BIOL 172 General Biology II

CREDIT HOURS:               03
SCHEDULE:                        See Course Website for Broadcast Information
INSTRUCTOR:                   David A. Krupp, Professor of Marine and Biological Sciences
OFFICE:                               Hale ‘Imiloa 107
OFFICE HOURS:                M W R F 8:30-9:30 a.m.
TELEPHONE:                     (808)-236-9121
EMAIL:                                 krupp@hawaii.edu
EFFECTIVE DATE:           Spring 2008
COURSE NUMBER:           62052
COURSE WEBSITE:          http://krupp.wcc.hawaii.edu/BIOL172/BIOL172.htm
WebCT URL:                       http://webct.hawaii.edu

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WINDWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE MISSION STATEMENT

Windward Community College is committed to excellence in the liberal arts and career development; we support and challenge individuals to develop skills, fulfill their potential, enrich their lives, and become contributing, culturally aware members of our community.

CATALOG DESCRIPTION

Continuation of BIOL 171.  Anatomy, physiology, and systematics of plants and animals; behavior; ecosystems, populations, and communities. (3 hrs. lect.)

PREREQUISITE

Credit in BIOL 171 and 171L.

COREQUISITE

Concurrent registration in BIOL 172L.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this class, the student should be able to

1.     Distinguish between the major groups of higher plants by recognizing the anatomical, morphological, developmental features, and life cycles defining these groups.

2.     Distinguish between the major groups of animals by recognizing the anatomical, morphological, and developmental features defining these groups.

3.     Describe the biology of higher plants, including the following concepts:  basic plant characteristics, plant adaptations to terrestrial versus aquatic life styles, and vascular plant reproduction, growth, anatomy, nutrition, transport mechanisms, and hormonal integration.

4.     Describe the biology of animals, including the following concepts: adaptations to terrestrial versus aquatic life styles, embryology, behavior, and the anatomy and physiology of animal organ systems (i.e., digestion, respiration, circulation, osmoregulation, thermoregulation, immunity, reproduction, nervous, and endocrine system).

5.     Describe the basic principles of ecology, including population ecology, community ecology, and ecosystem function.

6.     Describe the characteristics of the major biomes and ecosystems of the Earth.

7.     Describe the interrelationships between land, sea, the atmosphere and the living things that occupy these environments.

COURSE CONTENT

Course Content and Topics

1.     Higher plant biology, including the following concepts:  basic plant characteristics, plant adaptations to terrestrial versus aquatic life styles, classification and systematics, and vascular plant reproduction, growth, anatomy, and physiology;

2.     Characteristics, classification and evolution of major animal groups, including:  sponges, radiate animals, flatworms, pseudocoelomates, segmented worms, molluscs, arthropods, lophophorates, echinoderms, and chordates;

3.     Animal biology, including:  animal body plans, adaptations to terrestrial versus aquatic life styles, embryology, behavior, and the anatomy and physiology of vertebrate systems (i.e., digestion, respiration, circulation, osmoregulation, thermoregulation, immunity, reproduction, nervous, and endocrine system);

4.     ecological principles, including:  population dynamics, community ecology, ecosystems, biomes, the biosphere, and the impacts of human activities; and

5.     the Hawaiian Islands as a living laboratory for evolution.

COURSE TASKS, ASSESSMENT AND GRADING

QUIZZES. The student will take a minimum of ten quizzes (15 points each; 150 points total) administered through the Internet (WebCT) during specified time periods (but not during class sessions).  These quizzes will address the detailed content and major concepts presented in the lectures, lecture outlines, text readings, and study guide activities.  If the student takes more than ten quizzes, only the best ten quiz scores will be used in calculating the student's total points.  Since these quizzes may be taken using home computers connected to the Internet, students may refer to instructional resources (text, study guide, lecture notes, etc.) while taking the quizzes.  However, the quizzes will be timed, the student having only 20 minutes to complete each quiz.

EXAMINATIONS. The student will take two non-cumulative midterm examinations (100 points each) and a cumulative final examination (150 points) to demonstrate understanding of information presented primarily during lectures.  The first midterm examination will cover information presented during the first third of the course.  The second midterm examination will cover information presented during the second third of the course.  Two thirds of the final examination will emphasize the final third of the course, while one third of the final will draw on information covered during the first and second thirds of the course.  The closed-book, proctored examinations will be administered through the Internet using WebCT at your campus’ Learning Center.  NO RETESTS will be given.  A student missing an exam because of a documented illness or emergency may be allowed to take a make-up exam.  In such a circumstance, the student should make every reasonable attempt to contact the instructor before the exam is administered to the class (or as soon as possible).  While make-up exams will cover the same content area as a missed exam, the exam format and specific questions may be different.

