Intro to Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology: Spring 2010

Introduction to Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Class Cancellation Information: 413-572-5226

Lecture:Wilson 207, MWF 9:20 - 10:10

Laboratory:Wilson 216 (or in the biology dept computer lab) MWF 12:35 - 3:25,T 8:15-11:00 or TR 12:45 - 3:35

Instructor:Dr. David Doe

Office:W216A

Phone and Voice Mail:413-572-5291

E-Mail:ddoe@wsc.ma.edu

Web Page:biology.wsc.ma.edu/faculty/doe/

Office Hours:M, W 11:00-12:00, F 10:30-11:30 or by appointment

Textbook: Tobin, A. J. and J. Dusheck. 2005. Asking about life. 3rd edition. Saunders College Publishing, Fort Worth. ISBN 053440653X.

Conduct of the Course: This course will consist of three 50-minute lectures and one 3 hour lab per week. Students are expected to learn the information through reading the text, conducting experiments, and reading additional material obtained from the library and the WWW. To be prepared for the day's discussion/activity, students should read the Preparation Page for each week and the assigned material prior to class.

Attendence and Make-Ups:Attendance is required and monitored. Should absence from class be unavoidable, the student is responsible for notifying the instructor via e-mail or voice mail prior to the absence, and completing all required work by the next scheduled class period. Students should retain all written assignments until the end of the semester. Make ups for exams will be given only for verifiable sickness or family emergency. Do not skip an exam and then ask when you can make it up.Emphasis will be placed upon independent thinking and work: each student will be expected to become deeply involved in his/her own education. Each student is expected to actively participate in the class.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1. The student will demonstrate knowledge of cellular and molecular biology, inheritance, and development.
   Assessment: Basic knowledge of these facts, processes, and concepts will be assessed through use of exams, homework problems, lab sheets, and lab reports.

2. The student will demonstrate knowledge of how to conduct a scientific investigation.
   Assessment: Knowledge of how to conduct a scientific investigation will be assessed through use of lab reports.

1. The student will demonstrate knowledge of how to use various analytical and simulation software packages to solve problems and to improve conceptual understanding.
   Assessment: Knowledge of how to use various analytical and simulation software packages to solve problems and to improve conceptual understanding will be assessed through use of lab reports and exams.

2. The student will demonstrate knowledge of how to obtain, evaluate, and interpret information from a variety of sources (e.g., web, popular media, and scientific publications).
   Assessment: Knowledge of how to obtain, evaluate, and interpret information from a variety of sources (e.g., web, popular media, and scientific publications) will be assessed through use of exams.

3. The student will demonstrate knowledge of how to communicate the results of a scientific investigation in a written format.
   Assessment: Knowledge of how to communicate the results of a scientific investigation in a written format will be assessed through use of lab reports.

4. The student will demonstrate knowledge of how to use various laboratory instruments and procedures to investigate the biological and chemical properrties of organisms and cells.
   Assessment: knowledge of how to use various laboratory instruments and procedures to investigate the biological and chemical properrties of organisms and cells will be assessed through use of lab sheets and reports.

1. The student will gain an understanding of and appreciation for the processes through which scientists investigate and propose solutions to problems.
   Assessment: Students will submit a reflective essay after completing the genetics construction kit laboratory exercises.

2. The student will gain an understanding of and appreciation for the use of modeling software to investigate biological phenomena.
   Assessment: Students will submit a reflective essay after completing the genetics construction kit laboratory exercise.

Assessment: Formative and summative assessment will be utilized in this course. Formative assessment will be conducted through the use of low-stakes online quizzes and an optional lab report feedback system. Summative evaluation will be conducted through use of exams, lab reports, reflective essays, and homework problems. The extent to which students accomplish the Learning Outcomes will be determined in the following ways:

A final grade consists of a student's total from a possible 960 points expressed as a percent and converted to a letter grade by a scale no more stringent than:

Duck Quizzes: These quizzes are used for formative assessment only. Therefore, to earn credit for a quiz, it must be completed within one day of the date it is listed in the schedule. You will not be rewarded for choosing correct answers nor will you be penalized for choosing incorrect answers. Questions will cover the required textbook reading, lecture notes, and additional references as identified in the schedule below. To complete the quizzes, follow the link in the schedule below. Use your first initial and last name as the username (don't leave a space between them) and enter the BIOL129 as the password. DO NOT use the Guest Login if you wish to get credit for the quiz.

Laboratory: You will engage in a variety of exercises in the laboratory ranging from learning proper use and care of a microscope to open-ended investigations. You will report the results of these investigations using a variety of formats including lab sheets and formal laboratory reports. Formal lab reports will be submitted in the form of a scientific paper. The guidelines presented in the Westfield State College Writer's Guide should be consulted as you develop your lab reports. Unless otherwise stated, all laboratory activities will be conducted in groups of 2-4 students. Reports of laboratory activities will include class data. Completed lab reports will be prepared and submitted no later than two weeks after the completion of the lab. Completed lab sheets will be prepared and submitted no later than one weeks after the completion of the lab.

Exams All exams will consist of two parts each. Part I of each exam will consist of multiple choice questions. Part II will consist of short answer/essay questions.

Reflective Essays: A reflective essay is a narrative, or a story, that allows you to think about what you learned after completing a specific activity. Reflection is a powerful self-assessment tool that helps you pull together what you have just learned so that it isn't just a jumble of unrelated facts. Specific information for each reflective essay will be provided.

Academic Honesty: Consult the Westfield State College Bulletin, 2009-2010 for information relative to academic honesty with regard to examinations.Cheating (taking, receiving, or intentionally giving aid) on exams will not be tolerated. Anyone who cheats or attempts to cheat on an exam or quiz, or uses a false excuse to obtain a make up for an exam, will receive a zero for the exam or quiz and a report on the incident will go to the academic dean.

Plagiarism: "Plagiarism is the act of presenting the intellectual work of others (words, ideas, artwork, computer programming code, etc.) as if it were one's own. Some common forms of plagiarism are (1) submitting someone else's paper as one's own; (2) copying a passage from another source without citing the source; (3) expressing a published idea or theory in different words, without crediting the source of the idea. Plagiarism constitutes intellectual dishonesty and undermines trust between members of the college community." (Westfield State College Bulletin, 2009-2010)Click here for more information on how to avoid plagarism.

Safety: All laboratory procedures will be conducted with strict attention to accepted safety practices. Students will be provided with copies of safety guidelines during the first laboratory.

Last updated - 1//18/10