Course Syllabus

INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY

BIOLOGY 20

Syllabus for Spring 2021

Ticket #s 80610, 18215, 18220, and 18225

Downloadable Syllabus

Downloadable Calendar

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Instructor

Abby Sirulnik

Lecture Format

Asynchronous (no live meetings)

Lab Format

Asynchronous (no live meetings)

Email

asirulnik@saddleback.edu

Office Hours (online, by appointment)

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 am – 11:30 am. To attend, reserve your appointment on Canvas via the ZoomConfer link by 12 AM prior.

Other days: email me to schedule

NOTE: Students Are Responsible for Any Syllabus Changes

*updated syllabus will be posted on Canvas*

Objective

Biology 20 is a lecture and laboratory course designed to introduce students to the major principles and concepts of biology, including cellular biology, energy relationships, biological systems, heredity, evolution, and ecology.                                                   

Student Learning Outcomes (SLO):

  • Students completing Biology 20 will be able to comprehend basic biological concepts.
  • Students completing Biology 20 will be able to analyze basic biological concepts.
  • Students completing Biology 20 will be able to evaluate basic biological concepts.

Required Textbook

OpenStax Biology Concepts (no cost) (also available through Canvas)

 

Lab Manual

Labster – available through Canvas at no cost

Course Duration

This course is 16.6 weeks, it runs from January 19, 2021 to May 26, 2021

Canvas

All lecture, assessment, assignments and communication components of this course will be accessed via Canvas.

  • To log into the course, you will need to log into Canvas using your Saddleback College ID and password (the same password you use for MySite).
  • Once in Canvas, open your Dashboard (link is located near the top of the left-hand column of icons). On your dashboard, click on the course. There you will see a column of links that we will use throughout the semester.
  • The link that you will access most often is "Modules", where you will find links to lectures, quizzes and assignments. 
  • If you need technical support for Canvas, please see https://www.saddleback.edu/oelr where you can find Canvas support information and contact information.

Online Proctoring

I will use Proctorio to proctor Exams. This requires that your computer has Chrome browser, a working camera and a working microphone and that you will allow Proctorio to access your computer’s camera and microphone during exams. You will be asked to show your photo ID to the camera at the beginning of each exam and to keep your camera and microphone active for the duration of the exam.

 

How I Will Contact You

If I need to contact you, I will send you an email via Canvas. Therefore, you must regularly check your campus email (the email address that is registered with My Site).

 

Communicating with Me, Response Time, and Office Hours

If you have questions about the course content please send an email to asirulnik@saddleback.edu with BIO 20 in the subject. I will respond to you within in two business days. Virtual (Zoom) office hours can be scheduled by request.

 

Discussion

The Discussion board is a core feature of our online class. This is where we come together as a virtual classroom. Each week, new discussion topics will be posted on Monday morning, at 7 am. You will be able to access the discussion topic once you have viewed the lecture for that week. Your initial discussion post will be due by Wednesday, 11:59 PM and your two replies will be due by Sunday, 11:59 PM. You must provide your initial post before you reply to the posts of other students.

 

Discussion Grading Rubric

Initial Post – 6 pts

Provides an initial post that addresses each of the discussion points (statements and/or questions). The initial post is written in complete sentences with proper capitalization, punctuation, spelling and word usage. The initial post expresses opinions and ideas in a clear and concise manner. The initial post provides obvious connections to the topic. The initial post shows that the student put thoughtful consideration into the discussion topic.

Respond to two students – 3 pts per response

Provide two responses, each to a different peer. Each response is written in complete sentences with proper capitalization, punctuation, spelling and word usage. Responses address the respective posts meaningfully and clearly. Responses show genuine effort to engage in discourse by making provocative points and asking relevant and interesting questions.

 

Netiquette Guidelines - When posting on the Discussion Board in your online class, you should

  • Make posts that are on topic and within the scope of the course material.
  • Take the posts seriously and review and edit your posts before sending.
  • Make thoughtful comments that are respectful to all involved.
  • Always give proper credit when referencing or quoting another source.
  • Be sure to read all messages in a thread before replying.
  • Do not repeat someone else’s post without adding something of your own to it.
  • Avoid short, generic replies such as, “I agree.” You should include why you agree or add to the previous point.
  • Always be respectful of others’ opinions even when they differ from your own.
  • When you disagree with someone, you should express your differing opinion in a respectful, non-critical way.
  • Do not make personal or insulting remarks; avoid profanity.
  • Be open-minded.Remember that online “conversations” are different from in-person conversations, and we cannot use tone of voice or body language to help us determine the writer’s intentions behind the words. It is imperative to be careful in your discussion board posts (and emails) to use appropriate language that cannot be mistaken for something else.

Although your instructor frequently monitors posts, he/she cannot keep up with all posts as they occur. If you notice an inappropriate comment, please send me an email immediately. You should do so even if you think the author of the post had good intentions, but the post could be misunderstood or taken the wrong way by another student.

