SCI 3130 – Integrated
Science-Life Science
Course Syllabus - Spring 2008
Individuals with disabilities
who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services
Coordinator, Student Center 255, 678-466-5445, disabilityservices@clayton.edu.
Course Description:
Number and Title:
SCI 3130 Integrated Science-Life Science (3-1-3)
Credit Hours:
3.0 semester credit hours
Course Description:
Note: This course is open
only to Middle Level Teacher Education students.
An activity based course that
incorporates content, central themes and technology for teaching life
science in the middle grades. The topics addressed include: cells,
tissues, animal behavior, classification, plant and animal systems,
genetics, evolution, and ecology. This course is open only to Middle
Level Teacher Education students.
Course prerequisite and co-requisite:
Prerequisite: Completion of Area D of the Core
Curriculum
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/?nav=notebook_policy
.
In-class Use of Student Notebook
Computers:
Notebook computers will be used
occasionally in class in connection with laboratory experiences.
Computers will be used extensively for communication and research.
Computer Skill Prerequisites:
- Able to use the WindowsTM
operating system
- Able to use Microsoft WordTM
word processing
- Able to send and receive e-mail using
Outlook ExpressTM
- Able to attach and retrieve attached
files via email
- Able to use a Web browser.
Course Objectives:
- To better understand the nature of scientific
inquiry.
- To use knowledge of biological concepts to
explain everyday-phenomena at a level appropriate to middle school
learners.
- To become familiar with the following standards
for Middle Grades science: GPS, Praxis II, NSTA, GACE.
- To practice planning, preparing, and presenting a
laboratory lesson.
Student Learning Objectives:
General Education Outcomes:
- Communication: knowledge base: SCI 3130 will
provide knowledge base information necessary for communication of
information concerning biology for middle-grades learners.
- Critical thinking: all components (
question/issue, method, evidence, conclusion ). SCI 3130 will enable
students to better understand the scientific method of data
acquisition and problem solving. Students will also be better
prepared to face critical issues of public policy concerning science
and technology.
Teacher Education Outcomes
The
content of this course syllabus correlates to education standards
established by national and state education governing agencies, accrediting
agencies and learned society/ professional education associations. Please
refer to the course correlation matrices located at the following web site:
http://a-s.clayton.edu/teachered/Standards%20and%20Outcomes.htm
Standards for Middle Level Teacher Education
associated with science courses are provided by the Educational Testing
Service through its description of the PRAXIS II examination, the State
of Georgia, and the National Science
Teachers Association. These standards and their implementation in the
science courses taken at Clayton
State University by Middle Grades Teacher
Education students are located at the following website:
http://a-s.clayton.edu/campbell/TeacherEducation/MiddleLevelTeacherEducationStandards.htm
Term:
Spring Semester 2008
Instructor Information:
Dr. Christopher Kodani
Office: Arts and Sciences Building, Room G-210-E
Phone: (678) 466-4782
e-mail:
ChristopherKodani@clayton.edu
Internet address:
http://a-s.clayton.edu/kodani/index.htm
Spring office hours: TBA
Class Meetings:
Classroom:
Business and Health Sciences Building, Room C-32
Class Times:
Friday: 9:30-12:20
Text Information:
Text:
Textbook: Biology, Concepts
and Connections, Campbell, Reece, Mitchell and Taylor, 5th
edition, 2006.
Pedagogy Experiences:
- Each student, as a member of a group, will be
responsible for planning and presenting a lesson during the scheduled lab
times. Print out the details of this assignment from the following link:
Evaluation:
|
Grading Scale |
Points |
| 4
Regular Exams @ 100 points |
400 |
|
Quizzes/Assignments (Number of quizzes, assignments, and points
to be determined by instructor) |
0
to 100 |
| 1
Final Exam over all material |
100 |
|
Total |
500
to 600 |
Grading:
- A 90 - 100 %
- B 80 - 89 %
- C 70 - 79 %
- D 60 - 69 %
- F below 60 %
These grade definitions are University policy and will
be strictly adhered to.
