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Online General Biology I, Summer III 2011, Tentative Calendar (as taught by Dr. Nilsson)


THIS ONLINE CLASS HAS NO CLASSROOM MEETINGS! All assignments and activities (including labs) are online!


READ THIS PAGE CAREFULLY!

(Carefully means that you read it MORE than one or two times, and that you keep reading it throughout the semester. Have a cup of coffee while you read it...)



x This semester calendar is dynamic -- there MAY be a few minor updates during the semester.
The student is responsible for updated information.
You need to study the online calendar on a weekly basis -- do not rely on a printed copy!!!

x All DUE DATES (there are NO exceptions and NO make-ups, and all assignments can be submitted early) are flagged with a blue and yellow arrow x
MOST assignment (BUT NOT ALL) are due near the end of the semester.

x PLAN YOUR WORK ACCORDINGLY, and keep an eye on the semester calendar!!!



Course Setup
This class is completely online. The class uses web pages located on the STC regular server, called the General Biology Hub -- where you can find much class information, and web pages located on the STC Blackboard server, called Dr. Nilsson's CyberClassroom -- where you find additional information and will submit assignments.


Click on the article thumbnail to read it...


Additional Blackboard course shell
The course has an additional course shell. This is a shell in addition to the regular Blackboard course shell, and it is called the "Town Hall". The Town Hall course shell involves one of the two class discussion assignments and is explained in the Grading Criteria. The Town Hall course shell will not be available at the beginning of the semester -- not until the Blackboard people have set it up after a week or so of the semester. All biology classes taught by this instructor (not just students in this class) will participate in the Town Hall.

This class do not use a lab manual. When written material is needed in the lab -- which are online or outside giving you fresh air, it will be provided online or by the instructor.








Course Outline
The course outline follows the chapters of the required textbook in the order given. "Tests" (exams, quizzes, drills, or assessments) are online open book assignments using Blackboard quizzes and bulletin boards.

Unit I: Introduction, and The Cell

Chapter 01: A view of life
Chapter 02: Basic Chemistry
Chapter 03: The Chemistry of Organic Molecules
Chapter 04: Cell Structure and Function
Chapter 05: Membrane Structure and Function
Chapter 06: Metabolism: Energy and Enzymes
Chapter 07: Photosynthesis
Chapter 08: Cellular Respiration

Unit II: Genetic Basis of Life

Chapter 09: The Cell Cycle and Cellular Reproduction
Chapter 10: Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction
Chapter 11: Mendelian Patterns of Inheritance
Chapter 12: Molecular Biology of Inheritance

Unit III: Evolution (Evolution is split into two segments, with segment two continuing in General Biology II)

Chapter 15: Darwin and Evolution
Chapter 16: How Populations Evolve
Chapter 17: Speciation and Macroevolution


x Week 1. Jun 05 - 11.
"Familiarize yourself with the course week" 		x Read the information message and view the video(s) on the first page when logging in to the class (Blackboard Content "Home" page).

Take the Student Contract Quiz. After passing the student contact quiz with 100 (can be taken unlimited times) additional links will become visible on the first page -- e.g., "Blackboard Plaza" and the "General Biology Hub". Become familiar with the class web pages (Blackboard Plaza -- on the Blackboard server, and the General Biology Hub -- on the STC server). Pay special attention to the Grading Criteria and the Semester Calendar (this page). Become familiar with and read the textbook. Visit "Blackboard Plaza" and read the information message on the bottom of the page.

Post an introductory posting message, introducing yourself and say hello to the class, in the "temporary help desk" bulletin board. (Passing of the Class Diskussion Key Quiz is not required for this bulletin board.)

Navigate to the "class discussion reading assignment page" and on that page scroll down and read the "Class Discussion Philosophy, Scope, and Instructions". Then take the Class Discussion Key Quiz (when it opens), on Blackboard (found in the Class Discussion folder on Blackboard Plaza) based on that reading, and get ready for the class discussion start. (Again, the first (one) message that also counts for a Class Discussion grade, your Introduction message posted in the temporary help desk, does NOT require passing of the Class Discussion Key Quiz.)

