Syllabus

General Biology II

1175-FIU01-BSC-1011-SECRVCC-51189

    General Information

    Professor Information

    Professor Photo
    Prof. Sat Gavassa, PhD
    (305) 348-2482
    OE 202 (MMC)
    (305) 348-1986
    Thursdays 1:30 - 2:30 pm
    & 4:30-6:00 pm
     or by appointment

    Course Description and Purpose

    This course will introduce you to the diversity and function of life forms. We will complete a survey of organismal biology with emphasis on botany and zoology. We will study how body systems work, with details on the nervous, digestive, circulatory, respiratory and endocrine systems. Science background or Biology major recommended.  

    Help: If you aren't doing well in the course and would like to go over exams or talk about whatever problems you have, please come and talk to us. We want you to do well, but if you suffer in silence, what can we do? Sometimes, a simple change of studying strategy makes all the difference. Your instructor is here to help you, so keep in touch.

    NOTE: This syllabus is subject to change. Please check the on-line syllabus often for possible modifications and changes to exam dates.

    Course Objectives

    After the completion of this course, students will be able to:

    • Classify organisms from viruses to vertebrates into the major biological kingdoms using their key features and phylogenetics relationships;
    • Describe plant structures and functions including reproductive biology, growth and developmental patterns and processes, defenses and photosynthesis reactions;
    • Evaluate the functioning of human systems, including: nervous, sensory, endocrine, musculoskeletal, digestive, respiratory, circulatory, reproduction and development, immune and osmoregulatory;
    • Explore those factors which influence behavioral ecology; and
    • Analyze the role of the environment, resources, disturbances and individuals on population and community ecology.

    Teaching Methodology

    This is a fully online course in which all of the instructional materials and activities are delivered through Blackboard, and/or other internet-based media. Each module contains a set of videos that will help you understand the concepts. However, the primary source of information is your textbook.

    In every module you will have to take at least one quiz and submit at least one group assignment. Group discussions are the primary learning tool of this course. Please participate in your group’s discussion regularly.

    Self-motivation and willingness to work hard are necessary to do well in this course. Successful students report working 10-15 hours a week on this course.

    Important Information

    Policies

    Please review the FIU's Policies webpage. The policies webpage contains essential information regarding guidelines relevant to all courses at FIU, as well as additional information about acceptable netiquette for online courses.

    Cheating Policy: We will follow the "Student Handbook" regarding cheating. Formal and informal procedures can be found under the section "Academic Misconduct" in the "Conduct & Policies" chapter. Anyone caught cheating will be given an "F" for the course and a petition will be sent to Academic Affairs. We will go by the University's policy. Plagiarism is a form of cheating.

    Conduct: We expect all students to follow the university’s policies for online classes (see link above). It is important to have respect towards the instructors and fellow classmates. Inconsiderate, disrespectful, dishonest, or disruptive behavior, as the instructor or your fellow classmates perceive it, or as is described in the Student Handbook, is unacceptable for adults in this course.

    Plagiarism Policy: Plagiarism is a serious offence to the University Code of Conduct and it will not be tolerated in this course. If plagiarism is detected in any submission, the group will not receive any credit for that answer, the student responsible will receive a zero for the assignment and he/she may be subject to an Academic Misconduct investigation. Plagiarism includes not providing appropriate citations and not paraphrasing content from other sources.

    Technical Requirements and Skills

    One of the greatest barriers to taking an online course is a lack of basic computer literacy. By computer literacy we mean being able to manage and organize computer files efficiently, and learning to use your computer's operating system and software quickly and easily. Keep in mind that this is not a computer literacy course; but students enrolled in online courses are expected to have moderate proficiency using a computer. Please go to the "What's Required" webpage to find out more information on this subject.

    This course utilizes the following tools:

    1. Adobe Reader (Privacy Policy)
    2. Adobe Flash Player
    3. Quicktime plug-ins

    Please visit our Technical Requirements webpage for additional information.

    Technical Requirements & Skills

    One of the greatest barriers to taking an online course is a lack of basic computer literacy. By computer literacy we mean being able to manage and organize computer files efficiently, and learning to use your computer's operating system and software quickly and easily. Keep in mind that this is not a computer literacy course; but students enrolled in online courses are expected to have moderate proficiency using a computer. Please go to the "What's Required" webpage to find out more information on this subject.