Students do not have to agree with what other people say, but they should accord others a basic degree of respect. Inappropriate or unkind comments will not be tolerated. Comments that include unnecessary profanity will not be tolerated. A good general rule of thumb is to ask yourself: “Is this something I would say to my grandmother?” If not, then maybe it is not the best thing to post on our online discussion board.

Note:  Use standard netiquette.  Be polite, sensitive and use business language. Avoid negative language or being critical.

 

What You Will Be Doing During the Course of the Semester:

Throughout the semester, new materials will become available on Monday morning of each week. The materials that will become available are that week’s lectures, that week’s discussion thread, that week’s assignment (if applicable), that week’s quiz (if applicable) and that week’s exam (if applicable). All material will be available via the Modules link.

Lectures

  • Lectures are in the form of videos, with audio, of recorded lectures and videos borrowed from other creators.
  • There will be a link to the lecture that will open the video in YouTube. Be sure to have the sound and/or captions activated.
  • I will also provide a link to a file of the lecture, which you can download to your computer and use for notetaking.
  • I will also provide a study guide for each lecture.
  • Once a module has been opened, the video, study guide, and file of the lecture will remain accessible throughout the semester.

Lecture Quizzes

  • There will be a quiz for each lecture. Each quiz will be conducted on Canvas. You will have unlimited time to complete the quizzes.
  • Video Q & A Assignments
    • There will be two video assignments where you view short films and answer the provided questions.

Lecture Exams

  • There will be four mid-term exams; all of these will be conducted on Canvas and proctored by Proctorio. You will have two minutes per question to complete the exam.
  • There will be no comprehensive final exam at the end of the semester.

Labs

  • Labs will primarily be Labster virtual labs. Labster labs can only be used on a laptop or desktop – not on a tablet or phone. Labster can operate on some Chromebooks. See these links for minimum requirements of a computer or a chromebook.

Discussions

  • You will be required to participate in Discussion two times per week. Each week, the class discussion will be on a new topic, which I will provide. Your assignment will be to 1) post a relevant response to the discussion topic and 2) post a response to two different students’ current discussion posts.
  • Your initial post is due on Wednesday of each week.
  • Your two responses are two on Sunday of each week.
    • For each Labster lab you can achieve 10 pts by answering questions correctly. In addition, you will earn 2 extra credit points simply for completing the activity, regardless of the number of questions you answered correctly.
  • There will be a final lab video assignment activity at the end of the semester.

 

Due Dates

  • Assignment and assessment dues dates are usually on each Wednesday and Sunday during each week of the semester. See the course schedule for exceptions.

 

Late Assessment and Assignment Policy

  • Twenty five percent of the assessment or assignment's grade will be deducted per day late.

 

Grading

 Assignment or Assessment

Points

Labster Virtual Labs (14 labs X 10 pts each)

140

Exams (4 exams X 100 pts each)

400

Quizzes (27 quizzes X 10 pts each)

270

Discussion (16 X 12 pts each)

192

Video Assignment: The Making of a Theory

20

Video Assignment: Scientific Discoveries

50

Total Points

1072

Labster Completion Extra Credit

28

 

Grading Scale:  A = 89.5-100%; B=79.5-89%; C=69.5-79%; D=59.5-69%; F< 59.5

 

Participation, Withdrawal and No-Show Policies

A student will be dropped from the class if any of the following occur:

  • If a student does not complete the first assignment (Syllabus Quiz) by the assignment’s due date and time then the student will be considered a “no show” and will be dropped from the class.
  • If a student does not participate in Discussion for two consecutive weeks then the student will be dropped from the class.
  • If a student does not complete two or more assessments or assignments (2 quizzes, 2 exams, 2 assignments, or any combination adding up to two) then the student will be dropped from the class.

 

Accommodation of Disabilities

This course meets the requirements set forth in the accessibility checklist and universal design grid provided by Special Services. The Web pages, video presentations, textbooks and class materials used in this course are accessible to students with disabilities. If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact the Special Services office for additional information. All information will remain confidential. The Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) is committed to provide quality support services and specialized instruction to students with verified disabilities. Refer to Student Handbook, Pg. 15 Student Services or visit the Saddleback College Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) website.

 

Course Policy on Academic Integrity

Cheating and Plagiarism are violations of the college's policy and are considered serious offenses. The Department of Biological Sciences takes all incidences of academic dishonesty seriously and acts accordingly. I reserve the right to give an "F" for the assignment, test and/or class and the matter will be brought up to the Director of Student Affairs as stated in the school's current College Catalog. In other words, “DON'T CHEAT OR PLAGIARIZE!!!!!!”

 

Math, Science, and Engineering Division Policy on Academic Integrity

Statement of purpose

Academic integrity is not just a matter of “following the rules.” It is a matter of participating in an intellectual community in a way that fosters the values of that community. These values include the promotion of learning, the sharing of knowledge, and the honest acknowledgment of the various sources of information. This document is designed with the purpose of clarifying some specific student actions that promote or violate these values. It should be read as a reinforcement, clarification, and extension of the "Academic Honor Code" as stated in the Saddleback College Catalog (under the section of "Student Rights and Responsibilities") and in the Student Handbook as the "Code of Conduct".

