Biology 102 Lecture
Fall 2011
Instructor Dr. Greg Perrier
Lecture: MW 8:00 AM Room MC 332
Office Hours: T-W 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Second Life Th 10-11 AM,
& by appt. Room MH 314
Email: gperrier@nvcc.edu
Phone: 703-257-6562
www.nvcc.edu/home/gperrier
Course Objectives:
The course has three broad objectives, to develop an understanding of animal organ
systems and physiology, plant anatomy and physiology, and ecology. The course will cover
chapters 35 to 54 in the textbook.
Course Materials:
Required Text -
Biological Science, 3rd Edition by Scott Freeman
Determination of course grade:
Lecture Grade
345 points (200 pts - 4 lecture tests/final, 60 pts paper, 36 pts class
homework, 20 pts for discussion, 25 pts Second Life Worksheets 4
pts office visit)
Lab Grade
115 points
A = 90-100 grade average
C = 70-79 grade average
F = 0-59 grade average
B = 80-89 grade average
D = 60-69 grade average
Testing:
There will be four non-cumulative lecture tests plus a cumulative final each worth 50
points. I will drop the lowest of the test grades. If you have to miss a test you must make
arrangements prior to the time the test starts. If you fail to make arrangements and miss a test
you will get a zero for that exam.
Papers:
I will hand out separate guidelines for the paper. The paper can be on any topic in
biology and is worth a total of 60 points. Paper topics (6 points) are due by 12 September,
paper outlines with works cited (6 points) are due 31 October, and completed papers (48 points)
are due by 21 November by 4:30 PM. I will accept late papers only until 4:30 PM of the day of
the 4th exam (7 December).
Homework:
The Purpose of homework is to get you to look at each chapter before the lecture on that
chapter. There are five homework questions for each chapter except chapter 41. You start with
36 homework points and I subtract two points for each missed homework. You must turn in
each homework before the start of the lecture on that chapter. You will have 2 points deducted
for each late or missing homework. Homework questions are available under documents in the
Bio 102 lecture section of blackboard. I do not hand the homework back before the end of the
semester in case there is any question about the homework grade. The questions are taken
from the study guides, so keep a copy of the homework for you.
Discussion: There will be two discussion topics put in the discussion section of Blackboard.
These will be on current topics in biology. You will be asked to post a thread supporting one side
of the topic and to post a comment on another student’s thread. You can receive up to 10
points for each discussion topic, 6 points for posting a thread and 4 points for commenting on
another student’s thread. I will send you an email when the discussion is available in
Blackboard.
Office Visit:
The purpose of the visit is be make sure you know where to find me if you need help and
to allow me to get to know you better. You will get 4 points if you visit me in my office during the
first two weeks of classes (on or before 4:30 PM on Tuesday 6 September).
Second Life Worksheets:
Second Life (SL) is a virtual world on the internet. You will find detailed instructions on
how to install SL on a computer, make an avatar, and complete the class SL activities in
worksheets that are available under this class on Blackboard. If you do not have a computer
able to run SL, you can install it on computers in the NOVA library and complete the activities
there. There are two SL worksheets for this class, the first worth 15 points (due 7 September)
and the second worth 10 points (due 5 October).
Study Guides: A study guide will be available for each lecture. The lectures and study guides
are closely tied to chapters in the textbook. Each study guide will consist of up to at most 20
questions from the lecture and textbook chapter. Five of these 20 questions you will have as
homework questions. The study guide will be available after the lecture on Blackboard. I want
you to use your lecture notes and the textbook to answer the study guide questions after lecture.
In that way you will learn the material much better. In addition, I will be holding an office hour in
SL and you will find instructions on Blackboard on how to get to my area in SL. I also have a
classroom there and if NOVA closes due to weather or other events, lecture will be held in my
SL classroom.
Extra Credit:
Extra credit assignments are available to all students after the third exam. They are
worth about 5 percent of the course grade. Extra credit points will be added to your grade only
when your overall final grade is below 70 percent (below a C).
