Biology 102 – Life Science Laboratory (1 credit)

Fall 2008 – GS 104

Wednesdays 9:10 – 11:10 a.m. in GSC 104

Instructor:  Dr. E. Kosal

Office: 108 Gravely Science Building

Office Hours: Mondays 9:30 – 11:30 am; Wednesday 12 – 1 pm; Thursdays 2 – 4 pm;

                        or by appointment

Phone Number: 985-5156             

Email address: ekosal@ncwc.edu

Important Web Sites: http://faculty.ncwc.edu/ekosal/

Required Material: Laboratory Exercises Packet from NCWC Bookstore – this must be purchased prior to the first lab and brought to every lab

Course Objectives:

Students will:

• strengthen their knowledge of life science and comprehension of BIO 101 material through “hands-on” learning
• study the connection between all living organisms and the role that ecology plays in shaping our communities
• observe representatives from the various kingdoms of life and learn some common traits all life shares as shown through the use of cladograms
• study the role that scientific methodology plays in biology
• use a microscope properly to view specimens
• gain confidence in laboratory skills
• learn how to load an electrophoretic gel and study DNA patterns
• study genetic connections to their own lives
• learn how to qualitatively analyze food and make connections to everyday food selections

In order to meet the above objectives, it is vital that we provide a safe and comfortable learning environment in the laboratory.  Please observe the following rules for your safety.

Laboratory Safety:

·        For your safety, food, drinks, gum, hard candy and coughdrops are NOT allowed in the laboratory. 

·        Because we will be using stains and dyes, it is important that you do not wear your best clothes to lab.

·        It is also advisable that you wear long pants or long shorts in order to protect your legs.  It is mandatory that you wear shoes that protect your toes and heels in the event of glass breaking or chemicals spilling (i.e. avoid wearing sandals).  If you do not have proper shoes, you will be sent home and not allowed to stay in the lab.

·        If you break any glass (e.g. slides), you need to dispose of broken glass properly in the “Glass Disposal” box.  Please report any damaged equipment, so replacements can be made.

·        We will be using preserved and living animals this semester in lab.  You are expected to act responsibly when handling living or preserves specimens, and with respect.

·        Please be neat and clean up your area before leaving lab for the day – including pushing in your chairs.  You will be asked to return to your area and clean it if you fail to do so.

·        If you have any health concerns (e.g. allergies), please let me know about them.  In this way, proper precautions can be taken.

·        If you hurt yourself in any way during lab, please let me know as soon as possible.

·        No cell phones (or any other electronic devices such as iPods, etc.) – this is not only rude to your instructor and others around you, it is unnecessary.  You can survive 2 hours without being “connected” to the outside world! J

Laboratory Schedule

**  NOTE:  The above point values for work is subject

 to change depending on the progress of the class.  I reserve the right

to modify and/or add assignments as needed.  **

The above point distribution reflects the Biology Department’s policy on how grades will be determined.  All BIO 102 sections have the following arrangement for grade determination:

Approximately,

Homework Assignments = 30%

Quizzes = 20%

Attendance = 10%

Practicals = 40%

All homework assignments are due at the beginning of the laboratory period (i.e. 9:10 am).  Failure to turn in your assignments on time will result in a 10% reduction for every day the assignment is late.  If the assignment is turned in later on the same day that it is due, it will also be deducted 10%.

Attendance:

Attendance at ALL laboratory sessions is REQUIRED and you are responsible for all of the material and announcements.  There are no make-up labs in this course.  

·        If you know that you will need to miss a lab that is coming up for a legitimate reason (e.g. funeral), please come talk with me as soon as possible and I will try to reschedule you in a different lab for that week only. 

·        If you have missed a lab for unforeseeable reasons (e.g. you were rushed to the emergency room), I will work with you to try to reschedule the lab at a convenient time.  In order to be eligible for this, you must have a documented excuse (e.g. emergency room bill).

·        For any excused absence you will be able to make up any points that were associated with that lab; however, if you have an unexcused absence from lab, you will forfeit any of the points that were associated with that lab.