    Please visit our Technical Requirements webpage for additional information.

    Accessibility and Accommodation

    Please visit our ADA Compliance webpage for information about accessibility involving the tools used in this course.

    Please visit Blackboard's Commitment Accessibility webpage for more information. 

    For additional assistance please contact FIU's Disability Resource Center.

    Academic Misconduct Statement

    Florida International University is a community dedicated to generating and imparting knowledge through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of ideas and community service. All students should respect the right of others to have an equitable opportunity to learn and honestly to demonstrate the quality of their learning. Therefore, all students are expected to adhere to a standard of academic conduct, which demonstrates respect for themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of the University. All students are deemed by the University to understand that if they are found responsible for academic misconduct, they will be subject to the Academic Misconduct procedures and sanctions, as outlined in the Student Handbook.

    Academic Misconduct includes: Cheating – The unauthorized use of books, notes, aids, electronic sources; or assistance from another person with respect to examinations, course assignments, field service reports, class recitations; or the unauthorized possession of examination papers or course materials, whether originally authorized or not. Plagiarism – The use and appropriation of another’s work without any indication of the source and the representation of such work as the student’s own. Any student who fails to give credit for ideas, expressions or materials taken from another source, including internet sources, is responsible for plagiarism.

    Learn more about the academic integrity policies and procedures as well as student resources that can help you prepare for a successful semester.

    Course Prerequisites

    This course has at least one prerequisite. Review the Course Catalog webpage for prerequisites information.

    Proctored Exam Policy

    There will be 2 proctored exams on campus in this course (one midterm and one final).

    Please check the schedule to make sure you will be on campus for the exams. If you cannot attend one or both on-campus exams, notify the instructor before the end of the add/drop period (first week of classes).

    If you choose to use an off-campus testing center, or ProctorU's online service to have your Midterm/Final exams proctored for you instead of coming to campus, you are responsible for paying any fees associated with using the testing center to take your exam.  For further details, please visit our Proctored Exam Resources webpage.

    Textbook

    Textbook Image
    Biology
    Peter Raven, George Johnson, Kenneth Mason, Jonathan Losos, Susan Singer
    McGraw-Hill Higher Education; 11th Edition; 2016
    ISBN-10: 1259188132
    ISBN-13: 9781259668920
    You may purchase your textbook online at the FIU Bookstore.

    Expectations of this Course

    This is an online course, meaning that most of the course work will be conducted online. Expectations for performance in an online course are the same as for a traditional course; in fact, online courses require a degree of self-motivation, self-discipline, and technology skills that can make them more demanding for some students.

    Students are expected to:

    • Become familiar with the Blackboard environment using the Blackboard Learn Orientation.
    • Participate in discussions, chats, etc, and interact with instructor and peers.
    • Keep up with the course schedule, assignments, quizzes, etc.
    • Read and study weekly assigned material.
    • Log in to the course at least 3 times per week.
    • As for any 3-credit course, students are expected to spend at least 10 hours per week in course-related work.
    • Follow the directions outlined in this syllabus, announced in class, and distributed via Email, blackboard announcements or messages, plus others. We are not responsible for issues resulting from lack of knowledge due to students not checking these resources. Also, not having access to these resources is not an excuse - Email/internet not working.

    The instructor will:

    • Log in to the course at least 3 times per week.
    • Reply to messages within 24 - 72 hours, excluding weekends.
    • Be available during online office hours.
    • Grade quizzes, assignments, participation, exams within 10 business days of due date.

    Course Detail

    Course Communication

    Use the discussion boards to ask questions about the material.

    Please limit the use of email to private and personal issues. Using discussion forums to ask and answer questions benefits you and your fellow students: students will often answer questions for you faster than we will, and many students may be having the same question and benefit from the public answers. The instructor will list common questions into a FAQ section.
    You may also contact the instructor live using Skype. Instructor's Skype username: Prof.Gavassa (no spaces).

    Visit our Writing Resources webpage for more information on professional writing and technical communication skills.

    Discussion Forums

    Keep in mind that your discussion forum postings will likely be seen by other members of the course. Care should be taken when determining what to post.

    This course has two types of discussion forums. A general discussion forum to share information and questions with the entire class and a private group discussion forum, which you will use to work with your team on your team assignments.