Continue to familiarize yourself with class pages, the textbook, read online instructions, and online reading assignments located on the General Biology hub -- get ready for the "real class start" next week.

Class Discussion Key Quiz opens, Thursday, June 09, 2011, 8:00AM.

With a few exceptions MOST CLASS ASSIGNMENTS HAVE NOT YET OPENED UP! See calendar entry next week for most assignments opening!


x Week 2. Jun 12 - 18.
"Real 'start of the class' week" 		x x June 14, 2010 -- 7th Class Day.
ATTENDANCE /PARTICIPATION DROP POINT 1 (first): Student who has not started class (submitted the Student Contract Quiz with 100, by 5:00PM) will be removed from the class roster and can no longer participate in the class. (It is the student's responsibility to officially drop the class.)

"All" assignments (most assignment with a deadline at the end of the semester) not listed with a later start date, and not already available, OPEN -- Monday, June 13, 2011, 8:00AM. (All assignments not open last week, such as tests, assessments, quizzes, work sheet quizzes, readings, labs, regular class discussions/reflections, case studies, etc. as listed in the grading criteria.)

Note that the Class Discussions/Reflections open in the REGULAR course shell, but the evolution related class discussions in the TOWN HALL course shell open later in the semester.


x Monday, June 13, 2011 , starting at 8:00AM, was the starting point of the class discussion/reflections in the regular course shell. Those of you who have already posted -- EXCELLENT, but make sure you deduct postings made earlier from the number in "My Progress". When I tally the discussion postings at the end of the semester, the Blackboard tracker will start counting today at 8:00AM. You need to have minimum 50 postings by the deadline date and minimum 20 by the midsemester week (starting the count today)...

Have you read the "Class Communication Page"?

x FIRST CRITICAL DEADLINE: Student Contract Quiz due on or before Tuesday, June 14, 2011, 5:00PM. (Note the time 5:00PM.) This contract should normally have been submitted last week. Student who has not submitted the Student Contract Quiz by the deadline will be considered a non-participating student and will be removed from the class roster. Student, who has not submitted the Student Contract Quiz will be blocked (automatically -- not by the instructor) by the Blackboard settings and cannot submit class assignments after this date. Such a student should drop the class, or MAY later be dropped from the class by STC or by the instructor, or be assigned an F at the end of the semester if still on the class roster at that time!

x Introductory Posting in the temporary help desk due on or before Tuesday, June 14, 2011, 10:59PM. Last chance to place an "introduction" message and say hello to the class in the regular course shell. (Late introduction messages can be posted in the permanent help desk also on Wednesday, June 15.) Since this is part of the Class Discussion, and since this is a method by the instructor to see which students are working in the class and which students may have problems, a student who has not introduced himself/herself to the class will lose Class Discussion grade points.

The Town Hall and the Permanent Study Group / Help Desk in the Town Hall course shell opens Tuesday, June 14, 2011, 11.00 PM Temporary Help Desk in the regular course shell close Tuesday, June 15, 2011, 10:59PM. (See Grading Criteria and the Town Hall instructions for further details. Navigate to the Town Hall as soon as possible to make sure you know where it is located!)


xWeek 3. Jun 19 - 25. x
 x ATTENDANCE /PARTICIPATION DROP POINT 2 (second): Student who has not attempted and submitted Chapter Assessment 1 (quiz located in the Learning Module folder on Blackboard Plaza) with a minimum grade 0 (zero -- which means that you must AT LEAST have OPENED and submitted the quiz, but without necessarily answering any questions) will be removed from the class roster and can no longer participate in the class. (It is the student's responsibility to officially drop the class.)



