Biology 1001
CCRI- Flanagan Campus
Organismal Biology
Spring 2012
Instructor:
Office:
Room:
Phone:
E-mail:
Course Websites:
CCRI Blackboard; Teacher’s Domain (College Edition)
Office Hours:
Monday 2:15-4:15; Tuesday 1:00-2:00; Wednesday 10:00-
11:00, 2:15-3:15; Thursday 11:00-12:00
Lecture Room: 2302 (First floor near faculty area; on south side of building)
Lecture Text:
( paperback ) , 2nd ed. by Jay Phelan
Lab Manual: McGraw Hill Customized Laboratory Manual for Organismal
Biology
Course Description
This course provides a general introduction to biology with a focus on organisms that are multicellular, that is they are composed of many cells that have specialized functions.
Biology, the scientific study of life, includes a wide range of sub-topics or fields. Each field focuses on different questions regarding living organisms including the following.
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Biology 1001
CCRI- Flanagan Campus
Organismal Biology
Spring 2012
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Biology 1001
CCRI- Flanagan Campus
Organismal Biology
Spring 2012
This semester we explore the topics listed above to give you a better understanding of the
LIVING world around you. Along the way you will also improve your analytical abilities and presentation skills including your ability to
 demonstrate a conceptual understanding of the connections between ecology, genetics, evolution, and diversity of multi-cellular organisms.
 demonstrate a conceptual understanding of biological systems and processes that operate at different spatial and temporal scales.
 demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between structure and function in
 living organisms.
accurately record scientific observations and data.
 use basic mathematics to analyze scientific data.
 demonstrate competency in the use of laboratory equipment, including computers.
 demonstrate the proper use of the scientific method through the completion of lab exercises.
In addition to the specific outcomes listed above, I also hope you will
 gain a greater appreciation for all living organisms (including those that you find “icky”).
 understand how ideas in biology impact our everyday lives.
 improve your understanding of and be able to critically examine current issues and relevant concepts reported in the news media.
 learn how new scientific information is acquired and validated.
Attendance, Tardiness and Class Participation
Regular lecture attendance is essential to doing well in this course . Ten percent of your lab and lecture grades are based on your attendance. If you have more than 10 unexcused lecture absences or 3 unexcused lab absences you cannot pass that part of the course. I take regular attendance in class and you sign your own name (no initials). All students are expected to be on time and to stay the entire class.
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Biology 1001
CCRI- Flanagan Campus
Organismal Biology
Spring 2012
While in class do not “chatter” as you disturb other students and me.
Cell phones are to be turned off and laptops are to be used only for course related material.
Academic Accommodations
If you have a documented disability, please come to see me at the start of the semester to arrange appropriate accommodations.
Use of the Internet
Everyone will use two internet sources, CCRI Blackboard and Teachers Domain .
Blackboard , an internal CCRI web site, contains most of the course contents including lab exercise handouts and quizzes, and lecture handouts, PowerPoint presentations, syllabi and exam review sheets which you can download and print. You are automatically registered for Blackboard if you are a registered CCRI student. To access Blackboard, click on the blue box to the right of the "Quick Links..." icon located on the CCRI
Homepage. Next click on "Blackboard". The directions for signing on to Blackboard are found on that page and are listed below.
When the Blackboard login window appears:
 Type in your MyCCRI username as your Blackboard ID (remember to use all lowercase).
 Type in your Knight Account password.
 Click on the Log in button.
 If you have any problems or questions about using Blackboard, please call the Help
Desk at 825-1112 or send e-mail to helpdesk@ccri.edu
.
After you have signed on to Blackboard just click on the title for this course. PLEASE
TAKE NOTE. All the lab and lecture quizzes as well as the midterm lab practical will be taken online on Blackboard. You will have several days to take each of the quizzes so there are NO MAKEUPS. This means that if you wait to take the quiz on the last day it is available and you can't because of technical problems you receive a zero.
Teacher’s Domain
is a website (http\\www.teachersdomain.org) that contains a series of video clips on science. You will complete a writing assignment based on one of these videos. In order to get access to the videos you must first register on the website.

When you enter the website make sure it is the college edition. If it is not, go to the very bottom of the page, click on “change edition” and select the college edition.
 Next click on the “register now” button.

After you have registered and signed in, click on the “My Groups” button near the top of the page.

