Course Syllabus
 
  Course Title

BIO 100 Biology Concepts

  Course Description

A one-semester introductory course covering basic principles and concepts of biology. Methods of scientific inquiry and behavior of matter and energy in biological systems are explored. Field trips may be required at students' expense.

Prerequisites: None.

Students in this course should be familiar with the following computer skills.

• File Management - You should be familiar with finding and saving files on your computer.
• The Internet - You should be familiar with connecting to the Internet through an Internet Service Provider or Network Connection.
• Web Browser Software - You should be familiar with using web browser software to navigate the Internet and locate information.
• Email - You should be familiar with sending and receiving email messages.
• Discussions - You should be familiar with posting and reading discussion messages in a threaded format.
• Attachments - You should be familiar with sending email messages with attached files.
• Word Processing - You should be familiar with creating, editing, saving, and printing documents using Microsoft Word.


  Course Materials

Required Textbook:

Concepts of Biology by Sylvia S. Mader. 1st Ed. 2009,
McGraw Hill Publishers.

Follow these instructions if you choose to purchase the textbook in
electronic form (the book is also available at the PC Bookstore).

  1. Go to http://www.coursesmart.com/0077272706
  2. Decide between the online and downloadable versions
  3. Click on the appropriate "Buy" button. Once you begin the checkout process, you'll be prompted to create an account to purchase your e-textbook
There are two different eBook options to choose from:

  • ONLINE VIEWING Purchasing the online viewing option for your eBook makes sense if you don’t always use the same computer or you are taking a lab course.
  • EBOOK DOWNLOAD Purchasing the download option for your eBook is preferred if you always use the same computer and you have a very fast connection to the Internet.

If you have any questions or problems you should contact CourseSmart Customer Support:

How to Purchase a Printed Version of the Textbook:

You can purchase the required textbook from your favorite book supplier or from the PC Bookstore as a paper book:

Concepts of Biology First Edition, ISBN #0-07-340345-8 from the bookstore.

  Course Competencies

  1. Describe and/or utilize the Scientific Method.
  2. Describe the basic characteristics shared by all living things.
  3. Identify and describe the basic chemistry fundamentals involved in the structure and life processes of living things.
  4. Identify and describe the structure and functioning of cells.
  5. Describe the arrangement and function of tissues, organs, and organ systems in multicellular organisms.
  6. Analyze the processes of cellular metabolism and the related energy transformations, organic molecules and cell structures.
  7. Identify and describe the importance of and the components of homeostasis.
  8. Describe and examine the various kinds of reproduction.
  9. Describe and analyze the processes involved in the biochemistry of DNA and other biochemicals of genetics (including protein synthesis).
  10. Analyze the events and processes involved in inheritance.
  11. Describe and analyze the processes that result in mutations.
  12. Describe and analyze the processes involved in evolution and their impact on all living things.
  13. Identify and describe the basic concepts of taxonomy and how they relate to the classification of all living things.
  14. Identify and analyze the basic principles of ecology.

  Course Requirements and Policies

  1. You must log-in to the course on a weekly basis throughout the term and respond to messages sent by your instructor.
  2. You must complete the online oreintation during the first week of the term.
  3. You must complete all the assignments in the course by their assigned due dates to get a passing grade. Refer to the course Schedule for details.
  4. You are responsible for knowing and following the information in this Syllabus and in the Logistics page.
  5. You will be notified by the instructor of any changes in course requirements or policies.
  6. You are responsible for following College policies included in the College Catalog and the Student Handbook.

  Grading Procedure and Scale

1. Points Available for This Course

Assignments
Number
Points
Total
Orientation Quiz
1 20 20
Reading Quizzes
13
20
260
Animation Quizzes
12
20
240
Virtual Lab Quizzes
 12 5 60
Virtual Lab Worksheets
12
15
180
Essay Quizzes
12
20
240
Total
1000

 

 

 

 

 

2. Orientation Grading Information

  • One Orientation Quiz, will be offered worth a total of 20 points or 2% of the grade.
  • The Orientation Quiz will consist of 10 multiple choice questions worth 2 points a piece.
  • The Orientation Quiz will be administered during the first week of class.
  • See the Orientation section of the course for more details.
3. Reading Based Grading Information
  • The Text Based portion of the class is worth 260 points or 26% of the grade.
  • Thirteen Reading quizzes will be offered worth a total of 260 points. Each Reading quiz will be worth 20 points. The Reading quiz found within each lesson will be taken online. Instructions are embedded in each lesson.

4. Animation Based Grading Information

  • The Animation Based portion of the class is worth 240 points or 24% of the grade.
  • Twelve Animation quizzes will be offered worth a total of 240 points. Each Animation quiz will be worth a total of 20 points. The Animation quiz found within each lesson will be taken online. Instructions are embedded in each lesson.

