BIOLOGY 2306 – LIVING PLANET (Hybrid)



BIOLOGY 2306 – LIVING PLANET (Hybrid)

Section 20808 / 004

Spring 2005

Instructor: Nita Hazle

Office: Annex 400 RVS

Phone: 223-6041 (during office hours only)

Voice mail: 223-1795 x22813

email: nfar@austincc.edu

Office Hours: M / W 11:15 – 11:45am

Class Time / Place: M / W 12:00 – 1:15pm / RVS 2242

Instructor web page: austincc.edu/nfar

Course web page: www2.austincc.edu/livingplanet

ACC Distance Learning Student Handbook:

COURSE DESCRIPTION: A survey of the major biomes of the world, environmental interactions of species, populations and community dynamics, and impact of humans on the world around them.

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY: Classroom – Distance Learning Hybrid (lecture + course videotapes)

PREREQUISITES: This course requires college level reading and writing skills. You must have at least a 5 or above on both the ACC reading and writing assessment tests, or have passed both the reading and writing portions of the TASP, or be exempt from the TASP. If you do not meet these requirements, you may be withdrawn from the course.

COURSE GOALS: This course was designed for students who are not majoring in science. It covers some of the major topics of ecology, and focuses specifically on:

- identification of major community types (deserts, tropical rainforests, coral reefs, etc.)

- physical conditions in which these communities occur (rainfall, temperature, etc.)

- identification of organisms typically found in these communities and their specific adaptations that allow them to live in these environments.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Specific course objectives are located in the course study guide (see below). You are responsible for all materials covered in the videotapes and study guide, as well as lecture topics during the Introduction section of the course.

COURSE MATERIALS:

You will need the following items:

1. Living Planet: Concepts and Questions, 7th Edition, January 2003, by Bernice Speer, Betsy Maxim, and Sarah Strong. You can either buy a copy at an ACC bookstore or download and print from the course website: www2.austincc.edu/livingplanet.

2. LIVING PLANET videotapes (see below).

3. (Optional). Although it is not required for the class, there are copies of the book, Living Planet by David Attenborough, on reserve at the following ACC Libraries (RGC, NRG, RVS, CYP, and PIN). Copies are also available for checkout at the Austin Public Library. Students in prior semesters have also found copies of the book at Half-Price Bookstores or at or .

COURSE POLICIES: All general policies as described in the ACC College Catalog and the ACC Student Handbook apply. Specific policies for the course are covered in this syllabus.

ACC policy concerning copyrighted materials: All class materials provided on ACC web pages, electronic reserves, on diskette, and in printed form are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the copyright holder. Reproduction means photocopying, scanning, copying downloaded files, or posting any of these on a server (web site). Each student currently enrolled in this section of BIOL 2306 is hereby given permission to download and print one copy of the study guide for his/her own use.

COURSE STRUCTURE: BIOL 2306 LIVING PLANET hybrid is a cross between a traditional classroom course and and distance learning course. It is based on 12 programs produced by the BBC and narrated by David Attenborough.

- The course is divided into an Introduction + six units.

- These units must be completed in order.

- The introduction contains important information that will facilitate understanding the concepts presented in the video programs and study guide.

- Each of the six units consists of TWO video programs (episodes) and the corresponding material in the study guide.

For the Introduction, you will :

1) attend lectures and participate in classroom activities

2) complete any assignments,

3) read the material in the study guide,

4) answer a set of study questions distributed in class,

5) study the material in the study guide, and

6) take an exam.

For each unit, you will:

1) read the material in the study guide,

2) attend lectures and / or obtain lecture outlines from instructor website,

3) view the corresponding video programs (episodes) for that unit,

4) answer a set of study questions in the study guide,

5) complete any assignmentss

6) study the material in the study guide, and

7) take an exam.

You must complete these activities no later than the unit deadlines stated below, although you may complete each unit before the deadlines.

ATTENDANCE POLICY: Attendance is required January 10 – February 2. After the Introduction Exam, attendance is optional, but strongly recommended.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR EXAMS

Reading the concepts and additional information FIRST will help you understand the material in the video. Be aware that some topics covered in the study guide are not mentioned in the video and vice versa. You are responsible for all material covered in the study guide and the videos. You are also responsible for concepts covered in previous units as well as the Introduction. Many of the students who have made an A in this class have had similar study habits:

1) they read the material in the study guide before seeing the video,

2) they watched the videos first without taking notes,

3) they watched the videos again and answered the questions in the study guide,

4) they attended lectures

5) they completed assignments

6) they studied the material,

7) they watched the videos again before taking the exam.

