BSC 1005C – Biological Sciences Syllabus, Saint Petersburg College INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Teresa Restom Gaskill Office: SP/Gibbs SC 235B, phone (727) 341‐4277 Email: please use MyCourses to contact me OFFICE HOURS: Mondays (SC 235B): 11 AM to 12 PM Mondays (LSC, TE 200): 3 to 4:30 PM Tuesdays (SC 101): 12 to 12:30 PM Wednesdays (SC 235B): 11 AM to 12 PM and 3 to 5 PM I am also usually available 15‐30 min before class in the classroom ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT: Natural Sciences Chairs: Bev Grundset, SC 133A, (727) 341‐4343 Stephen Andrasik, SC 133B, (727) 341‐4275 Dean: John Chapin, LI 280 (Seminole Campus), (727) 394‐6995 COURSE DESCRIPTION AND MAJOR LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course introduces the essential principles relevant to the biological sciences through combined lecture and laboratory activities. Contemporary issues are applied to topics in biology and include the process of science, evolutionary theory, organisms and ecology, cell structure and function, basic biological chemistry, diversity of life, and genetic mechanisms. By the end of this course the student should be able to: ‐ demonstrate their understanding of the process of science ‐ explain the diversity of life and identify the general characteristics of the major life groups ‐ describe the organization of nature, including the basic structure, function and homeostasis in select biological organisms ‐ explain the conceptual basis of evolutionary theory ‐ describe the basic concepts and application of genetics ‐ demonstrate their understanding of basic ecological principles ‐ demonstrate the use of basic scientific equipment and techniques REQUIRED TEXTBOOK: Discover Biology, Full Edition, by A. Singh‐Cundy and Michael Cain, Publisher: Norton, Edition: 6th, Year Published: 2015. Study Guide is optional but it comes for free when a new textbook is purchased at our bookstore. Inquizitive access, Norton Publishers. If you purchased a new book, you should have the access code in it. If not, go to https://digital.wwnorton.com/discbio6 to purchase access ($20). This is going to be used for homework. OTHER REQUIRED MATERIALS: Binder – this is to keep your lab manual, lecture slides, handouts and graded assignments (keep ALL graded assignments until the end of the course) 1
Closed toe shoes – for EVERY class Spiral Notebook or loose leaves – for your notes and for in‐class quizzes. Ear phone/ear bud ‐ for the Evolution class Apron, lab coat or old shirt ‐ for the Rat Dissection class GRADING:  60% exams  30% lab reports (average of top 20)  10% Inquizitive (homework)  + 4% Service Learning (extra credit) Grading scale: A= 89.5‐100% B= 79.5‐89.4% C= 69.5‐79.4% D= 59.5‐69.4% F= <59.5% EXAMS: There will be four exams on the dates and over the contents indicated in the course schedule. Read the Make‐up Policy for this class at the end of this document for a missed exam. LAB REPORTS: For most classes, some form of hand‐in assignment will be required. These assignments will be graded for content, format, neatness and correct spelling. Unless otherwise noted, all assignments in this category are due the class following its completion. Read the Make‐up Policy at the end of this document for a missed class activity. The grade for this category will be calculated over the top 18 lab report grades. INQUIZITIVE: InQuizitive is an adaptive learning tool that will be used as homework in this class. For each chapter, you will answer a series of questions. The number of questions you answer will depend on how well you are doing. If your answers are mostly correct, you advance to higher level questions faster, and overall answer fewer questions than if your answers are mostly incorrect. Anyone can get 100% in this assignment; it will only depend on how much effort and time you are willing to spend on it. Check the Due Dates handout for specific deadlines. SERVICE LEARNING (extra credit): Much can be learned while getting out in the field to do a project related to what you are learning in class. Why not benefit the community while you learn? This extra credit opportunity will consist of dedicating at least 3 hours to a community service project related to the topics covered in class (pretty much anything in Biology). Suggestions are: volunteer at a local park, preserve or museum (Boyd Hill NP, Sawgrass Lake Park, Weedon Island, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and South Florida Museum are good options); participate on beach clean ups; volunteer in ecological restoration projects (possibilities: Tampa Bay Watch, Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserves), etc. You should bring a simple form to the place where you will volunteer so I can verify that you really were there, how many hours you worked, and their contact information. You 2
