NORTHWEST-SHOALS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Phil Campbell Campus

Biology 104 Syllabus for Spring 2007 - Elton Camp, Adjunct Instructor of Biology

My web site: http://www.geocities.com/elton4562

Main home phone: 332-4562

My E-mail: [email protected]

Where test grades are found on Internet: elton4562.myblog.com

COURSE CONTENT FOR BIO 104: PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY II

(Subject to content revision as the semester progresses and I may change

the order of material to avoid conflicts on the use of lab materials.)

• Introduction: Classification of organisms: Kingdoms, classification categories, scientific names.
• Monera: Brief survey of the bacteria to provide contrast with eukaryotic organisms.
• Protista: Sarcodina (move by pseudopodia); Ciliates: (move by cilia); Flagellates (move by flagella); and Sporozoans (no organs for locomotion-parasites).
• Animals: Survey the following phyla - Porifera (sponges); Cnidaria (Coelenterata); Echinodermata; Platyhelminthes (flatworms); Nematoda (roundworms); Annelida (segmented worms); Molluska; Arthropoda; Chondrichthyes; Osteichthyes; Amphibians; Reptiles; Birds; and Mammals.
• Fungi: Importance and survey.
• Plants: Bryophytes; Seedless Vascular Plants; Seed-Producing Vascular plants (gymnosperms and angiosperms).
• Ecology: Organisms and the environment.
• Other topics as time permits.

Note: This class has more scheduled lab than it does lecture (Lecture 2 hours and 30 minutes per week and lab 3 hours per week). This ratio is set in Montgomery and I have no control over it. Test time or other activities may take from lecture, lab, or both as needs dictate.

Attendance policy:

Class attendance is important, but please do NOT come to class if you have the flu or some other contagious disease.

Here is the revised attendance policy that was approved by the President's Council on Wednesday, November 19, 2003. This is the latest version of which I am aware.

"Course grades are awarded based on academic performance and not on attendance. Because class attendance is considered to be essential to the accomplishment of course objectives, excessive absences, more than 20% of the class meetings for a course, are discouraged. These absences also include any absences accrued during late registration.  Failure to adhere to the 20% policy may result in a failing grade based on academic performance. Any variation of this policy must be approved by the Chief Instructional Officer. A student who is absent due to required participation in a school activity must be allowed to make up work, according to guidelines issued by individual instructors."

As to make-up work, here are my individual guidelines: Absences make it difficult for you to perform academically. Since most of my lectures are posted on my web site, usually you can go there for missed lectures. BUT, if you are not present to see what I say about the material and the interpretation of it, you will be at a considerable disadvantage. You must understand that the posted material is the minimum that will be covered on the topics and that I may or may not add additional material during the actual lecture. It is very difficult for you to make up missed labs and labs are a major part of this class. Nevertheless, ask me for written instructions issued to the class on laboratory assignments. You may make labs up after finishing regular lab work or on your own time, but do not disturb other instructor's classes who may be using computers or biology laboratories. If I am on campus (See schedule in this syllabus) and not in class, I'll be glad to help you with any questions. When tests are missed, this presents a particular problem since a few people will feign illness to gain extra study time or with the intention of "finding out what was on the test." This seems unfair to the ones who took the test on time, but my extensive experience has shown that it rarely is any advantage to the deceitful student and usually results in a lower grade than would have been earned if the test had been taken at the regular time. Also, I reserve the right to furnish discussion make-up tests at any time without advance notice. In this event, the tests will be fair and on the material assigned, but will not provide the advantage of the typical multiple choice format. This is more likely to occur for students who miss more than one test. Please remain aware that I am retired and not on campus each day throughout the week. Make-up tests can be given only on days that I am on campus (See my schedule in this syllabus) unless there is a very unusual situation. You should make a definite appointment for your make-up test, although I will try to accommodate last minute requests. So you know when I am most likely to be on campus, see the schedule which follows and which is posted on my office door (S-14) in the Science Building. Do note this: I will neither urge you to take make-up tests nor try to require you to do so, but at the end of the semester when I have to turn in grades by a specified deadline, any tests not made up will count as zeros which can be devastating to averages. It is your responsibility to make arrangements to take them.

