Biological Concepts : Cells, Metabolism, and Energy

Biol 120 Homepage: http://ecourses.wku.edu  - Login required

GENERAL EDUCATION COURSE CONTENT AND GOALS:

This course fulfills the D.1. (Science/Mathematics) general education requirement. It will help you attain this general education goal and its corresponding objectives:

An understanding of the scientific method and a knowledge of natural science and its relevance in our lives, specifically to help students:

• develop a conceptual framework for modern biology, and
• gain an appreciation of science as a process.

LEARNING - Learning takes effort, and research on college students has shown that students who invest more time in learning get better results! Many times students feel helpless when they experience difficulty in class. ... However, it is important that you take responsibility for your learning and build partnerships with your professors. Success is a choice. Your choice. To get what you want, it helps to know what you want and know how to go about it. ... Becoming a master student is a lifelong process. The final destination is up to you!

To do well in this class, either prior knowledge of how to use a typical web site, or a willingness to learn on your own during the first week of class, is required. This is because course announcements, lessons, reading assignments, most quizzes, and details explaining the policies for this course are found on the Internet. Most problems students have with this class result from their failure to READ instructions, deadlines, and course materials.

COMPUTER-BASED LEARNING: Owning your own computer is not required for successful completion of this course. There are several computer labs located throughout the campus: at the Library, DUC, TCCW, etc. Click here for a link to WKU's computer lab locations and hours of operation: WKU Computer Labs. However, most students find that it is more convenient to have his/her own computer with access to the Internet (located in his/her own room). Since a computer can be the most valuable tool you can have while in college, it is strongly suggested that you purchase one. The course looks, and works, much better with Internet Explorer.

Study Strategies: Click on this link for study strategies, such as a method called SQ5R, Notetaking, and Concept Mapping. These strategies will help you study for any class.

The Learning Center (Tutoring): If you need tutoring in this class (highly recommended for those with averages below 75%, but available for ANYONE, no matter how high your grade is - check your grades online to determine your present average, or see me) you can just drop in at The Learning Center (227 Cherry Hall) or make an appointment to better suit your schedule. The Learning Center is available for help not only in this class, but for all your classes.

Check out their website at: www.wku.edu/tlc or e-mail them at tlc@wku.edu or call them at 745-6254.

Service hours for The Learning Center are: Monday - Thursday: 10am-8pm Fridays: 10am-4pm.

According to The Learning Center: "If anyone needs to meet with a tutor outside of those hours, all they need to do is ask! We will try our best to accomodate each student's schedule!" There are NO EXCUSES for turning down READILY ACCESSIBLE FREE HELP! Don't wait until it is mathematically impossible to succeed in a class before getting help.

MANY ADDITIONAL FREE TUTORING RESOURCES AT WKU! http://www.wku.edu/teaching/tutoringhandout.html

ASSIGNMENTS: Of course you should read the assigned text before class. The Internet, in general, can also be a useful source of information. Students who do not do the required reading (AKA: don't try very hard) frequently have difficulty, as they would in any course.  All the due dates for tests and assignments are posted well ahead of time (see the Calendar). That means don't even try to tell me you "didn't know something was due, can I turn it in late?If you find the course incomprehensible or need extra help, be sure to come to my office or schedule an appointment with me. My office hours are given above.

ATTENDANCE: Your attendance and participation in this class is essential to you learning the material.  It is extremely important that you attend every class session in order to help you do your best in this course. You are expected to arrive on time and remain for the entire class period. Important course announcements are often given at the beginning of class. Quizzes and exams will be given at the start of class as well. Extra time will not be allowed for quizzes or exams if you are late to class. Credit will not be given for any missed quizzes or exams. If you do miss a class, it is your responsibility to get any missed notes or handouts.  Credit for the course will not be changed to an audit after the university designated time. You also cannot drop the class or change to Audit or Withdraw after the designated time.

CLASSROOM CIVILITY: Students are expected to assist in maintaining a classroom environment that is conducive to learning and respectful of the instructor and fellow students. The time spent in the classroom is to be a time of intellectual gain, thus students are prohibited form using cellular phones and beepers, making offensive remarks, reading newspapers, or engaging in any form of distraction. Inappropriate behavior shall result in, minimally, a request to leave class.

