Home | St. Charles Community College | Gen. Bio. Lecture | Gen. Bio. Lab
"We are at the beginning of time for the human race. It is not unreasonable that we grapple with problems. But there are tens of thousands of years in the future. Our responsibility is to do what we can, learn what we can, improve the solutions, and pass them on. (Richard Feynman: 1918 -1988)
Human Biology
Listed below is the starting and ending dates of the section offered:
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Course
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Days
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Time |
Start
Date |
End
Date |
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BIO 110 |
Wednesday |
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08/25/10 |
12/15 |
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Instructor: Dr. Daniel Matusiak Phone: (636) 922-8351 |
Office Hours: Wed |
Office: AA 2442 |
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Website: www.biojourney.org |
Sat |
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E-mail: dmatusiak@stdominichs.org
Text: Human Biology: 11th edition, Sylvia Mader
The course is designed in such a way that students will be provided with interesting and challenging information about the structure and function of the human body. This course covers the general anatomy and physiology of the human body. The intent of this course is to foster a sense of self-awareness of the functioning of the human body, from the level of the cell through the level of the whole organism. The student will be able to:
There will be four 100 point
tests and one final exam scheduled throughout the semester.
Each is an objective test. You
will be able to drop the lowest test score.
Quizzes may also be given at unspecified times during the semester.
There are no make-up tests/quizzes if one is missed.
You will also be required to
write two (2) papers summarizing articles with relevant topics. You may complete
an article review using the directions posted on my website at
www.biojourney.org. To obtain full credit
the article review must be completed according to the directions posted on my
website. Each review is worth twenty (20) points. One paper is due
by week 8 and the final paper is due by the last day of class.
Final grade is determined by
averaging the tests, quizzes and article review papers grades.
Grading Scale:
100 – 90 = A
89 – 80 = B
79 – 70 = C
69 – 60 = D
59 - 0 = F
Muddiest
Point: Everyone will need an email address and will be expected to participate
by asking questions. As you prepare
for class discussions by reading the text, please let me know the Muddiest
Point in the background material. If
I get your message at least two hours prior to class, I can be better prepared
to include your concerns in the discussion.
Attendance:
You are expected to attend each
lecture. If you miss a lecture, it
is your responsibility to obtain information (notes, etc) covered in that
session. Attendance will be taken at
each meeting. Absences equivalent to
two weeks of class meetings may result in a reduction of one letter grade.
Absences in excess of the equivalent of two weeks of class meetings may result
in an “F” for the course
I expect you to treat your
responsibilities to this course the same as you would your responsibilities with
an employer. This syllabus should
inform you well in advance of the dates of most graded activities.
I expect you to show up for each of these.
Do not schedule anything that conflicts with these dates.
I realize that emergencies do occasionally arise.
If that happens, and you must miss a quiz, test etc. for a valid reason,
you must contact me BEFORE the
time of the exam. It is your responsibility to contact me directly,
not mine to contact you. When
you do reach me, I will listen to the reason for your absence and decide at that
time if you receive an excused or unexcused absence.
·
If you fail to contact me directly before
the time that you are scheduled to take the exam, you will automatically receive
an unexcused absence.
·
No make-ups
will be given for unexcused absences.
·
Students arriving more than 10
minutes late may not be given the test and will forfeit those points.
If you are granted an excused absence, the following policies will apply
to you making up the absence:
·
Make-up Quiz:
Quizzes must be made
up prior to the next class, at the instructor’s convenience.
·
Pop Quizzes and other assignments:
Pop quizzes cannot be made up. Make-ups
may or may not be allowed on other assignments, depending on the assignment and
the reason for the absence, at the instructor’s discretion.
·
Make-up Test: Tests must be made up
prior to the next class, at the instructor’s discretion and convenience.
Cell Phones and other
Electronic Devices:
I expect to NEVER hear a cell
phone ring during class. That is
extremely rude. All cell phones and
audible electronic devices of any sort are to be turned off before entering
class. If you have a potential
emergency and must monitor your phone, you need to advise me beforehand, turn
the volume down, and sit in the front row as close as possible to the door.
Please leave before answering should it ring.
Student Responsibility
The student is expected to attend and actively participate in all course lectures and activities, and complete all quizzes, examinations and course assignments on time.
The student is expected to be prepared in advance before the class sessions. Being prepared includes the following: having read text materials (e.g., textbook, lecture outlines) assigned for that day and bringing required work materials (e.g., textbook, handouts, writing supplies, etc.) to the session.
