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Online and hybrid Environmental Biology, Fall semester 2009, Tentative Calendar (as taught by Dr. Nilsson)


THE ONLINE VERSION OF THIS CLASS HAS NO CLASSROOM MEETINGS!

x This semester calendar is dynamic -- may be updated throughout the semester. The student is responsible for the updated information. Major updates will be noted, in addition to in the calendar, on the Class Communication page.


x Thought for the beginning of the semester: There is VERY little time for parties! Do not come at the end of the semester and say that you didn't know how fast this course moves! Start working immediately at the beginning of the semester! Keep a close eye on the DEADLINES.

You can also use the grade recorder to help you keep track of deadlines. Bu_SyllGraRec_Blu300_yeltxt





Course Outline:
The course outline follows the textbook.

Unit I: Textbook chapters 1 - 6.
Unit II: Textbook chapters 7 - 15.


Click to read these calendar notes.


x Week 1. Aug 31 - Sept 05.
x Take the Syllabus (Student Contract) Quiz. Become familiar with the class web pages (Dr. Nilsson's CyberOffice and Blackboard.) Pay special attention to the Grading Criteria and the Semester Calendar. Submit Student Contract Quiz. Get familiar with and read the textbook. Start working the Start Quiz. After passing the Start Quiz wit a minimum 94, start to answer Chapter Quizzes, Geography Drills or visit the Darwin Exhibit online at The American Museum of Natural History. Read online instructions, e.g., (quiz instruction page on Environmental Biology hub). Read the Class Communication page.

x Hybrid classes only: Classroom Meeting (PY2 Tuesday, GY2 Wednesday, PY1 Thursday): Class Introduction + Video 1: Global Warming "An Inconvenient Truth" (90 Min.)

Notes:

x Week 2. Sep 06 - 12. x Continue to familiarize yourself with the class web pages and the textbook. Submit Student Contract Quiz if you have not done so already (it should really have been done last week -- unless you are a procrastinator. The permanent Class Help Desk opens in the Town Hall course shell. Help questions must now be placed there. The temporary Help Desk in the regular shell will close.

Notes:


xWeek 3. Sep 13 - 19. x
 Student Contract Quiz due on or before Friday, September 18, 2009, 10:59PM.

x NOTE FIRST CRITICAL DEADLINE: Procrastinator student who has not answered the ONE (1), True or False, Student Contract Question correctly and thereby EARNED a 100 on the quiz, by Friday, September 18, 2009, 10:59PM cannot finish the class and will be blocked by the Blackboard settings and may be dropped from the class! (See footnote!)

x Hybrid classes only: Classroom Meeting (PY2 Tuesday, GY2 Wednesday, PY1 Thursday): Video 2: U.S. Healthcare System "Sicko" (123 Min.)

Notes:


xWeek 4. Sep 20 - 26. x Last day to pass the Start Quiz Thursday, September 24, 2009, 10.59pm.
x NOTE SECOND CRITICAL DEADLINE: Student who has not passed Start Quiz with a 94, by Thursday, September 24, 2009, 10.59pm. will be blocked by the Blackboard settings and may be dropped from the class! (Some students blame a slow start on NOT HAVING THE TEXTBOOK. Then, GET THE TEXTBOOK -- this is the 3rd week of the semester! However, you don't need the textbook to pass the Start Quiz.) (See footnote!)

Last day to pass the Class Discussion Key Quiz Friday, September 25, 2009, 10.59pm.

x NOTE THIRD CRITICAL DEADLINE: Student who has not passed the Class Discussion Quiz with a 100, by Friday, September 25, 2009, 10.59pm. cannot participate in the Class Discussions/Reflections in the regular course shell -- and will EARN a ZERO for the assignment at the end of the semester. Remember: You must have posted a minimum of 20 Class Discussions/Reflections messages by the midsemester point set by the instructor (exact date not disclosed). See Grading Criteria.

Notes:


x Week 5. Sep 27 - Oct 03 x Notes:


x Week 6. Oct 04 - 10 x Notes:


x Week 7. Oct 11 - 17 x x Midsemester grades for Class Discussions/Reflections (exact posting statistics reading day will not be disclosed)

Notes:


x Week 8. Oct 18 - 24. x x Hybrid classes only: To be arranged Alternative Classroom Meeting : Video 3 (Alternative 1)
x Midsemester grades for the Town Hall Meeting (exact posting statistics reading day will not be disclosed)


x Week 9. Oct 25 - Oct 31 x Last day to submit the Darwin Worksheet Quiz, Thursday, October 29, 2009, 10:59PM.
Last day to submit the Evolution Worksheet Quiz, Thursday, October 29, 2009, 10:59PM.
x NOTE FOURTH CRITICAL DEADLINE: Student who has not passed the Evolution Worksheet Quiz with a minimum 94, by Thursday, October 29, 2009, 10.59pm cannot participate in the Town Hall Discussion -- and will EARN a ZERO for the assignment at the end of the semester. Remember: You must have posted a minimum of 10 Town Hall messages by the midsemester point set by the instructor. (It was LAST WEEK, but exact date not disclosed. In other words, if you submitted the Evolution Worksheet Quiz this week you have missed at least 50 percent of that grade, BUT you can participate for the last 50 percent of the points.)