This document is not designed to be an exhaustive list of academic “dos and don’ts.” Rather, students are expected to understand that all participants in an academic environment have an active and on-going responsibility to be self-critical and to assess whether their actions are in compliance with a true spirit of learning. Students are accountable for academic dishonesty in any form, whether their actions are explicitly listed below or not. Further, ignorance or confusion about this policy or its interpretation is not a valid excuse for violating it. It is each student’s responsibility to recognize when an action is questionable and to question it. When in doubt, a student should always ask his or her instructor.

Academic honesty

When you submit work for credit you must do so honestly. At a minimum, this means:

  1. Any and all work you submit must be your own work. For lab work, this includes gathering, analyzing, and presenting data. Group projects, if assigned, should be submitted using only the names of group members who contributed to the completion of the project.
  2. You may use only those resources explicitly allowed by the instructor in completing an assignment. Allowed resources will vary with classes, instructors, and assignments. It is your responsibility to know which resources are allowed on any given assignment.
  3. You must acknowledge use of allowed resources in completing an assignment, unless the instructor does not require such acknowledgment. Many instructors allow, and even encourage, students to receive help from each other, other instructors, tutors, and/or printed or online materials. At the top of any assignment on which you have received outside help, you should list the sources of that help. For example, you might write: “I worked with [names of classmates worked with]” or “I got help in the LAP from [names of tutors].”
  4. Unless given explicit permission, you may not submit work for credit if that work was completed for a different class. This includes work completed for the same course in a different semester. Learning is not just about the final product, but the process, and instructors give assignments with the expectation that completing the assignment will be a learning experience.

Academic dishonesty

The following actions are considered to be cheating. Again, this is not an exhaustive list, and students are expected to take an active role in assessing their own actions to ensure that they are honest.

  1. Submitting a test or any other work (including homework, lab report, research or literature report, etc.) that is copied wholly or in part from another person's test or work, or knowingly allowing another student to copy from your work.
  2. Having another person complete an assignment, take a test, or otherwise meet a requirement for you or you doing so for another student.
  3. Using written or electronically retrievable notes or other unauthorized sources of information during a test.
  4. Receiving specific information about a test from anyone but the instructor during the test, or giving to or allowing another student to get from you such information during the test.
  5. Receiving specific information about the contents of a test before taking it, or providing specific information about a test after taking it in such a way that another student receives the information before s/he takes the same or a similar test.
  6. Plagiarizing assignments from any source including Internet sources.
  7. Falsifying or altering laboratory data or copying results or answers from another student. Even if you were directed to work in a pair or other grouping, and although you may be allowed to share "primary data", it will be considered as evidence of cheating if you and another student report identical results that should naturally differ from one student to another, or identical wording in conclusions, answers to questions, etc. "Primary data" means numerical values or observations obtained directly by the experimenter or read directly from a measuring instrument.
  8. Submitting a lab report using data you did not help to collect or sharing data with a student who did not help collect it. This does not include data provided by the instructor. While lab work is often done in groups, each group member is expected to participate in performing the experiment and analyzing and presenting the data collected.
  9. Getting allowed help in preparing, writing, reviewing, editing, or proofreading an assignment for submission without acknowledging that help, if required by the instructor. This includes help from any source including other students, teachers, lab technicians, family members, friends, acquaintances, and even from anonymous sources (especially Internet sources). It may not be considered cheating to get the help, but it is definitely considered cheating not to note the source and extent of the help in a prominent way in the submitted work, if required by the instructor.
  10. Using the whole of or substantial part(s) of any written assignment submitted for credit in another (concurrent or previously taken) course, without the explicit permission of the current instructor.

 

The penalties for any act of academic dishonesty are left to the discretion of the instructor. Possible penalties are listed in College Catalog and the Student Handbook.

It is the policy of this division that all acts of dishonesty are reported to the Division Dean and the Vice President for Student Services. The Vice President keeps records of all reported incidents, and repeated offenses are handled with increasing severity.

 

 

 

 

List of Assignments:

Exams (100 pts per exam X 4 exams = 400 pts)

Quizzes (10 pts per quiz X 27 quizzes = 270 pts)

Labster Virtual Labs

·         Lab Grading Policy

  • 10 pts possible for answering questions plus 2 extra credit points for completion
    • 10 pts per lab X 14 labs = 140 pts
    • 2 pts extra credit per lab X 14 labs = 28 extra credit points

·         Lab Titles

  • Lab Safety
  • Experimental Design
  • Introduction to Food Molecules
  • Cell Structure
  • Cell Membrane and Transport
  • Trophic Levels
  • Cellular Respiration Principles
  • Electron Transport Chain
  • Ecosystem Dynamics
  • Mitosis
  • Meiosis
  • Mendelian Inheritance
  • Introductory Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Protein Synthesis

Videos

  • The Making of a Theory: Darwin, Wallace, and Natural Selection (Video Assignment) (20 pts)
  • Scientific Discoveries (Video Assignment) (50 pts)

Discussion (12 pts per discussion X 16 discussions = 192 pts)