INFORMATION ABOUT VIDEOTAPES

The videos are available in the library at the following ACC locations: Rio Grande*, Cypress Creek*, Eastview, Northridge*, Riverside*, and Pinnacle*. The videos are also available at Fredericksburg High School. Starred (*) locations have check-out copies available. There are a FEW check-out copies available; all libraries have copies which are available for viewing in the libraries. Episodes will also be broadcast on cable TV (see attached schedule).

Be advised: there are only a few check-out copies of each tape. Be prepared to have to watch the videotapes in the library. If you cannot check out the videotape and take it home to watch, you are expected to watch the videos in the library. Otherwise, you may have insufficient time to prepare for the exam by the exam deadline. Exam deadlines will NOT be extended if you are unable to check out the videotapes.

Many students in the past have become confused about the videotapes that are available for checkout versus the ones available for viewing in the library. There are 12 episodes in the Living Planet series; the checkout videotapes contain all 12 episodes on six videotapes (two episodes per tape), whereas the library viewing tapes contain the 12 episodes on twelve tapes (one episode per tape).

The six checkout tapes contain the following episodes:

Tape 1 for unit 1 – contains episodes 1 and 2

Tape 2 for unit 2 – contains episodes 3 and 4

Tape 3 for unit 3 – contains episodes 5 and 6

Tape 4 for unit 4 – contains episodes 7 and 8

Tape 5 for unit 5 – contains episodes 9 and 10

Tape 6 for unit 6 – contains episodes 11 and 12

If you are checking out a videotape to take home, you must ask for the correct tape. For example, if you want to check out the videotape that has episode 3 on it, you must ask for TAPE 2. On the other hand, if you plan to watch episode 3 in the library, you would ask for TAPE 3. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CHECK OUT THE APPROPRIATE TAPE. Double check and make sure the videotape you get covers the episode you want before you leave the library.

If you would like to purchase a set of the Living Planet videotapes, you can order them from: Time Life Video (1-800-621-7026). Call customer service and charge to a credit card. The cost is $199.80 plus $9.00 shipping.

ASSIGNMENTS: Throughout the semester homework exercises will be assigned that will reinforce and link material covered in videos, lectures, or study guide. These will be distributed in class and may be available online. Each assignment will have a due date (usually one class period from when assigned). Any assignment turned in after the due date will be penalized 10%. Late work will not be accepted after one class day beyond the due date. You will receive at least 7 assignments each worth 20 pts.; your best 5 scores will count toward your final grade for a possible 100 pts.

LOCATION OF EXAMS AND EXAM POLICIES

Exams are available at the following campuses: Rio Grande, Northridge, Riverside, Cypress Creek, Pinnacle, Round Rock, Eastview, San Marcos, and Fredericksburg. You will take your exams in the first or second choice testing center you indicate on the student information form you turn in today. Read the attached Guide to Student Use of Testing Centers before taking your first exam. The attached handouts provide locations, open hours, and telephone numbers for each testing center and library.

Please have everything with you when you go to take an exam at the Testing Center. The Testing Center is there to facilitate the test-taking process for open campus students. However, you must do your part by being prepared. Read the Guide to Student Use of the Testing Center. Be aware of their policies. When you go to take an exam, make sure you have the following:

1. valid picture ID

2. valid ACC student ID*

3. a number 2 pencil and eraser

*ACC mails an ID to all open campus students. If you take your first exam before you receive your student ID, go to the bursar’s office on any ACC campus to get one copy of your fee receipt. The testing center will accept the fee receipt ONE TIME ONLY in place of your student ID.

How to fill out the Test Request Form:

Course number = BIOL 2306

Section number = 20808 / 004

Test number = unit number (or “Introduction” or “optional makeup”)

Instructor = Nita Hazle

Instructor’s home campus = RVS

When you have the exam, check in the upper right corner to make sure you have the right exam. Look for this information: “Nita Hazle, BIOL 2306, Exam Form (unit # you asked for), Spring 2005”. It is your responsibility to take the right exam. If the testing center gives you the wrong exam and you take it, you will have a problem. For example, If you take the exam for Unit 5 when you meant to take the exam for Unit 2, you will have to take whatever grade you get for Unit 5 at that point, even if you didn’t study for It, AND you will still have to take the Unit 2 exam before its deadline. If the exam is from another instructor (even if it is for the correct unit), you will not get any points at all for that exam.