x SECOND CRITICAL DEADLINE: Assessment 1 due on or before Monday, June 20, 2010, 10:59PM. Student who has not submitted Chapter 1 Assessment Quiz with a minimum 0 by the deadline, will be considered a non-participating student and will be removed from the class roster. Student, who has not submitted Assessment 1 will be blocked (automatically -- not by the instructor) by the Blackboard settings and cannot submit class assignments after this date. Such a student should drop the class, or MAY later be dropped from the class by STC or by the instructor, or be assigned an F at the end of the semester if still on the class roster at that time!

x Class Discussion Key Quiz due on or before Friday June 24, 2010, 10.59pm (must be passed with a 100). Student who has not submitted the quiz with a 100 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 that for some grade points, see Grading Criteria, you must have posted a minimum of 20 Class Discussions/Reflections messages by the midsemester point set by the instructor (exact date not disclosed).


x Week 4. Jun 26 - Jul 02.
 x Keep working!


x Week 5. Jul 03 - 09.
"Midsemester week" 		x x July 04, 2010 -- College closed.
ATTENDANCE /PARTICIPATION DROP POINT 3 (last): Student who has not submitted Chapter Assessment 1 with a minimum 90 will be removed from the class roster and can no longer participate in the class. (It is the student's responsibility to officially drop the class.)




x THIRD CRITICAL DEADLINE: Assessment 1 due on or before Wednesday, July 06, 2010, 10:59PM. Student who has not submitted Chapter 1 Assessment Quiz with a minimum 90 by the deadline, will be considered a non-participating student and will be removed from the class roster. Student, who has not submitted Assessment 1 with a minimum 90, will be blocked (automatically -- not by the instructor) by the Blackboard settings and cannot submit class assignments after this date. Such a student should drop the class, or MAY later be dropped from the class by STC or by the instructor, or be assigned an F at the end of the semester if still on the class roster at that time!

x Minimum 20 Class Discussion / Reflections postings in the regular course shell due when the instructor checks the Blackboard tracking system somewhere between Tuesday 11PM and Thursday 11PM. (Exact point will not be disclosed.) Students with 19 or fewer postings will lose the midsemester discussion grade points. A second window of opportunity to submit the class discussion key quiz, for participation the second half of the semester, will open up Friday, July 08, 2011, 8AM. The window will close again on Monday, July 11, 2011, 10:59PM. The points lost for not participating the first half of the semester cannot be made up. A new discussion topic will replace one of the "old" topics (see grading criteria or instructions on Blackboard for details.)

SECOND CHANCE FOR PROCRASTINATORS TO PASS THE CLASS DISCUSSION KEY QUIZ!



x Week 6. Jul 10 - 16. x x Evolution Worksheet Quiz due on or before Tuesday, July 12, 2010, 10.59pm (must be passed with a 90). Student who has not submitted the quiz with a 90 cannot participate in the Town Hall Discussions -- and will EARN a ZERO for the assignment at the end of the semester. NOTE: The due day is TUESDAY!!!

The Town Hall Meeting opens in the Town Hall course shell, Thursday, July 14, 2011, 8:00AM. NOTE: The Study Group / Class Help Desk will be closed during the Town Hall Discussion period. Also NOTE that you, in order to participate, must access the Town Hall and take the short Town Hall Key Quiz and pass it with 100 by Tuesday next week.

Last chance to communicate on the Study Group / Class Help Desk before it closes for the Town Hall Discussions is Wednesday, July 13, 2011, 10:59PM. I encourage students to have opened e-mail contacts with other students in class -- rather than asking the instructor for help at this late point in the semester. However, the instructor can still be reached via Blackboard e-mail, but he claims the right to decide if an answer is necessary. The Study Group / Class Help Desk will open again after the Town Hall Discussions.

