Natural History of California
| Home |
Syllabus |
Schedule |
Lectures |
Handouts |
Resources |
Grades |
Natural
History of
Biology
13- 92923
Spring 2011
Email: leticia_gallardo@westvalley.edu
Office:
SM V7 #4 Phone: 408-741-2416
Office
Hours: W 11-12:00pm (V7), TTH 1:30-2:00pm (SM 58), or by appt.
Web
Page: instruct.westvalley.edu/gallardo/
Course: Bio
13- Natural History of California 2 units
Class Hrs:
Lec. F 10:15-12:20 pm SM 56
Tentative Lecture dates
2-4, 3-4,
3-18, 4-15, 4-29
Field Trip
Fri Mar 25
Thru Wed Mar 30
Prerequisites: There are no
academic prerequisites for this course. However, students should be
physically fit to participate in moderate hiking that will be involved
in the field component of the course.
Required Textbooks & Supplies
A Natural History of California. 1992. Schoenherr, Allan A. University
of California Press. Berkeley, California. ISBN 978-0-520-06922-0
2 field guides from recommended book list.
Field Notebook and filler paper. Specifications will be provided in
class
Hand lens
General Course Description
This course explores the local plant and animal communities of the
Owen’s Valley and neighboring regions. Communities that will be
discusses include alpine meadows, alpine forest, desert scrub, sand
dunes, and pinyon- juniper woodland. The field component of this course
will visit areas of the Eastern Sierra Nevada, Western slope of the
White Mountains, sand dunes, and Death Valley. Students must
successfully complete class preparatory requirements in order to
participate in the field trip.
Important Dates
Holidays
Last day to Add……………………………….…Feb 11 President’s
Day…………..………Feb 18-21
Last day to drop without a “W” …………...….. Feb 11
Spring Break………….……………Mar 28- Apr 2
Last day to drop with a “W”…………………... Apr 29 Cesar
Chavez……………………….Mar 31
Grades Available…………………………………Jun 4
Course Objectives
At the completion of this course the student should be able to
• Describe Plant communities of the region and
describe abiotic and biotic conditions influencing life in these zones
Identify dominant plants
• Describe the fundemental climatic &
geological processes that shape the region
• Describe the Vertebrate and Invertebrate fauna of
the regions visited
Identify common birds, reptiles, mammals, and insects
• Demonstrate the ability to make field journal
entries
• Appreciate the natural landscape of California
Course Expectations
Students will be required to attend and participate in lecture and
field trip. Students will also be responsible for maintaining a field
notebook and completing assigned readings.
Special Accommodations
If you have a learning or physical need that will require special
accommodations in this class you will need to notify me in writing of
your accommodation needs. Please notify me following the first class if
you require any special accommodations for learning or physical
impairments. This will allow me to best meet your needs and allow us
ample opportunity to provide suitable accommodations. West Valley
College makes reasonable accommodations for persons with documented
disabilities. College materials will be available in alternate formats
(Braille, audio, electronic format, or large print) upon request.
Please contact the Disability and Educational Support Program at (408)
741-2010 (voice) or (408) 741-2658 (TTY) for assistance.
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory for student success. Students must successfully
complete class preparatory requirements in order to participate in the
field trip. This includes attendance to ALL class meetings. Students
who miss class meetings will not be allowed to participate in the class
field trip.
Dropping
If you decide to drop the course it is up to you to fill out the
appropriate paperwork and inform the instructor. Do not assume that if
you stop coming to class that you will automatically be dropped.
Students who fail to attend but do not inform the instructor may
receive a failing grade.
Conduct
Disruptive conduct in lecture and lab is unacceptable. This
includes late arrivals, disruptive talk, passing notes, ringing cell
phones, pagers and ipod use. Disruptive students will be asked to leave
and will lose participation points. Continued disruptive behavior will
result in disciplinary action.
Website
This course will have an active website page which can be used
to review general class policies throughout the semester. Instructor’s
syllabus with polices and lecture powerpoint presentations will be made
available to students weekly. These materials are highly beneficial to
focusing your study time and if used properly will aid in your success
in this course. Please keep in mind these resources are a privilege and
not a right and may be discontinued at the instructor’s discretion
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is MANDATORY. The college policy on cheating is
clearly spelled out in the college catalogue and will be strictly
enforced. Use of any method other than your knowledge and memory (such
as notes, looking on other students papers, communication between
students, etc. ) to answer questions on an exam or quiz constitutes
cheating and will result in failure of that exam or quiz. Dishonest
behavior also includes: cheating, tampering, fabrication, plagiarism,
and assisting. Therefore be proactive; keep your work to yourself and
be sure that all work (papers and presentations) is your own, and in
your own words- this includes group activities. Summaries and reports
must be completed individually. Any material used from a source other
than your own brain should be acknowledged- be sure to cite your work.
Any student(s) caught or implicated in dishonest behavior will be
appropriately reprimanded. Students will receive a zero on that
exam/assignment and all dishonest behavior will be reported to the Vice
President of Student Services and will undergo review by the
Disciplinary Action Committee. Resulting disciplinary action may
include one or more of the following; academic probation, suspension,
expulsion from the district colleges, and academic dishonesty
transcript notation. Testing procedures & policies are
detailed below.
Cost
Students are responsible for course fees, purchasing books, and
transportation for the field trip
Students are responsible also responsible for costs associated with
travel, meals and camping equipment plus related expenses
Code of conduct
*Alcohol and drug use violate West Valley College policies and will not
be allowed on the trip
*Weapons including firearms are not allowed on field trip
*Safety is critical for the success of this course. Students will be
responsible for following the safety guidelines provided by the
instructor.
