FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What materials do I need for your course (lecture)?
Q: I tried to join your course in Mastering Biology, but it says the course does not exist. Do I have the right ID?!
A:FIRST, did you watch my screencast in D2L about registering for Mastering Biology? You do not need to "join a course" in Mastering Biology. Use the access code you purchased to register for Mastering Biology (see the screencast on the D2L page and the access code listed below), then, you can access the links for the Study Area and you are all set. NOTE: MASTERING BIOLOGY ACCESS IS VALID FOR ONE YEAR! IF YOU ALREADY PURCHASED ONE LAST SEMESTER, DO NOT BUY ANOTHER ONE!
***Register at: www.pearsonmastering.com
***ACCESS CODE for Fall 2017: mans13158
Q: I keep getting an error when I try to register for Mastering Biology. What is wrong?
A: I am not a technical support employee. Go here for help: http://247pearsoned.custhelp.com/
Q: There is a video in D2L that does not work. What do I do!!!?
A: Check the News Feed for announcements regarding the video. If no postings are present, please report the problem to me via [email protected].
Q:Where are the assignments in Mastering Biology?
A:I do not post assignments in Mastering Biology. You may easily find resources you need for each topic. See the question below...
Q: How do I find the Study Area in Mastering Biology? Where is the Chapter Guide?
A: I made a screencast entitled "Resources within Mastering Biology" and posted it to the "Course Logistics" module in the BIOL 1107 D2L page. This video is a tutorial on how to find resources. In short, the video says: 1. Sign in to Mastering Biology. 2. Click the Study Area link on the left-hand side of your screen. The Chapter Guide can be found within.
Q: I missed class, because I was sick, I went to a funeral, I was out of town for a game. Can I take a makeup quiz?
A: No. To account for students missing class due to illness, etc., I drop the two lowest Warm-Up Quizzes. If you miss class, you will receive a 0 for your individual quiz. Again, this 0 will be dropped as long as it is one of your two lowest scores. You have ample opportunity to perform well on the other 10 that count. Plan accordingly. If you have extreme circumstances that result in you missing more than two quizzes due to excused absences, I will drop the 0's for those excused quizzes. Essentially, I will make an effort to be sure your excused absences do not hurt your overall quiz point total.
Q: Do you curve the exams?
A: If the class makes a very poor showing on an exam across the board, I will examine the test questions and exclude those that are poorly written or contradict my instruction. However, A DIFFICULT EXAM DOES NOT GUARANTEE A CURVE. Never assume an exam will be curved.
Q: I will be out of town and without internet access (traveling with a sports team, family obligations, etc). How can I watch the video to prepare for class?
A: Notify me at least one week in advance, and you may download the video file to your computer--you can watch the video without internet access!
Q: Can I do something for extra credit?
A: Yes! The Biology Department hosts research seminars throughout the semester. CLICK HERE FOR SEMINAR SCHEDULE. Attend these seminars, and follow the directions below. Also, research seminars are available online. I will post links to these seminars. Directions for the assignment are below:
* Here's what you need to do:
** Each assignment is worth a maximum of 2 points. A maximum of 4 extra credit summaries may be submitted. Points are deducted if the research summary is superficial.
1. Attend a seminar or view one online.
2. Type a paragraph(s) summarizing the research presentation. Accuracy and some degree of detail are necessary if full credit is to be earned. Make it clear that you put in some effort.
3. Submit the assignment via the Dropbox in the BIOL 1107 D2L page. Use the folder entitled Seminar Summaries.
*Here's what not to do:
1. Copy someone else's work. Both parties will forfeit credit.
2. Email the assignment to me. It will be deleted.
3. Turn in the assignment during class. It will be returned.
4. Hand-write the assignment. It must be typed. It will be returned.
5. Use incorrect grammar, misspelled words or incorrect punctuation. Ask someone to proofread it before you submit.
6. Turn in a few superficial statements that are copied from the description on the internet.
- I highly recommend a 3-ring binder (1.5-inch), a 3-hole punch and some paperclips to keep your life together. This binder is handy to consolidate notes and worksheets by topic. Do not waste time flipping through your spiral notebook! Rip those pages out and clip them together in a binder! (you’ll thank me later).
- A textbook is required. Here are my recommendations depending upon your major:
- FOR MAJORS IN THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES or HEALTH PROFESSIONS (Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Nursing, etc): Campbell Biology textbook,10th or 11th edition. Campbell Biology is the best Biology textbook on the market, and you will use it again if you take BIOL 1108 (BIO II). It is so dang expensive, because it explains things very clearly!
