Heartland Community College Math/Science Division
Student Syllabus for BIOL 114 Contemporary Biology ONLINE Fall 2013
Credit Hours: 4
Contact Hours: 5
Meeting times: Section 91 Online*
Lecture Hours: 3
Laboratory Hours: 2
Location: Online*
*Students are required to come to the main campus (Normal) for two Saturday lab sessions
(ICB 1405) and must take the Midterm Exam and Final Exam on campus in the Testing Services
Center (SCB 2002).
Instructor: Jon Hoekstra. My name is Dutch and is pronounced “hook-struh.” I grew up in
Michigan and have lived in Illinois, Arizona, New Mexico, Georgia, and Oregon. I now live in
Tremont, IL with my wife Tina and our 9-yr-old daughter Pomona. Some of the things I like
best are gardening, hiking, fishing, and learning about bugs and mushrooms. I view science as a powerfully
positive force and hope that you, too, will come to appreciate its beauty and usefulness.
Phone: (309) 268-8648
Office: ICB 2414 (2400)
E-mail: jon.hoekstra@heartland.edu
Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday at 11:00-11:50 AM and 2:00-2:30 PM;
Tuesday & Thursday at 10:30-11:30 AM and 12:00-12:50 PM.
If these times do not work for you please email to request an appointment. I can
also meet with students or groups virtually through an online meeting tool.
Please email me to request a meeting and I will be happy to arrange it. Email is
the best way to contact me; I will respond within 48 hours during the week and by
noon on the following Monday if you email me over the weekend.
Catalog Description: Prerequisite: Completion of Math through Beginning Algebra
level or assessment. BIOL 114 will introduce students to a broad range of biological
principles, including organization, structure and function, heredity, evolution, and
ecology. Students will demonstrate how their knowledge in biology is relevant to
them, their community, and their world. Students will use scientific evidence as the
basis for their arguments. Students will improve their skills in relaying biological
information to peers and to others. In addition, students will leave with a better
understanding of scientific views that differ from their own. The laboratory
component will emphasize scientific inquiry and use of knowledge in problem
solving. This course is intended for students who are not pursuing a science career.
Relationship to Academic Development Programs and Transfer: BIOL 114
fulfills 4 of the semester hours of credit in Life and Physical Science required
for the A.A. or A.S. degree. This course should transfer as part of the
General Education Core Curriculum described in the Illinois Articulation
Initiative to other Illinois colleges and universities participating in the IAI.
However, students should consult an academic advisor for transfer
information regarding particular institutions. Refer to the IAI web page for
information at www.itransfer.org
Images from Wikimedia Commons and shared under CC licenses. Works by Michael Ströck (DNA), US National Cancer Institute
(blood cells), Gray’s Anatomy (heart and lungs), and Eric Ward (family portrait).
Course Learning Outcomes:
1. Students hypothesize, experiment, gather data, and formulate conclusions.
2. Students evaluate the validity of biology-related results and conclusions that are presented in the media
and other settings.
3. Students relate biological concepts to their daily life and to the world around them.
4. Students synthesize information from various sources to generate an essay, poster, oral presentation, or
other product.
5. Students demonstrate awareness of issues related to individual and community health.
6. Students demonstrate awareness of environmental issues related to biology.
HCC General Education Learning Outcomes:
Critical Thinking 1: Students gather knowledge, apply it to a new situation, and draw reasonable conclusions
in ways that demonstrate understanding.
Critical Thinking 3: Students generate an answer, approach, or solution through an effective synthesis of
diverse sources and arguments and provide a rationale.
Communication 2: Students effectively deliver a message via various channels/modalities.
Diversity 1: Students are receptive to beliefs and values that differ from their own.
Course / Lab Outline:
1) Introduction to the science of biology
2) Basics of biochemistry
3) Introduction to cell biology and energy use
4) Genetics
a) DNA and gene expression.
b) Inheritance.
5) Animal structure, function and human health
a) Musculoskeletal system
b) Circulation and respiration
c) Digestion, nutrition, and excretion
d) Nervous and endocrine systems
e) Reproduction and development
6) Evolution
a) Evidence for evolution
b) Processes of evolution
7) Ecology
a) Population and community ecology
b) Ecosystem ecology and environmental issues
Required Materials:
Starr, C., Evers, C.A., & Starr, L. 2013. Biology Today and Tomorrow with Physiology (4th ed.). Brooks-Cole
Publishing, Belmont, CA. Access code for electronic textbook subscription and Aplia homework system.
