Biology 475
Topics in Applied
Microbiology
Biology 475
Official Course Description
BIOL 475 LEC,SEM 0.50
Course ID: 1101
Topics in Applied Microbiology
Students will explore a variety of topics in applied
microbiology as reflected by journal articles in the
current literature. [Offered W].
Prereq: BIOL 241, Level at least 3A
Instructor Colin Mayfield
Phone 519-888-4567 Ext 34640
Office Address Biology Building 1, Room 377E
Office Hours Wednesday 3 pm to 6 pm
E-mail mayfield@uwaterloo.ca
Personal Homepage:
http://wvlc.uwaterloo.ca/biology447/modules/intro/in_a.htm
Website:
All information is available at:
http://wvlc.uwaterloo.ca/biology475
Posted Marks and announcements will be available
on Waterloo- LEARN
Required Text
None - original primary and secondary literature will be
used for the presentations and the associated
paper.
Course Description
Current topics in microbiology will be presented to the
class by students. For 2010, they will include
emerging and reemerging diseases, public health
issues and nanotechnology aspects of microbiology
Biology 475 is a limited enrollment course for 3rd and
4th year students interested in advanced topics in
microbiology.
It is a tutorial/seminar course where students give
presentations on selected topics.
There are a few lectures/presentations at the start of
the course to provide a general overview of the
chosen topics
Course Requirements
1. To present one 30 min PowerPoint presentation on the chosen
topic. The PowerPoint presentation will be made available
through posting to the website before the presentation is given
in class. This will make up 45% of the total mark
2. To produce a more detailed paper/monograph on the
chosen topic in a format suitable for publication and for
posting on this course web site. This will make up 45% of the
total mark
3. Student participation in course seminars/presentations and
completing questionnaires. This will make up 10% of the total
mark
Course Links
For Marks and Overview
see http://uwace.uwaterloo.ca - Biology 475
For Course Materials, References,
Announcements, etc.
see http://wvlc.uwaterloo.ca/biology475
Grading Policy
1.
Grading will be 45% on the seminar presentation
(quality, content, organization, style and quality of
presenting, quality and clarity of charts, graphs and
slides) and 45% on the paper/monograph prepared on
the same topic. Ten percent (10%) of the total course
mark will be assessed for student participation in the
seminar series.
2.
The Seminar/PowerPoint presentation will be assessed
based on the choice, quality, suitability and scope of
the chosen materials (70%),the quality, organization
and clarity of the seminar (10%), and the style and
clarity of the PowerPoint presentation (10%). The
presenter's answers to questions on the topic will be
assessed (10%).
3.
The PowerPoint will be posted (at the latest) on the
website on the Friday evening before the Wednesday
presentation. This means they should be sent to me via
email by noon on the Friday before your presentation
4.
The required paper/monograph will be judged on quality
of chosen materials (60%), depth and breadth of topic
coverage (10%), originality (10%), organization (5% see
details of paper organization required), writing and style
of presentation (5%) and choice and presentation of
reference sources (10%). The paper will be due before
the last day of the term. This paper will be submitted in
electronic format (Word document or HTML file) suitable
for posting to this web site.
4. There will be 10% of the total mark for the course
given for student participation in the
presentations/seminars and completion of the
questionnaire for each speaker.
5. The presentations will be scheduled on a random
basis during the course. Questions on the marking
scheme will be answered at the start of the course.
All students will also take part in an assessment of
all presentations though a questionnaire to be
completed after each presentation.
All comments will be provided anonymously to the
presenters the week after their presentations
6. The paper should conform to normal Council of Biological Editors
(CBE) standards for research publications except that it does not
have to have the usual sections of Abstract, Introduction, Materials
and Methods, Results, Discussion and References.
Instead, since it is a summary of research results, it should have an
Abstract, an Introduction giving an overview of what is included in the
paper, and some organizational structure to present the materials.
A short summary of major conclusions, problems, opportunities for
future research, etc, could also be included. A complete Bibliographic
section is required. If web-based material is used it should be properly
referenced. Help will be available from the library if required
Attendance Policy
A sign-in sheet will be maintained for each seminar
session. Some absences are permissible but
should not exceed a reasonable number
Exam Policy
There is neither a final exam nor mid-term in this
course
Questionnaire
Title of Presentation………………………… Date ………………………..2010
Name of Presenter 1…………………………………………………..
Name of Presenter 2 ………………………………………………….
Name of Presenter 3 ………………………………………………….
Provide both general, overall comments about all presenters and the presentation and specific
comments about each presenter – you can use numbers (above) to indicate specific
comments.
•
•
Assess the quality, suitability and scope of the chosen materials (0 - 100%)
Comment on the quality, suitability and scope of the chosen materials…
…….%
•
•
Assess the quality, organization and clarity of the seminar (0 - 100%)
Comment on the quality, organization and clarity of the seminar ..
…….%
•
•
Assess the style and clarity of the PowerPoint presentation (0 - 100%)
Comment on the style and clarity of the PowerPoint presentation..
…....%.
Questionnaire
7 . Make comments on the overall seminar presentation –(try to make these
constructive comments)
8. List any revisions you think would improve the presentation or the paper to
be prepared from the presentation
9. Give an additional comments not covered above:
______________________________________________________________
Title of Presentation:
………………………………………………………………………………………
Respondent’s Name :
………………………………………………………………………………………
Respondent’s Student ID#:
.................................................................................
Note: Your name and Student ID will be removed before the sheet is given to the
presenters
The Course WEBSITE:
http://wvlc.uwaterloo.ca/biology475
See Waterloo-LEARN for marks
http://learn.uwaterloo.ca/
Announcements will be sent to both
websites
http://learn.uwaterloo.ca
Waterloo- LEARN
On DesiretoLearn Software
Summary
See Download Seminar Presentations page for
timetable of the course.
In the first 2 weeks of the course, choose a topic from
List of Topics for Seminars and enter your
choice at Choose your Seminar Topic
You can see a list of already chosen topics at:
List of Seminars Chosen. All choices are timestamped by the server. If the topic has been
chosen, you have to choose another
Pick a topic that is not already chosen by another
group – the earlier you choose, the more topics
you will have to choose from!
Refer to the Announcements page at frequent
intervals to receive more information as the term
progresses (seminar timetables, changes to
website, updates, etc.)