Syllabus Biology 201 Fall 2016

Revision date: 8/22/16 1
Fall 2016
Department of Life Sciences Stephanie Hudon
Biology 1 Office: Online Tues and Thur 2:00-3:00
BIOL201 – 006W, 007W stephaniehudon@cwidaho.cc
Students and Instructors are accountable for all information on the Course Syllabus,
as well as the Institutional Syllabus Addendum, which is located on the Blackboard
Site for this course. For further information regarding Library resources,
accommodations, and more, please refer to the addendum on Bb.
Instructor Availability
There are two ways to contact me outside of class time. The first resource is my virtual office hours
during my posted office hours or by appointment. The second resource is via email. I will check my
email Monday-Friday by 10:00am and respond to emails at that time. I may be available at other
times throughout the day, but it is not guaranteed. I might not respond to email on weekends or
holidays. This means that questions about assignments due Sunday night will not be
answered in time to complete the assignments. Make sure to ask all questions on the
assignments before the Sunday they are due.
I am always available for appointments either in person or through the Collaborate tool in Blackboard.
E-mail me to schedule an appointment.
Virtual Office Hours
What are virtual office hours? These are the hours, in this case during the day that I will be available to
you online. So if you send me an email, IM, or Google Chat, I will probably answer you within
seconds/minutes. As the semester progresses and I assess your comfort with online tools, we may
begin to use the Collaborate tool as a virtual classroom. I will make myself available to you using tools
that are most convenient for all of us!
Course Description
This is an introductory biology course for science majors. It will emphasize biological principles
important in understanding living organisms to include evolution, general biochemistry, cytology,
Mendelian and molecular genetics. Prior completion of CHEM 101 or CHEM 111 is strongly
recommended. Students who believe they may be eligible for advanced-placement status in courses
listing BIOL 201 as a prerequisite should see the Biology assistant dean. Additional fee required for
lab. COREQ: BIOL 201L
General Education Competency Area
This course fulfills the Idaho General Education competency area of Scientific Ways of Knowing by
meeting the following competencies:
A. Apply foundational knowledge and models of a natural or physical science to analyze and/or
predict phenomena. (Fulfilled by all learning outcomes.)
B. Interpret and communicate scientific information via written, spoken, and/or visual
representations. (Fulfilled by all learning outcomes.)

C. Describe the relevance of specific scientific principles to the human experience. (Fulfilled by all
learning outcomes.)
Academic Affairs Objectives:
This course meets the following Academic Affairs Objectives:
 Learn to Learn. Students learn that as important as content knowledge is, shaping one’s future
requires the development of skill in discerning, applying, analyzing, synthesizing and
evaluating knowledge in diverse contexts. The educational experience at CWI prepares
students for a world in which they are likely to change occupations and face unpredictable life
events. We strive to develop courses and learning experiences that give students the tools to
confidently thrive in a complex, information-saturated, diverse, and dynamic world.
 Make Connections. Students learn success in today’s interconnected world requires deliberate
engagement and comfort with multiple perspectives, cultures, and contexts. In navigating
difference and diversity in the natural and social worlds, students connect ideas, forms of
knowledge, and practices to create a richer understanding of themselves as personally and
socially responsible citizens.
 Solve Problems. Students identify problems, analyze and implement solutions, and interpret
and reflect on outcomes to develop skills to individually and collaboratively face challenges
and create opportunities.
☐ Reason Ethically. Students learn that ethical ideas and moral conduct may be understood from
many perspectives: as products of historical, cultural, and religious forces, as reflections of
human nature, and as personally held attitudes and beliefs. Students learn to articulate ethical
self-awareness, ethical issue recognition, and varieties of ethical perspectives to evaluate,
create, and live consciously according to their own personal moral values.
Course Schedule
Assignments will be open on Mondays and will be due the following Sunday by 9:00 pm
Course Objectives and Outcomes
Students who satisfactorily complete this course should be able to meet the following objectives:
A. Students will be able to define evolution and demonstrate an understanding of the process
and theory of evolution. (meets Make Connections and Solve Problems objectives)
B. Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between
structure and function at multiple levels of biological organization and use this
understanding to solve problems and describe relationships. (meets Make Connections
and Solve Problems objectives)
C. Students will be able to discuss and provide examples of information flow within biological
systems. (meets Make Connections and Solve Problems objectives)
D. Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of energy and matter
transformations and be able to discuss how these processes impact the global community.
(meets Make Connections and Solve Problems objectives)
E. Students will be able to provide examples of biological systems and explain how they
function both with the system and within the world around it. (meets Make Connections
and Solve Problems objectives)

