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SPRINGFIELD
TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS
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DATE: Fall, 2009
TEXTS: -Campbell, Reece & Simon (2006)
Essential Biology with Physiology, 2nd edition, Benjamin
Cummings, Boston,
MA LEARNING COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION: Strategies for Success is a learning community that combines two courses— College Success Seminar and Principles of Biology I. All students in the learning community will take both classes together, and their professors will also attend both classes. By pairing these two courses they will feed into one another, leading to greater learning. In addition, strategies for success in science and math classes will be provided. The content of each course will equal their counterparts that are not in a learning community. LEARNING COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION: The lectures in this learning community run back-to-back, to allow us to use the two hours of the learning community in a flexible manner. Often, each class will take place in its own hour, but on occasion, we will have both hours for one course or we will alternate between courses more frequently within the two hours. Any time between the two courses may be used for learning community activities. Websites, films, computer programs, cooperative learning strategies, and other teaching aids will be used whenever appropriate. This learning community also has a Blackboard website which contains required activities as well as supplemental information. Material in the biology course is also given during laboratory sections. As much as possible, the topics covered in lecture and lab will be coordinated; this will reinforce student understanding of the material. The lab portion of the course will familiarize the students with the microscope, and will emphasize the physical, chemical, and organismal aspects of life as well as the design and interpretation of laboratory experiments. The labs are wet labs, where students learn by experiencing and experimenting. COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:
REQUIREMENTS/POLICIES: General conduct: 1. Food and beverage consumption is not permitted in the biology laboratories. 2. Mobile phones and beepers may NOT be used or left on during class meetings. 3. Students are expected to observe the code of conduct outline in the college catalogue. Improper conduct that disrupts lecture or lab will receive one verbal warning. Subsequent disruption will result in involuntary withdrawal of the student from class and/or dispensation to the Dean of Students. 4. Please keep these school policies in mind: Students, faculty, staff, and visitors must be free from conduct that has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual's academic or professional performance and creating an intimidating, hostile, or demeaning educational or employment environment. As such, the college has a policy of unequivocal condemnation of ethnic, religious, cultural, or racial intolerance whether it is based on any of the aforementioned, handicap status, sex, or sexual orientation. In compliance with Springfield Technical Community College policy and equal access laws, disability-related accommodations or services are available. Students who desire such services are to meet with the professor in a timely manner, preferably the first week of class, to discuss their disability-related needs. Students will not receive services until they register with the Office of Disability Services (ODS). Proper registration will enable the ODS to verify the disability and determine reasonable academic accommodations. ODS is located in Building 27 on the 2nd Floor and can be reached at 755-4551.
1. The attendance policy in effect for this course is as follows. Students can remain in the course until they have accumulated 10 points, at which time they will be removed from the learning community. Absence from lecture or lab, coming to lecture or lab late, or leaving lecture or lab for extended periods of time count as 1 point each. Any interruption of class by a mobile phone or beeper will also count as 1 point. After a student has received 7 points, s/he will get a written warning about approaching the 10 point limit. Note that in this manner, attendance is linked to course completion rather than course grade. 2. In the event of absence from class, the student must assume full responsibility for the material covered. They are therefore advised to obtain copies of missed notes from fellow classmates, see the instructor, and/or get missed notes from the Blackboard website. 3. Lab attendance is mandatory. A student is only permitted to miss one lab during the semester. Any student missing two labs during the semester will be automatically removed from the learning community. 4. There are no "make-up" labs. In the case of a missed lab, students are asked to obtain a listing of the lab activities from their laboratory partner and to see their professor. In the event of extenuating circumstances, accommodations depend upon the evaluation of the professor or department chair. If given sufficient notice, and if given permission from the professor, the student may be able to attend another lab section that week. However, no lab quiz make-ups will be possible, and a maximum of one lab make-up is allowed per semester. 5. Students attending class and lab are expected to arrive promptly; tardiness of 5 minutes or more counts as a point in the attendance policy. The instructor reserves the right to refuse late arrivals.