You will mark your answers for the objective questions on a Scantron form, which will be provided by and graded by the testing center. Keep your yellow copy of the test request slip copies until you receive your course grade. This is your only proof that you have taken an exam if the exam is lost or misplaced.

You will answer the other questions on the answer sheet provided. The testing center will send the entire exam to me and I will grade the short answer questions. When your exam is graded, I will contact you with your grade. This takes about one week, depending on where you took your exam and how long it takes me to get it via campus mail.

You must allow A MINIMUM OF ONE HOUR to take any exams for this class. This means if it is 7:15pm and the Testing Center is closing at 8:00pm, you will NOT be allowed to take an exam for this class, even if it is the last day for the unit deadline. One hour is the minimum time allotted for an exam. It may take you longer than one hour to complete the exam.

EXAM INFORMATION

There are six Unit Exams plus an Introduction Exam and an optional comprehensive makeup. The Introduction Exam and all 6 unit exams are required. There are mandatory deadlines for each exam, which will be enforced by the instructor.

The Introduction Exam covers material from lectures and the Study Guide Introduction and consists of a variety of objective questions (matching, true/false, multiple choice, labeling) and 1-2 short answer questions. The Introduction Exam must be taken in class on the designated day.

Each of the six Unit Exams consists of 45 multiple choice questions (worth 2 pts. each) and 2 – 3 short answer questions (worth 10 pts. total). All Unit Exams must be taken in the testing centers by the designated deadlines. You will be tested on any material covered in the study guide and videotapes. In addition to your ability to remember facts and definitions, you will also be tested on your ability to apply what you have learned to new situations, identify relationships and to analyze situations using the facts and terms you have learned.

Exams are cumulative in the sense that you are always responsible for concepts covered in previous units. Exam questions may include information from previous units.

There are no retests in this course for the Introduction Exam or unit exams. You can use the comprehensive final exam (see below) to replace a low grade on a unit exam (but not on the Introduction Exam). You must take all exams in order to pass the class with any grade other than “F”. If you do not take a unit exam (and thus have a grade of 0 for that unit), the final will not substitute for the zero grade. (This means if you take the Introduction Exam, five unit exams and the final, you will receive a grade of F in the course, regardless of your average. You are expected to be familiar with all of the course concepts; if you skip an exam, you will not understand or know anything about the material in the skipped unit.

You are welcome to review your exams after they are graded. You must do this during my office hours or make an appointment with me to go over the exams. This cannot be done by e-mail or over the phone.

COMPREHENSIVE FINAL

An optional comprehensive final will be available during the last few days of the semester. It will cover all the material in the six units plus the Introduction. The final will consist of 50 multiple choice questions with no extra credit. Your grade on the comprehensive final will be used to substitute for your lowest non-zero unit exam. If your grade on the comprehensive final is lower than your unit exam grades, it will not be counted.

EXAM DEADLINES

You must take your exams by the deadlines below. The testing center does not enforce these deadlines – I do. Each exam is date stamped. If the date is past the deadline, you will have a grade of 0 for the exam. Remember a deadline is the last day to take the exam – you should try to take the exam 1 – 2 days before the deadline to avoid problems.

EXAM DEADLINE*

Introduction Wednesday, February 2

Unit 1 Sunday, February 20

Unit 2 Sunday, March 6

Unit 3 Sunday, March 27

Unit 4 Sunday, April 10

Unit 5 Sunday, April 24

Unit 6 Thursday, May 5

Comprehensive Final Thursday, May 5 (not available in all testing centers)

*Not all testing centers are open all days of the week. Each testing center has its own operating hours. You are responsible for knowing the testing center hours of operation for the two testing centers you have chosen.

These deadlines are not negotiable. You WILL NOT BE GIVEN EXTRA TIME TO TAKE EXAMS. Exams taken after these dates will NOT be accepted for credit (your grade is 0). It is your responsibility to complete the exams by the mandatory deadlines. If you have not completed the first 4 exams in accordance with these deadlines, you will be dropped from the course. If you do not complete the remaining exams by the designated deadlines, you will receive a grade of “F”. You will not be given extra time to complete the course.