Outcomes Assessment
The above objectives and outcomes will be assessed in the following manner:
Student Learning Outcomes Expanded Description of
Student Outcomes
Method of
Assessment
Students will be able to define
evolution and demonstrate an
understanding of the process and
theory of evolution.
1. Students will be able to discuss,
evaluate, or provide examples of
evolution at different levels of
biological organization.
2. Students will be able describe the
impact of evolution the human
experience and understanding our
place on earth.
Students will be assessed
formatively and
summatively via homework
assignments, discussion
boards, wikis, quizzes,
lecture exams, and a
signature assignment.
Students will be able to demonstrate
an understanding of the relationship
between structure and function and
use this understanding to solve
problems and describe relationships.
1. Students will be able to provide
examples of how structure informs
the function including biochemical
structures. .
2. Students will be able analyze how the
change in a structure may impact the
function of organisms at different
levels of biological organization.
3. Students will be to apply these
concepts to solve biological problems.
4. Students will be able to apply
concepts from the theory of evolution
to discuss the relationship between
structure and function.
5. Students will be able describe the
relationship between various
biological structures and their
function to the human experience.
formatively and
Students will be able to discuss and
provide examples of information flow
within biological systems.
1. Students will be able to discuss,
describe, or recognize the properties
of DNA, RNA and proteins.
2. Students will be able to explain the
processes of DNA replication,
transcription, and translation.
3. Students will be able to discuss the
principles of heredity including
Mendel’s laws and their implications.
concepts to solve biological problems
regarding information flow.
to discuss how biological information
is modified and passed from
generation to generation.
6. Students will be able describe how
information flow shapes the human
experience.
formatively and
Students will be able to demonstrate
an understanding of energy and
matter transformations and be able
to discuss how these processes
impact the global community.
1. Students will understand and/or be
able to communicate the
fundamental processes of energy flow
and nutrient cycling.
2. Students will be able to define,
describe, or recognize various types
of energy and matter.
3. Students will be able to apply or
formatively and

describe how the laws of
thermodynamics apply to biological
activities.
5. Students will be able describe how
energy and matter transformations
shape the human experience.
Students will be able to provide
examples of biological systems and
explain how they function both
within the system and the world
around it.
1. Students will be able to identify and
distinguish the three types of cells
(prokaryote, plant and animal) and
discuss the properties of each cell
type.
2. Students will be able to describe the
function and importance of biological
systems and their relationship to the
human experience.
3. Students will be able to identify
systems at different levels of
biological organization and apply the
concept or emergent properties at
various levels.
4. Students will be able to apply,
discuss, or recognize feedback
mechanisms, their role within
biological systems, and how they are
controlled.
6. Students will be able to discuss and
provide examples of how biology
intersects with other scientific
disciplines and how these
intersections can be exploited to the
benefit of the global community.
to discuss the formation and
continued changes of biological
systems.
formatively and
Signature Assignments
The signature assignment for this course will be a case study. Students will work alone to complete the
assignment. Case studies allow students the flexibility to manage their workload and provide an
opportunity to demonstrate personal responsibility and critical thinking skills.
The signature assignment will be posted, along with directions, to our Bb course site. It will be due on
the final day of instruction (not finals week!) and must be uploaded to Taskstream if you are a CWID
student. If you are unfamiliar with Taskstream, please see our folks in the Tutoring Lab or the IT Help
Desk.
Grading Policy
90% - 100% of total points = A Exams (note these are in-person!) 30%
80% - 89.9% of total points = B In–person Final Exam = 10%
70% - 79.9% of total points = C Assignments = 25%
60% - 69.9% of total points = D Discussion Boards, Wikis, etc 10%
Below 60% of total points = F Lab 25%

