BIOL 3500L - Ecology Laboratory
Course syllabus-Spring 2012

Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center #255, 678-466-5445, disabilityservices@mail.clayton.edu.

Course description:

Number and title: BIOL 3500L, Ecology Laboratory

Credit hours: 1.0 semester credit hour

Catalog description: Laboratory to accompany BIOL3500, Ecology.

Course pre-requisite: BIOL1108 and 1108L, MATH 1231

Course co-requisite: BIOL 3500

Computer Requirement: Each CSU student is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for the student's academic program. Students will sign a statement attesting to such access.  For further information on CSU's Official Notebook Computer Policy, please go to http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/policy.htm .

Computer skill prerequisites: You must be able to use Windows, Microsoft Word, Outlook Express (including attaching and retrieving files via e-mail), a Web browser (Internet Explorer preferred), and Microsoft Excel

In Class Use of Student Notebook Computers

Student computers will be used on occasions when the laboratory course meets inside the lab.   Computers will not be used on field trips.

Students will use their computers outside of class for lab reports and assignments.

Field Notebook:

Students must bring their field notebook for every class.

Outcomes:

Course Outcomes: 

• Effectively demonstrate knowledge of ecological principles.
• Demonstrate a mastery of basic lab and technology skills applicable to ecology.
• Apply knowledge of physical sciences, mathematics, and statistics to ecological concepts.
• Communicate scientific information in a clear and concise manner both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrate the ability to collect, evaluate and interpret scientific data, and employ critical thinking to solve problems in ecology.
• Collaborate effectively on team-oriented projects.
• Demonstrate the ability to identify and describe the impact of ecology on the environment and society.

General Education Outcomes:

The following links provide tabular descriptions of the communications outcome and the critical thinking outcome components:

• Communications outcomes components
• Critical thinking outcomes components

Biology Outcomes:

• Effectively demonstrate knowledge of the basic principles of major fields of biology.
• Demonstrate a mastery of a broad range of basic lab and technology skills applicable to biology.
• Apply knowledge of physical sciences, mathematics, and statistics to biological concepts.
• Communicate scientific information in a clear and concise manner both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrate the ability to to collect, evaluate and interpret scientific data, and employ critical thinking to solve problems in biological science and supporting fields.
• Collaborate effectively on team-oriented projects.
• Demonstrate the ability to identify and describe the impact of biological and physical sciences on the environment and society.

• At Clayton State University, we expect and support high motivation and academic achievement.  Look for Operation Study activities and programs this semester that are designed to enhance your academic success such as study sessions, study breaks, workshops, and opportunities to earn Study Bucks (for use in the University Bookstore) and other items.

 Instructor information:

Dr. Jere A. Boudell
Phone: 678-466-4772
E-mail: jboudell@clayton.edu
internet address: http://a-s.clayton.edu/jboudell
Office: Science Annex 116C, (Campus Map)
Office hours: http://a-s.clayton.edu/jboudell/schedule.htm

Textbook information:

You will be using an on-line lab manual written by multiple plant and animal ecologists.  These labs are available for download in the course schedule section of this web site.

Experimental Design for the Life Sciences, 3/E
Ruxton, Graeme and Colegrave, Nick.
ISBN: 0199569126
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Copyright: 2011

Writing papers in the biological sciences, 4/E
Victoria E. McMillan
ISBN: 0-312-44083-9
Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's. New York 
Copyright: 2006

Ecology, 1/E (While this book is not required, it obviously would be beneficial if you used the BIOL 3500 text book)
Cain, M.L., Bowman, W.D., and S. D. Hacker
ISBN: 978-0-87893-083-8
Publisher: Sinauer
Copyright: 2008

Evaluation and grading:

Tentatively, the points will be distributed as follows:

Item	Points
Lab reports/projects* (20-25 pts each)	100
Final Lab Report	50
Field Notebook	30
TOTAL	180

Your final grade will be determined as follows:

Grade	Percentage range
A	90-100%
B	80-89%
C	70-79%
D	60-69%
F	Below 60%

Tentative Course Schedule*:

*This lab schedule is tentative and may change. 

Course policies:

Attendance: Each student must attend the assigned laboratory weekly for 3 hours.  