Basis for grade: These are the factors that enter into your grade: Scores on lecture tests, performance of assigned labs, turning in required lab reports and book, and laboratory tests. We will have lots of tests and grades over fairly small blocks of material so you will have adequate opportunity to show what you know and can do. A couple of "bad" grades should not have a devastating impact on your grade for the course. The "final exam" is not comprehensive and is not one of the college-wide finals as given in BIO 103. Accordingly, it will count no more than a regular test score. When the course is over and the grade determined, I will not change it for any reason other than clerical error in computing or reporting it, so please don't embarrass us both by asking. Friendship with parents, family prominence, or any other factors are not relevant to grades. However, if you feel a clerical error has occurred, please contact me-such a thing has occurred rarely in the past and could again. Anybody is subject to making mistakes, especially keying errors. Faculty report grades to the Admissions Office over the Internet.

In keeping with College policy, A = 90 and above; B = 80 to 89; C = 70 to 79; D = 60 to 69;

F = Below 60.

Accommodation of disability: It is the policy of Northwest-Shoals Community College to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Any student covered under this act and needing or desiring reasonable accommodations for this class should contact the Office of Student Services and that office will notify the instructor regarding specific accommodations. Please realize that I am not permitted to suggest accommodation or to ask you about disability even if it is plainly evident, so follow the policy of the College in this regard. Reasonable accommodation of documented disability is not optional, but is a matter of law.

Academic policies: I will never deceive you. If you attend class and lab regularly, consult my web site, and pay attention, you should be in no doubt as to what is expected of you. All tests are announced at least one class/lab session in advance. Always bring a pencil (not ink) to take tests. If you are absent, it is wise to find out if a test is

scheduled for the next class session. Ask another student or ask me. There will be no "pop" tests. How can you possibly prepare if you don't know when you will be tested.

If you should decide to "withdraw:" College instructors are not permitted to withdraw you if you cease attending class. YOU must contact the Admissions Office and do the necessary paperwork to obtain a grade of either "W," "WP," or "WF." There is no real difference in a grade of "WF" and just a plain "F," so please don't let yourself get into such a situation. A failing grade remains on your transcript forever and may cause many difficulties in the future. March 15, 2007 is the last day to withdraw with a guaranteed grade of "W." After that date the "WP" or "WF" policy comes into play. I will be glad to award "WP" if College policy will permit it. If you just stop coming to class without observing the foregoing, this guarantees a failing grade so please don't do that.

Posting grades: It is my practice to grade materials promptly and to keep coded current postings on the bulletin board located in the hallway outside my office (S-14). Posting is usually done within an hour or less of completion of the test. An identification number will be assigned each student, but this will NOT be any part of your Social Security number, so please write it down where you can find it. If you forget your number, ask me for it. By this means, each student should be well aware of academic progress and how personal accomplishment compares with the class in general.

In addition, I keep a list of student grades (by identification number) on my message forum which is accessed from any computer with Internet access at elton4562.myblog.com. This blog is one-directional only so that students cannot post responses to it. If you want to contact me, do so in person, by e-mail, or by phone as outlined elsewhere in this syllabus.

Academic Assistance: You shouldn't need such help under normal circumstances, but if you do, contact the Office of Student Services and ask for a tutor. Use your resources: check my web site for lecture outlines, and read lab exercises before starting lab sessions.

Course Objectives: Provide students with a general knowledge and understanding of the structure and function of organisms in the selected kingdoms. Show interaction of organisms with the biosphere. Provide laboratory experiences that allow students hands-on investigation of these organisms.

Got suggestions? Talk to me about them or if you prefer, slip them under the inside door of office S-14 at the Phil Campbell Campus (the outside door is against a desk and anything placed under it disappears into limbo). As an accredited institution, the College must adhere to recognized academic standards so I may not be able to implement all suggestions, but I will seriously consider input from students.