BIO 101: Principles of Biology
Spring 2016
Chris Picken
pickenc@sunysuffolk.edu
http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/pickenc
PICK UP 2 HANDOUTS
on the front desk
and
INITIAL THE ATTENDANCE SHEET
located on the left wall of the lecture hall
Website
• Visit my website regularly to obtain necessary and
helpful materials for this course.
– Lecture notes
• YOU are responsible for downloading, printing
and bringing the notes to class
• You will NOT print the lecture notes using
campus printers (color is better than grayscale)
– Animations
– Laboratory and lecture schedules
Keys to Success
• Helpful studying aids:
– study for a minimum of 2 hours every day
– write down analogies used in lecture
– write down questions that I ask you during lecture
– form study groups
– draw flow charts
– read the text and redraw figures
– view lecture animations repetitively
– constantly ask questions of Why, When, How and
Where to any/all biological steps in a process
– ask for clarification during, before or after lecture;
send me e-mails; come to my office hours
Course Grade
• Lecture = 65%
– 3 Exams (15% each) = 45%
– Final Exam = 20%
• Cumulative exam
• Lab = 35%
– 2 Laboratory Practicals (15% each) = 30%
– 10 Homework Assignments (0.5% each) = 5%
Lecture Exams
• 40 multiple choice questions (2 points each)
• 15 True/False questions (2 points each)
• Each answer is worth 2 points for a maximum of 110
points (the first 5 incorrect answers don’t count against
your grade and can be considered as built in extra
credit)
• Bring at least 2 sharpened #2 pencils with erasers
• Scantron sheets will be provided to you
• For this course, your ID number will be considered the
one that you are assigned at the beginning of the
semester which can be found to the left of your name
on the attendance sheet taped to the wall
Lab Exams
• Lab Practicals
– 25 stations with 1 – 3 short answer, identification or
fill in the blank questions totaling 55 answers
– Each answer is worth 2 points for a maximum of
110 points (the first 5 incorrect answers don’t count
against your grade and can be considered as built
in extra credit)
– You will spend 2 minutes at each station to answer
the question(s)
– You will receive an additional 10 minutes to revisit
stations to finalize your answers
Make-Up Exams
• If you miss a lecture exam, you will be permitted to
take the same exam as the rest of the class up to 1
week of the original date of the exam
– you are responsible for contacting Professor Picken
to schedule the Make-up exam (e-mail is best)
– after this time you will take a different exam
• If you miss a lab exam you can take the exam with
another section
– the section may or may not be taught by Professor
Picken
E-mail and ID cards
• Every student that is registered must obtain a photo ID
card that they must have with them whenever on
campus.
• Every student that is registered must obtain an official
college e-mail address.
– This is the only e-mail address that I will use to
communicate with my students.
– If I send a you an e-mail using your college address
and you do not respond, you are responsible for
any fallout.
• Check your college e-mail account daily to keep
up with correspondences from college
administrators and instructors.
Rules and Regulations
• Lecture Attendance
– Attendance will be taken every lecture
• initial the attendance sheet at the back of the
lecture room
– You are permitted 2 unexcused absences
• each additional unexcused absence will result in
the reduction of your course grade by 1 point
– Excused absences require appropriate
documentation
• Laboratory Attendance
– Attendance will be taken at the end of each lab
– If you miss a lab, you can make it up during another
session
– Any laboratory material that you miss and don’t
make up, you are responsible for come exam time
More Rules and Regulations
• Cell Phones
– The use of cell phones (including texting) is
prohibited during the lecture and laboratory.
• You will be asked to leave and will be regarded
as an unexcused absence.
– You may keep your phone on ONLY if kept in
vibrate mode.
– Cell phones must be completely OFF during any
exam given in lecture or lab.
• Talking during lectures
– Questions are welcomed, discussion is
encouraged, but talking which detracts from the
lecture or otherwise disrupts learning will NOT BE
TOLERATED.
• You will be asked to leave and will be regarded
as an unexcused absence.
Even More Rules and Regulations
• Food and Drink
– prohibited in the laboratory
– allowed in lecture (if you make a mess, clean it up)
• Footwear in the laboratory
– must completely cover your feet (flip-flops and
sandals are prohibited)
– You will be asked to leave (to return only if you
have proper footwear)
• Withdrawals
– Do not just disappear from the course without
officially withdrawing from the course.
• Withdraw yourself online on or before the middle
of the semester (March 14)
• After the middle of the semester to the last day of
lecture, obtain a withdrawal form from the
Registrar’s office, fill it out and have me sign it.
– Otherwise, you will receive an F for the course.