INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

OFFICE HOURS  *online or in **MSU building ROOM 137

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Ed. Course Manual/NCTC Catalog

COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE

See the tentative course summary uploaded into Canvas below the Syllabus.

GRADING CRITERIA

GRADING SCALE: 89.5 – 100% = A, 79.5 - 89% = B, 69.5 - 79% = C, 59.5 – 69% = D, Below 59.5% = F

COURSE STRUCTURE

The lecture and lab material for this course will be conducted entirely online.  Weekly participation is required, and assignments cannot be made up, therefore please make sure your schedule is clear and that you have uninterrupted access to the internet to complete your assignments.

COURSE COMMUNICATION: Announcements will be posted using the Remind application. Follow the link to sign up: https://www.remind.com/join/biology343 It is your responsibility to join the class to receive announcements from me.

QUESTIONS: It is normal to have questions about things that relate to the course, such as clarification about assignments, course materials, or assessments. This term we will be using Piazza for Q&A. The system is highly catered to getting you help fast and efficiently from classmates, and myself. Rather than emailing questions to the me, I encourage you to post your questions on Piazza. If you have any problems or feedback for the developers, email team@piazza.com.

Find our class page at: https://piazza.com/nctc/spring2019/biol2406343/home

NETIQUETTE: When posting on discussion boards as well as sending private messages, it is important to understand how to interact with fellow classmates or instructors online. You should plan to read about the rules of netiquette as a requirement for this course at  http://www.gadsdenstate.edu/elearning/netiquette This will be an assigned reading during the first unit of this course and assignments will follow to test your understanding.

PARTICIPATION:  Students are expected to participate by engaging in thoughtful discussions, completing unit assignments, asking questions, and commenting (respectfully) on subject matter. The required textbook is a valuable resource of information and students will be expected to keep up with its reading.  Grades will be taken in the form of quizzes, exams, discussion participation, other unit assignments and homework assignments. Students are expected to take responsibility for their own learning.

ATTENDANCE POLICY: Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered. Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence.

Attendance will be recorded via weekly check-in forms posted in Modules,

Students will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives. Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)

Last day to Withdraw for the Spring 2019 semester with a “W” is April 4^th, 2019

For other important dates visit: https://www.nctc.edu/_documents/academics/academic-calendar.pdf

If a student cannot complete all the requirements of this course due to illness or some unavoidable conflict, they must request in writing a grade of “I” (incomplete) in order to be allowed to finish the requirements at a later date. When the instructor receives the request, he/she must reply in writing to the request, explaining why the grade of “I” will or will not be assigned.

DISABILITY SERVICES - THE OFFICE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES (OSD): provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students who are classified as special populations (i.e. single parents).  

Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations, or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc.  Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self-advocacy and promote empowerment. The Counselors also provides resource information, disability-related information, and adaptive technology for students who qualify.

If you feel you have needs for services that the institution provides, please reach out to either Wayne Smith (940) 498-6207 or Yvonne Sandman (940) 668-3300.  Alternative students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 111 in Gainesville.

For more information, visit the NCTC Office for Students with Disabilities: https://www.nctc.edu/catalog/student-services/office-students-with-disabilities.html

CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA (For classes in the Core)        

          Communication

          Mathematics               

X          Life and Physical Science

          Language, Philosophy & Culture

          Creative Arts

          American History

          Government/Political Science

          Social and Behavioral Sciences

          Component Area Option

REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES

X          Critical Thinking

X          Communication

X          Empirical and Quantitative

X          Teamwork

X          Personal Responsibility

X          Social Responsibility