Course Schedule:
| Tentative
Schedule for SCI 3130 |
| Week |
Dates |
Chapter |
Topics |
| 1 |
Jan 11 |
13 |
How Populations
Evolve Judgement Day: Intelligent Design
on Trial (Video Chapters 1-6)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/id/
Guide to Judgement Day
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/id/media/nova-id-briefing.pdf
|
| 2 |
Jan 18 |
13 |
How Populations
Evolve Judgement Day: Intelligent Design
on Trial (Video Chapters 7-12)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/id/ |
| 3 |
Jan 21-25 |
18 |
MLK Holiday Monday,
Jan 21
Animal Diversity |
| 4 |
Jan 28-Feb 1 |
18
(19 if time permits) |
Animal Diversity
Human Evolution (if time permits) |
| 5 |
Feb 4-8 |
21 |
Nutrition and
Digestion
Exam 1 |
| 6 |
Feb 11-15 |
22 |
Gas Exchange |
| 7 |
Feb 18-22 |
23 |
Circulation
|
| 8 |
Feb 25-29 |
24 |
The Body's Defenses
Exam 2 |
| 9 |
Mar 3-7 |
|
Spring Break |
| 10 |
Mar 10-14 |
25 |
Control of the
Internal Environment |
| 11 |
Mar 17-21 |
27.9 to 27.19 |
Embryonic Development
|
| 12 |
Mar 24-28 |
34 |
The Biosphere
Exam 3 |
| 13 |
Mar 31-Apr 4 |
36 |
Population Dynamics |
| 14 |
Apr 7-11 |
36, 37 |
Population
Dynamics/Communities and Ecosystems |
| 15 |
Apr 14-18 |
37 |
Communities and
Ecosystems
Exam 4 |
| 16 |
Apr 21-25 |
38 |
Conservation Biology |
| 17 |
Apr 28 |
38 |
Conservation Biology
Monday Classes Only |
This schedule is tentative, and can
change at the discretion of the instructor. All exam dates are approximate.
Class Policies:
Students must abide by policies found in the
Clayton State University Student Handbook. In addition, all students
are bound by the Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities found at
http://a-s.clayton.edu/BasicUndergraduateStudentResponsibilities.htm.
Disruption of the Learning Environment
Behavior which disrupts the teaching–learning process during
class activities will not tolerated. While
a variety of behaviors can be disruptive in a classroom setting,
more serious examples include
belligerent, abusive, profane, and/or threatening behavior. A
student who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction
regarding classroom behavior and/or behavior while participating
in classroom activities may be dismissed from class. A student
who is dismissed is entitled to due process and will be afforded
such rights as soon as possible following dismissal. If found
in violation, a student may be administratively withdrawn and
may receive a grade of WF.
A more
detailed description of examples of disruptive behavior and
appeal procedures is provided at:
http://a-s.clayton.edu/DisruptiveClassroomBehavior.htm
A
grade of zero will be assigned to graded work involving academic
dishonesty and formal academic misconduct procedures will be
applied.
Refer to the
Student Code of Conduct for details about academic misconduct.
Attendance is expected for all class
periods. Attendance is required for quiz and examination periods.
Any absence from these periods must be accompanied by a proper
excuse, presented to the instructor. Without excuse, a grade of
zero points will be assigned for the missed work. With excuse,
missed work may be made up, but only after arranging with the
instructor to make up the work before the next class period.
If a proper excuse is presented to the instructor, but the work
cannot be made up before the next class, the final exam grade will
replace the missing grade, but only to the extent of one exam
and/or one quiz.
Each unexcused absence or tardiness
to class will result in a proportionate deduction from the
Professionalism portion of course credit.
Visitors (friends, children, etc.) are
strictly prohibited from attending class without the permission of the
instructor.
The use of simple calculators is allowed for
all quizzes and examinations. All examinations are closed book.
No smoking, eating or drinking is permitted
at any time in the classroom.
Cell phones must be turned off or placed on
silent alarm.
Important dates:
Exams: refer to course schedule
Final examination: TBA
Last day to withdraw without academic
penalty: Friday, February 29, 2008
Last update:
January 08, 2008