BI 204 – Fundamentals of Biology Lab
TA Info:
Andy Gibbs
Email:
_____
Summer 2015
andrew.gibbs@pdx.edu
Text: The lab instructions are posted on D2L. You MUST have a PSU Odin
email account for this class. If you do not have an account yet, you can get
one at: www.account.pdx.edu or go to the help desk in Smith Center,
Rm 18 for assistance. Your grade progression and other pertinent information
can be found at: https://d2l.pdx.edu/ . Your Odin user name and password
will be used to sign into your D2L account as well.
***ALWAYS READ THE LAB EXERCISE BEFORE COMING TO CLASS.***
You may bring a copy of the lab instructions to each week’s lab, but you will
also be able to reference it during class from the classroom computers. You will
NOT be able to print the lab from the classroom printer. If you are enrolled in
the lecture for BI 201, you may find the textbook for that course helpful in
supplementing the information in the labs.
Statement Regarding Students with Disabilities: It is the University's goal
that learning experiences be as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or
experience physical or academic barriers based on disability, please register
with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) (503-725-4150 or drc@pdx.edu) in
order to establish reasonable accommodations. Once you have registered with
the DRC, schedule a time to talk to with your TA as soon as possible to discuss
your needs for the term. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive.
You are responsible for notifying and working with both the DRC and your TA in
a timely fashion such that accommodation requests can be arranged for prior to
due dates and scheduled in-class activities.
Participation/Attendance: A laboratory class is a “hands-on” experience attendance and participation are mandatory. Points for participation, quizzes,
and your homework depend upon your attendance to lab each day. There are
no opportunities to make-up a missed lab, so please be here and be prepared
each day. Please turn off all cell phones. You will lose your participation points if
your phone rings in class! You are responsible for cleaning your tables with
Lysol solution at the end of each class and for keeping your work area in tidy
condition. In order to earn participation points, you must actively participate in
lab and be present for the duration of the lab period.
Lab Homework: You will be required to answer pre-lab questions that must be
submitted via D2L before you walk into the lab room each day beginning the
second day of class. You will also keep a written record of every lab and will
submit lab homework each day via D2L. Homework assignments will be given
as part of that day’s lab instructions and will be based upon questions asked at
the end of each lab exercise. You will submit the homework prior to the quiz
each day. Homework submitted on time is worth full credit, 30 minutes late to
1 day late it is worth half credit, beyond that: ZERO. You may not submit
homework for a lab that you did not attend. You will be able to drop the
LOWEST lab homework score from your grade.
possible missed lab excuses you may have.
This should account for any
No portion of your lab homework may be transcribed from the lab instructions
or from someone else’s records - plagiarism will not be tolerated and points
will be deducted. Please see the section on Academic Honesty below.
Quizzes: Quizzes will be given daily at the beginning of each lab period. You
will have approximately the first 10-15 minutes of class to complete the
quiz, or until the last on-time person turns in their quiz. There will not be
an opportunity to make-up missed quizzes. They will include review questions
from the previous lab, as well as basic questions about the current day’s lab
activities. So…read the lab manual before coming to class! You will be able to
drop your LOWEST quiz score.
Lab Safety: Please use caution and common sense at all times. No food
(including gum or candy) or drink is allowed in the lab. Closed shoes
should be worn at all times in the lab (i.e., no sandals). You will be asked
to leave after the first lab. Some of the labs require gloves and goggles due to
the use of hot liquid and hazardous chemicals. If you choose not to use these
safety precautions you will be liable for any injury you may incur.
Academic Honesty: Students are expected to complete all assignments
independently. Cheating will not be tolerated. Please consult PSU’s Student
Conduct Code for more information:
http://www.pdx.edu/dos/conduct.html
Disabilities: It is the University's goal that learning experiences be as
accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience physical or academic
barriers based on disability, please register with the Disability Resource Center
(DRC) (503-725-4150 or drc@pdx.edu) in order to establish reasonable
accommodations. Once you have registered with the DRC, schedule a time to
talk to with your TA as soon as possible to discuss your needs for the term.
Please note that accommodations are not retroactive. You are responsible for
notifying and working with both the DRC and your TA in a timely fashion such
that accommodation requests can be arranged for prior to due dates and
scheduled in-class activities.
Make-ups: There will be NO opportunities to make-up a missed lab or quiz.
You are able to drop your lowest lab homework and quiz scores, so this should
account for any need to make-up a lab.
Grading:
Participation (8 in class labs X 3pts each)
Pre-Lab ?’s (7 labs X 3pt each)
Post Lab ?’s/Homework (8 labs X 7pts each)
Quizzes (7 quizzes X 7pts each)
Lab
#
Week of
Topic
1
June 23
Introduction to the
Scientific Method
2
3
4
June 24
June 25
June 30
Do Labels Lie?
Measuring
Nutritional Contents
in Foods
Just Beneath the
Skin: The
Microscopic World
of Cells
Got Milk? Enzymes
and the Science of
Lactose
Intolerance
Down the Drain:
Household
Chemicals and
Ecosystem
Damage
“Gene-ie” in a
Bottle: Take Home
Your Own DNA!
Total Points
24
21
56
49
150
QUIZ
Due today
Quiz
#1
Nutrition prelab Q’s,
Scientific HW
Quiz
#2
Microscope
pre-lab Q’s;
Nutrition HW
Quiz
#3
Milk pre-lab
Q’s;
Microscope
HW
Quiz
#4
Household
Chemicals prelab Q’s; Milk
HW
5
July 1
6
July 2
7
July 7
GATTACA: Genetic
(Taste) Testing
Quiz
#6
July 8
Osmosis in the time
of Cholera:
Understanding the
biology of diarrhea
and dehydration
Quiz
#7
Osmosis prelab Q’s;
Genetic HW;
GMO Lab
Quiz
#8
GMO pre-lab
and post lab
Q’s; Osmosis
HW
8
9
July 9
Quiz
#5
DNA pre-lab
Q’s; Household
Chemical HW
Genetic prelab Q’s; Down
the Drain HW
Fundamentals of Biology – Bi 204
Expectations for Students
Learning in the University environment should be stimulating, demanding, and
also fair. We encourage the open discussion and exchange of ideas, particularly
in the laboratory setting. However, it is essential that all graded work in this
course be your own work, and in your own words.
Below are the expectations for students in this class. This set of expectations is
intended to maximize debate and exchange of ideas in an atmosphere of mutual
respect while preserving individual ownership of ideas and written words. If you
feel you do not understand or cannot agree to these expectations, you should
discuss this with your instructor and classmates.
1. Students are expected to work cooperatively with other members of the
laboratory and show respect for the ideas and contributions of other people.
2. When working as part of a group, students should strive to be good
contributors to the group, to listen to others in the group and try not to
dominate, and to recognize the contributions of others. Students should try to
ensure that everyone in the group makes a contribution, and recognize that
everyone contributes in different ways to a group process.
3. Students should conduct experiments and discuss problems as part of a
group, but must write lab answers in their own words and take quizzes alone,
without copying anyone else’s work.
I have read and understood the expectations for students in this class. If I am
uncertain about appropriate behavior in the class I will ask one of the
instructors for clarification. I understand that any instances of academic
dishonesty (see the PSU “Code of Student Conduct and Responsibility” for more
information see http://www.pdx.edu/dos/conductcode) will result in a zero for
that assignment or exam, and will be reported to the University administration,
as outlined in the course syllabus.
Signed,
______________________________________ Date: __________________
Printed Name:
______________________________________