Biology 1103

Lecture:		Dr. Norris Armstrong, Room 409B	542‑1699
		(use the mail feature of webCT to contact me.)
		Office hours, TTh 12:30-1:30 or by appt.

Data Specialist:		Ms. Yulonda Davis, Room 403 (ydavisl@ uga.edu)	542‑1684

Materials needed for the course:
	TEXT: Biology: A Guide to the Natural World; by David Krogh, 3^nd Edition

The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class by the instructor may be necessary. Changes to the course will be posted on webCT.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1. To help you to understand basic concepts and principles underlying several aspects of biology.

2. To help you learn how to apply your understanding to novel situations

3. To help you learn how to improve your understanding of a topic on your own.

EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES: You will be able to demonstrate and understanding of how energy is transferred from the environment into and through living organisms, how genetic information is used in organisms, and how populations of organisms evolve over time.

WebCT: Class information is available online under BIO 1103, (Armstrong). Use your myID name and password to login. You MUST have a school email account to access WebCT. If you do not have an account, go to http://www.uga.edu/myid. Accounts are free to all registered students.

BIOSCIENCE LEARNING CENTER (BLC) is a computer lab with reserved textbook copies, printers (5¢/page) and copiers (10¢/page). Open Mon-Thu 8:30 am-7 pm and Fri 8:30 am -5 pm

LECTURES: T,Th 11 AM -12:15 PM and 3:30-4:45 PM
Regular attendance is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED and is highly correlated with grades, i.e. better attendance = better grades. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL ANNOUNCEMENTS MADE IN CLASS! Absence from class does not relieve you from this responsibility.

EXAMINATIONS: are multiple choice and will be graded by machine. There will be five tests during the semester. Tentative dates for tests are given in the course schedule. There are NO MAKEUP EXAMS. To accommodate unexpected problems, students with a documented and valid excuse may use the portion of the final exam corresponding to the material covered by a missed test to determine a score for that test.

GROUP EXAMS AND ACTIVITIES: You will be randomly assigned to a group of 6-8 students. Please sit with your groups during lecture. Activities requiring group participation will take place daily. One person from each group should be responsible for picking up a “clicker” from the front of the class each day. These clickers will be used to as part of daily class activities. In addition, immediately after individual tests, you will have the opportunity to take the same test with your group. The group tests give you the opportunity to receive immediate feedback on individual questions through interaction with your peers. As a result, group tests will not only help you improve your grade, but will also help you learn the material better.

GROUP EVALUATIONS: You will receive separate scores for the individual and group exams. To help insure that all members of each group contribute, everyone will be required to complete one or more evaluations during the semester in which you anonymously rate the contributions of your peers. The group test points you earn will be determined by the average evaluation you receive from your peers multiplied by the total points earned on the group exams. Failure to turn in peer evaluation(s) will result in an automatic deduction from the group test points you earn. The instructor reserves the right to overrule the peer evaluation scores.

NOTE: 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. Any person found using unauthorized assistance (including copying answers from another student during individual exams) will be reported to the Academic Affairs Office. The minimum penalty for using unauthorized assistance is a failing grade, the maximum penalty is suspension from the University.

ON-LINE QUIZZES: There will be on-line quizzes available on webCT throughout the semester. These quizzes will count for 10 points towards your final grade. Additional points earned on these quizzes will be counted as extra credit. The quizzes will be open book and deal with material currently being covered in lecture. The deadline for quizzes will be the morning of the test covering that material. Deadlines for missed quizzes will NOT be extended. Pop-up blocking software on your computer must be turned off for the quizzes to work properly. If you experience problems with your browser, go to the following link: http://www.uga.edu/browsertest/.

GRADES:

Assignments	Points		Grade	%	Min. Pts.
Tests (5 x 44 pts each)	= 220		A	>93%	465 pts
Group Tests	= 110	(X % peer score)	A-	>90%	450 pts
On-line Quizzes	= 10		B+	>87%	435 pts
Final Exam	= 160		B	>83%	415 pts
Total	500		B-	>80%	400 pts
			C+	>77%	385 pts
			C	>73%	365 pts
			C-	>70%	350 pts
			D	>60%	300 pts
			F	<60%	<300 pts

REGRADES: Requests for exam regrades must be made in writing via webCT email. To be considered for a regrade, you must explain why your answer for a specific question(s) should be considered correct. If you feel that there was an error in scoring your exam, get a photocopy of your scantron answer sheet and check each of your answers against the posted key BEFORE requesting a regrade. Grades can not be changed after the final exam has been scored except for clerical errors.

MISSING GRADES: Frequently, scantron answer sheets are incorrectly filled out (missing ID#, name, etc). We are unable to score and record these exams but will save the answer sheets. If you are missing grades for exams or quizzes, it is your responsibility to check with us ASAP and identify your quiz among those that have not been scored.

INCOMPLETES: The grade of incomplete is given to students who for reason of illness or accident were unable to complete a segment of the course. Graded of incomplete are not given simply to avoid a failing grade.

GRADE PROBLEMS: If you are having difficulty with the material or are doing poorly on the exams I encourage you to meet with me ASAP. I have office hours several times a week and can meet at other times by appointment. During these meetings we can work on ways to improve your study habits and retention of the material. Do not wait until the end of the semester when it may be to late.