5. Virtual Lab Based Grading Information

  • Twelve Virtual Labs will be offered worth a total of 240 points or 24% of the grade.
  • Twelve Lab Quizzes will be offered worth a total of 60 points. Each Lab quiz will be worth a total of 5 points. The Lab Quiz found within each lesson will be taken online. Instructions are embedded in each lesson.
  • Twelve Lab Worksheets will be offered worth a total of 180 points. Each Lab Worksheet will be worth a total of 15 points. The Lab Worksheet found within each lesson will be downloaded, completed, and submitted as an attachment to an eMail. Instructions are embedded in each lesson.
6. Essay Grading Information
  • The Essay portion of the class is worth 240 points or 24% of the grade.
  • Twelve (12) essay quizzes will be offered worth a total of 240 points. Each essay quiz worth 20 points will consist of one essay of approximately 200 words. The essay quiz found within each lesson will be taken online. Instructions are embedded in each lesson.

    Grading Criteria for Essays

    20 Points Great Job

    • Demonstrates a complete understanding of the overall topic.
    • States the meaning of each supporting idea, including details and explanatory examples.
    • Organizes the essay with an introductory paragraph. Places and develops each main supporting idea in a separate, complete paragraph.
    • Uses proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

    18 Points Very Good Job

    • Demonstrates a complete understanding of the overall topic.
    • States the meaning of each supporting idea, including details but does not use explanatory examples.
    • Organizes the essay with an introductory paragraph. Places and develops each main supporting idea in a separate, complete paragraph.
    • Uses proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

    16 Points Good Job

    • Demonstrates a basic understanding of the overall topic.
    • States the meaning of some supporting ideas including details but does not use explanatory examples.
    • Organizes the essay with an introductory paragraph. Places and develops each main supporting idea in a separate, complete paragraph.
    • Uses proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

    14 Points OK Job

    • Demonstrates an incomplete understanding of the overall topic.
    • States the meaning of some supporting ideas but does not include details and does not use explanatory examples.
    • Occasionally fails to organize the essay properly. Fails to include an introductory paragraph or fails to place and develop each main supporting idea in a separate, complete paragraph.
    • Occasionally fails to use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

    12 Points Minimal Job

    • Fails to demonstrate an understanding of the overall topic.
    • Often fails to state the meaning of supporting ideas.
    • Often fails to organize the essay properly. Fails to include an introductory paragraph and often fails to place and develop each main supporting idea in a separate, complete paragraph.
    • Often fails to use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

    10 Points Not Acceptable

    • Totally fails to state the meaning of supporting ideas.
    • Totally fails to organize the essay properly. Fails to include an introductory paragraph and totally fails to place and develop each main supporting idea in a separate, complete paragraph.
    • Totally fails to use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

    8 Points Off Topic

    • Content of essay is off topic.

    0 Points Nothing Written

  Final Grade Options

  • Letter grade (A, B, C, D, F) - awarded if student completes all work.

    Withdrawn (W or Y) - Students who enroll but do not participate in the class may withdraw themselves by calling Admissions and Records, or their instructor may withdraw them. Either case will result in a grade of "W." Note that participation means the completion of a single homework assignment or an exam.
    Students who participate in the class for any amount of time up to the midway point of the course and then cease to participate may withdraw themselves by calling Admissions and Records, or their instructor may withdraw them. Either of these cases will result in a "W."

    Students who complete assignments or participate to the midway point of the course and then cease to participate must contact their instructor to initiate a withdrawal. The instructor will not withdraw them automatically. This case will result either in a "Y" or a "W" grade at the instructor's discretion. A "Y" grade (withdrawal failing) counts as an "F" toward a student's grade point average.


    Incomplete (I) - awarded if student does not complete course work but does notify his/her instructor and commits to a contract for completion. Students receiving an incomplete must make up the missing assignments within the time frame specified by the instructor in the contract. Requests are not automatically granted. Your instructor will consider granting an incomplete only when the majority of course work is up-to-date and has been of acceptable quality, plus the student must be missing assignment due dates because of circumstances beyond the student's control. Students who know ahead of time that they will be unable to complete assignments on the specified date should contact the instructor.

    Credit/no credit option (P/Z) - must be requested during the first week.
    This course may be taken on a credit/no credit basis. If you wish to take the course on that basis, you must initiate your request during the first week of class by calling your instructor.

    The P/Z option allows you to participate in the class without completing a letter grade. If you wish to receive credit (P), you must complete all course work at a passing level. If you do not wish to receive credit (Z), you must submit assignments, but you are not required to take the mid-term and final exams.