ISBN 9781133590071 – Special Order available through Heartland’s bookstore.
Note: a Lab Manual is not required for this online course. You may choose to buy a physical textbook, but will also need to
pay for the bundled electronic textbook and homework system access code.
Important URL: http://www.heartland.edu/asc/ includes information about library, tutoring and testing
services, computing lab, writing services and disability support services.
myHeartland information: https://my.heartland.edu includes access to IRIS, your Heartland student e-mail,
your Backpack files, the library, and announcements. If you are logging in for FIRST time, use Password Station
to create password and change your security questions after creating password.
Blackboard Site: Like other online courses on campus, the site is accessible by logging in to myHeartland and
then clicking on the Blackboard tab at the top of the page. If you have not used Blackboard before, you are
encouraged to take the Blackboard 101 orientation class. Any computer with Internet access should allow you
to use the site. Use the Firefox web browser whenever you use Blackboard. Campus computers should have
Firefox installed; access it from the Start menu. You can download the Firefox browser free from
http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/ If you have a slow Internet connection, an older computer, or
other technical limitations at home, I strongly suggest you plan to work on campus in a computer lab.
Required Writing and Reading: The student will be expected to read the textbook (about 20-40 pages per
week) plus relevant news or feature articles, web pages, or case studies. The student will write for many
assignments, including: answers to lab questions, Discussion Board posts and replies, article summary and
analysis papers, and answers to short answer or essay questions.
Online and In-Person Components: Students will do homework, participate in discussions, submit most lab
assignments, and take Tests through Blackboard online. Students will be able to complete tasks at any time they
choose so long as deadlines are met. However, students must travel to the main campus in Normal and be
physically present for two Exams and for two 3-hour lab sessions.
1) The Midterm Exam and the Final Exam must be taken in the Testing Services Center in Normal. It is on
the second floor of the Student Commons Building near the library (SCB 2002). You can learn more
about its location and hours of service here: http://www.heartland.edu/testing/
2) Each student must report to campus for two required Saturday lab sessions of 3 hours each (see Syllabus
calendar). These lab sessions will allow you to do hands-on work with scientific equipment. Each lab
session will be worth 40 points course credit and if you cannot attend the lab session, you cannot earn
those points toward your course total. No make-up lab sessions will be scheduled. However, as an
extra credit exercise or as an accommodation for those who cannot attend one of the Saturday lab
sessions, a total of 40 points of course credit will be available for alternative lab activities. Please
contact the instructor if you are unable to attend a lab session for clarification on these policies.
Time Commitment: This course will require that you invest a lot of time on a regular schedule sustained
through the semester. For comparison, consider what is involved in taking the traditional (in-person) 16-week
course. It meets for 2 hours and 20 minutes twice per week. For each hour in class, students spend at least 2-3
hours reading, studying, and doing assignments. Thus a successful student will invest 10-20+ hours per week in
class work. This online course is equivalent. You will save on travel time, but you’ll be expected to do similar
activities and meet the same learning goals as any other student. In short, this online course will be a major
weekly commitment with items that require your attention on a regular basis.
Assessment of Your Learning: You will demonstrate your learning in many different ways. You’ll have to be
consistent and well-rounded to do well in the class!
Aplia Homework (10%): The online textbook for this course provides access to Aplia, a homework system
that can help you learn. Homework exercises based on each textbook reading will provide you with your
first opportunity to work with key concepts and terms – and get instant feedback! After the due date, you
will not be able to take the Homework for credit, but the same Homework set will become available for
practice. You can repeat the practice sets as often as you like. At the end of the semester, your Aplia score
(the percentage of total available points that you have earned) will be added to your course total. Late
policy: After the deadline, you will be able to complete the Homework Problem Sets only for practice and
no credit will be available for doing them.
Discussion (15%): The class Discussion Board will allow you to connect with your fellow students, explore
controversial issues, and build your communication and critical thinking skills. On a regular basis you will
be required to post responses to questions and to comment meaningfully on your peers’ posts. These
contributions will be graded on timely completion and good faith effort. At the end of the semester, you
will write a short essay reflecting on what you have learned through the Discussion Board. At this time you
will review all the posts and replies you have made and choose the post and reply that you are most proud
of writing. Your essay and your chosen “favorites” will be graded based on quality. Late policy: The
Discussion will work effectively only if students Post on time. You will not be able to earn credit for a Post
submitted after the deadline. However, to gain access to the forum you can make a brief “late apology”
post and then Reply to others’ posts in that forum to earn credit for your Replies only.