Your Role in the Class:
The instructor’s role is to facilitate a learning environment where everyone can succeed.
As such, I will do what I can to help you, both in and outside the classroom, to understand
biology. But, you are a partner in this process and will be expected to do the WORK of learning.
You will be expected to spend a significant amount of time (about 9 hours per week) studying
outside of the lecture period. Thus, all students must actively participate in their own learning
experience and be held responsible for their performance. I will treat you with respect and
facilitate your success in this course but in the end, you ultimately bear responsibility for your
grade. Please review the handout on “How to get a good grade” and seek assistance from me
or others if you need help.
Class Attendance:
Classroom participation is vital to the learning process: therefore, you will do much better
in this class if you attend every lecture. Irregular attendance may result in a student being
dropped with an F. More than 5 weeks of unexcused absences requires assignment of an
automatic F. I will be taken attendance for the first lecture or two and later an attendance sheet
will be available for you to sign each lecture period. Note: if you miss four or more labs, you
get an F for the course.
Classroom Conduct:
There is an honor code at NVCC for all students. Students are encouraged to work
together on course material but each student must do their own work on graded material unless
otherwise advised. Failure to adhere to this honor policy will result in an automatic zero for any
graded work.
While in this course, your behavior should be consistent with professional etiquette and
accepted common practices of courtesy and respect. Disruptions and rudeness to me and other
students are inappropriate. Remember that students have paid to attend these lectures and
talking in the class can keep other from getting a good grade. Eating and smoking within the
classroom are against college and/or state policy and will not be permitted. Cell phones,
pagers, etc. should be off during the lecture and must be off during exams. Do not send text
messages during the lecture. If I see you texting, I will ask you to stop first and on the second
time ask you to leave the classroom. Ask me before using lab tops or recorders. Students who
consistently are rude and disrespectful to me or other students will be asked to leave the
classroom. If you spill a drink or make a mess, please clean it up so the next class finds a clean
classroom. If you find yourself becoming increasingly frustrated with the class or students in the
class, please come talk to me, let’s work things out.
Special Accommodations:
Northern Virginia Community College strives to provide every student a worthwhile
learning opportunity and environment. The college complies with the American with Disabilities
Act, so any student needing special accommodations in order to perform well should let me
know during the first week of class and contact the campus ADA representative in the
Counseling Office (MH 110).
Test Schedule:
Test 1 Sept 19
Chapters 41, 42, 43, 44, and 47 – Animals 1
Test 2 Oct 17
Chapters 45, 46, 48, 49, and 22 – Animals 2
Test 3 Nov 9
Chapters 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40 - Plants
Test 4 Dec 7
Chapters 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, and 55 - Ecology
Final Dec 19 8:00 AM All Chapters
Bio 102 8:00 AM Lecture Fall 2011 Schedule
MONDAY
Aug 22
Course Overview
TUESDAY
23
WEDNESDAY
24 Chapter 41
THURSDAY
25
.
FRIDAY
26
29 Chapter 42
30
31 Chapter 43
Sep 1
2
5
Holiday
6
8
9
12 Chapter 44
Paper Topics
Due
19 Exam 1
13
7 Chapter 44
SL Worksheet 1
Due
14 Chapter 47
15
16
20
21 Chapter 45
26 Chapter 46
27
28 Chapter 49
29
30
3 Oct Chapter 48
4
6
7
10
No Classes
11
No Classes
5 Chapter 22
SL Worksheet 2
Due
12 Chapter 22
17 Exam 2
18
19 Chapter 36
20
21
24 Chapter 37
25
26 Chapter 38
27
28
31 Chapter 39
Paper Outline
Due
7 Review
1 Nov
2 Chapter 40
3
4
8
9 Exam 3
10
11
14 Chapter 50
15
16 Chapter 51
17
18
21 Chapter 52
Papers Due
22
23
Thanksgiving
24
Holiday
25
No
28 Chapter 53
29
30 Chapter 54
Dec 1
2
5 Review
6
7 Exam 4
8
9
19Final Exam
20
21
22
23
8:00 – 10:30
23
14
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