Fall 2009/Spring 2010 Syllabus
SC110
Principles of Biology
Concordia High School Concurrent Enrollment Course
5 Credit Hours
Textbooks
Campbell, Reece, Taylor, Simon, & Dickey. 2009. Biology Concepts & Connections (6th Ed.).
ISBN-13: 978-0-13-135566-8
ISBN-10: 0-13-135566-X
Martini, Frederic H. 2001. Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology (5th Ed.).
ISBN: 0-13-032479-5
Division of Business, Math, Science, and Technology
Instructor: Dustin J. Bender
The learning outcomes and competencies detailed in this syllabus meet, or exceed, the learning outcomes
and competencies specified by the Kansas Core Outcomes Project for this course, as sanctioned by the
Kansas Board of Regents.
(Principles of Biology)
(FALL 2009/SPRING 2010)
Course Number:
SC 110
Time & Day:
1st and 7th Periods
Location:
Concurrent Enrollment Course/Concordia High School
Instructor:
Dustin J. Bender
Office:
J203 (Concordia Jr/Sr High School)
Phone:
785-243-2452 Ext. 233 (school) 785-243-1147 (home)
Email:
dustin.bender@usd333.com
Required Materials:
Textbooks
Colored pencils
Loose Leaf Paper
2”, 3-ring binder
Pencils
Computer Access
5 tabbed dividers
Pens
Laptop Computer
Calculator
Eraser
Network Account
Office Hours: By appointment
Advisement Center: N/A
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This is a dual credit course with Cloud County Community College. Not only will you receive a unit of credit
from Concordia High School, but you may also register for 5 credit hours through the college. Biology II is a
higher level biology class designed for upperclassmen that have a high level of interest in the biological
sciences. Students enrolled for this class should be self-motivated and willing to engage in critical thinking
and analytical thought about our topics. This class is lab-based; using investigations, activities and
dissection of preserved specimens to teach the key biological concepts as outlined in the Kansas State
Science Standards. The two main goals of the course are to develop a conceptual framework for modern
biology and to gain experience and appreciation of biology through experimentation and inquiry. Biology
II deepens the understanding of the scientific method and exposes students to the studies of anatomy,
physiology, zoology, botany, and bacteriology. Because of the course content and pace, it is strongly
recommended that students have a firm command of science process skills and age appropriate maturity
in order to effectively manage the workload. Students will participate in projects that will develop the
following skills: writing, critical thinking, technology usage, research, time management, cooperation, and
presentation skills.
PREREQUISITE:
Completion of General Biology or High School Biology with a B or better is recommended.
SEQUENCING: N/A
METHOD OF EVALUATION/GRADING:
The course grade is composed of daily and major assessments.
Daily assessments gauge progress and encourage daily preparation for learning. They quickly reveal gaps
in knowledge, skills and success-oriented behavior that need to be addressed. They contribute to the total
course grade but carry less weight. They include but are not limited to the following:
Quizzes
Homework Assignments
Article Reviews
In-class Presentations
Laboratory Reports
Biology Notebook Organization
Major assessments gauge long-term retention and application of concepts. They contribute to the total
course grade carrying the majority of the course grade weight. They include but are not limited to the
following:
Tests/Projects
Laboratory Practica
Research & Reaction Papers
Semester Exams
POINT WEIGHTING:
Points accumulated during quarterly grading periods fall into the following categories with their respective
percentages:
Tests/Projects, Lab Practica, Research/Reaction Papers, Extra Credit
50% weight
Quizzes, Lab Reports, In-class Presentations
30% weight
Homework, Notebook Quizzes
20% weight
This weighting scale means major assessment points have far more influence on your quarterly grade with
day-to-day assessment serving as a buffer. Early in each quarter your course grade will appear inflated
because it will reflect only the lesser weight items. As greater weight items enter the picture, your course
grade may shift dramatically. Whether the shift is toward the better or the poorer depends on the choices
you make.
GRADE SCALE:
There are many opportunities to gain points through daily assignments, major assessments, and
meaningful extra credit activities each grading period. Letter grades are assigned accordingly with
rounding of category percentages done by the high school grading system default setting.
Letter grades are assigned accordingly:
90-100%
A
80-89%
B
70-79%
C
60-69%
D
0-59%
F
Note: The instructor reserves the right to modify the grading scale, and the number of assignments as warranted.
SEMESTER GRADE:
Concordia High School semester grade is calculated as follows:
1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
1st Semester Exam
40%
40%
20%
= 100%
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter
2nd Semester Exam
40%
40%
20%
= 100%
Cloud County Community College Semester Grading is calculated as follows:
1st Semester grade and Midterm exam
2nd Semester grade
Final Exam
40%
40%
20%
= 100%
EXTRA CREDIT:
Extra credit means exactly what it says…. It’s something in addition to assignments you were expected to
complete and hand in. Extra credit work cannot take the place of an assignment you did not do or did not
hand in. Extra credit work must be handed in by specific due dates. No extra credit work will be accepted
during the last 5 school days of a quarter. Points earned for extra credit will be calculated into your grade
under the 50% weight category.