    It is the student's responsibility to request advisement concerning the transferability of a grade of P or Z.

    If you elect the P/Z option, you must meet these expectations.

  Late or Missing Assignments

Assignments are due on time according to the calendar schedule for this class. If you need to request an extension for an assignment, a written request must be extended to your instructor on BlackBoard at least one week prior to the due date.

  Submitting Assignments

BlackBoard Quizzes

Your assignments have been included within the course as online quizzes.

To submit quizzes, click to open, click the button beside your chosen answer for ALL the questions, click save answer after each question, and then click the "submit" button at the bottom of the quiz.

To submit essays and lab worksheets, click to open, click the assignment file, open the zip folder and the file inside, choose save as, add your name to the front of the file name, and save it to your computer. Then, write the essay in the downloaded file, make sure you continue to save it in .rtf format. Finally, reopen the assignment, browse to your completed .rtf file on your local drive, and attach and submit it.

If you are unable to submit the form with all required information fields complete, please contact your instructor immediately.


  Exams

There are no required, in-person midterm and final exams for this course.

  Backup Assignments

  • Save all of your email correspondence for the semester.
  • Keep a back-up copy of ALL the work you submit to your instructor.
  • If you do not receive your assignment or quiz results within a week of the due date, please contact your instructor.
  • If an assignment or quiz has been lost, you will need to submit a replacement copy.

  Extra Credit

NOT AVAILABLE

  "Netiquette" Guidlines

Netiquette refers to the generally accepted rules of behavior for communicating in the online environment. This list will serve as a general overview of these rules.

  • Be professional and careful with what you say in your posting. Express your thoughts clearly and concisely.
  • Be careful when using sarcasm and humor. Internet communications are very impersonal and others may take your words as criticism.
  • Be courteous and respectful of other people. If you use abusive or offensive language, you will be blocked from the discussion area and potentially removed from your course. If that is the case, you will not receive a refund for your tuition.
  • Use common sense - is this message something that you want to be sent to you? Will you understand it in 3 days if you were to go back and read it?

  Disruptive Behavior Policy

Disruptive behavior on BlackBoard or the Phoenix College campus will not be tolerated and will be dealt with in accordance with college policy. (See Phoenix College Student Handbook pages C-23/C-28.) Disruptive behavior includes harrassment of other students or instructor and inappropriate or unsafe activities with respect to other students, instructors, equipment or supplies.

  Academic Misconduct Policy

We expect every student to produce his/her original, independent work. Any student whose work indicates a violation of the MCCCD Academic Misconduct Policy can expect penalties. Academic dishonesty includes cheating and plagiarism. A First offense will be given a score of 0 for the assignment. A Second offense will result in failure of the course. All incidents will be reported to the Biology Department Chairperson and to the Academic Vice President (See the Phoenix College Student Handbook pages C-7/C-8.). For your protection, please avoid even the appearance of academic dishonesty.

  Course Completion Policy

A student who registers for a Distance Learning course is assigned a "start date" and an "end date." It is the student's responsibility to note due dates for assignments and to keep up with the course work.

If a student falls behind, she/he must contact the instructor and request an extension of her/his end date in order to complete the course.

It is the prerogative of the instructor to decide whether or not to grant the request.

  Financial Policy

Students will be withdrawn from the class for non-participation. If you are receiving financial aid of any kind, it is your responsibility to protect your eligibility to receive financial aid by meeting the requirements of this class.

  Change of Address

Please, notify your instructor of changes in your address or phone number.

  Disability Statement

If you are aware of any physical or non-physical disability that may affect your performance in class, please inform your instructor during the first week of class. Phoenix College's Disability Support Services can provide for some of the special needs of disabled students (See the Phoenix College Student Handbook pages A-13/A-14.). Disability Support Services include interpreting for the deaf, note taking, reading, testing accommodations, and accommodations for the learning disabled with documentation. Special Services is located in the Learning Center Building Phone: 602-285-7477.)

  Contact Us

For academic help, you can contact your instructor through the course Discussion Board or Email system. However, you can also call your instructor for quicker help. You can also contact your instructor through the Maricopa Email system. See the My Instructor link on the BlackBoard Course Menu for contact information. There is a 24 hour turn-around policy on these message features except on Saturday, Sunday and Holidays.

If you need any technical help, such as help configuring your browser, contact the Maricopa Student Support Center and Speak to a Live Representative: 1-888-994-4433.


  Additional Information

Logistics:
The Logistics page contains information about communications, help, and logistics for the course. To access the Logistics page click the eOrientation link on the Course Menu and then click the Logistics link.

Structure:
The Structure page contains information about the structure of the course and lessons. To access the Structure page the eOrientation link on the Course Menu and then click the Structure link.