Biology 101 ▪ Biology & Society
Spring 2009

MWF 11:30-12:20 Spalding Auditorium

Science is one of the most important driving forces of our civilization. The welfare of humanity, in fact its very survival, depends on how we use the knowledge and power that science has put in our hands. Human activities are changing the world’s ability to support life. To a large extent, the information needed for you to make rational decisions about your future is in the domain of the biological sciences. Biology deals with life in all its aspects, from bird migrations to fish communities in coral reef to genetically engineered bacteria to human population trends and the changing level of the oceans. Life is all around you. It is even within you. You are part of the web of life. Biology and Society is an expedition of discovery and rediscovery of the beauty, excitement and wonder of this world we share and how to better preserve this inheritance for future generations.

This is an introductory biological science course designed for non-science majors seeking to fulfill part of their science core requirement. Its objective is to broaden an understanding of scientific activities.

Learning Goals

When you have completed this course, you should know:

· basic terminology used in biology

· general history and philosophy of the biological sciences

· key fundamental concepts in evolution, cell biology, population biology, ecology, genetics and biological diversity

· how to ask scientific questions, make hypotheses and interpret results

· current biological issues in human society

Exams

There will be four exams: Three exams will be given during the semester and the final will be on Monday, May 15, 2009, 12:00-2:00. However, your final grade will be based only upon the three highest grades that you receive. You will be allowed to drop your lowest semester exam score but not the final exam from the calculation of your final grade. The final exam date is the one set by the university administration and is also in your class schedule. Thus, you were already aware of the time and date of the final when you enrolled in the course. The final exam is on the last day of finals, and I know that some of you may have taken all of your other exams, earlier in the week, and while it may be an inconvenience, that is the date and time of the schedule final for this course. So please do not ask me to schedule an earlier final exam.

All the exam questions are multiple choice and your answers will be recorded on scantron sheets provided to you on exam day. Make certain that you do the following on exam days:

Bring a number 2 pencil and eraser
Bring your 8-digit student id number. Note: do not use your social security number!!
Write your name on the scantron sheet
Fill in the corresponding “bubbles” on the scantron sheet under your name and student id number.
Do not fill in any other information on the scantron, i.e. special code and birthdate

Each exam will consist of 50 multiple questions and will cover materials from lectures and videos.

If you miss an exam, there will be no make up, unless you can demonstrate reason to justify the a makeup, i.e. illness, death in the family, sports travel, etc. If you miss two or more exams you will fail the course.

Grading

Your final grade will be based upon a straight percentage of your highest two exam scores and the final ( 90-100% =A, 80-89%=B, 70-79%=C, 60-69%=D and less than 60%=F. Individual exams will be scaled (“curved”) if necessary to ensure that the class average is at least 70% on each exam.

Videos

Throughout the semester you will be seeing online videos on current topics. On video days, class will not be held. Instead you should follow the instructions below to access the videos from your computer. You will need a high-speed internet connection in order to view the video! A dial-up connection will be too slow to view the video. You should take notes while viewing videos since questions covering the videos will appear on the exams. The questions will be given to you prior to viewing of each video.

1. Go to the following web site: http://www.biology.hawaii.edu/101r

2. This will take you to the “Biology Lecture Access Page”. Click on the enter button.

3. This will re-direct you to a logon page. Logon and enter the password that you would normally use to access your email.

4. The video sight will have a list of all the videos that you will view during the semester.

5. The questions for each video will be posted as a link, in the video title, on the on-line syllabus.

No Required Textbook

In Case of Bomb Threats Prior to or During Exams

In no case will any examination be canceled due to a bomb threat. You must come to an exam prepared to take the exam, even if it must be done outdoors. If the lecture hall is closed when you arrive for an exam, go to the center of Varney Circle (in front of the Student Center) for more information. If you are asked to leave the lecture hall during an exam, wait for instructions.

Code of Conduct

You are expected to abide by the UHM Student Conduct Code at all times.

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