will be graded on that and on an oral presentation to the whole class in which you summarize what you did and connect what you learned in this project with class material. The oral presentation can be replaced by a thorough written reflection on the project. Check the Service Learning handout and the Due Dates handout in MyCourses for guidelines and deadline for this project. HOW TO SUCCEED IN THIS COURSE: - Attend all classes and be on time; do not leave until class is over. - Check MyCourses at least twice per week for lecture slides, grades, and updates. - Turn off all electronic devices (MP3 players, cell phones, blackberries etc) BEFORE class starts. Laptops and tablets are only permitted for class use, but need to be put away before starting any experiments. - Read the assigned chapters (see course schedule) BEFORE AND AFTER they are covered in class. - Print the lecture slides from MyCourses before coming to class. - Take good notes during class; you can record the lecture if that helps. - Complete all Inquizitive chapters, even the ones that are not going to count for your grade. - Study EVERYDAY, at least 1 ½ hours per day. - Come see me if you start feeling lost! Do not wait too long. ATTENDANCE POLICY: Attendance is required. If you miss a class, it is YOUR responsibility to get notes from another student or contact the instructor for general information on what was covered and announcements/assignments given. Notice that if you are not appropriately dressed for class (i.e., closed toe shoes), you will not be allowed to stay and this will result in an absence. Students are able to withdraw themselves at any time during the term until the voluntary withdrawal deadline (see Due Dates handout). Students who do not show sufficient active participation (completion of 70% of work assigned) in the course by the voluntary withdrawal deadline, will be administratively withdrawn by the college and receive a WF. The college‐wide attendance policy is included in the Syllabus Addendum found at (http://www.spcollege.edu/addendum/). Withdrawal requests submitted after the voluntary withdrawal deadline will result in a “WF.” A grade of “W” does not impact the student’s GPA. The WF grade is punitive; it has the same impact on the GPA as an F. Students in the third attempt of a course who withdraw will receive a WF regardless of the date of withdrawal. MAKE‐UP POLICY: One of the objectives of college is to prepare you for the workforce and, as such, attendance and promptness are expected. However, I do understand that unexpected or serious issues may happen. If you ever miss a graded assignment. Before contacting me, read this policy as I will stick to it when I evaluate your case. Exams: You can only do make up of ONE exam. If you miss an exam and you would like to do a make‐up of it, contact me BEFORE the class following the exam. 3
Lab reports: Some activities are easier to make up than others, so I need to evaluate this case‐by‐case. Do not assume you will be allowed to submit a lab report for a missed class. Inquizitive: There will be no extension of deadlines unless initiated by the professor (due to delay in covering the material, for example). SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS: If you wish to request accommodations as a student with a documented disability, please make an appointment with the Learning Specialist on campus (SP/Gibbs campus: Ray Hollowell, 341‐4316; Downtown campus: T.J. Williams, 341‐7913). I need to see your accommodation form at least 2 days before the first assignment in which you intend to use the accommodation. It is the student’s responsibility to reserve a testing room if needed. If you need assistance during an emergency classroom evacuation, please contact your campus learning specialist immediately about arrangements for your safety. ACADEMIC HONESTY: I strictly enforce SPC’s Honor code (below), and do not tolerate dishonesty in my classes. Any student caught cheating will receive a grade of 0 for that assignment, and the provost’s office and registrar will be notified. The student will NOT be allowed to drop the class, i.e., you will not be permitted to receive a W. A student who is caught cheating a second time will automatically fail the course. Honor Code—“St. Petersburg College expects students to be honest in all of their academic work. By enrolling at the College, students agree to adhere to the College’s standards of academic honesty and integrity. Failure to comply with this pledge may result in academic and disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion from the College. As members of the College community, students also have an ethical obligation to report violations of the SPC academic honesty policies they may witness.” EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: In the event that a hurricane or other disaster causes closure of St. Petersburg College facilities, please visit www.spcollege.edu for an announcement of the College’s plan to resume operations. PLEASE NOTE IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE AWARE OF AND TO FOLLOW THESE DEADLINES AND POLICIES! Log in to MyCourses to confirm that you have access, reporting any difficulty to the SPC Student Technical Support Center at (727) 341‐4357 or via email at Onlinehelp@spcollege.edu. 4