Biology in the News Reports (10%): This assignment will help enrich your learning in the class and see the
many connections between biology and everyday life. You will select, read, and report on two different
feature articles written about biological topics for a general audience. Late policy: Biology in the News
Reports will be accepted if they are submitted after the deadline, but a late penalty will be deducted: 10%
of the available credit for reports submitted within one week of the deadline; 20% will be deducted for
reports more than one week late.
Lab Exercises (20%): Lab exercises give you hands-on experience and reinforce key course concepts. Labs
may involve working with simulations, making observations, or analyzing data. You will be doing most of
the lab exercises at home and submitting your work online. We will also do four labs on campus during two
required lab sessions. The in-person labs will allow you to work with microscopes and other equipment
that would otherwise be unavailable. They will also give us our only chance to meet in person as a group!
Late policy: The in-person labs cannot be made up or submitted late. Labs submitted online will be
accepted if they are submitted after the deadline, but a late penalty will be deducted: 10% of the available
credit will be deducted for labs submitted within one week of the deadline; 20% will be deducted for labs
that are more than one week late.
Unit Tests (20%): Whereas the Homework is primarily designed to help you learn and practice with
concepts, the Unit Tests measure your learning at the end of each Unit. Therefore the rules for these Tests
are more restrictive and feedback is delayed until the Test deadline has passed. Tests will typically include
multiple choice, matching, short answer, and essay questions. Late policy: Tests will become unavailable
and no credit will be available for a Unit Test after the deadline. Exceptions will be considered only in
documented cases of illness or injury, death in the family, or similarly serious situation.
Midterm and Final Exam (25%): Exams are a significant opportunity for you to consolidate and reinforce
your learning and to demonstrate mastery of the course content. Each Exam is cumulative, so the Midterm
covers the first half of the course and the Final Exam covers key concepts and skills from the entire course.
Exams will be similar in format to the Unit Tests. You will take the Exams independently with no outside
resources at the Testing Services Center in Normal (SCB 2002). All students must take both Exams; these
scores cannot be exempted or dropped. Late policy: Exams will become unavailable and no credit will be
available for an Exam after the deadline. Exceptions will be considered only in documented cases of illness
or injury, death in the family, or similarly serious situation.
Extra Credit: Two optional (extra credit) lab exercises are available to make up for a missed Saturday lab session
or otherwise benefit students who wish to complete them. Throughout the semester, additional bonus points
may be awarded for contests, surveys, quizzes, or other activities. These “extras” will be designed to help you
learn; they will not be “busywork.” Additional extra credit will not be offered on an individual basis to help
specific students. Any bonus credit opportunities will be offered to the entire class. If you have an idea for an
activity that is relevant to the course, suggest it to me and I will consider making it available for extra credit!
Grading System:
Activity or Assessment
Aplia Homework: percentage of total available points [(Total Score / Possible Score) X 100]
Discussion Board: 6 @ 20 points each + Reflective Essay and “favorites” @ 30 points
Biology in the News: 2 @ 50 points each
Labs: 12 @ 10-20 points each
Unit Tests: 4 @ 50 points each
Exams (Midterm and Final): 2 @ 125 points each
Total
Points
100
150
100
200
200
250
1000
Assignment of Letter Grades: Total points earned will be used to determine a letter grade according to the
scale below. If a student is within 20 points (2%) of a grade cutoff, the higher grade may be awarded based on
consistent timely contributions to the class discussion, completion of all assignments on time, an improving
trend in coursework, and/or a relatively high score on the Final Exam.
900+ = A
800+ = B
700+ = C
600+ = D
<600 = F
Graded Work: Grades will be posted to the Blackboard course site and will be available to you through the My
Grades link. Students may review their graded Exams in person (in office hours or by appointment). Emails are
durable and potentially public records, so I will not report grades by email. Graded (paper) lab worksheets will
not be returned unless you bring a self-addressed stamped envelope to the lab session.
