Biol 211 Course Info./Syllabus - Fall 2011- Page 1 of 12 Biology 211: General Biology Fall 2011 Course Information and Syllabus Instructor: Ken Marr Phone: (253) 833-9111 x 4204 Office: SC-214 E-mail: [email protected] Biol 211 Website: http://www.instruction.greenriver.edu/kmarr/ Office Hours Mondays: 11:00 - 11:50 in SC-323 or SC-214 2:00 - 2:50 in SC-323 or SC-214 Wednesdays: 11:00 - 11:50 in SC-323 or SC-214 Fridays: 9:00 - 9:50 in SC-240 or SC-214 11:00 - 11:50 in SC-323 or SC-214 And by mutual arrangement Course Prerequisites This is a rigorous course for students intending to take advanced biology courses and/or preprofessional programs. Strong writing, reading and communication skills, basic quantitative ability, and an understanding of general chemical principles are essential for success in this class. WARNING! It is unlikely that you will do well in this class if you do not invest at least 2 to 3 hours of quality study time outside of class for every hour in class—about 14 - 21 hours per week; i.e. 2-3 hours per day! Success in this class has a strong correlation to a good knowledge of chemistry and the possession of excellent reading, writing and quantitative skills. Students not meeting the following prerequisites may be dropped from the course! Successful completion of Chem& 163 (formerly Chem 160) or Chem& 131 (formerly Chem 102) Successful completion of English 101 (formerly English 110) Math 097 or ASSET/COMPASS placement test into Math& 141 (formerly Math 102) Or instructors approval (in special and extenuating circumstances!) Textbooks/Required Materials 1. Campbell biology, 9th edition, by Reece, et al (Available at the GRCC bookstore for $194) 2. Lab Activities and Active Learning Exercises (Print from Biol 211 website) 3. Optional: Study Guide for Campbell’s Biology (Available at the GRCC bookstore for $61) 4. Optional: Quick Study Biology (Available at the GRCC bookstore for $4.95) 5. Useful items: 6 inch ruler, small stapler, 3-ring binder with dividers for ALE’s and Labs Mode of Instruction: Active Learning with Little to No Lecturing Welcome! You are about to embark on a journey that may change your view of biology and will surely change your view of science and learning. In this course through active learning exercises and collaborative group work and a minimum of lecturing you will generate knowledge about biology. Your instructor will be a learner too, a facilitator, and a resource for information. This method of learning will allow you to practice thinking, speaking, and writing as you formulate answers to weekly Active Learning Exercises (―ALE’s‖). You will be actively involved everyday in a variety of activities so class is interesting (we hope!) and you won’t want to miss. You will probably learn much more biology in this course than in others where an instructor only lectures to you. Why the use of active and collaborative learning in place of lectures? A wealth of research over the last 20 years indicates that little learning occurs during passive learning (i.e. lectures) and that lectures, at best, only indicate what students should study outside of class. Moreover, controlled studies show that students involved in collaboratively taught classes out-perform those in the same course where lecturing is the major means of instruction.Biol 211 Course Info./Syllabus - Fall 2011- Page 2 of 12 You will find that collaborative/active learning requires an extensive effort. In addition, a few initially feel uncomfortable with this new style of instruction/learning. This is not unusual, in part because the majority of our past classes were taught in the traditional way...Recall the old adage, ―It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks‖? Collaborative/active learning will force you to do the required readings/exercises on a timely basis, and in the process will allow you to develop more effective study strategies/habits, to use your study time outside of class more effectively. In time you will become more familiar and comfortable with your classmates and feel more at ease during group/class discussions. The skills that you learn and practice through active learning and collaborative group work in this class will stay with you long after you have ceased to remember many of the facts, concepts and theories of this course. ADA Statement If you believe you qualify for course adaptations or special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is your responsibility to contact the Disability Support Services Coordinator, (253) 833-9111, ext. 2631, and provide the appropriate documentation. If you have already documented a disability or other condition, which would qualify you for special accommodations, or if you have emergency medical information or special needs I should know about, please notify me during the first week of class. You can reach me by phone at (253) 833-9111, ext. 4204, or you can schedule an office appointment to meet me in SC-214 during my posted office hours, or at another mutually determined time. Topics and Chapters Covered Chapters 1-10, 12-17 and parts of 18-20 in Campbell’s Biology will be used as reference for the topics that follow. Students are held responsible only for the material discussed in class, in lab exercises and on the weekly Active Learning Exercises assignments. What is Science? (Scientific Method); What is Life? Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection Chemistry of life Tour of the Cell and Membrane Structure & Function Cellular Respiration Photosynthesis Cell Reproduction: Mitosis & Meiosis Mendelian and Nonmendelian Genetics Molecular Genetics (DNA, RNA, Protein Synthesis) Molecular Biology of Viruses Control of Gene Expression in Prokaryotes DNA Technology Content Specific Learning Outcomes for Biol 211 include: 1. List the steps in a generalized model of the scientific method and describe the limitations of science. 2. Perform experiments with understanding, record data accurately, and communicate results using the standard form for scientific literature. 3. Classify organisms using the 5-kingdom approach. 4. Describe basic atomic structure and chemical Bonding: ionic, covalent and hydrogen bonding. 5. Describe Darwin’s theory of natural selection as a mechanism of change over time. 6. Identify the structure, function and