*Failure to follow safety and conduct rules will result in dismissal
from the class with a failing grade
*Respect. Be respectful of the environment and of your classmates.
*Cell phone use is not allowed during course lectures or activities.
*Loud stereos and music are not permitted
Safety
Student safety in the class is a primary concern. In order to be safe,
all students should be familiar with their surroundings. Safety rules
will be outlined by the instructor in class. Any failure to follow
these rules places you and your classmates in jeopardy. In the event of
any injury the instructor must be notified immediately.
Campus Safety & emergencies
You should know the location of
the first aid kit, fire extinguisher, eye wash, and nearest emergency
phone. In the event of an emergency which requires the evacuation of
the building (earthquake or fire), we will exit the building through
the outside door and walk to parking lot #2. In this event you MUST
remain with the instructor.
Field trip safety & emergencies
In order to ensure your safety the instructor must be aware of your
location at all times. Be proactive and stay in contact with the
instructor, do not assume that the instructor is aware of your
activities. Students are not allowed to leave the group unless the
activity has specifically been approved by the instructor. You should
always know the location of the first aid kit. Students are responsible
for following field safety protocol. If you are unclear with safety
protocol- ASK!!
Evaluation
Participation (50p): Participation will be evaluated through
attendance records and participation & performance during lab
activities. Some ways in which to lose participation points are: 1)
missing class; 2) arriving late or leaving early; 3) violation of
safety procedures; 4) demonstration of continued lack of preparation;
5) failure to complete field activities; and 6) disruptive behavior in
class.
Assignments (50p): Assignments
will be given throughout the course to reinforce concepts covered in
lecture and the field.
Field notebook (200p): A field
notebook will be required for the field component of the course. Points
will be allocated based on format, content, and completion of
assignments.
Quizzes (50p): Quizzes will
cover both lecture and field material.
Final exam (100p): A final exam
will be administered at the conclusion of the course. The exam will
consist of a combination of multiple choice, matching, short answer,
labeling and identification questions. The final exam will be
comprehensive. Attendance of scheduled exams is mandatory. There are NO
make-up exams. Failure to attend an exam may result in an incomplete
grade for the course.
1. Students will NOT be allowed to leave the room for any reason
once the exam has been administered. This includes: using the restroom,
answering cell phones, etc.
2. If you must leave the room you must turn in your exam and forfeit
your remaining time. I will only grade the portion of the exam that you
have completed.
3. Be on time! Once the first person leaves the exam room, no one
arriving late will be allowed to start the exam.
4. All notes, books, and personal belongings will be either left
outside the room or stored in the cabinets in the lab tables (NOT the
cubbies in the lab tables).
5. Cell phones/pagers must be turned off during the exam and placed in
backpacks or purses. Ringing cell phones and/or pagers during exams may
result in failure of the exam. If you must leave your phone on during
an exam please switch it to silent mode. If, for any reason, you answer
a cell phone or pager during an exam you must turn in your exam and
forfeit your remaining time.
6. Absolutely NO talking will be allowed during the exam.
7. Assigned seating will be utilized for examinations.
8. Absolutely no papers (other than those provided by the instructor)
are allowed on or around the student’s workspace.
9. Cheating will result in a zero on the exam and probable expulsion
from the class.
If circumstance precludes you from adhering to these policies you must
speak to your instructor PRIOR to the exams.
Grades
Your final course grade will be based on the following scale
A 90-100% B
80-89% C 65-79% D
55-65% F Below 55%
Grade Calculations:
A 2- unit grade will be given for the entire course. All points will be
converted into a percentage score (pts earned ÷ pts possible) to
calculate your final grade.
Quizzes (5 @
10pts.)……………….……………………………..50
Final Exam
……………………………………………………….100
Field
Notebook…………………………………..……………….200
Assignments……………………..……………………..……..…..50
Participation……..………………………………………………...50
Total Points Possible
450
*If complications in projects cause assignments to be discontinued or
if additional assignments are given, the percent scale of the adjusted
points will be used to calculate grades.
General Information
*Students must be capable of hiking in mountain terrain and enjoy
"roughing it."
*Hiking will be limited to day excursions. No overnight backpacking.
This is not a backpacking class.
*Students will provide their own tents, sleeping bags and pads, hiking
boots, daypack, and food.
*Several food buying stops will be made at grocery stores to replenish
stocks.
*Cooking equipment will be provided so students can prepare their own
food
*Overnight accommodations will be in camp areas with tables for food
preparation and study.
*Although class (including lectures) will be held each of the days
while in the field, there will be opportunities for study, solitude,
and fun!
Gear
Required
Optional
Tent
Camera & film
0 Degree sleeping bag
Alarm clock
Insulated pad
Sunglasses
Binoculars (Available for check out from Biology
Dept)
Bathing suit
Day pack
Cap &
Bandana
Mess kit & utensils
Suggested
Headlamp/ flashlight
2 shirts
(short/long)
Hiking boots, lightweight shoes
2 pants/ 2 shorts
Rain gear
Toiletries
Sunscreen
Contact lens supplies
Cold weather gear (Be prepared to layer)
Insect repellant
Fleece, heavy jacket, hat, gloves
Camp towel
Will be provided for you
Kitchen Supplies: Propane stoves, Cutting boards, Pots & pans,
utensils, Washing supplies
General camp lantern
Cooler
Basic first aid kit (no pharmacy)
Mono lake (Friday)
Alabama hills (Sat & Sun)
Death Valley (Mon & Tues)
Visits and hiking excursions
Lecture Topics
Mono lake
Alabama hills
Geology & Climate
Hike Titus canyon/ gold canyon
Biotic zonation
Desert pupfish
Plant communities
Desert museum
Vertebrates
Sand dunes
Birds, mammals,
fish, reptiles
page
created by