Week Module, Topic(s) & Reading(s) Assigned Work Points Possible Due Date Week 1 Feb 2 – 8 Module 1: The Evolution of Populations / Phylogeny and the Tree of Life Campbell: Chapter 23 (The Evolution of Populations) and Chapter 26 (Phylogeny and the Tree of Life) See the Module 1 page for additional readings and resources. Student Contract Required Feb 8 Greetings & Introductions discussion forum 0 Supplemental Activity 1: Natural Selection 0 Laboratory Activity 1: Taxonomy & Phylogeny 20 Module 1 Quiz (Ch. 23 and 26) 20 Week 2 Feb 9 - 15 Module 2: Viruses, Bacteria and Archaea Campbell: Chapter 19 (Viruses) and Chapter 27 (Bacteria and Archaea) See the Module 2 page for additional readings and resources. Laboratory Activity 2: Prokaryotes 20 Feb 15 Discussion 1: Spread of Disease 20 Module 2 Quiz (Ch. 19 and 27) 20 Week 3 Feb 16 – 22 Module 3: Protists Campbell: Chapter 28 (Protists) See the Module 3 page for additional readings and resources. Laboratory Activity 3: Protists 20 Feb 22 Module 3 Quiz (Ch. 28) 10 Exam 1 (Ch. 19, 23, 26, and 27) 100 Week 4 Feb 23 - Mar 1 Module 4: Kingdom Fungi Campbell: Chapter 31 (Fungi) See the Module 4 page for additional readings and resources. Laboratory Activity 4: Fungi 20 Mar 1 Discussion 2: Current Issues in Fungi 20 Module 4 Quiz (Ch. 31) 10 Week 4 (cont) Feb 23 - Module 5: Kingdom Plantae (Seedless Plants) Campbell: Chapter 29 (Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land) Laboratory Activity 5: Seedless Plants 20 Mar 1 Discussion 3: Current Issues in Seedless Plants 20
Mar 1 See the Module 5 page for additional readings and resources. Module 5 Quiz (Ch. 29) 10 Week 5 Mar 2 - 8 Module 6: Kingdom Plantae (Seed Plants) Campbell: Chapter 30 (Plant Diversity II: The Evolution of Seed Plants) See the Module 6 page for additional readings and resources. Laboratory Activity 6: Seed Plants 20 Mar 8 Discussion 4: Seed Plants and Humans 20 Module 6 Quiz (Ch. 30) 10 Week 6 Mar 9 - 15 Module 7: Kingdom Animalia: Overview of Animal Diversity Campbell: Chapter 32 (An Overview of Animal Diversity) See the Module 7 page for additional readings and resources Discussion 5: Classifying Organisms 20 Mar 15 Module 7 Quiz (Ch. 32) 10 Exam 2 (Chapter 28, 29, 30, & 31) 100 March 16 - 22 SPRING BREAK – NO CLASSES Week 7 Mar 23 - 29 Module 8: Kingdom Animalia: Invertebrates, part 1 Campbell: Chapter 33 (An Introduction to Invertebrates) pages 666 - 683 ONLY See the Module 8 page for additional readings and resources. Laboratory Activity 7: Earthworm Dissection 20 Mar 29 Discussion 6: Current Issues in Sponges 20 Module 9: Kingdom Animalia: Invertebrates, part 2 Campbell: Chapter 33 (An Introduction to Invertebrates) pages 683 - 694 ONLY See the Module 9 page for additional readings and resources. Laboratory Activity 8: Arthropod Dissection 20 Laboratory Activity 9: Sea Star Dissection 20 Module 9 Quiz (Ch. 33) 10 Week 8 Module 10: Kingdom Animalia: Vertebrates, part 1 Campbell: Chapter 34 (The Origin Laboratory Activity 10: Frog dissection 20 Apr 5
Mar 30 - Apr 5 and Evolution of Vertebrates) pages 697 - 714 ONLY See the Module 10 page for additional readings and resources. Supplemental Activity 2: Mammal Skulls 0 Module 11: Kingdom Animalia: Vertebrates, part 2 Campbell: Chapter 34 (The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates) pages 714 - 733 ONLY See the Module 11 page for additional readings and resources. Discussion 7: Insignificance and Evolution 20 Module 11 Quiz (Ch. 34) 10 Week 9 Apr 6 – 12 Module 12: Ecology and the Biosphere Campbell: Chapter 52 (An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere) See the Module 12 page for additional readings and resources. Discussion 8: Biome Tour 20 Apr 12 Module 12 Quiz (Ch. 52) 10 Exam 3 (Ch 32, 33, and 34) 100 Week 10 Apr 13 - 19 Module 13: Population Ecology (Ch. 53, p. 1170-1191) Community Ecology Campbell: Chapter 53 (Population Ecology) AND Chapter 54 (Community Ecology) See the Module 13 page for additional readings and resources. Laboratory Activity 11: Population Biology - "How Does Competition Affect Population Growth in Protozoans?" 