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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:
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?’Äù 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
from 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 4th
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’Äôs 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 period designated by the university. 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.....
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):
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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. TURNINGPOINT
CLICKERS IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
TO PURCHASE AND REGISTER YOUR CLICKER BEFORE WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 6. We will begin to use them in class on that date. If you do not have your clicker
registered by then, you will lose points from your final grade. You are
responsible for bringing your clicker to every class period. Instructions
for Registering Your Clicker 1. Login
to Topnet. 2. Under
Student Services, select TurningPoint Clicker Registration. 3. The
TurningPoint Clicker Registration page will appear. 4. Enter
your clicker serial number ID.
Your clicker serial number should be six characters long and may
contain both letters and numbers.
The number can be located on the back of your clicker below the
barcode. 5. Click
Submit. 6. A
confirmation page will then appear indicating that you have registered your
TurningPoint clicker. |
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