Required texts:
Reid, George K. 2001. Pond life: a guide to common plants and animals of north american ponds and lakes. St. Martin's Press, New York.
Clayton State University
BIOL 3500L - Ecology
Laboratory
Course syllabus-Fall 2008
Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center 214, 770-961-3719, 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
Course co-requisite: BIOL 3500
Computer Requirement: Each CCSU 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 CCSU'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:
General Education Outcomes:
The following links provide tabular descriptions of the communications outcome and the critical thinking outcome components:
Biology Outcomes:
- Knowledge of the basic principles of major fields of biology (Biology outcome #1)
- Mastery of a broad range of basic lab skills applicable to biology (Biology outcome #2)
- Ability to communicate orally and in writing in a clear, concise manner (Biology outcome #4)
- Ability to collect, evaluate and interpret scientific data, and employ critical thinking to solve problems in biological science. (Biology outcome #5)
- Ability to function effectively on team-oriented projects. (Biology outcome #6)
Instructor information:
Dr. Christopher Kodani
phone: 678-466-4782
e-mail: christopherkodani@mail.clayton.edu
internet address: http://a-s.clayton.edu/kodani/index.htm
Office: Admin A-31-A
Office hours: W 10:00 to 1:45
Textbook information:
Required texts:
Reid, George K. 2001. Pond life: a guide to common plants and animals of north american ponds and lakes. St. Martin's Press, New York.
Evaluation and grading:
Tentatively, the points will be distributed as follows:
Item Points Lab Reports 100 Practicals 200 Quizzes 50 Field Notebook 50 TOTAL 350
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%
Lab Schedule:
- Bream Lab PowerPoint now available
Fish Identification
Stream Health
Macroinvertebrates
Writing Lab Reports
Nature Preserves & Parks
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. However, you may attend lab in the other lab section if you have a valid excuse and with the permission of the instructor. 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.
- If you miss lab, you are responsible for the lab material on the lab practical.
- If you miss the lab practical altogether and have an excused absence, notify the instructor immediately by e-mail, and see the instructor upon your return to school.
- 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 to 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.
Late assignments: Lab reports will be accepted late using the following chart for subtracting points. Lab reports will not be accepted more than one week after they are due. Turn in all of your lab materials together. No supplemental materials may be added once you have turned in you lab report or assignment.
E-mail: Important messages and announcements will be sent to you via your CCSU account. You must activate your account and check your e-mail regularly. If you cannot use your CCSU account, it is your responsibility to send me an alternate e-mail address. You are responsible for all e-mails sent to the class list.
Website: Check my web page (http://a-s.clayton.edu/kodani/index.htm) regularly for new postings. Handouts and other important items will be posted on the syllabus for this class. It your responsibility to print these handouts before coming to lab.
Taking exams: All electronic devices including cell phones, PDA's, pagers, etc. are not allowed during exams or quizzes. Possession and/or use of these items during an exam will result in a zero on the graded activity.
General policies:
- Students must abide by policies in the Clayton College and 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.
- 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.
