COURSE INFORMATION

COURSE INFORMATION

ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY LAB (BIOL 1104L)

Biology 1104L is a one-credit hour course that provides a hands-on, inquiry-based introduction for non-science majors to the remarkable diversity of life that inhabits planet Earth. The corresponding lecture course, BIOL 1104, is a pre-requisite or a co-requisite for BIOL 1104L.

PRINCIPLE OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE
Upon completion of this laboratory course, students will have an understanding of the scientific process as applied in aquatic ecosystems and should be able to: (1) identify organisms belonging to the major groups of life forms; (2) describe the behavior, mode of nutrition, principal characteristics and phylogenetic relationships of the major groups of organisms; (3) describe interactions of organisms with each other and with their environment; (4) design and carry out an experiment using the scientific process, (5) describe the structure and function of the mammalian heart, renal system and sensory system.

GRADUATE LABORATORY ASSISTANT (GLA) INSTRUCTORS
GLA names, specific teaching assignments and email addresses will be posted outside of Room 403 (The Biology Instruction Office, located on the 4 th floor) and on the 1104L WebCT page (log in to WebCT and choose BIOL 1104L from your courses). Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to discuss course material directly with their lab instructor during office hours.

LAB PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Kris Miller
Office: Room 402, Biological Sciences Building
Office Hours: By appointment - email or call
Phone: 542-1681
E-Mail: krmiller@uga.edu

DATA COLLECTION SPECIALIST
Yulonda Davis
Office: Room 403, Biological Sciences Building
Phone: 542-1684
E-Mail: ydavis1@uga.edu

Please see Yulonda with any concerns regarding enrollment, late add to the course, withdrawal from the course, taking or removing an Incomplete (I), and any other administrative concern.

BIOSCIENCE LEARNING CENTER
The Bioscience Learning Center (BLC) is located in room 406 of the Biological Sciences Building. This facility houses computers (both MAC and PC) for use by students enrolled in courses at UGA. The BLC charges a small fee for printing (5¢ per page) and photocopying (10¢ per page) and only accepts Bulldog Bucks for payment. Desk copies of the lab manual, corresponding lecture course text, and photo atlases are on reserve in the BLC for student use. BLC hours are from 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM, Monday through Thursday; 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Friday. The BLC is closed on weekends.

TEXT -- REQUIED
1. Lab Manual – Lab Manual for Organismal Biology, 2007 edition, W. M. Darley and C. Teare Ketter. Bring your lab manual to lab each week.
2. Photo Atlas for Biology, J.W. Perry and D. Morton

WWW ACCESS TO COURSE INFORMATION, SYLLABUS AND POLICIES
For your convenience, the Division of Biological Sciences has created a World-Wide Web page that provides you with immediate access to course information. A copy of the lab course syllabus, a list of assignment due dates and policy information is also included. Log in to WebCT and choose BIOL 1104L from your courses listed to access information about this laboratory course.

THE FIRST LAB
Labs will meet the first full week of classes (week of January 15th). For the first lab: (1) read and understand pages 1-15 in the Lab Manual; (2) read and understand the first lab exercise, “Some of Lake Herrick’s Critters”; (3) complete the Pre-Lab Assignment associated with that lab (pp. 1-1 – 1-2) and have it ready to turn in for credit at the beginning of lab.

DRESS CODE
Your legs must be completely covered (long pants or long skirt). Your feet must be completely covered (no open-toed or open-heeled shoes). Failure to comply with dress code with result in dismissal from lab and will be marked as an excused absence. You will be given one week to complete a make-up assignment. If the work is not completed in that time, you will have 35 points deducted from your total points for lab.

ATTENDANCE/ TARDINESS
Attendance is required for this class. Missing even one class means that you have missed a significant portion of the course. DO NOT schedule any other appointments or activities during the time that you are scheduled to be in lab.