Example of Weighted Grading:
How weighting is used to calculate grades is not always clearly understood. This explanation should be
helpful. In the example, there are three weighted categories: Homework, Tests, and Final. Each is
weighted 30%, 50%, and 20% respectively.
The figure illustrates that a student's average for the Homework and Tests categories is 60% and 70%
respectively. Since there is no score for the final exam yet, that category will not be used in calculating
the student's average. The weight of each category used is multiplied by the student's average for that
category. Those products are summed together and divided by the total of the weighted categories in
use (80% as pictured). In this example, the student has earned 53% of a possible 80% for an average
of 66.25%.
Late Assignments: Assignments are due as announced on Blackboard unless otherwise noted. Late
assignments will not be accepted regardless of technical issues.
Exams: There will be three or four one hour-long exams that must completed within 1 week of the
opening of the exam at the CWI testing center. The testing center requires 2 days advanced
notice to schedule exams. Extensions will not be allowed for any reason. Use the course
schedule to plan your semester accordingly.
Laboratory Attendance: You are strongly encouraged to attend EVERY lab. Upon
recommendation of the faculty and to maintain an appropriate level of academic rigor in core biology
coursework, the following laboratory attendance rules will apply to all students. A student may miss
two lab periods without penalty. Upon the third missed lab period, students will be penalized 5% of
the total points offered for the lecture and lab combination (equivalent to a ½ letter grade reduction).
Each additional week missed will result in the same 5% reduction in points. Missed assignments or
work associated with missed labs will NOT be accepted. Exceptions for military personnel will be
made in accordance with College policies; no other exceptions will apply.
Technical issues associated with submitting graded works through blackboard must be reported
within one week of the issue accompanied with a help desk ticket from the IT department.
Any errors in the gradebook must be brought to the instructor’s attention within one week of posting
to be corrected. After this one week period has passed, the grade is permanent.
This grading scheme is subject to change based on the progression of the class.
Textbooks and Required Materials
CWI has made a custom version of the textbook which only represents the first half of the full-length
book. The hard copy textbook is ISBN 978-1-308-79389-4 and will come with the McGraw Hill
Connect access code. This book can only be purchased at the CWI bookstore since it is a custom text
but should cost less than the full-length text. The reason for this custom text is that they are using a
different author for Biology 201.

If you would like to save money and don't care if you have a physical copy of the book you can
purchase the McGraw Hill Connect access code with the eTextbook available online with ISBN #978-
1-259-67009-1. You can also purchase this from the bookstore and then click on the LearnSmart
assignment in Chapter 1 (Units of Study) in Blackboard to register for online access. You can also get
online access for two weeks for free if you are waiting for your financial aid. You must have access
asap as we have assignments through McGraw Hill Connect starting Day 1!
If you have an older version of the textbook and just need access to McGraw Hill Connect you can buy
just the access code also. The ISBN for this is 978-1-259-67009-1 .
All biology majors are also required to purchase the book called "Writing in the Biological Sciences: A
Comprehensive Resource for Scientific Communication" 2nd ed by Hofmann, Oxford Press, 2016.
ISBN # 978-0-19-024560-3. We will do one or two chapters in this book this semester and you will
continue to use this resource throughout your coursework at CWI.
Methods of Delivery
This is an online course. You will read chapters from the textbook, watch recorded lectures, complete
activities within Connect Plus, and take quizzes & complete assignments through Blackboard online,
write a variety of learning or reflection exercises, engage in discussions with your fellow students via
the discussion board, create multi-media presentations, as well as participate in other active learning
opportunities.
For the most part, you can participate in these activities on your own schedule. However, this course is
NOT self-paced and assignments must be completed by the scheduled due date (see the “Grading”
section of this syllabus above for late assignment policy and the course schedule for due dates). You
may complete the online activities from wherever you choose─from work, home or a campus
computer lab—but within a fixed schedule. This means that you will be unable to work ahead and
complete the course before the semester ends. Instead, I will make available portions of the course on
a weekly basis, right up to end of the semester. Classes will run from Monday mornings until the
following Sunday.. All assignments and quizzes will be due by 9:00pm on Sundays (MST).
In most instances, the lecture presentations and reading assignments will be the focus of our
discussions and other activities. If you have questions about what you’ve read, please ask them;
chances are other students will have the same questions. If you have a specific class related question
that is time sensitive, please e-mail me directly to ensure a timely response.
All assignments, quizzes, or assignments are to be completed online (with the exception of exams that
need to be completed at the testing center). I do not require any in-person or on-campus meeting
times.
Finally, please note that the course site contains quite a bit of material that complements and
supplements your text, including interactive documents, videos, audio recordings, etc. Please use
these materials to enhance your understanding of the module topics. Anything posted on Bb or in
Connect and all materials in the text are considered testable materials on the exam.

