BSC 2011C : Fundamentals of Biology II Ref# 319165
INSTRUCTOR : Dr. David Byres Phone : 646-2038
OFFICE : D 119 (South Campus) Email : dbyres@fscj.edu
HOME PAGE (website) : http://web.fccj.org/~dbyres
TEXTS : Biology; Solomon, Berg & Martin, 8th Ed. (Optional)
Biology Lab Manual; Byres, Lloyd & Miller, 3rd ed. ISBN 0536738955 (Required)
1. General outline : This course is a 4 credit hour, 5 contact hour course. Typically you have 3 hours of lecture a week, and 2 hours of lab. In this hybrid course, the lecture part is done online, but you must attend the labs at South Campus (room D 210) on Thursdays from 12 noon to 1:50p.m. Note: All E-mail sent out from Blackboard will go to your FSCJ student E-mail, not your regular (such as Yahoo) E-mail account. Check your FSCJ E-mail at least twice a week.
2. Attendence : Attendence will be noted at every lab and lecture test
during the semester. If you have 3 absences during the semester, you will fail the course (FN grade: Fail due to Non-attendance).
3. Tests: You will take 6 lecture tests during the semester. To study for the lecture tests, you should print out and study the essential notes. The lecture tests are based on the material in the essential notes. Tests will include a variety of questions: multiple choice, fill in the blank, matching, write a sentence etc. Each lecture test is 50 questions. To see which chapters are covered by a particular test, look at the schedule.
The lecture tests will normally be taken at South Campus on Wednesdays at 10a.m. (see the schedule for details). If you cannot come to South Campus at the scheduled time, E-mail me and we can make other arrangements.
You will take two lab tests at South Campus. These will be during the regularly scheduled lab times.
The lab tests will be based on the labs you do every week. Lab tests are done individually.
4. Group work : you will be randomly assigned to a lab partner in each half of the semester. During lab periods you and your partner will work together and answer written questions at the end of the lab.
5. Worksheets : Internet exercises will be used to supplement the lecture book. You will use the Internet to answer the questions avilable online. You will do 15 worksheets, each worth 4 points. Note: this is individual work, so you need to do this work yourself. If two students hand in exactly the same answers they will both get 0 points for the worksheet. You cannot turn in worksheets late.
6. Online Discussion : There will be several "Discussion Boards" set up during the semester, where you will comment on recent news reports relating to Biology. Your grade will be based on the thoroughness, accuracy and insightfulness of your answers.
7. Points : 6 lecture tests ( 50 points each ) 300 points
2 lab tests ( 50 points each ) 100 points
Group lab work 44 points
Online Discussion 46 points
Workbook exercises ( 4 points each ) 60 points
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Total points 550 points
8. Grades : NP grades will not be given for this course. Students who are currently getting a passing grade and have completed 75% of the course, but are unable to complete the course may request an incomplete ( I ) grade. The request for the I grade must be in writing, and handed in two weeks before the end of the semester.
Grade scale: Percent Points
A 90 - 100 % 495 - 550
B 80 - 89.9 % 440 - 494
C 70 - 79.9 % 385 - 439
D 60 - 69.9 % 330 - 384
F 0 - 59.9 % 0 - 329
9. Important reminders : Spring term drop deadline is Tuesday 19 January, 2010.
Textbooks may be ordered online, for example at http://www.gettextbooks.com/. The withdrawal deadline is Thursday 3/25.
Once you start the course, check the "Announcements" section of the online course website at least twice every week as this will have reminders about work that is due, and any changes to the schedule.
10. Assistance : In case of absence, or if you are having difficulty with the course, please contact me for additional help. You may come to my office during office hours, or
E-mail me , or phone me at 646-2038.
If you must miss a lab class due to sickness, unexpected work demands or other unforeseen emergency, phone 646-2038 before the start of class to get an excused absence.
11. Other information: a) Students with disabilities should contact the office for special accomodations (phone 646-2191).
b) If you repeat this class a third time, you must pay out-of-state tuition rates, which are approximately four times higher than in-state tuition costs.
c) Academic dishonesty, in any form, is expressly prohibited by the rules of the District Board of Trustees of Florida State College.
d) Free tutoring is available in the Learning center (G-200), phone: 646-2258.