.
Instructor: As the instructor for this course, I am available to facilitate your learning. Please
feel free to come to my office hours if there is anything that I can help you with. You can also
reach me through email at any time. Please be sure to keep my contact information accessible so
that you can contact me if you need to, or if you need to notify me of an absence.
Classroom Management Policies: Please do all you can to avoid being late to class and lab.
Coming in late disrupts the class. Habitual tardiness will affect your grade. Please do not disrupt
class in any way by talking, passing notes etc. Please silence your cell phones. I will ask you to
leave the class if you are making it difficult for others to listen. There will be no make-up
quizzes or exams except for excused, documented absences. There will be no exams given early
except for extreme documented emergencies. Repeated absence from lecture or lab, in addition
to hurting your ability to learn the material, may result in your being dropped from the class.
Attendance in lab is especially important because you really need to be there to learn the material
and see what is happening, you can't just copy a friend's notes. Needless to say, cheating will not
be tolerated and will result in your being dropped from the class.
Requirements: It is required that you attend both lecture and lab every week. There will be
some activities during lecture where you will break up into groups to perform an activity and
turn in group answers – your group members will depend on you to be present and contribute to
the group. There will be two (2) midterm exams as well as a cumulative final at the end of the
semester.
McGraw-Hill CONNECT: You have the option to use CONNECT from McGraw-Hill along
with our textbook. If you did not purchase a textbook bundled with a CONNECT code, you will
need to purchase one separately if you choose to use it. I believe that using CONNECT will
increase learning of the material and result in higher grades. I encourage you to take advantage
of this resource!
Evaluation/Grading Procedures: Your grade will be determined by your performance on
exams, quizzes, CONNECT assignments, projects, attendance, and attitude. The midterms and
practical exams (lab) are worth 100 pts each. The final is worth 200 pts (100 pts for new
material and 100 pts cumulative covering the entire semester). You will have a 10 point lab quiz
every week. There may also be some points available from in-class quizzes and projects. The
lecture exams and exercises will count as two thirds of your final grade with the lab material
making up the final third.
A = 90% - 100%
B = 80% - 89%
C = 70% - 79%
D = 60% - 69%
F = below 60%
How to Study for this Course: You are responsible for your own learning of this material.
Think about how you learn best, how much time you will need to spend on reading, studying and
other assignments and learn to budget your time. Remember that the more often you are exposed
to the material (read it, hear it in lecture, read it again, review it at the Visionlearning website, do
a lab related to the material) the more likely you are to retain that information. Try forming a
study group and discuss what we are doing in lecture or lab. Relate information to your own
experiences. Read all assigned material BEFORE coming to class! Make a list of vocabulary
words to learn for the exams. Flashcards may help if you feel overwhelmed by the vocabulary,
but it is essential that you understand the concepts instead of just memorizing vocabulary. If
you don’t understand something you can always ask me as well. It really helps to go through the
material again after lecture. You must read lab material before going to lab in order to work
efficiently and get the most out of the lab. Make your schoolwork a priority and do the best job
you possibly can on all your assignments!
Learning Tools:
As a student, you are the center of the learning process. I can’t force you to learn the material, I
can only expose you to it in what I hope will be an interesting way. You must do the actual
learning yourself. It is your responsibility to set goals for yourself, plan how you will use the
materials provided to you, and schedule your time. Developing good study skills will save you
time and energy by helping you work more efficiently. This will help you not only in this
course, but every other course you take. The following list is a set of learning tools that may
help you. This list was adapted from The Course Syllabus by Judith Grunert.
Self Management Techniques
Set learning goals for yourself
Plan and organize a study schedule
Break down work into manageable units
Study in a place free from distractions
Review often
Reading to Learn
Preview the chapter (titles, pictures, summaries, etc)
Read for main ideas
Summarize in your own words
Reread, visualize, relate, think aloud
Review
Making Useful Notes
Identify the main ideas
Summarize ideas or text
Create outlines, flowcharts or concept maps
Underline selectively (not the whole book)
Rewrite notes
Study with Others
Discuss the material with a friend
Quiz each other on terms and concepts
Exams
Review notes and texts; pay special attention to points emphasized in lecture
Think up possible questions and answer them.
Review key terms
Get a good night sleep before the exam
Bring at least two sharp #2 pencils and a scantron sheet
Read directions
Read questions carefully
If you don’t understand something on the test – ASK!!
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Given a mock experiment, students will be able to use the scientific method to formulate and
answer a scientific question. Chapter 1, Lab 1, Lab 16 (CC: CT)
2. Given an image or diagram of a cell, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the
structure and function of the components, as well as the progression of cells through the cell
cycle. Chapters 4-9, Lab 4, Lab 10 (CC: I)
3. Given the history of life on Earth, students will be able to apply the principles of evolutionary
theory to explain the unity and diversity of life. Chapters 10-21, Lab 14, Lab 15 (CC: C)
4. Given the spectrum of life forms on Earth, students will be able to classify living organisms
based on their environmental niche, size, complexity, reproductive strategies, and mechanisms of
energy conversion. Chapters 15-21, Lab 15 (CC: G)
Campus Safety
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION: In the event of a life-threatening emergency
call 911.
 To report a non-life threatening incident, safety hazard, or a suspicious activity
please contact campus security at 755-6888
 To obtain campus status information, call the campus safety and facilities
emergency status bulletin telephone number: 831-796-6222. From a campus
line, simply dial 6222
 AlertU subscribers can be alerted in real-time about important security
information.
Alert U is a SMS based emergency notification system that works on mobile
phones. To sign up for AlertU, simply use the subscription tool that says
"Emergency Alerts" at http://hartnell.edu/campus-safety
EVACUATION: Please note the exit(s) in the room. In the event of an alarm or
safety threat, uniformed Hartnell personnel equipped with two-way radios—
including security, and maintenance staff—have up-to-date information; they also
have the authority to order either shelter-in-place or immediate building
evacuation. For evacuation, immediately heed their directions by proceeding
calmly and quickly to an exterior assembly area as indicated by trained staff.
Please stay back at least 200 feet from any building until the “all clear” command
is issued.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: The first 72 hours of a disaster are often the
most difficult, but this period can be less stressful if everyone has extra supplies on
hand. The college has a limited amount of emergency supplies, so students and
staff should have on campus their own portable emergency kit including snacks,
water, and prescription medication; this is especially important for those who may
need to shelter on campus. For more information go to http://72hours.org/ and
http://hartnell.edu/emergency-information
All material subject to change