1. Make-up exams are not routinely administered. In the event of extenuating circumstances, accommodations depend upon the evaluation of the professor. However, arrangements must be made as soon as possible with your professor. Keep in mind that all make-up exams are in essay format, and a maximum of one make-up test is allowed per semester. 2. No make-ups are given on lab practicals. No make-ups will be given under any circumstances for missed lab quizzes or lecture quizzes. Students will be given rather frequent quizzes, and will be allowed to drop their lowest quiz grade (or grades). The number of quiz grades dropped will be determined by the professors. Note that in cases of absence or tardiness, a zero will be recorded for any missed quiz. 3. Students coming in late while a lab or lecture quiz is being administered will NOT be given extra time to finish the quiz. Take-home quizzes will not be accepted if a student is late. 4. Students must provide their own testing pencils and pens for quizzes and examinations. 5. In the event of school cancellation on a day when testing is scheduled, the student can expect to be given the exam or quiz during the next regularly scheduled class meeting time. 6. In the case of cheating, the person(s) involved will have papers removed and will automatically receive a zero, with no chance of a make-up. In addition, the student will be reported to the Dean of Students for possible disciplinary action, including removal from the learning community. 7. The final exams will include a comprehensive component.
EQUIPMENT: Please handle and respect OUR equipment as you would your own valuables. Replacing laboratory equipment is a very expensive, difficult, and time-consuming process. Any student willfully defacing and/or destroying any piece of laboratory/class equipment, supplies, or furniture, or, caught stealing the same indicated property, will be reported to the Dean of Students for immediate removal from the course. Students are expected to clean their work areas and return equipment used before they leave the lab. SAFETY: All students should be aware of exit procedures in case of fire or any other emergency. Any student with a disability that would require assistance during an emergency should consult with their professors so that special arrangements can be made for their assistance. Please take note of the additional safety requirements of the laboratory as described by your professor. Each course in the learning community will receive a separate grade. There will be some learning community quizzes or assignments that lead to grades in both courses, but there is no overall learning community grade. However, a student must be enrolled in both courses at all times, so it is not possible to withdraw from one course without also withdrawing from the other.
!!!!!!!!!! STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ASSISTANCE !!!!!!!!!! Your professors, the college, and the biology department have come up with many opportunities for students to gain additional help and experience with these courses. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES AS POSSIBLE!!! 1. Biology tutors are available free of charge. They work out of room 512-- simply go in and sign up for a tutor in a time slot that works for you. Keep in mind that it is typically our top students who seek the assistance of tutors. For more information visit http://faculty.stcc.edu/nash/tutoring.htm . 2. Professors Tamarkin and Hill have office hours-- do not be embarrassed to use them! If these hours conflict with your schedule, they will be happy to set up an appointment with you for a different time. 3. The learning community is part of a National Science Foundation project, and the grant manager, Cathleen Beals, is also available if you have questions. Her office is 02/527 and her phone number is 755-4659. 4. Study groups composed of you and your peers can be the best way to study and improve your grades. Form them immediately (do not wait until it is too late). 5. Review sessions may be scheduled, if requested, for exams. 6. Supplementary web pages for the learning community are available from http://STCC.Blackboard.com and http://faculty.STCC.edu/Tamarkin and http://www.STCC.edu/RDE . 7. Your professors can also be contacted to answer individual questions by e-mail. 8. Your books have questions and information for you at the end of each chapter. They also come with digital resources (CD, website, and web links) for you. Use your book resources!
READING ASSIGNMENTS* FOR THE LEARNING COMMUNITY:
* Note: We may not cover the material in this exact order. Any changes will be given in class.
This learning community is funded through the National Science Foundation, Grant Number 0726473. However, any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Strategies for Success Learning Community
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© 2006 STCC Foundation Press, content by Dawn A. Tamarkin, Ph.D. Last changed: September 07, 2009 |