You can keep a record of your exam grades below:

EXAM GRADE

Introduction _______

Unit 1 _______

Unit 2 _______

Unit 3 _______

Unit 4 _______

Unit 5 _______

Unit 6 _______

Final _______

EXTRA CREDIT

A common problem for students in this class is a lack of knowledge about geography. The extra credit map quizzes have been designed to improve your knowledge of where things are. Specifically, you will be asked to identify locations and features mentioned in the Living Planet videos and study guide. Each map quiz is worth a maximum of 5 points.

As you watch the video and use the study guide for each unit, make a list of all geographical locations or features (lakes, rivers, deserts, states, islands, countries, waterfalls, etc.). These locations may be found by using atlases in the library. There is a blank map of the world in the study guide on which you can practice. If you look in the book Living Planet, you will find a map of the world just before the index. Many of the geographical features are identified on that map, especially rivers, deserts, oceans, etc. I recommend purchasing a simple basic world atlas.

The optional map quiz for each unit is on the back of the answer sheet for each unit exam. If you do not complete the map quiz when you take each exam, you will not be able to earn extra credit.

HOW TO GET YOUR GRADES

You can find out your grade by any of the following methods:

1. You can call me during office hours after you take the exam. I may ask you for your student ID to verify your identity.

2. You can attach a stamped, self-addressed envelope/postcard to your exam. I will mail your grade to you.

3. At the end of each exam, write a message to me on the exam, such as “Please call me at xxx-xxxx and leave my grade on the answering machine”. You must identify the telephone number you wish me to call. This must be written on each exam.

4. If your information sheet contains an e-mail address, your grade on each exam will be automatically e-mailed to you as soon as I have graded the test.

5. You may come by my office (RVS Annex 400) during office hours and look at your exam. If my office hours are inconvenient for you, other alternatives may be possible. Just ask.

NOTE: If you choose options 1-4, you are voluntarily giving up your right to privacy. Privacy is a major area of concern in any class, but especially in open campus courses. In order to protect your privacy, I cannot leave a message on your answering machine or voice mail without your permission in writing. Even with your permission, I cannot leave a message about your specific grade with another individual. I cannot leave a grade in response to a verbal message.

Please note: it is your responsibility to inform me of any changes in your mailing address or phone number. If you change your e-mail address, I will need a signed written document (not an e-mail).

COURSE GRADES

You must complete one exam for each of the six units plus the Introduction to pass the course. You will receive a grade of “F” if you do not complete all exams by the stated deadlines, regardless of your actual scores or percentages. If you score higher on the final exam than your lowest non-zero unit grade, the final grade can substitute.

Your final grade for the course is determined by your scores on the 7 exams plus your scores on the homework assignments.

Exams – 7 @ 100 pts. ea. = 700

Assignments – 5 @ 20 pts. ea. = 100

Total possible points = 800

Final grades for the course will be based on these percentages:

A = 90-100% (720 – 800); B = 80-89% (640 – 719); C = 70-79% (560 – 639); D = 60-69% (480 – 559); F = below 60% (480)

WITHDRAWALS

1. It is your responsibility to withdraw from the course if you cannot complete the course requirements by the deadlines.

2. You should withdraw from the course if you do not have a passing grade (or whatever grade you need) by the drop date.

3. Please call me if you have any questions about whether or not you should drop.

4. The last day to withdraw from the course is April 18, 2005. You must complete the proper paperwork in order to withdraw. KEEP YOUR COPY OF THE WITHDRAWAL SLIP UNTIL YOU RECEIVE THE OFFICIAL ACC GRADES FOR THE SEMESTER. THIS IS YOUR ONLY PROOF OF WITHDRAWAL. Keep your copy of the form; if the original is lost, you will have a grade of “F” instead of “W” on your transcript.

Please note: You may make a LEGIBLE photocopy of the withdrawal form (front AND back) and send it to me in the campus mail. Go to the Vice Presidents office of ANY ACC campus and tell them you want to send me a message in intercampus mail. Address it to Nita Hazle, RVS. Just be sure that the photocopy is readable and the date stamped on the back is clear.