Any changes in the course schedule, such as examination dates, deadlines, etc., will be announced ahead of time in class. It is the student's responsibility to be informed of these changes. It is also the student's responsibility to be informed about deadlines critical to making registration changes (e.g., last day for making official withdrawal).
The student should understand that "introductory" does not mean "easy". The student should not assume that the lack of science prerequisites for this class ensures a low level of difficulty for this course. While I assume that students enrolled in BIO 110 have little or no science background, the student should expect a level of difficulty comparable to other 100 level science classes. When difficult concepts and detailed information are presented, it is the student's responsibility to take the appropriate steps to learn and understand these concepts and information.
Science courses generally require two to three hours of independent private study time for each hour in class (depends upon the student's science background). It is the student's responsibility to allocate the appropriate time needed for study in an environment conducive to quality study. The student must budget time efficiently and be realistic about all personal and professional commitments that consume time.
How to succeed in this class:
Understanding biological science involves understanding many difficult concepts and vocabulary, not just knowing facts. The student should know that the details to these concepts are important. In addition, the student will be introduced to hundreds of new words. In some cases, the words that are familiar in a context other than biology will be introduced in the context of biology. The student will need to understand and use these terms in a biological science concept.
While the student will have lecture outlines available on my website, the student will not succeed in this class without taking careful lecture notes and reading the corresponding material in the textbook. The lecture outlines are not to be used in place of the student's own note taking. As soon as possible (best if done on the same day), the student should copy over these lecture notes filling in gaps and missing information by referring to the lecture outline and textbook. The student should carefully review these written lecture notes as often as possible. In addition to reviewing these notes before an exam, it would be useful for the student to try to rewrite these notes from memory.
In addition to copying over lecture notes, study activities should include drawing labeled diagrams or graphs that illustrate important biological phenomena (e.g., the internal structure of the cell, the stages of cell division, or the anatomy of the heart). These diagrams need not to be works of art, but should clearly illustrate significant information.
The student should make flashcard for each new vocabulary word presented. On one side of the card, write the word. On the other side, write the appropriate biological science definition for the word. The student should use these cards for self-testing as often as possible. The student should also practice using the works to explain biological concepts. Online quizzes are available on my website. These are excellent tools to test your knowledge.
Regarding my website, the student should make use of the links to animations and other resources that I have provided.
The student should read the textbook materials corresponding to the particular lecture before and after the lecture.
Students are recommended to establish study groups and study together. The students in these groups may test each other's knowledge and understanding of the information. They may also take turns teaching each other.
The student should ask me to explain the things that you do not understand.
Don't wait until the last minute to carry out the written assignments
General:
Biology is quite fascinating,
but often also quite challenging. Your
success in this course depends directly on the amount of work you put into it.
This is college and this can be a rigorous class.
However, everyone at some time finds that they are struggling.
My door is always open to you, and you can reach me by phone or email.
Tutors are also available through the
My job is to teach you well.
Part of your job is to be sure that I do.
Although my classes are informal, you can only succeed in this course if
you are willing to do the work. Ultimately,
your performance in this and any class is your responsibility.
I expect you to fulfill your
responsibilities and to always treat me, your classmates with respect.
I encourage you to let me know if, at any time, you feel that I am not
doing the same. If there is anything
I can do to help you as an individual, or to improve the course, please bring it
to my attention. I value and depend
on your constant feedback. I want
everyone to gain the most from and enjoy this course, so please let me know what
I can do to ensure that this happens.
HUMAN BIOLOGY LECTURE SCHEDULE
WEEK
TOPIC
CHAPTER
1
Introduction/syllabus/Exploring
Life
1
3
Cell Structure and Function 3
4 Test 1: Body
Organization
4
5 Body Organization (cont)
6
Skeletal System 11
7
Skeletal/Muscular System 12
8 Muscular system (cont) 12
9
Test 2:
Nervous System
13
10
Nervous System (cont)
13
11 Test 3:
Blood 6
13 Cardiovascular system (cont) 5
14
Test 4:
Digestive System
8
15
Digestive system (cont)
8
16
Final exam
Note:
All information contained herein subject to change at the discretion of
the instructor. It is the
student’s responsibility to keep up with announcements made in class.
St. Charles Community College
makes every effort to accommodate students with disabilities.
If a student has a need for special accommodations, please contact the
Office of Accessibility, (636) 922-8247. Requests
for accommodations must first be processed through this office located in ADM
1206A.
