Course Syllabus for BIOL 2106 Section 090
Environmental Biology Lab
2010 Spring Standard Semester

Note to Students:  This may not be the most recent syllabus for this course, and any dates shown may apply to a previous semester. Any assignments included in this syllabus may change in the syllabus distributed on the class start date. Textbook information in this syllabus may also change. For current textbook information, refer to the Course Details accessed by clicking the course title in the online Course Schedule.

PALO ALTO COLLEGE
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
SYLLABUS 

I.   GENERAL INFORMATION      
A.  Course Number and Title: Biol. 2106  -- Environmental Biology Laboratory    
B.    Instructor: George E. Hagen     
C.    Office Hours:
               E-mails are usually checked at least twice a day.
               May be contacted by phone between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.     
E.    Contact Information:
                    Office:         Applied Science, Room 115
                    E-mail:         ghagen@accd.edu
                    Phone:         210-921-5161 (Voice mail available)
                    Fax:             210-921-5215
                    Address:       Science Department
                                      1400 W. Villaret
                                      San Antonio, TX  78224
 

II.     CATALOG DESCRIPTION: 
       

III.    RATIONAL: Humans reside on Earth as a member of one of the systems, which make up the Earth\'s 
        environment. Many human activities adversely affect the systems of the environment, in the past, the present, and
        the future. Today\'s students will be the leaders of the future and students must have a basic knowledge of the
        systems that make up the Earth\'s environment to understand how human activity impact the environment.   The
        primary goal immediately before us is to reach a level of sustainability to allow for a continued existence in a clean,
        safe environment with the necessary level of resources to support human and wildlife existence. 

IV.    COURSE OBJECTIVES:       
        Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:       
A.  Define environmental science, describe methods used to evaluate information, and apply these methods in making value judgments concerning environmental issues.       
B.  Discuss an overview of the dimensions of the human population explosion, the causes and effects, and the relationship of increasing human population on environmental degradation and pollution.     
C.    List factors affecting population rates, methods used to regulate human population, and discuss how increase in populations impacts environmental systems and the sustainable future.     
D.    Summarize how human utilization of natural resources has increased through present times and outline the beginnings of resource conservation and environmental protection.     
E.    Identify the principle forms of matter and energy, describe their changes, and describe how scientific laws governing matter and energy changes from one form to another is related to resource utilization and environmental disruption.     
F.    Define an ecosystem, list the components contained in an ecosystem, explain how ecosystems function, and explain how ecosystems are alike and how they are different,       
G.    Summarize the descriptions of the various biomes both terrestrial and aquatic, and explain how the climate affects the biomes and the type of wildlife found in that particular biome.     
H.    List the various natural and human-induced stresses on the environment and the effects of these stresses have on environmental systems.  Describe methods of adaptation to stress by environmental systems.     
I.    Provide a brief description of the resources (land, air, and water), inventory the present resource situation (including pollution of the resource), and give general methods of resource conservation.  

V.    CLASS POLICIES      

A.   Attendance requirements are in force for this course.  Students may satisfy the attendance requirements by participating in a chat room discussion, posting required articles on the bulletin board, and/or responding to bulletin board postings.     
B.  Posting and Responding to Bulletin Board Postings. All questions dealing with the course or course content will be asked on the discussion (bulletin) board.  Emails are for confidential communication.     
C.  If you, the student, will be off-line for an extended period of time, you should notify me, the instructor, by private e-mail and explain the circumstances of your absence.  You will be expected to catch up on all work missed.     
D.  Students are provided windows of dates in which assignments and exams are to be submitted.  Students should plan ahead and submit assignments and exams in this time frame.  If there is unusual circumstances, which prevent the timely submission of assignments and examinations, notify the instructor as soon as possible in order to negotiate submission arrangements.     
E.  Adding and Dropping Courses    
It is your responsibility to drop a course and if you do drop this course, please notify me by e-mail.  If I have not heard from you for two weeks (14 calendar days), I will drop you from the course and notify you by e-mail.      
F.  Student and Instructor Communication           
Private communication between the student and instructor shall be by the WebCT e-mail feature.  The instructor will respond in the same way.  If this happens to be out of service, use the instructor’s college e-mail address.  Any general inquiries relevant to the course or course content should be accomplished using the WebCT bulletin board.            
The Instructor will respond in the same way.  The bulletin board allows all class members’ access to the original message and the instructor response.  Interactive communication will take place in the chat room.  This is the student\'s time to ask the instructor questions regarding any aspect of the course or course material.  Please have reading assignments completed and, if possible, have ready any questions you have.      
G.  Instructor Response Time to Student           
Unless there is a failure in technology or I am called out of town for emergency purposes, I will try to adhere to a response time to the student of no more than 24 hours during the regular work week.  I occasionally check the WebCT course on weekends, but that is not a promise.  If I have not at least acknowledged your e-mail or posting within 24 hours, please e-mail me asking for a response.           
If for some reason, (emergency situation) I am not able to be reached on-line or by phone, follow the assignment if possible.  Phone me or e-mail me.  I will answer my e-mail as soon as I am able to get to a computer and log on.  The departmental secretary is Ms. Thompson and she may be contacted at 210-921-5133.  She has voice mail on her phone.     
H.  Course Cancellation          
If the course does not reach the minimum enrollment, the instructor or the department secretary will notify students by e-mail (if e-mail address is available) or by telephone.  

VII. GRADING PROCEDURES      
A.  Competencies will be demonstrated on major exams. Exams will have a combination of essay, listing, multiple choice, and true/false questions. All types may not be included on each exam.      
B.  All exams and reports will be graded on a 100-point scale.      
C.  Exams are scheduled on the outline. 
D. HINTS FOR SUCCESS. Complete assignments and submit them in on time. Do not wait until the night before to study for exam or write paper.      
E.  EVALUATION: GRADE SCALE:
            A. Lab Assignments (10)    40%            A = 90 - 100
            B. Lab Quizzes  (10)         30%             B = 80 - 89
            C. Lab Exams (3)             30%             C = 70 - 79 
                                                                   D = 60 - 69                                                          
                                                                   F = < 60

VII. TEXTBOOK REQUIREMENTS – (Optional)            

It will assist you in the lab.  It is the same text as used in the lecture.           

ENVIRONMENTAL The Science Behind the Stories
           Second Edition, by Scott Brennan and Jay Withgott 

VII. STUDENT SUPPORT/MANAGEMENT      
A.  Student Support Services provides a variety of support to students and information regarding types of support may be found at this link.     
B.  Time Management          
Students should set aside a particular time at least three to four times a week to read the text and instructor notes. If the student cannot participate in the chat room, they should review the discussion through the chat room logs.      
C.  Strategies for Success is an on-line study tutorial and is recommended reading.  Please visit this site if you are new to college courses and/or Internet courses.     
D.  Students are encouraged to form study groups on their own as a support group.  Students are able to contact each other by the WebCT e-mail.         
E.  Student Biographical Sketch – As near as possible to the first class day, the student should post a brief biographical sketch on the discussion board.  As you have the opportunity to know something about the instructor, the instructor and other students would like to a little about you. 


                                                       BIOL. 2106 ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY OUTLINE