Clayton State University

BIOL1108L-Principles of Biology II Laboratory
Course syllabus-Summer 2007

Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center 214, 678-466-5445, disabilityservices@mail.clayton.edu.

Course description:

Number and title: BIOL 1108L, Principles of Biology II Laboratory

Credit hours: 1.0 semester credit hour

Catalog description: Laboratory accompanying BIOL1108, Principles of Biology II.

Course pre-requisite: BIOL1107 and BIOL1107L

Course co-requisite: BIOL1108, Principles of Biology II. Withdrawal from BIOL1108L requires withdrawal from BIOL1108 and withdrawal from BIOL1108 requires withdrawal from BIOL1108L.

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 not be used in the classroom in this course.

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

Laboratory objectives: For specific laboratory objectives, see the first page of each Lab Topic in the Laboratory Manual.

Outcomes:

General Education Outcomes:

Communication Outcomes: Students will gain a knowledge base of basic principles of biology, including evolution, population genetics, characteristics of major groups of organisms, anatomy and growth of vascular plants, diversity of invertebrate phyla, vertebrate anatomy and physiology for selected systems, and basic ecological principles . Students will communicate their ideas orally and in written form using digital arts in lab reports and assignments, and on lab practicals.

Knowledge Base
Description:  Lab reports require students to convey their understanding of the topics being covered in lab.  Since 1108L is primarily concerned with observational labs (dissection, etc.) lab reports are generally questions concerning the structures viewed in lab and their significance to the comparisons of different species.
Evidence:  Samples of student work.

Awareness of Recipient
Description: Since lab reports are generally question sheets, students are expected to be able to understand the questions, and answer them at a level that can be understood by a trained biologist.
Evidence:  Samples of student work.

Organization
Description:  Organized, concise answers are required to the questions on the report sheets, and points are deducted for answers that are unclear or poorly written.
Evidence:  Samples of student work.

Mechanics/ Delivery
Description: Terminology used when answering questions on report sheets must be appropriately used.  Points are subtracted for incorrect use of terminology.
Evidence:  Samples of student work.

Style
Description: Since the laboratory reports consist of answers to specific questions, format is less important than correct information.
Evidence: Not evaluated.
 

Critical thinking: Students will apply their knowledge to solve problems presented in lab, on practical exams and in their lab reports and assignments.

Question/Issue
Description: Given student unfamiliarity with biological concepts, the instructor provides the lab objectives. Students are encouraged to ask questions about biological concepts.
Evidence:  None.

Method
Description: In experiment-driven laboratories, students will use the objectives provided by the instructor to construct hypotheses, design experiments, and answer questions related to the objective.
Evidence:  Samples of student laboratory reports.

Evidence
Description:  In experiment-driven labs, students are required to gather data to address the problem at hand.
Evidence:  Samples of student laboratory reports.

Conclusion
Description:  Laboratory reports include a section with questions that require the student to present conclusions based upon experiments conducted as part of the laboratory.  
Evidence:  Samples of student laboratory reports.

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
Fax: 678-466-4899
e-mail: christopherkodani@mail.clayton.edu
Internet address: http://a-s.clayton.edu/kodani/index.htm
Office: Arts and Sciences Building G-210-E
Office hours:

Textbook information:

Required texts: Investigating Biology, Fourth Edition, Morgan/Carter, 2002

A Photographic Atlas for the Biology Laboratory, Fourth Edition, Van De Graaff and Crawley, 2001

Evaluation and grading:

Tentatively, the points will be distributed as follows:

Item	Points
2 lab practical exams	50
Lab reports/assignments (25 pts each)	50
Quizzes	50
TOTAL	150

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:

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 a written excuse (that I can keep) 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. 
• 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. You are responsible for printing handouts and bringing them to lab.

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, palm pilots, pagers, calculators, 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 & State University Student Handbook, and the Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities.
• 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.