7/28/2019 1406 Master

1/5

7/28/2019 1406 Master

2/5

3) Nucleic Acids including mitosis and meiosis, DNA structure andreplication, RNA transcription and translation and gene regulation

4) DNA technology, viruses, Mendelian genetics, molecular genetics, andDarwinian evolution.

Common Course ObjectivesThe common course objectives for BIOL 1406 are found athttp://www2.austincc.edu/biology/ccobjectives . This course will transfer to mostuniversities for majors in biology and related subjects. For specific transferinformation go to http://www.austincc.edu/transfer/student.htm

Course Evaluation/Grading System[Faculty: Insert your own as desired]Grading: The lecture portion of the course is worth 75% and the lab is 25%. Toobtain this, the lecture points a student has received is divided by the totalpossible lecture points. Seventy-five percent of this will be added to the

calculated 25% from the lab portion to give the final grade. There are no + or grades given at ACC, so the final calculated grades will be recorded as

7/28/2019 1406 Master

3/5

associated with each article. These may be answered in the packet or on aseparate sheet of paper. The articles for a given unit are due before the start ofthat units test. Late articles will be accepted but will be discounted 10% for eachclass day they are late and 5% if completed after the unit test.

Computer project: Informational literacy is important in todays world. Thereforeeach student will be required to complete a computer project as indicated on theschedule. There will be complete details nearer the project deadline, but in brief,each student searches the web to obtain 3 related biology articles of interest tothe student. The student evaluates each web article for accuracy, currency,reliability and other criteria. This project is worth 70 points on the final grade.

Class activities: Activities are given out throughout the semester to reinforceideas discussed in lecture. These are usually small group activities and aregraded at 10 points each. One make-up is allowed if a student is absent. It isthe students responsibility to complete these class activity sheets and hand them

in for grading at the next class. Late activities will be discounted 10% per class.

CLASSROOM ETTIQUETTECell Phones and Pagers: These should be turned off before entering theclassroom. Do NOT set on vibrate; do NOT leave the room to answer yourphone; do NOT make phone calls during class or lab. Repeat offenders will bedocked 10 points on their next test. Occasionally, you must be available. If thatis the case, inform me before the class so we can make accommodation.

Questions and Discussions: Each person is encouraged to ask questions on thecontent or related subjects. There are no stupid questions. The same is true for

discussions. Every student deserves to express his or her own opinions withoutinterference from the instructor or other students. You need not agree, but weare all required to listen respectfully.

Active Learning: The foundation in science that you develop in this course will bevaluable in your further studies. Therefore you will need to be actively involved inyour learning. The following are ways to be active learners in biology or anyother field:

Attend. Come to every class and be punctual. Stay awake in class; savesleeping for your bed. Properly attending helps me, your fellow studentsand especially yourself.

Communicate. Let me know if you dont understand an idea. Speak up inclass, talk to me afterwards, come to office hours, or email me.

Participate. One of the best bumper stickers I saw was Science is NOT aspectator sport. Biology requires your participation both because youlearn better when you participate but also because we will be learningabout things that directly impact your life and how you think about ourworld.

7/28/2019 1406 Master

4/5

Know your learning style. Are you a visual learner, or do you prefer tolearn by doing? We all learn in different ways. Here is a site that will giveyou a free 5-minute quiz, and tell you how you learn and strategies to helpyou learn better. Log onto http://ldpride.net/lerningstyles.MI.htm

Responsibilities:My responsibility as the instructor is to assist you in learning the concepts, theprocesses and the techniques of modern biology as described above. I promiseto fulfill my responsibilities to the best of my abilities. Your responsibility to cometo class prepared and ready to learn, to complete all your work in a timelymanner and to study for the tests. In short, you are responsible to take charge ofyour own learning.

Course Policies:A. Attendance. Regular attendance is strongly recommended. However, we allhave lives outside ACC so sometimes things come up. If you know you will not

be in class, please let me know. You will be responsible for completing anyactivities done that day and for getting class notes from a classmate. History hasshown that for every class that is missed, the test grade goes down by about10%.

B. Withdrawal. Sometimes it becomes necessary to withdraw from the course.Withdrawal is your decision and your responsibility. If you drop the course anddo not withdraw by the withdrawal date, your name will appear on the final gradesheet and I must give you a grade. This is usually a D or F, depending on howthe calculations work out.

C. Incomplete. Occasionally an incomplete grade may be given if the studenthas a compelling reason and has already completed at least 50% of the

coursework with a C average or better. In order to obtain an incomplete, thestudent must work with the instructor to fill out the Incomplete Grade form. Thisis essentially a contract between the student and the instructor in which thestudent promises to complete and hand in the work before a given date, usually 1month after the start of the next semester. See me if you wish to be consideredfor an incomplete in this course.

D. Scholastic Dishonesty. Acts prohibited by the college for which disciplinemay be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited orcheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, unauthorized collaboration withanother in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shallbe the result of their thought, research or self-expression. Academia is definedas, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper,projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations, and homework.

F.Student Discipline. Any student caught cheating as described above willreceive a 0 for that section and further disciplinary actions will be considered.

http://ldpride.net/lerningstyles.MI.htmhttp://ldpride.net/lerningstyles.MI.htm

7/28/2019 1406 Master

5/5

G. Office of Students with Disabilities. Each ACC campus offers supportservices for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities.Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through theOffice for Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the

majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do these three weeksbefore the start of the semester.Students who are requesting accommodation must provide the instructor

with a letter of accommodation from the Office of Students with Disabilities (OSD)at the beginning of the semester. Accommodations can only be made after theinstructor receives the letter of accommodation from OSD.

H.Academic Freedom . Each student is strongly encouraged to participate inclass. In any classroom situation that includes discussion and critical thinking,there are bound to be many differing viewpoints. These differences enhance thelearning experience and create an atmosphere where students and instructors

alike will be encouraged to think and learn. On sensitive and volatile topics,students may sometimes disagree not only with each other but also with theinstructor. It is expected that faculty and students will respect the views ofothers when expressed in classroom discussions.

Testing Center PolicyACC Testing Center policies can be fund at http://www.austincc.edu/testctr/Student ServicesThe web address for student services is http://www.austincc.edu/services.pdpThe student handbook can be found at

http://www3.austincc.edu/evpcss/handbk/toc.htm

Instructional ServicesThe web address is http://www.austincc.edu/evpcss/memos/reference.htm, thenclick on Campus Based Student Support Overview

Lab Safety: Health and safety are paramount values in science classrooms,laboratories and field activities. Students are expected to learn, understand andcomply with environmental, health and safety (EHS) procedures and protocols,and must agree to abide by the ACC science safety policy. Students areexpected to conduct themselves with appropriate professional behavior and withrespect and courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionallyjeopardizes the health or safety of another individual will be immediatelydismissed from the days activity, may be withdrawn from the class, and/orbarred from attending all activities. Specific safety information for each activitywill be discussed at the beginning of the activity. For those activities that requirespecific safety training, a student who is late and misses the safety training willnot be able to participate in the activity. The comprehensive science safetypolicy can be found at: http://www.austincc.edu/sci_safe/.

http://www.austincc.edu/testctr/http://www.austincc.edu/services.pdphttp://www.austincc.edu/evpcss/memos/reference.htmhttp://www.austincc.edu/evpcss/memos/reference.htmhttp://www.austincc.edu/services.pdphttp://www.austincc.edu/testctr/