Late Work: See guidelines on individual assignments for details. In most cases late work will not earn a grade; it
is your responsibility to make sure you complete assignments in a timely manner. Labs from the Saturday lab
sessions are due at the end of the lab session. These labs cannot be made up and cannot be turned in late if the
student does not attend the in-person Lab session. Unit Tests are available for at least a 5-day time window and
Exams are available for at least a 1-week time window. It is your responsibility to take each Test or Exam within
the available time window and before the due date. The Tests and Exams will not be available to you after the
due date. If you are unable to take a Test or Exam for a reason that is outside of your control (death in the
family, illness or injury, etc.) you may request a special accommodation. You will be required to show evidence
documenting your excuse and may need to do an alternative assignment. No late work may be submitted after
the Final Exam deadline stated in the syllabus calendar.
Academic Integrity: If you submit work that exhibits plagiarism or engage in other forms of academic
dishonesty, you will at a minimum be required to resubmit with the problem corrected and with a 10% point
penalty. Extreme cases or second offenses will be dealt with more harshly. You and your classmates are
expected to observe the Heartland Honor Code: “In the continuous pursuit of excellence, the HCC community is
dedicated to the principles of integrity, respect, and honest achievement. As a member of this community, we
each have the responsibility to uphold these ideals with the expectation they be upheld by others.” Specific rules,
expectations, and consequences are detailed in the document linked below:
http://www.heartland.edu/documents/aqip/AcademicIntegrity/policy.pdf
Two common “problem areas” are discussed in more detail here:
No Parrots! You will learn best if you do your own authentic writing. You are expected and even
encouraged to make mistakes, for any kind of learning requires that we fail, try again, and gradually improve
our skills. You can trust that I will be patient and appreciative of genuine effort. In turn, I trust that you will
learn to be “real” and write in your own words. Copying an answer directly from the textbook or an online
source does not require enough mental effort to result in much learning. A student may write down a
sentence that contains many unfamiliar terms and have no understanding of what he or she has written. I
call this practice “parroting” and strongly discourage it.
No Copycats! Writing an answer for an open-ended question is an individual activity unless otherwise
noted; students should not submit duplicate answers. Group work (for example, collaboration on a lab) is
NOT a “divide and conquer” type enterprise. Except where otherwise noted, you’re each expected to be
involved in each step of an activity and, when it comes time to answer an essay type question, you should
explain your answer in your own personal way. Do not copy a peer’s answer word-for-word and do not give
your answers to another student. All students (sources and copiers) are harmed by such behavior. Be
prepared to split credit (each getting only half points) if you do this.
How to Succeed: Devote time and attention to the course on a daily basis. You will be juggling reading,
homework, labs, and discussion board activities. You will also need to prepare for Tests with regular study, and
will need to travel to campus for two required lab sessions and to take the Exams in the Testing Services Center.
All of this requires time, effort, planning, and a consistent schedule. Finally, you will need to continually seek
out feedback and monitor your own learning. You should always ask yourself: how well do I really know this?
The only way to know is to practice. If you can’t answer a homework question immediately without looking at
your notes or book, you need more practice. If you can’t explain a concept out loud or in writing, you don’t
really get it yet. I will provide feedback to the best of my ability. Please feel free to ASK me for help before you
are sure you need it. We can easily set up a virtual meeting or arrange a time to meet for in-person office hours.
If Things Go Badly: In the first weeks of the semester I will monitor your progress closely. If you miss several
due dates and are clearly on a path to failing the class, I will ask you what’s going on and may encourage you to
withdraw (“drop” the class). It may be wise to try again in another semester. The College sets deadlines for
withdrawal (see Calendar below) and it is best to withdraw early if that is your choice.
Midterm Withdrawal Policy: At midterm I will administratively withdraw you (“drop” you from the course)
under either of the following conditions: you have earned less than 50% of the available points; you have not
logged in or been active in the course for more than one week. If you are struggling and do not wish to be
dropped from the course, you must communicate with me in the week before midterm.
Incomplete Grade: An Incomplete grade may be justified if a student encounters extreme circumstances
(serious illness, accident, death or serious illness in the immediate family) toward the end of the semester and is
unable to complete the semester. The student must be in a position to pass the class if the Incomplete is given.
The student must sign a form requiring him/her to finish the class by next semester.
Course Atmosphere and Rules: Respect for others, strict ethics, and good manners are expected at all times.
This is particularly important in Discussion Board interactions. I will remove any offensive or disrespectful posts
or comments and will communicate with the responsible student at that time. If the behavior continues, I
reserve the right to block a student from use of the Discussion Board altogether.
