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Online General Biology I
Biol. 1408.V06 and 1408.V07
Spring 2012, 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...
Even though you need to start working as soon as possible, as you can see there are no assignment due dates until Friday the second week of the semester. YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE COURSE!



x This semester calendar is dynamic -- there WILL be a few 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 most assignments can be submitted early) are flagged with a blue and yellow arrow x


x PLAN YOUR WORK ACCORDINGLY, and keep an eye on the semester calendar!!! Some assignments must be completed in a determined order, e.g, the Chapter Quizzes must be taken in numerical order -- 1, 2, 3... etc., and you will not be able to access Quiz 2 until you have finished Quiz 1 with a minimum 90.



Course Setup
This class is completely online, in Dr. Nilsson's CyberClassroom. 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, the most important called Blackboard Plaza -- 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 the two class discussion assignments and is explained in the Grading Criteria of the class. 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 few weeks of the semester. All biology classes taught by this instructor (not just students in this class) will participate in the Town Hall.

This class does not use a lab manual. Labs are online or outside semester projects.








Course Outline
The course outline follows the chapters of the required textbook in the order given. "Tests" (exams, quizzes, or assessments) are online open book assignments using Blackboard quizzes. Chapter 15 is a composite of the first three evolution chapters, and usually follows after the participation in the Town Hall Meeting about evolution-related topics (for most students -- some students work fast and submit Chapter 15 during or even before the Town Hall Meeting).

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: Evolution




The assignments (Class Discussion Key Quiz, Evolution Worksheet Quiz, General Class Discussion, and the Town Hall Meeting) in the extra course shell called the TOWN HALL are pending the setup by the Blackboard people and therefore not yet included in the Semester Calendar. It will be added to the calendar below as soon as the information is available. STAY TUNED!




x Week 1. Jan 15 - 21
"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 (deadline January 29, 2012, 10:59PM). If you read this you have probably already submitted the quiz. (However, it is posted here since it is possible to reach this calendar from the Syllabus, without first submitting the quiz.)

After passing the student contact quiz with 100 (can be taken unlimited times), become familiar with the class web pages (Dr. Nilsson's CyberClassroom -- on the Blackboard server, and the Class Hub page -- on the STC server). Pay special attention to the Grading Criteria, the Grade Recorder, and the Semester Calendar (this document). Become familiar with and read the textbook. Visit "Blackboard Plaza" and read the information message and listen to the YouTube from the instructor.

Post an Introductory posting message (deadline January 30, 2012, 10:59PM), introducing yourself and say hello to the class, in the "class help desk" (in the bulletin board for introductions).

Figure Discussions opens, Friday, January 20, 2011, 8:00AM.

Continue familiarize yourself with class pages, the textbook, read online instructions, and online reading assignments located on the class hub -- get ready for the "real class start" on January 30!.


x Week 2. Jan 23 - 29
"Continue to familiarize yourself with the course week" 		x Continue to familiarize yourself with the course. Read messages in the Introduction bulletin board (in the help desk) (and reply to some students?).

Look through your textbook for textbook figures, read and post in the "Figure Discussions".


x Week 3. Jan 30 - Feb 05
"The introduction and familiarization period is over -- "real" start of the class" 		x
 x FIRST CRITICAL DEADLINE: Student Contract Quiz due on or before Sunday, January 29, 2012, 10:59PM. This contract should normally have been submitted over a week ago. 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 the instructor, or be assigned an F at the end of the semester if still on the class roster at that time!

Chapter Quizzes 1-3, Memorization Quizzes, Semester Project (Field Lab Project) submission folders on Blackboard (all assignments with a deadline at the end of the semester) OPEN -- Monday, January 30, 2012, 8:00AM. (See the Grading Criteria and the Grade Recorder for details.)

x Introductory Posting in the Introduction bulletin board in the class help desk due on or before Monday, January 30, 2011, 10:59PM. Last chance to place an "introduction" message and say hello to the class. It doesn't really make any sense to say hello to the class mates after more than 2 weeks have passed -- does it? Since this is part of your grade, 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 1 grade point.

Wednesday, February 01, 2011-- 12th Class Day.


x Week 4. Feb 05 - 11 x Keep up the good work! Stay tuned for an update about the Town Hall corse shell!

