Most of the handouts provided in class can also be accessed online at our Desire2 Learn (D2L) course website.  In addition you can view your current point total and also view and print out lecture notes prior to coming to class if you desire.  I will have handouts for the lecture notes on the day that we will be covering the material so you do not have to print the handouts.  The direct link is https://d2l.losrios.edu  but you can also access it by using the URL http://elearning.losrios.edu.  In a nutshell, once the login page appears, your username is a "w" followed by your student ID number.  Your default password is the same one that you use for eServices and gMail. 

Note: When you send me an email through D2L, include your name because all that is shown in the "from" box is your student id number.

In the event that the elearning server is down you can access the syllabus via the direct link http://ic.arc.losrios.edu/~smithla/Bio431/Syllabus.htm 

Ways to access the internet and our course page:

a.  LRC (Hours of operation Monday-Thursday 8am-9:30pm, Friday 8am-4:30pm, and Saturday 9am-3pm)

b.  Science computer lab (Room 422) see posted hours.

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Navigation of Desire2Learn Course Website

Once you have logged in the Desire2Learn website and entered Bio431, you will be placed in the "Course Home".

News: These are announcements and will include updates and important info for you to know.  You will automatically be placed here when you enter the course.  You can return here by clicking on "Course Home"  

Contents:  This will include handouts that are also available in class.  If you are missing a handout or want to look ahead you will be able to do that in this area. 

Grades:  You can access your point totals and individual grades in this area.

Note: There are other areas available that we will use less frequently.

Setting notifications in D2L:  You have the option to receive notifications (email or text messages) when I post grades, news and content in D2L.  You can set this up under MySettings and selecting the Notifications icon or click on the Notifications icon under the dropdown arrow in the News heading.

Classroom Behavior

While in the classroom please keep cellular phones set to vibrate.  No texting or emailing during lecture.  Headphones such as those attached to iPods will not be worn in class.  Please refrain from loud private discussions with your classmates.  Leave the room if you must chat.  Absolutely no eating or drinking is allowed in the classroom.  Food in the classroom attracts ants which is very hard on the models and specimens that we have in the classroom.  We will take at least one formal break (usually from about 8:10-8:30) to attend to biological needs. 

Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.   Students who are academically dishonest in my class will be reported to the chief discipline officer and the Dean of Science & Engineering and will receive a zero for the assessment. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to the following:

1.  Sharing answers, looking on another student’s paper or collaboration during exams, or practicals. 

2.  Using notes or a cell phone during exams or lab practicals.  Note if your cell phone is near you during an exam, I must assume that you are using it for the exam and you will receive a zero for the exam.  Cell phones should be turned off and stowed away in your backpack during exams.  No smart watches may be worn during an exam.

3.  Plagiarizing another student’s work or copying from the internet (Easy Note cards) on a laboratory assignment.  Collaboration is encouraged but the final work must be one’s own, in your own words.

4.  Make sure that you go to the bathroom before an exam since leaving the room during an exam could be misinterpreted as an opportunity to cheat.  You will be allowed 3 minutes to use the restroom.  I will deduct one point for each minute in excess of 3 minutes that you are gone.

5.  All students must do their own work for quiz credit using the PRS (Learning catalytics) unless we are working in groups.  Please let me know if you are unable to log in.

6.  Getting the Mastering homework answers from another student or the internet.  I have observed that students learn more and achieve a better grade in the course when they complete the homework assignments themselves.  Make sure that the work you submit is your own.  Please don't "Google" the answers.  There is no time limit for each question other than the due date. Use your book and your brain only.

7.  Removal of examination materials from the classroom.
 

Note:  Completed exams must be returned after viewing.  Failure to return an exam will result in a "zero" for that exam.  Exams may not be copied in any way.  If you need more time to view your exam please come to my office hours. 

Also note:  ARC is a smoke and tobacco free campus.

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Attendance Policy:

During the first two weeks of class, you must let me know by phone or email if you will be absent .  If you are absent and I don't hear from you by the following morning at 8am, you will be dropped from the class.  Also please let me know if you do drop because often the roster I see is 1-2 days behind.  This is necessary to maximize the size of the class.  After the 1^st week or so, I will take roll via a sign in sheet.  Please sign your initials.  The last day to drop without a grade is Tuesday November 15, 2016.  After that date I will have to assign a grade in the class.

Excessive absences:  The catalog defines excessive absences as 6% of the total class time which is equal to approximately 2 full classes.  I have the option of dropping a student after they have missed 2 full classes.  My policy is to drop a student after they have missed 4 full classes on or before the "W" date.  This may be four full class absences or the equivalent of 8 lecture and lab combined absences.  For example, if you miss 4 lectures and 4 labs even if they are on different days, you will be dropped from the class and not receive a grade for the class if the total occurs before the "W" date.  Attendance during both lecture and lab will be tracked using Learning catalytics so make sure that you are logged in and let me know if you are not so that I can provide you with an alternate device.  Any absence counts as an absence.  There are no "excused absences" regardless of the circumstances.

Please note that since you must be present to earn points for quizzes, lab review sheets, and group activities, poor attendance may result in a lower grade.