If you have TWO unexcused absences, you will not be eligible for any points associated with this course and will be dropped from the class roll (or you will receive a “F” for the course.  Because we need to get started right on time, you need to be punctual.  If you are consistently late (3 times), this will count as one unexcused absence.  In this case, a deduction of ten points will be taken from your final grade at the end of the semester.  In addition, safety information is given out in lab at the beginning of the period, you cannot afford to be tardy.  If you are more than 10 minutes late to lab, you will not be allowed to stay for lab and you will receive an unexcused absence for that period.

You are eligible to receive 50 points for attendance and participation.  If you miss one lab (regardless of reason), you will receive 40 points; if you miss two labs, you will receive 20 points.  These absences include BOTH excused and unexcused absences.  There are no exceptions given when considering the above.  Being late to lab will also be reflected in your attendance points.  If you are tardy two times, you will receive 40 points.  If you are tardy three labs, you will receive 30 points.  If you are tardy for four labs, you will receive 0 points. 

If you are consistently pleasant in lab (helpful when cleaning up, kind to your peers, working on the labs as a mature college student is expected to), you can earn extra credit of 10 points.  If you are unpleasant in lab (e.g. your peers complain about you, you are consistently rude, you are not working on labs, etc.) you will have points taken away from you according to the number of labs you are unpleasant (every lab counts as 5 points).

Other important points:

• If you are tardy to lab on a quiz day (but still within the 10 minute frame), you will be able to take the quiz, but you will be required to turn it in when the rest of the class has finished.  In other words, you will not be given extra time to finish your quiz.
• Please be respectful of your peers and your professor.  Do not leave your lab table messy; it should look the same way when you are finished with lab as you found it. 
• It is expected that you will be in lab during the entire lab period.  Do not schedule meetings, appointments, etc. during this time.  If you need to leave to use the restroom, you need to tell Dr. Kosal so that she is aware of where you are at all times.
• We will also be handling some live organisms (such as plants and animals) and some preserved specimens this semester.  Regardless of whether the organism is alive or preserved, I expect that you will respect these organisms.
• If you have any health issues, disability issues, or concerns about the lab, please talk with me so that we might devise a strategy to use throughout the semester.
• Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Support Services (DSS) at 985-5269 as soon as possible to coordinate and implement accommodations in a timely fashion. The Office of DSS is located in the Student Support Center, PC 188.

Evaluation and Grading:

            Your final course grade will be based on your performance on two laboratory practicals, quizzes, attendance, in-class assignments and homework assignments as indicated on the schedule above.  There are points associated with every lab; therefore it is in your best interest to attend all laboratory sessions.  See above section on attendance for eligibility on make-up assignments.  Make-up examinations will only be given when there are extenuating circumstances and with a documented excuse.

            Grading will be on a straight percent basis, i.e.

            >93%               A                     77-79%           C+                   < 59%              F

            90-92%           A-                    73-76%           C

            87-89%           B+                   70-72%           C-

83-86%           B                      67-69%           D+

            80-82%           B-                    60-66%           D

Academic Integrity:

Students are expected to perform honestly in all of their work.  Please refer to the catalog as to the College’s policy on plagiarism and cheating (pg. 69 – 70 of current catalog). From our catalog:

“Definitions: “Cheating” means the giving or receiving of information illicitly with intent to deceive the instructor in his or her effort to grade fairly any academic work. “Plagiarism” is “to take and use as one’s own the thoughts, writings, or inventions of another” (Oxford English Dictionary). It is plagiarism when one uses direct quotations without proper credit and appropriate quotation marks, and when one uses the ideas of another without proper credit.

The following penalties for cheating and plagiarism will apply:

First Offense The instructor will not give the student any credit for the work involved.

Second Offense The Vice President of Academic Affairs will withdraw the student from the course in which the second offense occurred, and the student will receive an “F” in that course.

Third Offense The Vice President of Academic Affairs will suspend the student from the College for at least one semester. The suspension will be effective immediately upon the Vice President’s notification to the student and the Registrar.”

Working with one another in study groups is a fantastic idea and is highly encouraged; however, remember that the homework assignments given are not group projects.  You can help each other out, but the final work submitted such reflect your own individual effort.  If you want to use material from your textbook, you need to cite it properly; failure to do so would result in plagiarism on your part.