20 Apr 19 Discussion 9: Footprints on the Planet 20 Module 13 Quiz (Ch. 53 and 54) 20 Module 14: Ecosystems Campbell: Chapter 55 (Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology) See the Module 14 page for additional readings and resources. Discussion 10: Ecological Cycling 20 Module 14 Quiz (Ch. 55) 10 Week 11 Module 15: Conservation Biology Campbell: Chapter 56 Discussion 11: Endangered and Threatened Species 20 Apr 26
The Next Step I hope you have found this syllabus useful. Your next step is to become familiar with the Blackboard classroom, complete the Student Contract and begin the assignments for Module One. See you in the online course! Rubrics Laboratory Report Rubric Criteria Levels of Achievement Exemplary Meets Expectations Developing Novice Not Acceptable Purpose 4 Points The Purpose section is properly titled "Purpose", "Question", or "Problem." It is clearly defined and concise. 3.2 Points The Purpose section is properly titled "Purpose", "Question", or "Problem." 2.8 Points The Purpose section is titled "Purpose", "Question", or "Problem" however, the definition does not match the title, i.e. it is titled "Question", but uses a statement instead of a question. 2.4 Points The Purpose section is not titled "Purpose", "Question", or "Problem" and/or it is difficult to understand. 0 Points The Purpose section is missing. Hypothesis 4 Points The Hypothesis section is logically written as an "If...then" statement. Sound reasoning is provided to back up the hypothesis. The hypothesis is clearly specific to the 3.2 Points The Hypothesis section is written as an "If...then" statement. Adequate reasoning is provided to back up the hypothesis. The hypothesis is specific to 2.8 Points The Hypothesis section is written as an "If...then" statement, however, no reasoning is provided to back up the hypothesis. The hypothesis is somewhat 2.4 Points The Hypothesis section is not written as an "If...then" statement. No reasoning is provided to back up the hypothesis. The hypothesis is not specific to the lab 0 Points The Hypothesis section is missing.
lab investigation. the lab investigation specific to the lab investigation investigation. Materials and Procedures 4 Points The Materials and Procedures section contains a complete list of materials used, as well as a clear and concise explanation of the procedure. The procedure is explained in numerical order and does not skip any steps. 3.2 Points The Materials and Procedures section contains a list of materials used, as well as an explanation of the procedure. The procedure is explained in numerical order and does not skip any steps. 2.8 Points The Materials and Procedures section contains a list of materials used and/or explanation of the procedure, but not both. The procedure is explained in paragraph form. 2.4 Points The Materials and Procedures section is difficult to read and understand. The procedure is fuzzy and 0 Points The Materials and Procedures section is missing. Data and Analysis 4 Points The Data and Analysis section is contains all data collected or observed. Data is clearly presented in a table, graph, or chart. Formatting, including labels and units, if applicable, is accurate and 3.2 Points The Data and Analysis section is contains all data collected or observed. Data is presented in a table, graph, or chart. Formatting is acceptable. 2.8 Points The Data and Analysis section is an acceptable amount of data collected or observed. Data is presented in a table, graph, or chart. There are some format problems with labels, 2.4 Points The Data and Analysis section is poorly presented. There is information missing and/or it is not presented in a table, graph, or chart format. Other major 0 Points The Data and Analysis section is missing.