Missing labs with a valid excuse:
A “valid” excuse is one that is written, verifiable, and covers the date and time of your scheduled lab class. Oversleeping and job conflicts do not constitute acceptable excuses. Missing a lab with a valid excuse allows you to make-up the lab provided that you contact your lab instructor within 48 hours of the absence. If you know in advance that you will miss a lab with a valid excuse, contact your GLA before the lab for reassignment to another lab period. Make-up assignments are due within one week of the missed lab and may include any or all of the following: completing the lab with a different section, submitting homework, quizzes, or any other assignment associated with the missed lab, or by completing an alternate assignment designated by the GLA or course instructor. Students who fail to complete the make-up work within the allocated time will not receive credit for the lab exercise. You are responsible for all material and data presented and gathered in lab. Students who miss FOUR or more labs at the end of the semester with valid excuses will not be given credit for the course. Please note that any missed lab for a valid excuse will still be marked as an excused absence, even if you make up the lab in another lab section.

Missing labs without a valid excuse:
For each lab that is missed without a valid excuse, students will automatically receive a minimum of 35-point deduction (this includes points for missed quizzes) from your total lab points; if a lab is worth more than 35 points for that day, you will lose the total number of points for that day. Students who miss FOUR or more labs without a valid excuse at the end of the semester will receive an F.

Tardiness and leaving lab early without permission are not tolerated in lab. Quizzes are given during the first 15 minutes of class; if you arrive 10 minutes late you will only have 5 minutes to take the quiz. If you arrive to lab more than 15 minutes late you will be marked as absent without a valid excuse and will not be allowed to take the quiz, but work that is due that day will be accepted and you will be able to stay and complete the lab for the day. If you leave lab early without permission, you will be marked as absent without a valid excuse (even if you have taken the quiz) and will receive a deduction of 35 points from your total lab points.

Assignments are due in class on the days indicated on your syllabus or by your instructor. Each day that an assignment is late, you will lose 10% of the assignment's total point value.

Students who have missed four or more labs due to extenuating circumstances and wish to avoid a failing grade should withdraw from the course or request an Incomplete. After the midpoint in the semester, permission to withdraw must be obtained from Linda Edge (542-3564) in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.

COURSE GRADES
There are 500 possible points for the semester, earned as outlined on the following page. There is no final exam for the lab course as your work is evaluated weekly. Final grades are based on your accumulated points and will be awarded as follows:

A (465-500) B+ (435-449) C+ (385-399) D (300-349)

A- (450-464) B (415-434) C (365-384) F (< 300 pts)

B- (400-414) C- (350-364)

There will be no extra credit or bonus points given. Historically, students who attend their lab classes, prepare for lab on a weekly basis, and turn in all of their written work on time, earn good grades for their efforts.

You should keep a record of all your lab grades and save your graded papers until the end of the semester. ANY COMPLAINT ABOUT A GRADE MUST BE BROUGHT TO YOUR GLA's ATTENTION WITHIN ONE WEEK OF RECEIVING THE GRADE. Under no circumstance will a grade be changed at the end of the semester.

INCOMPLETES
The grade of Incomplete (I) is given to students who for reason of accident or illness who were unable to complete a segment of the course. In no case will an Incomplete be given as a means of avoiding a failing grade.

ACADEMIC HONESTY
All academic work must meet the standards contained in “A Culture of Honesty.” Students are responsible for informing themselves about those standards before performing any academic work. This information is available on-line http://www.uga.edu/ovpi/honesty/acadhon.htm. Any form of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

GROUP WORK
Much of your laboratory experiences in BIOL 1104L will be based upon work completed in small groups. We encourage you to interact with your GLA and your classmates when completing your in-class work and your homework. However, you are expected to complete all written assignments by yourself (i.e. showing independent thought) unless otherwise directed by your GLA. Students often have difficulties determining how to demonstrate independent effort when they work in groups to complete assignments (i.e. “we all did the same thing so shouldn’t the work that we turn in be the same?” You are encouraged to carefully review the provided handout that discusses expectations about group work and plagiarism. If you ever have a question about whether or not you have crossed the fine line between group work and independent work, ask your GLA for assistance before you hand in an assignment.

