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Course
content.
What you need to know. Anatomy and physiology are demanding fields of study
requiring the student to be disciplined and attentive to detail. There is
much to learn and a very short period in which to learn it. Students who
attend the lectures regularly, take adequate notes during lecture, and study
regularly do well in these courses. While there are no formal prerequisites
at this time, a baseline of knowledge is presumed: a working command of
spoken and written English; the ability to perform basic arithmetic
operations; an elementary knowledge of plane and solid geometry; basic
biology, including structure of the cell, evolution, and development; basic
chemistry, including atomic structure, elements, compounds, and energy; and
some knowledge of physics, such as the laws of motion.
This may look like a formidable list, but do not be put off by it; there is
nothing in the list that should not be expected of any student taking a
college biology course. Except for the language issue, any deficit can be
overcome by additional reading and study by the student at the appropriate
time. Added to this list as a very strongly suggested skill set is the
ability to use a computer, e-mail, and the Internet productively. Not only will
this allow you to use the lecture-note pages to the fullest, but it will also
permit easy and rapid communication between you and your instructor, you and
your classmates, you and your University.
Studying. I am not an expert in designing effective study habits, but
I will offer a few suggestions:
1. Be interested in the material. I believe that even if every
other suggestion is ignored, when a student is truly interested in a subject,
he or she takes the time to explore it in greater detail. The more one
investigates something, the more expert one becomes.
2. Study often. Try not to wait until the night before the
midterm or final to cram. If one studies a little bit after each class
session, not only does the material seem more familiar, but there is the
chance for additional consolidation of the material into memory.
3. Study what is important. Always study the material presented
in lecture and any assigned reading. Additional reading of the textbook or
linked webpages should not be ignored, but if pressed for study time, go with
learning the material that the test is known to cover.
4. Generate questions and answers. And do not make them
trivially simple. Test them out on other students in the class. Solve
problems. Use the study/quiz questions in your textbook.
5. Study as a group. If the group members test one another, make
sure that at least one person in the group knows the correct answer to the
test question.
Examinations.
Format. Examinations will be multiple choice/true-false or brief answer/fill-in/short
essay, depending on class size. Unless otherwise noted, questions will be
based on the material presented in lecture; the distributed lecture session
outlines will serve as a guide for the material covered. This statement does
not preclude the possibility of questions being asked which might serve to
test the student’s ability to visualize, analyze, or interpret other data
germane to the field of inquiry. In addition, questions may not just test
rote memorization of data, but may require the student to analyze data to
arrive at the correct answer.
From time to time, questions may be added as lateral-thinking challenges to
the student. Answering these questions is voluntary on the part of the
student, and any answer, or lack thereof, will in no way affect the grade
earned by the student on the didactic portion of the examination.
Exam protocol. Students must put all study materials (textbooks,
notes, review cards, whatever) away at the time the examinations are handed
out; further review of material once the exam has been distributed will not
be permitted. It is incumbent upon the student to read the examination
instructions carefully, to heed any additions or corrections indicated by the
instructor, and to ask the instructor if something is not clearly explained
or questioned. Be aware, however, that such questions may not be answered
because to do so would betray the answer.
All exams must be returned by the designated end time for that examination;
failure to turn in the exam by that time will result in a zero for the
examination. If a student is late for a scheduled exam, the student will be
permitted to take that examination provided that no student has already
completed the exam and left the room; in addition, the student must complete
the exam and turn it in by the designated end time of the examination.
During an examination, the student may not listen to any playback device,
digital or analog, including, but not limited to, tape recorders, CD players,
camcorders, &c. The use of calculators requires permission of the
instructor.
Challenges. Any challenge to a question on an exam or to a grade
earned on an exam must be submitted in writing by the class following the
posting or review of the answers or grades for that exam.
Missed exams. No makeup examinations will be given. In the case of
genuine emergency, prior notice or subsequent documentation must be provided.
Failure to do so will result in a grade of zero being posted for that exam.
Please see the lecture syllabus for information on how to contact me.
Extra credit. No. Why not?
1. To be fair, extra credit, if offered to one student, must be offered
to all.
2. The time spent on an extra credit project would better be used in
studying the assigned material.
Classroom behavior.
Deportment. Proper class deportment is expected. Questions that seek to
clarify or expand the lecture material are always welcome. Disruptive
classroom behavior will not be tolerated, and frivolous questions that are
totally off-topic, persistent argumentative questions, or questions that only
serve as self-aggrandizement fall within the purview of such behavior.
Students engaged in such unsociable activity will be asked to leave. If the
offender or offenders cannot be identified, then the lecture will be
terminated, but the class will be responsible for whatever material would
have been covered. Impolite behavior, such as wearing a baseball cap indoors,
is merely gauche, not disruptive, and so, cannot be barred.
Portable communication devices. The use of beepers or cellular phones
during class can be quite disruptive to the lecture environment. Therefore,
all beepers and cellular phones must be turned off prior to entering the
lecture room. Exceptions to this policy must be cleared with the instructor.
Violation of this directive will be considered equivalent to disruptive
classroom behavior.
Grading.
The assignment of letter grades to one’s overall course average will be
determined by the following rule: If the class mean is ≥ 78, then
standard letter-equivalencies will pertain; i.e., 78=C+, 80=B-, 84=B, etc. If
the class mean is < 78, then this mean score will be given the grade of
C+. For example, if the mean=70, then 70=C+. If you obtain the mean score on
all yours tests, you are guaranteed to receive a grade no lower than C+.
Grades on a particular examination should always be viewed in a comparative
light, and if a letter grade has been attached to the exam, that letter grade
indicates the position of the earned score on that exam within the
ABCDF-grading system.
Academic honesty.
The student is encouraged to study with other students, to share notes and
ideas. All examinations, laboratory exercises, and other assignments, must be
completed by the student alone. Examinations and quizzes administered in this
class during previous quarters are not available for review by the student,
and any student who reviews such will be considered to have cheated. Neither
this nor any other form of academic dishonesty will be tolerated. For
example, the following is quoted from the University College 1998-1999
Bulletin [p. 24]:
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