Human Biology
Biol 003 (Section A & ZRA)
1:15 – 2:30
TIME/LOCATION:
Tues/Thurs
235 Marsh Life Sciences
INSTRUCTOR:
JOHN J. MITCHELL Ph.D.
Depts. of Biology and Molecular Physiology
OFFICE:
102 Marsh Life Sciences
Telephone: Ext 60454
E-mail John.Mitchell@uvm.edu
Hours: Tues/Thurs 2:30 – 3:30
or by appointment
MATERIALS:
TEXT:
HUMAN BIOLOGY 14th edition
by Mader & Windelspecht
McGraw/Hill – Publisher
LECTURE NOTES: Labeled “LN” in Syllabus
Available within the BLACKBOARD Web Site
Access is via your own UVM WebID and password. The
Homepage has links to the Syllabus, Lecture notes,
as well as grade listings. Both the LECTURE NOTES and
FIGURES can be printed out for your use. It is useful to
access these notes before class.
GRADING:
The course will be divided into four sections. An exam and a “participation
factor” will contribute to the grade of each section. The final grade will be
dependent on the average of the section grades.
All exams will have an objective section, which will be corrected by
machine. Remember to bring a #2 pencil and eraser. The objective section
will usually have 35-40 questions (multiple choice, true/false) and constitute
70-80 points. In addition the exams will usually have a section composed of
one or two “Short Answer”/Essay or Problem questions. These will be
valued at 10-20 points. This section provides you with an opportunity to
show what you do know – do not leave it blank!
The remaining points (10) are available for the participation/attendance
score. Attendance is expected – failure to attend will result in a reduction
(from the 10 pts available) of your grade for that section of the course!
The section grades reported to you (in Blackboard) will be out of 100 pts i.e.
they will include the attendance score.
There will be NO extra credit projects.
LABORATORY:
There is an OPTIONAL laboratory available for this course. It is set up as an
independent course. Those of you who are enrolled in this lab (BIOL 013)
must purchase the Text (for lecture) and a VBL Access Card (available at
the Bookstore) for the lab component. Participation in the lab converts the
Biol 003 course from a “Science without lab” to a “Science with lab”
distribution requirement and increases the overall credit value from 3 to 4.
However, the final grade in the lab is separate from the grade in the lecture
section of the course.
This lab is strictly run via computer. There is no set time to meet. You will
carry out the exercises each week at a time and from a computer that is
convenient for you.
There is a separate BLACKBOARD web site providing instructions etc. for
the lab. You will participate in the lab by accessing the VBL (Virtual
Biology Lab – maintained by Cengage Learning) web site via a “button”
within the lab course Blackboard site, and performing the exercises provided
there. You will submit Quizzes and lab Reports directly through
BLACKBOARD.
Those of you who are registered for the lab should have a Biol 013 Human
Biology Laboratory listing on your BLACKBOARD page. Access that page
to get information, syllabus and instructions for the lab exercises. The Lab
web site has “Buttons” for: Syllabus, Background Info, Lab Exercises,
Quizzes/Reports, UVM Libraries and “My Grades”.
To Begin your lab work you should access the site and print out
(a) the exercise schedule under “Syllabus” and
(b) the “INTRODUCTION” to Exercise #1 under Lab Exercises.
You will note in the schedule that there is no lab the first week and that you
have two weeks to complete the first exercise. This is designed to give you
plenty of time to become familiar with the VBL/Blackboard style of online
lab activities.
The INTRODUCTION to Exercise #1 provides extensive information on
how to register with Cengage for the VBL and how to navigate about the
Cengage and VBL exercises. It is important that you carefully work your
way through that first exercise as it is your opportunity to become familiar
and comfortable with the course procedures.
Each week you should print out both the Introduction and Worksheets
(posted in Blackboard) for the next exercise. The Introductions will provide
some background for the exercise and the Worksheet will provide you with
some questions to guide your work as well as a place to record the data that
you generate. That data will be useful when you come to submit your
assessment Quiz or Report at the end of the week.
NOTE: these quizzes/Reports are built into and Submitted through our
BLACKBOARD. (If you see the Cengage/VBL worksheet and questions,
they are NOT submitted – they are simply an attempt to have us run our
course through Cengage and have you pay more.)
Since there may be times when the lecture and the lab are dealing with
different topics, we have also provided additional “Background
Information” within some of the Introductions. The material here is similar
to what you might get in a lecture course covering certain aspects of Human
Biology – some topics that are in our lab but for which there may be
insufficient time to completely cover in the lecture. Examples include aspects
of Respiration/Metabolism, Genetics, Pedigree Analysis and Molecular
Biology. You should access and read over these materials as you start the
corresponding lab exercise as they may help you understand the material and
what you are being asked to do in the exercise.
For questions and help with the mechanics and/or material in the labs
contact:
John Mitchell Ph.D.
Biology Department
102 Marsh Life Sciences
Tel: Ext 60454
John.Mitchell@uvm.edu