• You are expected to remain in lab for 3 hours weekly, so do not schedule other appointments during this time. Attendance will be checked at each lab period. 
• Due to limited space and resources, labs CANNOT be made up. If you miss lab, you must have documentation from an authority (doctor, judge, funeral director etc.). With the written excuse, the missed points for the laboratory will not count against you. You cannot turn in a lab report or lab assignment for a lab that you did not attend. 
• Except under extenuating circumstances, you will be counted absent if you are more than 20 minutes late and will not be able to turn in the lab assignment or lab report for that lab.

Lab exercises: You are expected to prepare for the current week's lab topic prior to lab so that you will already be familiar with the subject matter. This will enable you to work through the lab on your own, asking the instructor when you have questions.  You may be responsible for bringing in a representative organism from the group of organisms that we are studying.  You will be notified of this one week in advance of the due date. You are responsible for downloading all files and printing handouts and bringing them to lab.

Late assignments: Lab reports will not be accepted more than one week after they are due. For each day after the due date, 10% of the total points for the assignment will be deducted from your lab report grade.  Turn in all of your lab materials together. No supplemental materials may be added once you have turned in you lab report or assignment. Assignments are due at the beginning of class.

E-mail: Important messages and announcements will be sent to you via your CSU account. You must activate your account and check your e-mail regularly.  You are responsible for all e-mails sent to the class list.

Website: Check the course web site regularly for new postings.   It your responsibility to print these handouts before coming to lab.

General policies:

• Students must abide by policies in the Clayton State University Catalog, Student Handbook, and if applicable, program handbook.
• Visitors, including children, are not allowed in the laboratory.
• No smoking, other use of tobacco, eating, or drinking is permitted at any time in the laboratory.
• Cheating in any form will not be tolerated; all work that you turn in must be in your own words and must be your own work.  If your brainpower did not generate what you turn in, it is considered cheating.  The following are examples of cheating:  copying the work of another person, allowing another person to do your assignment,  working in a group on a graded item, copying or closely paraphrasing referenced sources, using anything but your brainpower on an exam, etc.  Cheating in any form will result in a minimum of zero on the assignment and academic misconduct forms will be filed with the Office of Judicial Affairs for any violation. Judicial procedures are described at http://adminservices.clayton.edu/studentlife/judicial_affairs.htm.
• Turn off all cell phones, pagers, etc. when entering the classroom.  No electronic devices may be out or in use during exams or other graded assignments.  

Disruptive Classroom Behavior¹

Disruptive behavior in the classroom can negatively affect the classroom environment as well as the educational experience for students enrolled in the course. Disruptive behavior is defined as any behaviors that hamper the ability of instructors to teach or students to learn. Common examples of disruptive behaviors include, but are not limited to:
# Eating in class
# Monopolizing classroom discussions
# Failing to respect the rights of other students to express their viewpoints
# Talking when the instructor or others are speaking
# Constant questions or interruptions which interfere with the instructor’s presentation
# Overt inattentiveness (e.g., sleeping or reading the paper in class)
# Creating excessive noise
# Entering the class late or leaving early
# Use of pagers or cell phones in the classroom
# Inordinate or inappropriate demands for time or attention
# Poor personal hygiene (e.g., noticeably offensive body odor)
# Refusal to comply with faculty direction

Students exhibiting these types of behaviors can expect a warning from the instructor or dismissal for the lesson in which the behavior occurs. Failure to correct such behaviors can result in dismissal from the course.

More extreme examples of disruptive behavior include, but are not limited to:
# Use of profanity or pejorative language
# Intoxication
# Verbal abuse of instructor or other students (e.g., taunting, badgering, intimidation)
# Harassment of instructor or other students
# Threats to harm oneself or others
# Physical violence

Students exhibiting these more extreme examples of disruptive behavior may be dismissed from the lesson or the entire course.

Students dismissed from a lesson will leave the classroom immediately or may be subject to additional penalties. Dismissed students are responsible for any course material or assignments missed.

Students dismissed from a course have the right to appeal the dismissal to the department head responsible for the course. Appeals beyond the department head may also be pursued. If no appeal is made or the appeal is unsuccessful, the student will receive a grade o WF (withdrawal – failing) regardless of the current grade in the course.

Conditions attributed to physical or psychological disabilities are not considered as a legitimate excuse for disruptive behavior.

1 The description of disruptive behavior and listings of examples of disruptive behavior are taken from the Web sites of James Madison University, the University of Delaware and Virginia Tech.

Changes or additions to this syllabus, including reading, exam schedule, grading, and course policies can be made at the discretion of the instructor at any time.

Last update: January 05, 2012