Course Calendar
Academic
Week
Week Of: Topic
Reading
Assignment
In-Person Exam
Scheduled
Week 1
August 22
Starting Strong
Unit/The Science
of Biology
Chapter 1 NONE
Week 2
August 29
Water/
Chemistry
Chapter 2/3 NONE
Week 3
Sept 6 Writing Assignment Exam 1
Week 4
Sept 12
Cell Structure/
Membranes
Chapter 4/5 NONE
Week 5
Sept 19
Energy and
Metabolism
Chapter 6
Week 6
Sept 26
How Cells
Harvest Energy
Chapter 7 NONE
Week 7
Oct 3 Photosynthesis Chapter 8 NONE
Week 8
Oct 10 Cells Division Chapter 10 NONE
Week 9
Oct 17 Signature Assignments Open
Exam 2
Week 10
Oct 24 Meiosis Chapter 11 NONE
Week 11
Oct 31 Inheritance Chapter 12 NONE
Week 12
Nov 7 Chromosomes, Chapter 13 NONE
Week 13
Nov 14 DNA
Chapter 14 Exam 3
Nov 21 No Class Thanksgiving Holiday
Week 14
Nov 28 Genes Chapter 15
Signature
Assignments.
Due
Week 15
Dec 5 Gene Expression Chapter 16
Week 16
Finals
Dec 12
FINAL EXAM
This calendar is subject to change.
Exam 1 must be taken between Sept 6-10th
Exam 2 must be taken between Oct 17-22
Exam 3 must be taken between Nov 14-19
The Final must be taken between Dec 12-14 (three days only!)
Please call or go online to schedule your exams at least two business days in advance at:
http://registerblast.com/cwidaho/Exam or call (208) 562-2542.
All of your exams and the final can be scheduled the first week of classes to ensure you get the days
and times you need.

Course Expectations
Biology 1 will be a challenging course for most students. To succeed, you will need to devote
approximately 3 hours of work for each credit hour the class is assigned. So, doing the math… that
means you should plan to spend at least 9 hours each week on this class. This is not a set number.
Some students will need more time while others may need less time. You are also expected to rely on
yourself, your classmates, tutors, the companion website or other sources for help. I will be available
during office hours and by appointment but a major component of your college education is working
with groups of your peers and developing interpersonal skills to help you succeed in the workplace (as
well as in this class!). I encourage you to work with your classmates to work on assignments, however
all projects and journals must be your own work. You are free to discuss with each other, but the work
must be your own.
You are encouraged log into blackboard daily to space out your work, but should not let more than two
days pass without working on course material.
You will not be permitted to turn in work after deadlines. In other words – NO LATE
ASSIGNMENTS ARE ACCEPTED. If you encounter a technical problem, please contact CWI
technical support immediately. Links to technical support are under the Student Resources button.
Online instruction requires a philosophical shift for the student and instructor. This course requires
you to be more active in your learning process. In other words, you cannot be a passive learner who
waits for information. Instead you must be pro-active in watching, reading, studying, writing,
questioning, discussing, and understanding the material of this course. I will be your guide to
knowledge, not your provider. This is part of the fun and excitement in an online course!!
Late Add Policy
The Department of Life Sciences fully supports the Successful Start Program by not allowing students
to override the program requirements by registering on or after the first day of class for the term. In
addition, we do not allow students who have been dropped (either for non-attendance or lack of
payment) to be re-added to a course unless an error has been made by CWI faculty or staff. Finally,
section changes will be permitted as outlined by CWI’s Success Start Program, if there is room in the
class and only with the permission of the faculty member, Department Chair and Dean of STEM (as
applicable).
Behavioral Expectations:
Every student has the right to a respectful learning environment. In order to provide this right to all
students, students must take individual responsibility to conduct themselves in a mature and
appropriate manner and will be held accountable for their behavior. Students who disrupt the class or
behave inappropriately or disrespectfully, as determined by the instructor, may be asked to leave
the classroom.
If conduct continues to be an issue, students may be referred to Student Conduct for judicial action. It
is the student’s responsibility to check their email to receive notification of any scheduled
appointments or other urgent communications.
Any student who has witnessed or experienced a violation of the student code may contact Student
Conduct at 562-2305, or email: conduct@cwidaho.cc
Academic Honesty:
All work submitted by a student must represent his or her own ideas, concepts, and current
understanding.
All material found during research must be correctly documented to avoid plagiarism. Cheating or
plagiarism in any form is unacceptable and violations may result in disciplinary action ranging from