    Discussions

    Team discussions give you a unique opportunity to assess your understanding of the material, get feedback from your peers, prepare for quizzes and exams, and keep you up to speed with the objectives of this course.

    There will be a team discussion each week except for weeks when you have exams. You will be assigned to a different team each unit, meaning teams will be reshuffled 4 times throughout the semester. Each assignment consists of a few questions that you will answer. You must answer all the questions and post them on your team’s discussion board, once you post your answers, you will be able to see your peer’s posts. Everyone must have two (2) posts:

    • 1st post: Answer all the discussion questions in the first post by Thursday before 11:59pm.
    • 2nd post: reply to at least one teammate who has a different answer from yours, explaining either: why their answer is incorrect and yours is correct OR why their answer is correct and yours isn’t. Post your reply by Sunday by 11:59pm.

    Grading: discussion posts will be graded in a scale of 0 - 0.5 - 1 based on completion and thoroughness.

    Avoid plagiarism: You learn when you express something in your own words. If you are having a hard time expressing something in your own words, that means you haven’t entirely understood it. These discussions are your opportunity to practice how to apply the concepts to novel scenarios and the thought process you will need to use in quizzes and exams.

    Exam Review Wikis

    There will be two (2) wikis during the semester, one for the Midterm Exam and another for the Final Exam. The wiki will have one wiki page per chapter included in the exam. For each chapter, the wiki will have all the Learning Objectives for that chapter. Participating in the wiki will count as extra credit to replace the lowest Group Discussion Grade. In order to obtain full points in the wiki, students must contribute to at least one Learning Objective in each chapter included in the wiki. Contributions to the wiki must be posted two (2) days prior to the exam on campus.

    Quizzes

    In order to mitigate any issues with your computer and online assessments, it is very important that you take the “Practice Quiz” from each computer you will be using to take your graded quizzes and exams. It is your responsibility to make sure your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements.

    Assessments in this course are not compatible with mobile devices and should not be taken through a mobile phone or tablet. If you need further assistance please contact FIU Online Support Services.

    These quizzes will help you assess your understanding of the material and familiarize yourself with the type of questions you are expected to answer in the exams.  

    There will be two quizzes (one reading quiz & one application quiz) each week except for weeks scheduled for exams. We'll drop the lowest grade out of each quiz category. There are 10 reading quizzes and 9 application quizzes. Each quiz is available for one week and you can take the quiz any time during the week, but no later than Sunday by 11:59 PM.

    Reading quizzes: During the time the quiz is available, you may take it as many times as needed. The highest score of the attempts will be your quiz grade. Each quiz consists of 10 questions and you will have 20 minutes to take it. You will be able to see the results and the correct answers after the availability period has ended. You must score at least 70% on each reading quiz in order to gain access to the application quiz.

    Application quizzes: Once you’ve taken the reading quiz and scored at least 70%, you will have access to the application quiz. You must use Responds Lockdown Browser to open the application quizzes. Application quizzes are available from Monday 1:00 AM until Sunday by 11:59 PM. You can take each application quiz twice. Only the highest attempt will count towards the grade. Do not wait until the last minute to take the quizzes. Take the first attempt early in the week and use the second attempt later on in the week. We don’t reopen any quizzes. Each quiz will have at least 10 questions, you will have 3 minutes per question. Some quizzes may contain more than 10 questions, those additional questions will count as extra credit points. There are only 9 application quizzes for Modules 1-9, there is no application quiz for Module 10. However, only the highest 8 out of 9 application quizzes will count.

    Exams

    The purpose of the exams is to prompt you to study, review and ultimately showcase how much you have learned in this course.

    ONLINE EXAMS:

    Online Exam I: Available from Thursday, May 25 at 1:00am until Sunday, May 28 at 11:59pm
    Online Exam II: Available from Thursday, July 6 at 1:00am until Sunday, July 9 at 11:59pm

    ON-CAMPUS EXAMS:

    Midterm Exam: Friday, June 9 at 2:00 pm in MMC
    Final Exam: Friday, July 28 at 2:00 pm in MMC

    Online Exams: There will be two online exams. See the dates in the calendar below, they will each be available for two days. Make sure you have a stable Internet connection. Each exam will be 50-60 questions and you will have 75 minutes to take it once you begin.

