SCI 3130 – Integrated Science-Life Science
Course Syllabus - Spring 2011

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 Windows^TM operating system
• Able to use Microsoft Word^TM word processing
• Able to send and receive e-mail using Outlook Express^TM
• 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          

• More specifically,  the learning activities of this course are correlated with the following sets of educational standards relevant to teacher education in the state of Georgia:
• Georgia Performance Standards in Science
• NSTA standards for teacher preparation

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  

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

Text Information: 

Campbell, Reece, Taylor, Simon, and Dickey. 2009. Biology, Concepts and Connections. Benjamin Cummings 6/E. ISBN-10: 0321489845 ISBN-13: 9780321489845

Evaluation:

Grading Scale	Points
3 Regular Exams @ 100 points	300
Quizzes/Assignments (Number of quizzes, assignments, and points to be determined by instructor)	0 to 100
1 Final Exam over all material	100
Citizenship	50
Total	450 to 550

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	Lab
1	Jan 11 & 13	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	Quiz: The Mammals That Conquered the Seas
2	Jan 18 & 20	13	How Populations Evolve Judgement Day: Intelligent Design on Trial (Video Chapters 7-12) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/id/
3	Jan 25 & 27	14	The Origin of Species	Adapt a Creature
4	Feb 1 & 3	15	Labor Day Sept 5-7 Tracing Evolutionary History	Candy Cladistics
5	Feb 8 & 10	4	Exam 1 A Tour of the Cell	Build a Cell
6	Feb 15 & 17	8	The Cellular Basis of Reproduction and Inheritance	Microscopy Lab
7	Feb 22 & 24	20	Unifying Concepts of Animal Structure and Function	Tissue Slides
8	Mar 1 & 3	16	The Origin and Evolution of Microbial Life: Prokaryotes and Protists	Microbial Lab Activity: BioEd's "The Variety and Roles of Microbes" http://www.bioedonline.org/resources/files/Microbes05.pdf Video: Annenberg Media's "The Microbial Universe" http://www.learner.org/vod/asx/gpb/Unseen_Life_on_Earth_01.asx
Last Day to Withdraw without Academic Penalty Oct 9
9	Mar 8 & 10		Spring Break: No Classes
10	Mar 15 & 17	16	The Origin and Evolution of Microbial Life: Prokaryotes and Protists
11	Mar 22 & 24	16	Exam 2 The Origin and Evolution of Microbial Life: Prokaryotes and Protists
12	Mar 29 & 31	17	Plants, Fungi, and the Colonization of Land (Seedless Plants)	Campus Botany Field Trip
13	Apr 5 & 7	17	Plants, Fungi, and the Colonization of Land(Gymnosperms and Angiosperms)	Grocery Store Botany
14	Apr 12 & 14	17	Plants, Fungi, and the Colonization of Land (Fungi)	PBS's Nature "Frogs: The Thin Green Line" http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/frogs-the-thin-green-line/video-full-episode/4882/
15	Apr 19 & 21	34	The Biosphere: An Introduction to Earth's Diverse Environments Exam 3	Build a Biome
16	Apr 26 & 28	37	Communities and Ecosystems	Quiz: The Fish and the Forest
17			Final Exam

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.

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.  Text messaging is not allowed in class.

Absences: 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 original documentation to support that 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. 

Double or Nothing Policy: In the case that a student misses an exam or quiz, the next one can count double, if a proper original documented excuse is presented to the instructor.  A grade of zero points will be assigned if no such documentation is provided, or if two consecutive exams are missed.

Last update: January 10, 2011