thorough. units, or of data. formatting problems exist. Conclusion 4 Points The Conclusion section clearly and concisely states whether the hypothesis is correct or not. It provides an excellent discussion or summary of the data and observations, including a logical reasoning for why the results were achieved and the ramifications of the results. 3.2 Points The Conclusion section states whether the hypothesis is correct or not. It provides an adequate discussion or summary of the data and including some reasoning for why the results were achieved and the ramifications of the results. 2.8 Points The Conclusion section states whether the hypothesis is correct or not, but uses inadequate or incomplete logic to provide a reason why the results were obtained. 2.4 Points The Conclusion section does not state whether or not the hypothesis is correct. It includes only a concluding statement. 0 Points The Conclusion section is missing. Cumulative points Exemplary 18- 20 points Meets Standard 16 - 17 points Developing 14 - 15 points Novice 12 - 13 points Not Acceptable 0-11 points Discussion Rubric Criteria Levels of Achievement Exemplary Meets Expectations Developing Novice Not Acceptable
Quality of Initial Post 5 Points Initial comment fully addresses all aspects of the discussion. Comment includes many personal or professional experiences. Demonstrates excellent critical thinking skills through multiple examples and ideas. Excellent discussion of course readings or other resources if appropriate. 4 Points Initial comment addresses most aspects of the discussion. Comment includes some personal or professional experience. Demonstrates adequate critical thinking through some examples and ideas. Good discussion of course readings or other resources if appropriate. 3.5 Points Initial comment addresses part of the discussion or assigned readings. Comment includes minimal personal or professional experience. Demonstrates minimal critical thinking with minimal examples and ideas. Minimal discussion of course readings or other resources if appropriate. 3 Points Initial comment minimally addresses discussion. Comment does not include personal or professional experience. Does not critical thinking. No discussion of course readings or other resources if 0 Points No initial posting submitted. Quality of Response Postings 5 Points Responses are highly reflective, insightful and add to the discussion in a meaningful way moving it forward. 4 Points Responses are reflective, insightful and add to the discussion. 3.5 Points Responses are minimally reflective or insightful and do not significantly add to the discussion in a meaningful way. 3 Points Responses are present but are not reflective or insightful, but don't add to the discussion. 0 Points No response postings submitted. Organization and Technical Aspects of All Posts 5 Points Information is exceptionally well organized; spelling and grammar are correct and 4 Points Information is well organized; 1-2 spelling and/ or grammar mistakes are 3.5 Points Organization is scattered; 3-5 spelling and/ or grammar mistakes are evident. 3 Points Information is not well organized; more than 5 spelling and/ or grammar 0 Points No postings submitted.
complete sentences are used. Proper citations are effectively used. evident. Complete sentences are used. Proper citations are used. Some incomplete sentences used. Citations are used. mistakes are evident. Incomplete sentences used. No citations. Posting Quantity and Timeliness 5 Points Initial posting and at least three quality responses are made prior to the due date listed in the Calendar of Activities. At least one posting is made before 11:59 pm on Wednesday. 4 Points Initial posting and at least two quality responses are made prior to the due date listed in the Calendar of Activities. At least one posting is made before 11:59 pm on Wednesday. 3.5 Points Initial posting and at least one quality responses are made prior to the due date listed in the Calendar of Activities. At least one posting is made before 11:59 pm on Wednesday. 3 Points Initial posting is made before 11:59 pm on Any response postings are made prior to the due date listed on the Calendar of Activities. 0 Points Initial posting is not made prior to Wednesday and/or no postings are submitted. Cumulative points Exemplary 18- 20 points Meets Standard 16 - 17 points Developing 14 - 15 points Novice 12 - 13 points Not Acceptable 0-11 points