The assignment of points will be according to the following protocol:

Letter grades will be assigned as follows:

A	90% or above in total points.
B	80-89.9% of total points.
C	65-79.9% of total points.
D	55-64.9% of total points.
F	Below 55% of total points or informal or incomplete official withdrawal from course.
I	Incomplete; given at the INSTRUCTOR'S OPTION when student is unable to complete a small part of the course because of circumstances beyond his or her control.  It is the STUDENT'S responsibility to make up incomplete work.  Failure to satisfactorily make up incomplete work within the appropriate time period will result in a grade change for "I" to the contingency grade identified by the instructor (see catalog).
CR	65% or above in total points; the student must indicate the intent to take the course as CR/NC in writing by the end of the 10th week of classes (see catalog).
NC	Below 65% of total points; this grade only available under the CR/NC option (see above and see catalog).
N	NOT GIVEN BY THIS INSTRUCTOR EXCEPT UNDER EXTREMELY RARE CIRCUMSTANCES (e.g., documented serious illness or emergency that prevents the student from officially withdrawing from the course); never used as an alternative for an "F" grade.
W	Official withdrawal from the course after the third week and prior to the end of the 10th week of classes (see catalog).

Waiver of minimum requirements for specific grades may be given only in unique situations at the instructor's discretion.

Students involved in academic dishonesty will receive an "F" grade for the course.  Academic dishonesty is defined in WCC's college catalog.

LEARNING RESOURCES

Lecture outlines, PowerPoint slides, and other resources will be made available at the course WebCT site.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The student is expected to attend and actively participate in all course lectures and activities, and complete all quizzes and examinations on time.

The student is expected to be prepared in advance before the class sessions.  Being prepared includes the following:  having read text materials (e.g., textbook readings,  and lecture outlines) assigned for that day's activities and bringing required work materials (e.g., textbook, handouts, writing supplies, etc.) to the session.

Any changes in the course schedule, such as examination dates, deadlines, etc., will be announced ahead of time in class or on the course WebCT site (WebCT Bulletin Board for BIOL 172).  It is the student’s responsibility to be informed of these changes.  Students should visit the course WebCT at least twice per week.

It is the student’s responsibility to be informed about deadlines critical to making registration changes (e.g., last day of erase period and last day for making an official withdrawal).

The student should understand that "INTRODUCTORY" DOES NOT MEAN "EASY".  Students should expect a level of difficulty comparable to other 100-level science classes intended for majors in the discipline.  When difficult concepts and detailed information are presented, it is the student's responsibility to take the appropriate steps to learn and understand these concepts and information.

Science courses at W.C.C. generally require two to three hours of independent private study time for each hour in class.  However, because of the nature of the material presented in BIOL 172, more study time may be required (depends upon the student's science/biology background). It is the student's responsibility to allocate the appropriate time needed for study in an environment conducive to quality study.  The student must budget time efficiently and be realistic about all personal and professional commitments that consume time.

HOW TO SUCEED IN THIS CLASS

Understanding biological science involves understanding many difficult concepts and vocabulary, not just knowing facts.  The student should know that the details to these concepts are important.  In addition, the student will be introduced to hundreds of new words.  In some cases, words that are familiar in a context other than biology will be introduced in the context of biology.  The student will need to understand and use these terms in a biological science context.

While the student will have lecture outlines (downloadable from the WebCT site), the student will not succeed in this class without taking careful lecture notes and reading the corresponding material in the textbook.  The lecture outlines are not to be used in place of the student’s own note taking.  As soon as possible (best if done on the same day), the student should copy over these lecture notes filling in gaps and missing information by referring to the lecture outlines and textbook.  The student should carefully review these rewritten lecture notes as often as possible.  In addition to reviewing these notes before an exam, it would be useful for the student to try to rewrite these notes from memory.

In addition to copying over lecture notes, study activities should include drawing labeled diagrams or graphs that illustrate important biological phenomena (e.g., the internal structure of the cell, the stages of cell division, or the anatomy of the heart).  These diagrams need not be works of art, but should clearly illustrate significant information.  Before an exam, it would be useful to redraw these labeled diagrams and graphs from memory.

The student should make flashcards for each new vocabulary word presented (refer to lecture outlines for a lists of required terms).  On one side of the card, write the word.  On the other side, write the appropriate biological science definition for the word.  The student should use these card for self-testing as often as possible.  The student should also practice using the words to explain biological concepts.

The student should do all of the recommended study guide activities and review all of the Internet resource materials provided.

The textbook and the lecture outlines include useful study questions.  The student should write out answers to all of these questions as though they were required assignments.  Students could exchange these answers and provide constructive feedback to each other.

The student should read the textbook materials corresponding to a particular lecture before and after that lecture.

Students are recommended to establish study groups and study together.  The students in these groups may test each other's knowledge and understanding of the information.  They may also take turns teaching each other.

The student should ask the instructor to explain the things that the student does not understand.

DISABILITIES ACCOMMODATION STATEMENT

If you have a physical, sensory, health, cognitive, or mental health disability that could limit your ability to fully participate in this class, you are encouraged to contact the Disability Specialist Counselor to discuss reasonable accommodations that will help you succeed in this class.  Ann Lemke can be reached at 235-7448, lemke@hawaii.edu, or you may stop by Hale ‘Akoakoa 213 for more information.