Syllabus Disclaimer: Unforeseen events may interrupt or alter our class schedule. The instructor may also
determine that certain policies should be changed to enhance learning in the class. Therefore the information in
this syllabus is subject to change. Any changes to the schedule, course policies, or requirements for graded work
will be announced on the Blackboard site and policy changes or calendar revisions may also be sent in a separate
email to all students. Students are responsible for monitoring and complying with any such changes.
CALENDAR – Biology 114 ONLINE
Items submitted online are always due at 11:45 PM on the date in question; routine due dates are Wednesdays and Saturdays each week.
Week
Day
Module (Homework) DUE
Discussion DUE
1
Aug 19
WED
Mod 1 Course Orientation
Discussion 1 Post
SAT
Mod 2 Intro to Biology
Discussion 1 Replies
2
Aug 26
WED
Mod 3 Chemistry of Life
Discussion 2 Post
Lab DUE
Tests and Exams Available & DUE
Discussion 2 Replies
SAT
Friday, August 30 is the last day to withdraw with a full tuition refund
3
Sep 2
WED
Mod 4 Cells
SAT
*Mandatory Lab Session 1, Sat Sept 7, 9:00-11:50 AM, Normal Campus, ICB 1405
Unit 1 Test (Mods 2-4) available
4
Sep 9
WED
Mod 5 DNA
Unit 1 Test DUE
5
Sep 16
WED
6
Sep 23
WED
7
Sep 30
WED
8
Oct 7
MON
Lab 3 DNA
SAT
Mod 6 Gene Expression
Discussion 3 Replies
SAT
Bio in the News #1
Unit 2 Test DUE
Lab 5 Inheritance
SAT
*Midterm Exam (Mods 2-9) available in Testing Center
Mod 9 Evolution
Lab 6 Natural Selection
*Midterm Exam due in Testing Center
Midterm Grades will be posted by midnight on Wednesday Oct 16
WED
WED
Unit 2 Test (Mods 5-7) available
Mod 8 Inheritance
SAT
9
Oct 14
Lab 4 Gene Expression
Mod 7 Cell Division
SAT
WED
Discussion 3 Post
Mod 10 Body Systems & Tissues
SAT
Looking Ahead: Wednesday, Nov 6 is the last day to withdraw with a grade of “W” (no effect on grade point average / no grade recorded)
Week
Day
Module (Homework) DUE
Discussion DUE
Lab DUE
10
Oct 21
WED
11
Oct 28
WED
Mod 12 Circ. & Resp. Systems
SAT
*Mandatory Lab Session 2, Sat Nov 2, 9:00-11:50 AM, Normal Campus, ICB 1405
Mod 11 Skeletal & Muscular Syst.
Tests and Exams Available & DUE
Discussion 4 Post
SAT
Discussion 4 Replies
Unit 4 Test (Mods 10-12) available
Wednesday, Nov 6 is the last day to withdraw with a grade of “W” (no effect on grade point average / no grade recorded)
12
Nov 4
WED
13
Nov 11
WED
14
Nov 18
WED
Mod 13 Digestive System
SAT
Discussion 5 Replies
SAT
Lab 9 Nutrition
Lab 10 Metabolism
Mod 15 Reproduction
Unit 5 Test (Mods 13-15) available
SAT
Bio in the News #2
Lab 11 Reproduction
Unit 5 Test DUE
Thanksgiving Break
16
Dec 2
WED
17
Dec 9
MON
Dec 16
MON
*
Unit 4 Test DUE
Mod 14 Nervous & Endocrine Syst.
15
Nov 25
*
Discussion 5 Post
SAT
SAT
Mod 16 Ecology & Environment
Discussion 6 Post
Discussion 6 Replies
Lab 12 Carbon & Climate
*Final Exam (Units 1-6, Mods 2-16) AVAILABLE in Testing Center
*Final Exam DUE in Testing Center; Reflective Essay DUE; last date to submit any late work for credit
Final Course Grades will be Posted to IRIS by the end of the day on Monday, December 16
The Midterm Exam and Final Exam must be taken in the Testing Center on the Normal Campus, SCB 2002. To take an Exam, you must visit
the Testing Services Center during their hours of operation and present an HCC ID card. See http://www.heartland.edu/testing/
Lab Sessions are held on campus in in ICB 1405, 9:00-11:50 AM. They are required (40 pts each) and cannot be made up.