- FOR NON-BIOLOGY MAJORS: (Music, Business, etc): OpenStax Biology (not Concepts in Biology) textbook, an acceptable alternative to Campbell's Biology. This book may be downloaded in PDF format for free! An iPad-optimized version may be purchased for $5. https://openstaxcollege.org/textbooks/biology. You may also have a copy printed and mailed to you at a very reasonable cost. But honestly, if you are going to have a bound copy mailed to you, you might as well spring for the Campbell textbook.
- OPTIONAL: Campbell Biology e-text. If you would rather look at a screen than turn pages, then by all means, purchase the e-text instead of the paper copy of the textbook.
- OPTIONAL: Access Code for Pearson MyLab & Mastering Biology. Campbell Biology, 10th edition. Do not purchase this until you try SI, tutoring and Office Hours.
- I DO NOT require MasteringBiology access. MasteringBiology is an online resource (costing approximately $70). My advice is to hold off on purchasing MasteringBiology access until you get a feel for how the class is going.
Q: I tried to join your course in Mastering Biology, but it says the course does not exist. Do I have the right ID?!
A:FIRST, did you watch my screencast in D2L about registering for Mastering Biology? You do not need to "join a course" in Mastering Biology. Use the access code you purchased to register for Mastering Biology (see the screencast on the D2L page and the access code listed below), then, you can access the links for the Study Area and you are all set. NOTE: MASTERING BIOLOGY ACCESS IS VALID FOR ONE YEAR! IF YOU ALREADY PURCHASED ONE LAST SEMESTER, DO NOT BUY ANOTHER ONE!
***Register at: www.pearsonmastering.com
***ACCESS CODE for Fall 2017: mans13158
Q: I keep getting an error when I try to register for Mastering Biology. What is wrong?
A: I am not a technical support employee. Go here for help: http://247pearsoned.custhelp.com/
Q: There is a video in D2L that does not work. What do I do!!!?
A: Check the News Feed for announcements regarding the video. If no postings are present, please report the problem to me via [email protected].
Q:Where are the assignments in Mastering Biology?
A:I do not post assignments in Mastering Biology. You may easily find resources you need for each topic. See the question below...
Q: How do I find the Study Area in Mastering Biology? Where is the Chapter Guide?
A: I made a screencast entitled "Resources within Mastering Biology" and posted it to the "Course Logistics" module in the BIOL 1107 D2L page. This video is a tutorial on how to find resources. In short, the video says: 1. Sign in to Mastering Biology. 2. Click the Study Area link on the left-hand side of your screen. The Chapter Guide can be found within.
Q: I missed class, because I was sick, I went to a funeral, I was out of town for a game. Can I take a makeup quiz?
A: No. To account for students missing class due to illness, etc., I drop the two lowest Warm-Up Quizzes. If you miss class, you will receive a 0 for your individual quiz. Again, this 0 will be dropped as long as it is one of your two lowest scores. You have ample opportunity to perform well on the other 10 that count. Plan accordingly. If you have extreme circumstances that result in you missing more than two quizzes due to excused absences, I will drop the 0's for those excused quizzes. Essentially, I will make an effort to be sure your excused absences do not hurt your overall quiz point total.
Q: Do you curve the exams?
A: If the class makes a very poor showing on an exam across the board, I will examine the test questions and exclude those that are poorly written or contradict my instruction. However, A DIFFICULT EXAM DOES NOT GUARANTEE A CURVE. Never assume an exam will be curved.
Q: I will be out of town and without internet access (traveling with a sports team, family obligations, etc). How can I watch the video to prepare for class?
A: Notify me at least one week in advance, and you may download the video file to your computer--you can watch the video without internet access!
Q: Can I do something for extra credit?
A: Yes! The Biology Department hosts research seminars throughout the semester. CLICK HERE FOR SEMINAR SCHEDULE. Attend these seminars, and follow the directions below. Also, research seminars are available online. I will post links to these seminars. Directions for the assignment are below:
* Here's what you need to do:
** Each assignment is worth a maximum of 2 points. A maximum of 4 extra credit summaries may be submitted. Points are deducted if the research summary is superficial.
1. Attend a seminar or view one online.
2. Type a paragraph(s) summarizing the research presentation. Accuracy and some degree of detail are necessary if full credit is to be earned. Make it clear that you put in some effort.
3. Submit the assignment via the Dropbox in the BIOL 1107 D2L page. Use the folder entitled Seminar Summaries.
*Here's what not to do:
1. Copy someone else's work. Both parties will forfeit credit.
2. Email the assignment to me. It will be deleted.
3. Turn in the assignment during class. It will be returned.
4. Hand-write the assignment. It must be typed. It will be returned.
5. Use incorrect grammar, misspelled words or incorrect punctuation. Ask someone to proofread it before you submit.
6. Turn in a few superficial statements that are copied from the description on the internet.