At the bottom of the “My Groups” page click on the “Join a Group” button. In the box under
 the phrase “ Enter the group ID number:” put the number 7720 and click “join group”.
You will then have access to all of the videos I have selected for use in this course.
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Biology 1001
CCRI- Flanagan Campus
Organismal Biology
Spring 2012
The videos at the Teacher’s Domain web site include topics that we cover in class as well as topics we do not. Please feel free to view as many as you like. They are an excellent source of information.
Lectures
The lecture summarizes and clarifies but does not replace the readings, and it is an opportunity for you to ask questions and discuss the lecture topics. You will be able to download copies of my PowerPoint presentations but make no mistake you must still take notes. Note taking is a vital skill to develop. You cannot remember everything an instructor presents but more importantly taking notes helps you develop summarize and record new information.
Here are some pointers on Note Taking:
 Write down important facts and ideas – don’t try to copy every word.
 If you already know it, don’t write it down.
 Review your notes as soon as you can, adding anything that might help you make connections.
 Keep your notes neat and organized so that you can find what you need to study.
 Remember that taking notes help you learn the material twice…first, when you write it down, and secondly, when you review it later.
 Each day review what you have learned – even if you don’t have a specific assignment.
This course is divided into a lecture section, which meets twice a week and a weekly lab section. Sixty percent of your final course grade is based on the lecture and the remaining
40 % is based on the lab.
Your lecture grade is based on two in-class exams and the final exam, 4 digital lecture quizzes, one written assignment and attendance as indicated below.
Lecture Exams : (15% x 3) = 45%)
Online Lecture Quizzes (6% x 4)
=
=
45%
24%
One written assignment = 21%
Attendance (10 x 1%; ≥ 11 unexcused absences cannot pass lecture) = 10%
(5 x 2% for night time class)
TOTAL Lecture Grade 100%
Lecture Exams
There are 2 in-class lecture exams that consist of 40 multiple-choice questions. The week each exam is given is listed on page 7. A final semi-cumulative exam consists of 65 questions. Forty five questions are on the topics covered in the last third of the semester.
The remaining 20 questions cover the material included in the first two exams. The final exam is held during Final Exam Week most likely on Tuesday, May. 8 th at 8:30am.
I
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Biology 1001
CCRI- Flanagan Campus
Organismal Biology
Spring 2012 will confirm the specific date, time and place when the final exam schedule is released.
Before each exam I will post on Blackboard a review outline of the covered topics.
Makeup Exam Policy : If you miss a lecture exam you must make it up or receive a zero.
If you must miss an exam be sure to inform me (via email or a friend) prior to right after the exam and see me immediately when you return to classes.
Prior to each lecture exam I can hold review sessions during my office hours, which means I do not review materials during normal class periods.
If you fail an exam see me right away to go over the exam and develop a strategy to improve your grade.
Lecture Quizzes
You will take four online lecture quizzes based on the lectures and the textbook. You have two attempts to take each quiz and the highest grade counts. Each quiz will be available from Wednesday to Sunday the week each quiz is available (See page 7). Each quiz includes 15 questions on the lecture topics covered since the previous exam and counts for 6% of your lecture grade.
Lecture Written Assignment
You will write a four to five (single-spaced) page review paper based on one of the video clips of your choosing from the Teacher’s Domain website. In the first two weeks of the semester you will select one of the videos and place your name next to the video’s title on a list I will carry with me. Each video can only be selected by one student in a lecture section so I recommend you make your selection quickly and even select two to three videos in case you find one of your titles already selected by another student. Once all students have selected a title I will create a list of the dates each assignment is due.
LABS
You will receive a laboratory syllabus and I will describe the lab portion of the course during the first lab session of the semester. Here, I only point out that a policy of the
Biology Department requires that you must pass the laboratory portion of the course to pass this course .
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Biology 1001
CCRI- Flanagan Campus
Organismal Biology
Spring 2012
Week of
3/12
3/19
3/26
4/2
4/9
4/16
4/23
4/30
1/23
1/30
2/6
2/13
2/20
2/27
3/5
Lecture Topic
Introduction: Science, Biology and the Scientific Process, Complex
Multicellular Organisms, Mitosis & Meiosis
Invertebrates
Vertebrates and Human Evolution (online Quiz I)
Plants
Fungi ( Exam 1)
Origin and History of Life on Earth,
History of the Theory of Evolution and the Evidence (online Quiz II)
(Midterm Grades turned in by Wednesday, March 7 th )
SPRING BREAK
Evolutionary Causal Mechanisms and Speciation
Mendelian and Post-Mendelian Genetics (Exam 2)
DNA, Genes and Chromosomes
Embryology and Evolutionary Development (online Quiz III)
(Monday, April 9 th is the last day to withdraw and receive a “W”)
Introduction to Ecology and Populations including Humans
Communities and Species Interactions (online Quiz IV)
Ecosystems and Global change
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Biology 1001
CCRI- Flanagan Campus
Organismal Biology
Spring 2012
Week of
1/23
1/30
2/6
2/13
2/20
2/27
3/5
3/12
3/19
3/26
4/2
4/9
4/16
4/23
4/30
Lecture Topic
Vertebrates and Human Evolution
Introduction: Science, Biology and the Scientific Process,
Complex Multicellular Organisms, Mitosis/Meiosis
Invertebrates
Plants
Fungi
Origin and History of Life on Earth
History of the Theory of Evolution and the Evidence
SPRING BREAK
Evolutionary Causal Mechanisms and Speciation
Mendelian and Post-Mendelian Genetics
DNA, Genes and Chromosomes
Embryology and Evolutionary Development
Introduction to Ecology and Populations including Humans
Communities and Species Interactions
Ecosystems and Global change
Pages
2-35, 413-419,
221-246
427-452
453-471
473-497
498-509
387-391, 411-412
299-308, 331-345
309-330, 392-400,
189-193
263-298
169-188
547-582
602-622
583-601
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