SUBMITTING WORK:
Written work must be done in either #2 pencil, black ink or blue ink. Written work submitted in other
colors will be considered late with a deduction of 50% of the score after being resubmitted in the required
format. Reaction papers, research papers, and laboratory reports must be done in Microsoft Word,
formatted according to the provided template, and sources appropriately cited in MLA style format. I will
provide you with the guidelines for MLA format.
ASSIGNMENT POLICY (LATE WORK):
Assigned work must be turned in on time. Work will be picked up shortly after the bell. Any work
submitted after that time will be marked LATE and receive partial credit. 50% credit will be given if turned
in at the start of the next class meeting time. After that next class meeting time, no credit will be given. In
the event of an emergency, or extremely unusual circumstances, the best professional
judgment/discretion will be used to determine late work credit.
“Get it done, get it in on time!”
MAKE-UP WORK:
All work missed because of an excused absence must be made up, whether the absence resulted because
of school activities, a prearranged excuse, or illness. It is up to you to get assignments that you missed and
make up work. See the student handbook (page 16) for more information regarding make-up work.
TEACHING METHODS:
The method of instruction will be a lecture/lab-based format. Lectures will consist mostly of formal lecture
with some PowerPoint presentations as well as transparencies. Short periods of group or individual work
will be used daily to assign points for attendance. Extra credit will be available to all the class at once and
not on an individual basis. This means take advantage of the opportunities when offered. The lab utilizes
hands-on, small-group activities.
COURSE POLICIES:
You, the student, are accountable for meeting classroom behavioral expectations consistent with district
policy and those specific to this course. You are accountable for self-awareness and self-management. The
expected behaviors include but are not limited to those listed below. The items listed here capture most of
the day-to-day things that foster success for all students. Keep them in mind as you are confronted with
day-to-day choices. Failure to follow these expectations may result in any of the following consequences:
warning, afterschool detention, call to parents/guardian, administrative referral, and possible removal
from course.
1. Horseplay of any kind in the classroom is always unacceptable. Depending on the nature of the
behavior, any or all consequences may be applied.
2. Be in class, work ready to hand in and in your seat on time unless the Bell Work notation directs
otherwise.
3. Have your materials with you everyday unless directed otherwise.
4. Show respect for yourself. Practice self-awareness and self-management.
5. Show respect for others. Practice self-awareness and self-management.
6. Make sure your clothing and behavioral choices are not a distraction to learning and instruction.
- Shirt hems must always cover the waistline of shorts, pants or skirts.
- Necklines must not expose cleavage. It’s cool for the pool but not for the lab classroom.
Inappropriate attire will be met with a request to remedy the exposure.
7. Do not leave the classroom without permission. If an alarm sounds go to the designated place by way
of the designated route as a group.
8. No usage of cell phone, pager, IM, E-mail or other communication device or route during class without
permission. Laser pointer use is also unacceptable.
LAB SAFETY:
Laboratory safety rules and procedures will be reviewed prior to any laboratory work. You will be required
to follow all safety policies at all times! A contract must be signed by you and your parent(s)/legal
guardian before you will be allowed into the lab.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Cheating, attempts to cheat, helping someone cheat, and plagiarism will be rewarded with a grade of 0%
and possibly a call to parent/guardian and referral to administration, depending on the infraction.
It is not an infraction of the policy to help another student understand how to do an assignment if he/she
does the work himself/herself with your assistance.
Cheating:
“Cheating means getting unauthorized help on an assignment, quiz or examination.”
1. You must not receive from any other students or give to any other students any information, answers,
or help during an exam.
2. You must not use unauthorized sources for answers during an exam. You must not take notes or books
to the exam when such aids are forbidden, and you must not refer to any book or notes while you are
taking the exam unless the instructor indicates it is an “open book” exam.
3. You must not obtain exam questions illegally before an exam or tamper with an exam after it has been
corrected.
Materials taken from “Academic Dishonesty in Our Classrooms.” Instructional Exchange, 1990, 2 (2), 1-4 (Newsletter available
from the Office of University Assessment and Intellectual Skills Program, Western Michigan University)
Plagiarism:
“Plagiarism” means submitting work as your own that is someone else’s. For example, copying material
from a book, the Internet, or another source without acknowledging that the words or ideas are someone
else’s and not your own is plagiarism. If you copy an author’s words exactly, treat the passage as a direct
quotation and supply the appropriate citation. If you use someone else’s ideas, even if you paraphrase the
wording, appropriate credit should be given. You have committed plagiarism if you purchase a term paper
or submit a paper as your own that you did not write.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
This class will follow the Concordia Jr/Sr High School Attendance Policy. This can be found on page 14 of
the student handbook.