LAB OUTLINE and Summary of Points
BIOL 1104L

Week of:	Lab Topic	Points	Assignments Due in Lab
Jan. 14	Introduction, check-in, safety orientation: pp 1-15 Lab 1: Some of Lake Herrick’s Critters Use of the Dissecting Microscope, pp 33-35	15	-Pre-Lab Assignment, pp. 1-1 – 1-2 (PLA1, 15 pts)
Jan. 21	Lab 2: Bacteria Use of the Compound Microscope, pp 36-40 Lake Herrick: An Example of an Ecosystem, pp 17-28	23	-Quiz 1 (Q1, 23 pts)
Jan. 28	Lab3: Field Trip to Lake Herrick: Setting up an Aquarium Jar Ecosystem Labs will meet at back parking lot near tennis courts and boardwalk (NOT where your lab manual states).	21	-Pre-Lab Assignment, pp. 3-1 – 3-2 (PLA2, 15 pts) -Notes and Data from Lake Herrick field trip (Pp. 3-17 – 3-18) (WK0, 6pts)
Feb. 4	Lab 4: Examining Aquarium Jar Ecosystems Labs meet in the Biological Sciences Building this week	26	-Quiz 2 (Q2, 23 pts) -Week 1 Aquarium Jar Ecosystem notes, pp 4-9 – 4-10 (WK1, 3pts)
Feb. 11	Lab 5: Protists Aquarium Jar Ecosystems (continued)	36	-Quiz 3 (Q3, 23 pts) -Protists from Nature (PFN, 10 pts) -Week 2 Aquarium Jar Ecosystem notes, pp 4-11 – 4-12 (WK2, 3 pts)
Feb. 18	Lab 6: Your Aquatic Experiment, pp 6-1 – 6-12 Aquarium Jar Ecosystems (continued)	32	-Quiz 4 (Q4, 23 pts) -Week 3 Aquarium Jar Ecosystem notes, pp 4-13 – 4-14 (WK3, 3 pts) -Your Plans for Your Aquatic Experiment, pp 6-11 – 6-12 (AEP, 6 pts)
Feb. 25	Lab 7: Fungi and Fungus-like Protists Aquarium Jar Ecosystems (continued) Aquatic Experiment (continued)	36	- Quiz 5 (Q5, 23 pts) Fungus from Nature (FFN, 10 pts) -Week 4 Aquarium Jar Ecosystem notes, pp 4-15 – 4-16 (WK4, 3 pts)
Mar. 3	Lab 8: Evolution of Plants, pp 8-1 – 8-22 Aquarium Jar Ecosystems (continued) Aquatic Experiment (continued)	28	-Pre-Lab Assignment, pp 8-1 – 8-2 (PLA3, 15 pts) -Moss from Nature (MFN, 10 pts) -Week 5 Aquarium Jar Ecosystem notes, pp 4-17 – 4-18 (WK5, 3 pts)
Mar. 10	SPRING BREAK		LAB CLASSES DO NOT MEET THIS WEEK
Mar. 17	Lab 9: Plant Structure and Growth Aquarium Jar Ecosystems (continued)	26	Quiz 6 (Q6, 23 pts) -Week 6 Aquarium Jar Ecosystem notes, pp 4-19 – 4-20 (WK6, 3 pts)
Mar. 24	Lab 10: Invertebrates: Introduction and Background Information Lab 12: Invertebrates II Aquatic Experiment completed Aquarium Jar Ecosystems (continued)	36	-Quiz 7 (Q7, 23 pts) -Invertebrate from Nature (IFN, 10 pts) -Week 7 Aquarium Jar Ecosystem notes, pp 4-21 – 4-22 (WK7, 3 pts)
Mar. 31	Lab 13: Invertebrates III Aquarium Jar Ecosystem – last set of observations.	41	-Quiz 8 (Q8, 25 pts) - Week 8 Aquarium Jar Ecosystem notes, pp 4-21 – 4-22 (WK8, 3 pts) -Rough Draft of Aquatic Experiment Lab Report (AERD, 15 pts)
Apr. 7	Lab 14: Human Cardiovascular System	23	-Quiz 9 (Q9, 23 pts)
Apr. 14	Lab 15: Renal Function: What's Wrong with this Patient?	63	-Quiz 10(Q10, 23 pts) -Aquarium Jar Ecosystem Summary (AJES, 40 pts)
Apr. 21	Lab 16: The Sensory System	94	-Quiz 11 (Q11, 23 pts) -Quiz 12 (Q12, 11 pts) -Aquatic Experiment Lab Report (AELP, 60 pts)