Friday, February 10, 2012. College-Wide Professional Development Day ­ College Closed


x Week 5. Feb 12 - 18
"Valentine's Day week" 		x

Keep up the good work! Stay tuned for an update about the Town Hall corse shell!


x Week 6. Feb 19 - 25
"President's Day week" 		x Keep up the good work!


x Week 7. Feb 26 - Mar 03 x General Class Discussion begins, Friday, March 02, 2012, 08.00AM. (Blackboard, Town Hall Course Shell.)


x Week 8. Mar 04 - 10 x Keep up the good work!



x Week 9. Mar 11 - 17
"Spring break week" 		x

x Class Discussion Key Quiz. Sunday, March 11, 2012, 10:59pm. Student who has not submitted the quiz with a 100 by the deadline will NOT be able to participate in the General Class Discussion, and will EARN a ZERO for the assignment. (The assignment is worth 11 percent -- MORE than a letter grade. DON'T MISS THE DEADLINE!!!)

S p r i n g b r e a k



x Week 10. Mar 18 - 24 x Back to school, refreshed with new energy, ready for the second half of the semester!

x General Class Discussion Midsession. Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 10:59pm. Minimum 10 General Class Discussion postings TOTAL (in the Town Hall course shell) due when the instructor checks the Blackboard tracking system.

Class Discussion Key Quiz re-opens for students who has not submitted the quiz AND has e-mailed the instructor and asked to have it re-opened, Thursday, March 22, 2012, 08.00AM. (Blackboard, Town Hall Course Shell.)


x Week 11. Mar 25 - 31 x


Online Microscope Virtual Lab OPENS, Monday, March 26, 2012, 08.00am. (See the Grading Criteria and the Grade Recorder for details.)



x General Class Discussion ends. Friday, March 30, 2012, 10:59pm. Minimum 25 General Class Discussion postings TOTAL (in the Town Hall course shell) due when the instructor checks the Blackboard tracking system. Students with 24 or fewer postings will lose the endsession discussion grade points (see the Grading Criteria for the class).



x Week 12. Apr 01 - 07 x Town Hall Meeting begins, Monday, April 02, 2012, 08.00AM. (Blackboard, Town Hall Course Shell.) Evolution Worksheet Quiz opens, Monday, April 02, 2012, 08.00AM. (Blackboard, Town Hall Course Shell.) Evolution Worksheet Quiz due next week.

x Semester Project due submitted on Blackboard due on or before Wednesday, April 04, 2012, 10:59PM. The Dog Walk Project has an extended deadline and may also be turned in on Blackboard on or before April 14, 2012, 10.59PM. (The other two projects must be submitted no later than April 04.)

S e m e s t e r b r e a k Thursday, April 05 - Sunday, April 08, College Closed


x Week 13. Apr 08 - 14 x x Town Hall Meeting Midsession. Saturday, April 14, 2012, 10:59pm. Minimum 10 Town Hall meeting postings postings TOTAL (in the Town Hall course shell) due when the instructor checks the Blackboard tracking system.




x Week 14. Apr 15 - 21 x KEEP WORKING!


x Week 15. Apr 22 - 28
x x Town Hall Meeting ends. Friday, April 27, 2012, 10:59pm. Minimum 25 General Class Discussion postings TOTAL (in the Town Hall course shell) due when the instructor checks the Blackboard tracking system. Students with 24 or fewer postings will lose the endsession discussion grade points (see the Grading Criteria for the class).



x Week 16. Apr 29 - May 05 x x All open semester assignments close Tuesday, May 01, 2012, 10.59pm (quizzes, virtual lab, work sheets, readings will disappear and can no longer be used to study for the final exam.) NOTE: The due day is TUESDAY!!! Some assignments, listed earlier in the calendar, have already closed.

Endterm (Final) Exam opens for all students, Wednesday, May 02, 2012, 08:00AM.

Learning Self-Assessment opens Thursday, May 03, 2012, 8:00PM. Only student who has completed and submitted the Endterm (Final) Exam will have access to the Learning Self-Assessment.


x Week 17. May 06 - 12
 x x Endterm (Final) Exam closes Wednesday, May 08, 2012, 10:59PM.

x Learning Self-Assessment closes Wednesday, May 09, 2012, 10:59PM.

GRADUATION, Saturday May 12, 2011.

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


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!