Lab Work:

For each lab exercise in the lab manual there are pages to be filled out and turned in.  These pages are called Review Sheets.  A schedule for the Review sheet due dates will be provided.  We will work on the Review sheets together on and before the due dates. Labs must be turned in on the days scheduled near at about 11:30 am on the date that they are due. Labs turned in at the appointed time will be worth 2 points.  Early and late labs will be accepted for 1 point.  Note: late and early labs will not be checked for accuracy since we will do that together at a designated time.  I must receive the hard copy of the lab, no scanned labs will be accepted. Some of the labs will have an additional sheet (or more) of microscope work to attach.  I will provide the templates for your microscope work.  Remember to attach the microscope work to the review sheet or 0.5 point deduction will be made if the microscope work is not attached.

PhysioEx labs will also be worth two points.  These are computer simulations that will be done together.  You must be present to earn points for PhysioEx labs.  

We will periodically have group activities during lecture and lab.  You must be present to receive credit for the group activities. 

Note: You will need to purchase your own gloves and goggles for the dissections.  You will need gloves and goggles for four labs this semester.  Note dates on the schedule.

Lab practicals:

Lab practicals are also known as lab exams.  These questions will usually be related to identifying an anatomical structure on a model, figure or preserved specimen.  Occasionally, the question may be of a physiological nature.  The format of the lab practicals will be PowerPoint slides, many will be of photographs of a model or a figure or even a photomicrograph.  You will not be provided with a list of choices to use during the practical exam, however, you will have a list of choices to study from.   Deductions will be made for incorrect spelling.  In order for everyone to be close enough to see the slides, the practicals will be done at two times, 7:45am and 8:30am.  The time at which you come will alternate from practical to practical.  It is your responsibility to know which session you are scheduled for.  Arrangements to switch the time of your session must be made prior to the exam.  If you are late, we will not be able to go back to previous slides.  If you are excessively late and you are able to sit for the second practical, you will receive a 5 point deduction.  If you opt to take a makeup practical, you will receive a 5 point deduction.  Seating will be arranged by drawing a number the day of the exam.   At 9:30am on the day of the practical we will spend the rest of the lab time taking the lecture exam all together all at the same time.  One exception, is the last lab practical which will be held on a different day than the final exam.

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Make-up Policy:

Make-ups for lecture exams will be given only for special circumstances, however, in order to qualify for a make-up exam, the student must contact me within 48 hours after the original exam date.  The lecture make-up exam will be a different version consisting of mostly true/false, fill-in (without choices) and essay questions.  The lab practical exam will also be a different version and there will be a 5 point deduction for taking a make-up lab practical.  No more than one make-up lecture exam and one make-up lab practical will be allowed per semester.  If you miss more than one of either exam type, you will receive a "0" for the second missed exam.  All make-up's for the lecture  and lab practical exams will be taken during finals week or shortly before. 

Early and late labs will be accepted with deduction (1 point for each class period that it is late or early).  In order to earn the 2 full points you must turn in the lab at the designated time after we have gone through the lab usually about 11:30 am during class.  Note late and early labs will not be completely checked for accuracy, only completion.

Throughout the semester, we will have Mastering A&P homework assignments.  I will distribute a separate handout with the due dates.  I will also post the due date on the board in class.

In Mastering, there are deductions for incorrect answers.  You lose 100%/(# of options - 1) credit per incorrect answer on multiple-choice and true/false questions.  So, if there are 5 options (answer choices) and the question is worth 1 point, you will lose 0.25 points per wrong answer.  Dynamic study modules (DSM) must be mastered and completed before the due date to earn any credit.

For "regular" non-DSM homework assignments, you may still earn credit but please let me know that you have completed the assignment because I have to manually transfer the grades from Mastering to D2L.  The maximum possible for late "regular homework" is 50% of the points. 

You will not be able to access the Mastering Homework for rework or review until after the due date.  If you try to access the assignment after you have completed the homework and before the due date, you will get a message that says "Your instructor has restricted your access..."

Additionally, a few assignments will have an additional set of questions (Adaptive Follow up modules) that will be available to you if you score less than 95% on the original (parent) assignment.  The additional question set will be worth only 1 point but will be due 2 days after you complete the original (parent) assignment.  If you score above 95%, you will still receive the 1 point.

The Dynamic Study modules (DSMs) are sets of flash cards that you will complete for a small amount of credit.  You may complete these study modules on your computer or a smart phone/tablet.  The Dynamic Study modules do not allow credit for late assignments.  A free App called Pearson My Lab/Mastering is available for iPhone/iPad and Android.  Before using the App on your device, you will need to access them on the computer once.  Additionally, you must master all of the questions in the deck to earn full credit.  There is an indicator that shows you how many questions that you have mastered.  You will usually have to answer a question correctly multiple times in order for the question to be mastered.  

If you have a health problem, a documented learning disability, or a physical need of some kind, please let me know.  My goal is to assist all students in reaching their maximum educational potential. If you require accommodations due to a physical or learning disability, please contact Disabled Students’ Programs and Services at (916) 484-8545 to discuss your needs. I will help ensure that you receive any accommodations approved by DSPS.  We can discuss on an individual basis in my office the best plan that will work within the curriculum of the course.  There is a class that follows our class.  So, our access to the classroom is limited.

The time allowed for lecture exams is more than the average student will need.  In general, the "in class" time for lecture exams is 2 hours and 20 minutes.  For the lecture exam, this is more than 1.5 times the normal time allotted since the majority of students typically complete the lecture exam in 80 minutes. The "in class" time for the lab practical is 45 minutes which is the same for all students since we go through the slides together.