INCOMPLETES

A grade of “I” (Incomplete) will be given only if:

1. You have taken exams on a regular basis.

2. You have taken and passed successfully at least 5 of the 7 exams with a minimum average grade of C (70%).

3. You have spoken with the instructor prior to the last day of class, requested an “Incomplete” grade in writing, and supplied documentation of the reason for the request.

4. If these criteria are met, the instructor will decide whether to give an “I” grade. If an “Incomplete” grade is given, you must complete and sign the official ACC form.

Statement on Scholastic Dishonesty: “Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to, cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, research or self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but not limited to, tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper, projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations, and homework.”

Statement on Students with Disabilities: “Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office of Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before 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 be made only after I receive the letter from OSD.

Statement on Academic Freedom: “Institutions of higher education are conducted for the common good. The common good depends upon a search for truth and upon free expression. In this course the professor and students shall strive to protect free inquiry and the open exchange of facts, ideas, and opinions. Students are free to take exception to views offered in this course and to reserve judgment about debatable issues. Grades will not be affected by personal views. With this freedom comes the responsibility of civility and a respect for a diversity of ideas and opinions. This means that students must take turns speaking, listen to others speak without interruption, and refrain from name-calling or other personal attacks.”

Testing Center Policy: ACC Testing Center policies can be found at:

Student Services: The web address for student services is: . The ACC student handbook can be found at .

Instructional Services: The web address is , then click on “Campus Based Student Support Overview”.

As a reminder to yourself, write down the testing center choices that you wrote on the student information sheet you turned in to me:

First choice: _________________

Second choice: ________________

STUDENT INFORMATION – BIOLOGY 2306 –Spring 2004

By completing and signing this form I acknowledge that I have received a course syllabus and that I understand the policies, requirements, and procedures as presented in the syllabus. I understand this form verifies that I have met with my instructor and received the syllabus for the course. All information on this form is confidential.

Name ___________________________________ Student ID# ____________________

Address ________________________________________________________________

Home Phone _________________________ work phone _________________________

Email __________________________________________________________________

other phone _____________________________________________________________

Testing Center Choice: Write in the abbreviation for the testing centers you choose as your first and second choices. These are the Testing Centers where your exams will be placed.

(write these also on the last page of the syllabus as a reminder to yourself)

First choice: ______________________ second choice: _____________________

_____________________________________ ________________________

Signature date

|Unit |Exam Grade |Assignments |Total Grade |

|Introduction | | | |

|1 | | | |

|2 | | | |

|3 | | | |

|4 | | | |

|5 | | | |

|6 | | | |

|ComprehensiveFinal | | | |

| | Total Points | |

| |Percentage | |

| | | |

Course Grade _______

BIOL 2306 (hybrid)

Spring 2005

Tentative Schedule (things may change . . .)

Date Topic Exam Deadlines________________

Jan 10* Course Procedures - Syllabus

12* Introduction

17* Martin Luther King Holiday (no class)

19* Introduction

24* Introduction

26* Introduction

14* Introduction

31* Introduction

Feb 2* Introduction Exam (in class – not in testing centers_

7 Episode 1 concepts

9 Episode 1 The Building of the Earth

14 Episode 2 concepts

16 Episode 2 The Frozen World Unit 1 exam: 2/20

21 Episode 3 concepts

23 Episode 3 The Northern Forests

28 Episode 4 concepts

Mar 2 Episode 4 Jungle Unit 2 Exam: 3/6

7 Episode 5 concepts

9 Episode 5 Seas of Grass

14 SPRING BREAK (no class)

16 SPRING BREAK (no class)

21 Episode 6 concepts

23 Episode 6 The Baking Deserts Unit 3 Exam: 3/27

28 Episode 7 concepts

30 Episode 7 Community in the Skies

Apr 4 Episode 8 concepts

6 Episode 8 Sweet, Fresh Water Unit 4 Exam: 4/10

11 Episode 9 concepts

13 Episode 9 Margins of the Land

18 Episode 10 concepts

20 Episode 10 Worlds Apart Unit 5 Exam: 4/24

25 Episode 11 concepts

27 Episode 11 Oceans

May 2 Episode 12 concepts

4 Episode 12 New Worlds Unit 6 Exam: 5/5

Optional Comprehensive Final Exam: (RVS, RGC, NRG, CYP, PIN,

EVC only) 5/5

*attendance required

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