EXAM FORMAT: The lecture exams will be given approximately every 3-4 weeks. Exams will start at the beginning of class on the scheduled day and are to be complete by the end of the class period. No extra time will be given if you are late to class. The 4^th exam/final exam will be given as per the University designated exam schedule. Exams may include essay, true/false, fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, matching, diagrams, and other types of questions. Once the first student leaves the Exam (finishes the Exam) no other students will be admitted to the room. Make-up exams will be given only for approved University excuses (illness with a doctor’s written excuse or death of a close relative) and will be administered during finals week. The final exam is comprehensive. It covers all the material in BIO 120 and will be given ONLY during the university designated time. All students will be required to take the final exam.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Students are expected to do their own work throughout this course and demonstrate academic integrity.  Academic dishonesty in the form of cheating or plagiarism will not be tolerated. Please refer to the WKU Student handbook for polices and definitions regarding academic integrity at:

http://www.wku.edu/Dept/Support/StuAffairs/StuLife/handbook/academicOffenses.htm

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT:  Dishonesty on quizzes, exams, or written assignments (see WKU's plagiarism statement below) will result in a failing grade for the class. Cheating (completing an assignment for someone else, allowing someone else to copy your assignment, copying and pasting from internet sources or elsewhere when you have not been instructed that this is acceptable, etc.) on online assignments will be tracked by computer. Cheating will not be tolerated. 

WKU'S PLAGIARISM DEFINITION: "To represent written work taken from another source as one's own is plagiarism. Plagiarism is a serious offense. The academic work of a student must be his/her own. Once must give any author credit for source material borrowed from him/her. To lift content directly from a source without giving credit is a flagrant act. To present a borrowed passage without reference to the source after having changed a few words is also plagiarism."

FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT: 

Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA ), if you are 18 years old or older, I cannot discuss your grades, etc. with your parents. 

GRADING:There will be a total of 700 points possible in this course, consisting of some variation of.....

• 20 pts. Content Pretest (5 pts.) and Learning Attitudes Survey (5 pts.) (at beg. of semester) + Content Posttest (5 pts.) and Learning Attitudes Survey (5 pts.) (at end of semester)
• 100 pts. - Ten 10-point Assignments
• 300 pts. - Three 100-point In-Class Exams
• 200 pts. - One 200-point Cumulative Final Exam (100 pts. material SINCE Exam III + 100 pts. on Exam I-III material)
• 80 pts. - "Clicker" questions (20 pts./section of exam material)
• Total = 700 pts.

Final course grades will be determined on the following percentage scale (to determine your final grade divide your total points achieved for the entire semester by 620, then multiple by 100 to get your percentage grade):

WITHDRAWALS AND AUDITS: If you wish to audit or withdraw from the course you should do so by the dates mandated by the University. Be sure you are aware of these dates because credit for the course will not be changed to an audit after the university designated time. You also cannot drop the class or change to Audit or Withdraw after the designated time. Be aware that IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DROP THE CLASS. Do not assume that I will do this for you. University policy states, "Students who, without previous arrangement with the instructor or department, fail to attend the first two class meetings of a course meeting multiple times per week or the first meeting of a class that meets one time per week MAY be dropped from the course; however, students are responsible for officially dropping any course for which they have enrolled."

Ceasing to attend class does not activate the drop, withdrawal, or incomplete grade processes.  You must submit the appropriate forms for each by the published deadlines to end your enrollment in this class.  Failure to complete the appropriate forms may result in a failing grade for this course.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS: "Students with disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids or services) for this course must contact the Office for Student Disability Services, new addition in DUC. The OFSDS telephone number is (270) 745-5004 V/TDD. Please DO NOT request accommodations directly from the professor or instructor without a letter of accommodation from the Office for Student Disability Services."

Note that if you require accommodations, you may be required to take exams at another location. I typically refer students to the Office for Student Disability Services, new addition in DUC (745-5504) because this office is set up to make accommodations as specified by the Office for Student Disability Services. You will need to make arrangements with me at the beginning of the semester to take your exams at a location, such as the Office for Student Disability Services in order to receive your accommodations. If at any time during the semester you want to change your testing arrangements, you must see me at least 3 days prior to the upcoming exam date.

If you need extra time on assignments, you must make arrangements with me PRIOR TO THE DUE DATE of the assignment.

WKU PRS PILOT PROJECT STUDENT AGREEMENT

Your copy - original will be signed and returned to the instructor in class in order to receive the clicker.

By signing this agreement, the student _____________(name)_____________ in the course ______(course number and section)______ acknowledges that the "clicker" (a.k.a. PRS) assigned to him/her at the beginning of the semester must be returned at the end of the semester in good and working condition.

If said student loses or damages the clicker, s/he will be responsible for replacing the clicker at a cost of $20. The payment should be made payable to Academic Technology. Failure to return or pay for the clicker will result in a registration hold.

Additionally, use of another student's clicker in a fraudulent manner or allowing another student to use your clicker in a fraudulent manner constitutes Academic Misconduct and will be handled as described in the Academic Misconduct section in the course syllabus. Fraudulent use includes use of another student's clicker in class or allowing the use of your clicker by another student in class.

_____________________________________ ________________________

Student Signature/Date