SECOND CHANCE TO PASS THE CLASS DISCUSSION KEY QUIZ ENDS! (See week 5 for exact date.)


x Week 7. Jul 17 - 23. x x Town Hall Key Quiz closes Tuesday, July 19, 10:59PM. Student who has not EARNED a 100 at this time will not be able to participate in the Town Hall Meeting.


x Week 8. Jul 24 - 30.
 x x TOWN HALL DISCUSSION MIDPOINT. Minimum of 10 postings due in the Town Hall Meeting discussions, Monday, July 25, 2011, 10:59PM. Students with 9 or fewer postings will lose the midsession Town Hall Meeting grade points. The Sun and one more undisclosed bulletin board close at this time, and two other bulletin boards will open. To not risk losing points for not posting in all bulletin boards, make sure that you have at least one message in all open bulletin boards at this time.

Last day to withdraw, Tuesday, July 26, 2011.



x Week 9. Jul 31 - Aug 06.
 x x Town Hall Meeting closes, Thursday, August 04, 2011, 10:59PM. MINIMUM 25 POSTINGS DUE! Student with 24 or fewer postings at 10:59PM, will EARN a ZERO as the Town Hall Meeting grade. To EARN points in this assignment you must post a minimum of 25 messages -- AND minimum 1 in EACH bulletin board for full points. NOTE: Points earned earlier by posting minimum 10 at the midpoint will also be lost, if you have not posted the required minimum 25 at or before the due date. A minimum of 10 posts must also have been posted during the second part of the discussion. You cannot just "disappear" and expect to earn points...

The Study Group / Class Help Desk re-opens Friday, August 05, 2011, 08.00AM.

x FOURTH CRITICAL DEADLINE: All open semester assignments close Saturday, August 06, 2011, 10.59pm (e.g., tests, assessments, quizzes, work sheet quizzes, readings, labs (virtual labs and field project), regular class discussions/reflections, case studies, etc. as listed in the grading criteria will disappear and can no longer be used to study for the final exam.) NOTE: The due day is SATURDAY!!! Some assignments, listed earlier in the calendar, have already closed.


x Week 10. Aug 07 - 13.
 x Endterm (Final) Exam opens for all students, Monday, August 08, 2011, 8:00AM. The exam has been open since the beginning of the semester for students who have passed the required (selective release) assignments (see Grading Criteria). The exam grades will not be posted until the exam has closed for all students.

Learning Self-Assessment opens MONDAY, AUGUST 08, 2011, 08:00AM. Only student who has completed and submitted the Endterm (Final) Exam will have access to the Learning Self-Assessment.

x Endterm (Final) Exam due Wednesday, August 10, 2011, 05:00PM. Blackboard will release your exam score (in My Grades) after the availability period has ended. NOTE THE DUE TIME: 5:00PM!!!

x Learning Self-Assessment due Wednesday, August 10, 2011, 06:00PM. NOTE THE DUE TIME: 06:00PM!!!


"This is by far the hardest, yet easiest class I have ever had in my life! I have to admit I hated science so much. I could never keep up with the loads of information that is given to one at a time. This class is so different, though. Dr. Nilsson, I have to say you really know how actually teach a class. Notice that I say teach, which means that most of your students actually learn something, not necessarily involving science. That is great because on most of my classes, I have never learned a thing. I like the way you divide things for us to keep up with and leave it in our hands to actually learn. After all, that is why we come to college, to learn. Thank you for opening up the door to so much new knowledge to me." (Student, Spring 2009.)

This is it -- class is over! Grades are due by STC on Friday afternoon this week. You will get your grades from STC, not posted on Blackboard and not from the instructor.


xAs can be seen most assignment are due near the end of the semester, but it is best to start working immediately (see Grading Criteria). 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!


For persons who don't like animated icons (e.g., dancing tomatoes or smiling apples) or background photos (e.g., rainforest photos with a lot of leaves, or other artistic interpretations of nature by the instructor), set your browser preferences so that it will NOT display icons and graphics when navigating the class pages. You will then get a clean text page with the background color that you have specified in the preference -- if you want the feeling of reading a book, specify white background and black text (sorry, you must still scroll to move down the page).