    Online Exams Require Respondus LockDown Browser.

    • Review the Respondus LockDown Browser Instructions on how to install, access your assessments and view your grades.
    • After installing the browser, please take the Practice Quiz to familiarize yourself with the testing environment and to ensure that you have downloaded the Respondus LockDown Browser correctly.

    On-Campus Exams: There will be a total of 2 on-campus exams in this course (one midterm and one final). Each exam will have around 60-80 multiple-choice questions. See the dates in the calendar below.

    Please check the schedule to make sure you will be on campus for the exams. If you cannot attend one or both on-campus exams, notify the instructor before the end of the add/drop period (first week of classes).

    On the day of the exam,

    • Bring TWO sharpened pencils with erasers and your STUDENT ID
    • All other materials will have to be placed at the front or back of the class, so it is best not to carry anything to the room on exam day. You will be asked to remove your hats. Please turn off all cell phones.
    • We will check your student ID before you are allowed to turn-in your exam and leave. You must sign your exam.
    • When you are finished, you must return ALL materials given to you during the test whether filled-out or not. No one can leave unless they have returned the exam.
    • You will be provided with a scantron. Please be careful when filling it out, as errors will affect grade.
    • Students will not be allowed to use the restroom during the exam. No talking. Cheating will be dealt with seriously and severely.
    • If you do not bubble in your last name first, then your first name along with your panther ID and form number on your scantron on the day of your exam, you will lose 10 points on the exam!!
    • Arriving Late: If you arrive to an exam more than 20 minutes late, or after the first person finishes the test (whichever comes first) you will NOT be allowed to take the exam.
    • Exam Viewing: After the exam, you can email your instructor to set up an appointment to view your exam. We do not allow students to keep their exams. Students who would like to raise any questions concerning the nature of any particular question on an exam can do so in the written form explaining why you feel the question is ambiguous or incorrect.
    • Make-Ups: If you miss an online exam you will need to provide the instructor with a VALID document no later than one week from the missed online exam. Once the document is approved, you will be asked to schedule a make-up.
      • Examples of acceptable excuses: documented medical emergencies, death of members of immediate family, and jury duty. All of these must be accompanied by a valid and verifiable written letter signed by a professional or some other type of irrefutable and documented proof. Examples of unacceptable excuses: common cold, family problems, transportation problems, etc.
      • Students who simply do not show up for the on-campus exam will NOT be allowed to take a makeup exam.

    WE DO NOT DROP ANY EXAM SCORES!

    In order to mitigate any issues with your computer and online assessments, it is very important that you take the "Practice Quiz" from each computer you will be using to take your graded quizzes and exams. It is your responsibility to make sure your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements.

    Assessments in this course are not compatible with mobile devices and should not be taken through a mobile phone or a tablet. If you need further assistance please contact FIU Online Support Services.

    Adobe Connect Pro Meeting

    Adobe Connect is an online meeting room where you can interact with your professor and fellow students by sharing screens, sharing files, chatting, broadcasting live audio, and taking part in other interactive online activities. We will be utilizing this tool to conduct Q&A sessions before the exams. The instructor will send a doodle poll in order to determine the time most convenient.

    Requirements for using Adobe Connect:

    • Disable any window pop-up blocker.
    • Adobe Flash Player is required to successfully run your Adobe Connect meeting. You can test your computer to make sure your computer and network connections are properly configured to provide you with the best possible Adobe Connect meeting experience.
    • Use of a combination headset and microphone with USB connection is recommended to ensure quality sound and reduce technical difficulties.

      Reference Adobe Connect (Tutorials & Help) to learn about the tool, how to access your meeting rooms and recordings.

    Grading

    WITHOUT PLTL:

    Course Requirements Number of Items Points for Each Total Points Available Weight
    Reading Quizzes (1.1% each) 9 11 100 10%
    Application Quizzes (2.5% each) 8 25 200 20%
    Online Exams (10% each) 2 100 200 20%
    On-Campus Exams (20% each) 2 200 400 40%
    Group Assignments and Participation (1% each) 10 10 100 10%
    Total 31 N/A 1,000 100%

    WITH PLTL:

    Course Requirements Number of Items Points for Each Total Points Available Weight
    Reading Quizzes (1.1% each) 9 11 100 10%
    Application Quizzes (1.7% each) 8 17.5 140 14%
    Online Exams (7% each) 2 70 140 14%
    On-Campus Exams (17% each) 2 170 340 34%
    Group Assignments and Participation (1% each) 10 10 100 10%
    PLTL (18%)     180 18%
    Total 31 N/A 1,000 100%
    Letter Grade Range Letter Grade Range
    A Above 90 D 60 - 69
    B 80 - 89 F < 61
    C 70 - 79    

    Course Calendar

    Module Weekly Schedule

    Unit A: Diversity of Live Forms (groups #, A)
    Week 1: Introduction &
    Module 1

    May 8 - May 14
    Introduction
    Ch. 23 - Systematics and Phylogenetics
    Ch. 26 - The origin and diversity of life
    • Syllabus Quiz
    • Discussion 1
    • Practice Quiz
    • Quiz 1 (Ch. 23 & 26)
    Week 2: Module 2
    May 15 - May 21
    Ch. 27 - Viruses
    Ch. 28 - Prokaryotes
    Ch. 29 - Protists
    • Discussion 2
    • Quiz 2 (Ch. 27, 28 & 29)
    Unit B: The World is Green (groups #, B)
    Week 3: Module 3 & Online Exam I
    May 22 - May 28
    Online Exam I (Unit A)
    Ch. 8 - Photosynthesis
    Ch. 30 - Seedless Plants
    Ch. 31 - Seed Plants
    • Online Exam I (Unit A)
      From Thurs. May 25th Until Sun. May 28th
    • Discussion 3
    • Quiz 3 (Ch. 8, 30 & 31)
    Week 4: Module 4
    May 29 - June 4
    Ch. 36 - Plant Form
    Ch. 37 - Transport in Plants
    Ch. 38 - Plant Nutrition and Soils
    Ch. 39 - Plant Defense Responses
    Ch. 41 - Plant Reproduction
    • Discussion 4
    • Quiz 4 (Ch. 36, 37, 38, 39 & 41)
    Week 5: Midterm
    June 5 - June 11
    Midterm (Units A & B)
    On Campus: Friday, June 9th at 2:00 p.m.
    • Midterm exam review wiki
    Unit C: Physiology & Animal Diversity (groups #, C)
    Week 6: Module 5
    June 12 - June 18
    Ch. 32 - Fungi
    Ch. 33 - Overview of Animal Diversity
    Ch. 34 - Protostomes
    Ch. 35 - Deuterostomes
    • Discussion 5
    • Quiz 5 (Ch. 32, 33, 34 & 35)
    Week 7: Module 6
    June 19 - June 25
    Ch. 42 - The Animal Body and Principles of Regulation
    Ch. 47 - Digestive System
    Ch. 49 - Circulatory System
    • Discussion 6
    • Quiz 6 (Ch. 33, 34 & 35)
    Week 8: Module 7 
    June 26 - July 2
    Ch. 48 - Respiratory System
    Ch. 50 - Osmotic regulation & Urinary System
    Ch. 45 - The Endocrine System
    • Discussion 7
    • Quiz 7 (Ch. 48, 50 & 45)
    Unit D: Behavior and Ecology (groups #, D)
    Week 9: Module 8 & Online Exam II
    July 3 - July 9
    Online Exam II (Unit C)
    Ch. 46 - The Musculoskeletal System
    Ch. 43 - The Nervous System
    Ch. 44 - Sensory Systems
    • Online Exam II (Unit C)
      From Thurs. July 6th Until Sun. July 9th
    • Discussion 8
    • Quiz 8 (Ch. 46, 43 & 44)
    Week 10: Module 9
    July 10 - July 16
    Ch. 51 - The Immune System
    Ch. 52 - The Reproductive System
    Ch. 54 - Behavioral Biology
    • Discussion 9
    • Quiz 9 (Ch. 51, 52 & 54)
    Week 11: Module 10
    July 17 - July 23
    Ch. 55 - Ecology of Individuals and Populations
    Ch. 56 - Community Ecology
    Ch. 59 - Conservation Biology
    • Discussion 10
    • Quiz 10 (Ch. 55, 56 & 59)
    Week 12: Final Exam
    July 24 - July 28
    Final Exam (Units C & D)
    On Campus: Friday, July 28th at 2:00 pm
    • Final exam review wiki