x Week 10. Nov 01 - 07 x Last day to submit the Evolution MidTerm Key Quiz, Sunday, November 01, 2009, 10:59PM.
x NOTE FIFTH CRITICAL DEADLINE: Student who has not passed the Evolution MidTerm Key Quiz with all 12 "key questions" answered correctly, by Sunday, November 01, 2009, 10.59pm cannot participate in the second part (after the midterm reading) Town Hall Discussion -- and will EARN a ZERO for the other part of the assignment at the end of the semester.
x NOTE SIXTH CRITICAL DEADLINE: Student who has not submitted the Midterm Exam with a minimum 0 (ZERO), by Friday, November 06, 2009, 10.59pm. will not be able to access the Endterm (Final) Exam -- and will EARN a ZERO for the both the Midterm Exam and the Final Exam at the end of the semester. See Grading Criteria.
x Hybrid classes only: Classroom Meeting (PY2 Tuesday, GY2 Wednesday, PY1 Thursday): Video 3: Genetic Engineering "GATTACA" (106 Min.)

Pop-posting, (the again opened) Class Discussion Quiz (for the REGULAR course shell), and Genetic Engineering 1 BB, close Saturday, 10:59 PM.

Notes:


x Week 11. Nov 08 - 14 x

x Hybrid classes only: To be arranged Alternative Classroom Meeting : Video 3 (Alternative 2)

Last day to submit a posting to the Case Study assignment 1, Monday, November 09, 2009, 10:59PM. (Online class only.)

Genetic Engineering 2 BB, close Saturday, 10:59 PM.

Notes:


x Week 12. Nov 15 - 21 x Last day to submit the Semester Project, Thursday, November 29, 2009, 01:00PM.

Last day to withdraw from the class, Friday, November 20, 2009.

Genetic Engineering 3 BB, close Saturday, 10:59 PM.

Notes:


x Week 13. Nov 22 - 28 x Town Hall Evolution semester discussion close, last chance to post, Sunday, November 22, 2009, 10:59PM. Remember: You must have posted a minimum of 20 Town Hall messages to EARN any points for the semester discussion session. If you have not participated in the semester discussion you cannot participate in the upcoming Reply to "The Serve" Town Hall Meeting.
xx
Two Day Town Hall Meeting -- Reply to "The Serve": From Monday, November 23, 6:00AM to Tuesday, November 24, 11:59PM (MIDNIGHT). The Class Help Desk will be closed during the same time interval. All students must post BOTH days. For Town Hall Meeting instructions go to the Town Hall instructions or the Class Communication page.

Genetic Engineering 4 BB, close Saturday, 10:59 PM.

xx

Notes:


x Week 14. Nov 29 - Dec 05. x Last day to submit a posting to the Case Study assignment 2, Monday, November 30, 2009, 10:59PM. (Online class only.)
All Class Discussions/Reflections in the REGULAR course shell close, last chance to post Tuesday, December 01, 2009, 10:59PM. Remember: You must have posted a minimum of 40 messages, and at least 1 message in each bulletin board to EARN any points for the assignment. Note that all Genetic Engineering BBs have already closed at this point.
All Chapter Quizzes and Geography Drills close, Thursday, December 03, 10:59PM
Endterm (Final) Exam opens Friday, December 04, 1:00PM - Closes Thursday, December 10, at 11:59AM. (Both parts must be submitted between these two times.) Endterm (Final) Exam grades posted on Blackboard Friday, December 11, 2009.


x Week 15. Dec 06 - 12. x Endterm (Final) Exam closes Thursday, December 10, at 11:59AM. (Both parts of the exam must have been submitted by this time.) Endterm (Final) Exam grades posted on Blackboard Friday, December 11, 2009.

Learning Self-Assessment available Friday, December 11, 1:00PM to Tuesday, December 15, 10:59PM.


x Week 16. Dec 13 - 19. x Learning Self-Assessment closes Tuesday, December 15, 10:59PM.

Graded due by STC, Monday, December 21. 4PM.


x Week 17. Dec 20 - 26. x Graded due by STC, Monday, December 21. 4PM. x


Comment: The calendar may be changed due to unforeseen circumstances to meet the needs of a particular class. The instructor therefore reserves the right to alter (add, delete, or revise) any items of the above, online or via verbal instructions in class. The student is responsible for taking note of any such changes and acting accordingly.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Let's have an interesting semester!



Footnote: This instructor does not necessarily drop students, so if you are unable to complete the course it is YOUR responsibility to complete the necessary paperwork for the withdrawal. Withdrawing is a formal procedure which YOU must initiate. If you don't your name will remain on the roster and you will receive a grade at the end of the semester, usually an F.