failure of the assignment to failure of the course. Repeated acts of academic dishonesty may have
more severe institutional ramifications. The consequences for cheating in this class are listed below:
 Any violation of the Academic Honesty Code of Conduct will result in a failing
grade for the course.
Personal Technical Skills Required To Take the Course
This online class will not teach you how to use the computer, use Blackboard, navigate the web, or
manage your electronic files. If you are having difficulties, you may contact your instructor, IT
helpdesk (208-562-3444), and/or tutoring services (see student resources of Blackboard for
information regarding tutoring services). For those participants who fear they may not be able to
navigate the technical skills of this course, please use CWI services and/or see the instructor before
dropping the course. We want you to succeed.
You will need to possess the ability (or be able to quickly acquire) the following minimum technology
skills:
 Navigate, browse, and use the Internet and Blackboard.
 Download/upload/create/save/edit/open Word or PDF documents, video, and audio
 Download/upload and listen to or view audio and video files
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE ONLINE COURSE:
1. I must emphasize again…you must have access to a reliable computer and the internet, plus
backup plans (another computer, access to a library or computer lab, etc.). If you don’t have
internet access for more than a day, you risk falling behind.
2. Computer failure or an inability to get to a working computer is not an excuse
for missed assignments. If availability of a machine is in question, or if because of travel or
work you cannot get on the internet at least several times a week, re-evaluate taking this online
course.
Hardware and Software Requirements
You may not be able to view all course content through mobile devices and therefore may miss
important information. Therefore, you must have daily access to a computer that has:
 Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows XP, or equivalent
 Internet browser equivalent to Explorer 7.0 or higher (for example, Firefox, Opera, Chrome, or
Safari).
 Dependable High-Speed Internet access with at least 1.5 Mbps download and .5 Mbps upload.
You can use speedtest.net to check your speed.
 Microsoft Word or equivalent Word Processing Software (e.g., OpenOffice suite). A link for
downloading OpenOffice software for free is available under the “CWI Student Resources”
button.
 Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash Player, iTunes, QuickTime Player or equivalent software. You will
find these links under the “CWI Student Resources” button.
 A backup option must be available for all of the above items, should your primary access fail
for any reason.
 Access to hardwired internet access (as opposed to wifi or cell phones) to submit documents,
quizzes, and test.
Methods of Communication
Communication in this course will take place in several ways such as the Grade Center, Discussion
Board, email, and/or Blackboard announcements. Please check Blackboard and your email daily to
make sure you are not missing important information regarding class content and deadlines.

Netiquette Expectations
Text-based communication is especially prone to misinterpretation. It is important that you consider
this in course communication. Use academic language: please use complete sentences, appropriate
punctuation, standard spelling, and capitalization. Communication should conform to academic
standards of courtesy. For example, flaming, profanity, and ad hominem (personal) attacks are
unacceptable. Failure to adhere to these standards will result in a zero for the assignment and may
result in an immediate failure in the course. Students should be aware that the use of sarcasm is
particularly prone to misinterpretation. With that in mind, do not use sarcasm. The use of emotion
icons (emoticons - , , etc.) may help convey some of the important nonverbal elements of
communication.
Assessment Method and Turnaround Time
Feedback for assessments will normally be given within a week after the assessment due date. Should
more time be required to give feedback, an email and/or announcement will be sent. The large
majority of your feedback will be input into your My Grades center either in an attached document,
rubric, or in the comment box.
Instructor’s Role in Interactive Assignments
Instructor participation in interactions will vary depending on the assignment. However, you can
expect that your work will be looked at by the instructor.
Definition of Attendance
All CWI Instructors are required to report attendance and course participation during the first two
weeks to One Stop Student Services for financial aid purposes. Attendance is defined below. If you do
not meet attendance standards, you can be dropped from the course.
Week 1: Login to Blackboard and McGraw Hill Connect and complete required assignments.
Week 2: Login to Blackboard and McGraw Hill Connect and complete required assignments.
During the rest of the semester: [Clarify for your course]
Affidavit of Syllabus as Contract
This syllabus serves as a contract between the instructor and the student. By continuing in this course,
you accept the terms outlined above and acknowledge that any changes to this syllabus will be posted
in Blackboard with a class announcement.

Syllabus Biology 201 Fall 2016

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