CONDUCT: See course policies
EXAMINATION POLICY:
Exams and laboratory exams should be taken on time with the class as a whole. Excused absences that are
known of before the test will require the individual to make up the test before, or immediately upon
return from the event or sickness. When possible these accommodations will be worked out ahead of
time.
Lab exams will be practical in nature with general questions related to what we have seen in lab. Materials
we have viewed will be placed out and you will be asked to identify or explain the material in a general
manner. No makeup exams will be given after the test date unless prearranged!!!
INSTRUCTOR ASSISTANCE:
If help is needed, come during advisory time or schedule a time to meet before or after school hours. It is
your responsibility to seek assistance if needed.
TUTOR ASSISTANCE: Tutors are available in the Learning Skills Center at Cloud County Community College.
Contact the Learning Skills Center for more information.
INCOMPLETE POLICY:
As defined in the CHS Student Handbook (page 43): Students who receive an “incomplete” from an
instructor have ten consecutive school days from the designated end of the grading period to change their
status in that subject area. At the end of the ten day grace period, a grade of “F” will be entered on the
student’s transcript unless an extension is requested by the parent or guardian (the request must be made
before the end of the ten day grace period). An extension of time contract needs approval of the
administration. The parents must initiate the extension process.
ACADEMIC COMPLAINTS:
Cloud County Community College has an Academic Due Process Policy to address any student academic
complaints. For any unresolved complaints, the policy can be obtained from the Academic Affairs Office.
GENERAL EDUCATION GOALS:
This course is a General Education "A" course. Students enrolled in Science General Education "A" courses
will be expected to demonstrate the ability to apply the scientific process. Successful students will be able
to:
 Recognize the problem to be solved
 Follow written directions accurately
 Demonstrate use of applicable scientific techniques
 Apply deductive reasoning to develop an approach to the problem
 Follow safety guidelines
 Acquire data
 Display data in a clear and organized format
 Collect observations
 Evaluate the validity of the conclusion
 Express ideas approaches, data, and conclusions in a well communicated format
Students will be assigned work demonstrating whether or not they can successfully meet these goals.
DEPARTMENT GOALS:
Students who complete a biology course at Cloud County Community College should be able to:
 Demonstrate the ability to think critically regarding biological topics
 Demonstrate the ability to apply biological knowledge to real world biological topics
Levels of learning:
1. The student is able to analyze and evaluate biological topics.
2. The student is able to define, interpret, and discuss biological topics.
3. The student fails to define, interpret, and discuss biological topics.
COURSE GOALS (Student Learning Outcomes): In an attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of the
teaching and student learning in this course, each semester the course is offered, one or two of the course
objectives listed below will be chosen for assessment purposes from the accompanying objective list.
Assessment will not affect your grade, and be determined on the basis of in class examinations and
according to the following:

70% of the students in the class taking the exams will achieve a score of 50% or better
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able:
Student Objective
 To understand the use of the scientific process and scientific methods.
 To understand the structure and function of the basic unit of life, the cell
 To understand the biological hierarchy of life and how these levels
interrelate.
 To understand metabolic functions in relation to enzymes,
photosynthesis, & cell respiration
 To understand cellular and sexual reproduction, and how it relates to
development.
 To be familiar with the concepts of genetics and be able to solve genetics
problems.
 To have an understanding of the relationships between DNA, genes, and
protein synthesis.
 To have an understanding of how life on our planet has evolved, to
create the diversity of life as we see it today.
 To have a familiarity with the diversity of life on our planet, and how
they can be classified.
 To be familiar with the basic anatomy and physiology of humans.
 To have a basic understanding of ecological processes and the
interactions of organisms within a variety of niches.
ASSESSMENT of COURSE GOALS: See above
PROGRAM EXIT GOALS: None
ASSESSMENT of PROGRAM SUCCESS: None
Method of Assessment
General Education Science
Assessment Test **Lab Report
Multiple Choice Exam
Multiple Choice Exam
Multiple Choice Exam
Multiple Choice Exam
Multiple Choice Exam
Multiple Choice Exam
Multiple Choice Exam
Multiple Choice Exam
Multiple Choice Exam
Multiple Choice Exam
ACCOMMODATION FOR DISABILITY:
If you need academic adjustments for any type of disability, see your instructor during office hours or
make an appointment. Students also may contact the Director of Advisement and Counseling, located in
the Advisement Center.
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY:
In case of extremely severe weather, the superintendent of schools may cancel or alter the school day.
Notification will be made from the school’s district office.
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
When alarms are sounded or crisis conditions arise, you will be instructed to move to a designated safe
area or to remain in the classroom until the crisis has passed. If you are informed to leave the room, take
as many of your personal belongings as time permits. Cell phones and other electronic devices are only to
be used once you arrive in the safe area
*CAVEAT:
Due to the nature of this course, the above information, guidelines and procedures outlined in the syllabus
are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances.