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Biology
is a discipline that focuses on the study of life. As a
student
enters the course with a thick and expensive text book in
her hand she
may not realize the source of all the information within the
text. Over
the last few hundred years we have learned an enormous
amount about the
living world. Thousands of men and women have patiently
observed the
natural
world at the same time as they have asked questions about
it.
Questions
are often followed by additional observations as well as
experiments.
In
that manner an amazing realm of connections from cells to
ecosystems
have
unfolded over the last two centuries. The pace is steadily
accelerating
as we are learning more about life.
In the biology lab we have tried to make it possible for you as an introductory biology student to get an opportunity to observe life with your own eyes and mind. You will gain hands-on experience using living materials and hopefully build a basic understanding of the use of the scientific method within the field of biology. It is our hope that you will have fun as you travel through the realm of biology together with your team in the laboratory this semester. |
General
Information
about the Biology 10 Laboratory:
NOTE: Labs start the
first
week of classes
1.
INTRODUCTION
Biology
10 consists of both a lecture and laboratory component.
The
lab will account for 25% of your total grade in the course. It
is
essential that you participate as an active member in all the group
activities.
Only through group participation will labs be of maximum benefit to
all
students. Each week the laboratory covers one or more of the
basic
concepts presented in the lecture. Using a ãhands onä
approach, we
will use various problem solving techniques to further explore the
lecture
material.
Each
lab session will begin with a short quiz (see section 4 below on
grading),
followed by 15-30 minutes to discuss the objectives of the lab,
review
key concepts and terms, review the procedures to be used and cover
safety
precautions that must be observed. You will get much more out
of
the lab (as well as finish sooner) if you read the lab in
advance.
You may even be able to answer some of the questions based on the
materials
presented in the lectures or in the book.
2.
LABORATORY MATERIALS
You
must buy a current copy of the Biology 10 Lab Manual from the bookstore.
Bring
the lab manual with you to each lab. Your comments and
suggestions
on the manual are welcome and appreciated and will be incorporated
into
the next edition. You should also bring your textbook, paper,
pencils
and
a calculator to each lab.
3.
ATTENDANCE
You
are expected to attend each lab. If you miss four labs
you will be dropped from the course. Your laboratory
instructor
will
notify your lecture instructor. You will be dropped from both the
lab
and
the lecture section of the course.
If
you miss the lab you are enrolled in, you may attend another lab
session
- if there are seats available. There is a schedule
posted in the lab that shows the times that other labs are
offered.
This schedule is also located on the web
site. If you do go to another lab - it must be during
the
same
week as your scheduled lab and you must notify your regular
instructor
and the instructor of the other lab prior to going to a different
lab.
Please note that other instructors may not have room in their labs,
may
give different kinds of quizzes and may require you to bring
scantron
forms.
Check
with
the instructor first. The maximum allowed number of
make-up
labs is three.
4.
GRADING
The
laboratory represents 25% of the total points in biology 10.
The actual number of points you earn will be divided by the total
points
available in the lab (not including extra credit). This number
will
be converted to a percentage and given to your lecture instructor
who
will
then determine your final grade for Biology 10. You will earn
points
in the lab each week by completing a pre-lab exercise, taking a quiz
and
turning in your completed lab report.
PRE-LAB
EXERCISES
Each
day you should access
the
pre-lab worksheet for the next lab from the pre-lab page on
the
class web site. You should review the upcoming lab and the
appropriate
sections of the textbook and complete the pre-lab. This will
also
help you complete the lab faster.
| The
pre-lab
exercises must be shown to the instructor at the beginning
of
the
lab. Pre-lab exercises will be graded as follows:
3 pt. = All questions answered with correct, thorough, and well thought out responses (including explanations). 2 pt. = All questions answered with correct, thorough, and well thought out responses with one or two mistakes or unanswered questions. 1 pt. = All questions answered with correct, thorough, and well thought out responses with three or four mistakes or unanswered questions. |
LAB
REPORTS
The
lab reports will either be reviewed at the end of each lab (if time
permits) or will be turned in at the end of each lab. Lab
reports
will be graded as follows:
7
pt. = All questions answered with correct, thorough, and well
thought
out responses (including explanations)
6
pt. = All questions answered with correct, thorough, and well
thought
out responses with one or two mistakes
5
pt. = All questions answered with correct, thorough, and well
thought
out responses with three or four mistakes
4
pt. = All questions answered with correct, thorough, and well
thought
out responses with five to nine mistakes
3
pt. = All questions answered, but with many incomplete or wrong
answers
2
pt. = Many questions answered, some incorrect answers
1
pt. = Majority of questions answered, some incorrect answers
0
pt. = Less than half of the questions answered
Lab
reports that are turned in will be graded and returned to the
appropriate
drawer in the prep room by 9:30 am the following Monday
morning.
This will allow you to review and correct mistakes prior to the next
lab
(and quiz).
QUIZZES
Quizzes
will consist of multiple choice, figures and/or short essay
questions
covering the lab from the week before and/or the pre-lab exercise
for
the
current week. Unless you are notified otherwise the quizzes
will
be closed book/open mind. The quizzes will be given at the
beginning
of lab - so arrive on time. There will be no make-ups
for the quizzes, but your lowest quiz will be thrown out. Each
quiz
is worth 15 points.
You
can review your grade with your instructor at any time.
YOUR
FINAL GRADE
Your
work in the laboratory is worth 25% of your final grade in the
class.
As a consequence your work in the lecture contributes 75% of the
points
towards your final grade. However, you need to pass both the lecture
and
the laboratory component to pass the class. E.g. a student that has
an
'A' in lecture, but an 'F' in lab will not pass the course.
Final % = (0.25xLab%) + (0.75xLecture%)
If you
know your scores from your lecture and your laboratory sections you
can
use the equation above to calculate your final percentage in the
class.
Alternatively you can use this table[
]
to locate your total percentage.
5.
SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS
West
Valley College makes reasonable accommodations for persons with
documented
disabilities. Students should notify DESP (Disability &
Educational
Support Program) located in the Learning Services building
(408-741-2010)
of any special needs. If you are uncertain as to whether you need
such
accommodations, it is recommended that you visit the Supported
Education
Center for a consultation.
6.
SUPPORT SERVICES
The
college has a wide range of support services available for students
that need assistance. These services range from tutoring
and special short courses in reading and writing skills to financial
aid and special programs for educational
transition and disabled
students. If you believe that any of these programs
would be
of help to you, please check with the counseling
office or consult your class schedule for a list of telephone
numbers.
7.
RECYCLING
All
materials and handouts used in the class can be recycled. If
there are materials you do not wish to retain, and you do not have
appropriate
recycling at home, you may return the materials and we will recycle
them
for you. Just outside the classroom you will find containers for
recycling
glass, plastic and aluminum. Please be responsible and use them!
8.
SAFETY ISSUES
West
Valley College is one of the safest colleges in
California.
However,
earthquakes and other incidents have been known to happen from time
to
time. In the event of a power failure the room can be very
dark,
therefore, you will be expected to bring a small flashlight to each
class.
There will be spot checks for compliance with this regulation and
bonus
points will be awarded to students who have come prepared.
Please
note the following telephone numbers and locations:
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In
the event of an emergency that requires the evacuation of the room,
we will exit the west doors of the room; proceed north along the
west
wall
of the Biology wing. We will cross North Campus circle and
parking
lot 2 and meet at the northeast end of parking lot 2 by the pine
trees.
General
safety issues and safety concerns relative to individual labs will
be
covered
in the appropriate lab.
9.
CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM
This
is a serious issue. If you feel uncertain about what plagiarism
is we encourage you to visit this site.
Do not
plagiarize! You will get a zero for the day on your
work.
Repeated violations will earn you an F in the class. It is possible
that
an instructor gives you an 'F' as a course grade.
10.
SOME FINAL WORDS
If
you feel that you are not performing as well as you would like on pre-lab
exercises, quizzes, lab assignments or the lecture exams; feel
free
to talk with your instructor
during lab or office hours. They may be able to help. Do
not
let your situation get so bad that you can't recover. We will
do
anything within reason that we can to help.
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| Page created
by: Peter
Svensson Updated: January 25, 2013 |