Biology 181 - Message Board Archive
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
The College is closed today but we're back to normal hours of operation as of tomorrow. This is the begining of week 12. For the next deadline, you must complete the remaining labs and tests for the course (Units 10-16). Check your grades by filling in the table on your syllabus. Are you earning the kind of grade with which you are satisfied? If not, you can either withdraw (the last day for you to do this is tomorrow, November 12) or put in more time and effort in the BLC. Remember, there is one-on-one assistance available there as well as electronic media that can only be obtained on Campus. You are welcome to see me if you need help with study techniques or course material.
I am grading the photosynthesis draft lab reports. You will be notified that it is graded when you come in to take a test. There will be a note on your card. Please DO NOT DISCARD the draft! You must attach it to your final version in order to get credit for the draft.
Also, many of you have not taken the extra credit quiz. (Just a friendly reminder.)
I look forward to continuing to work with you,
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Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Week 10 begins... can you believe it?
I haven't seen many of you in the BLC in the past week... I must assume that you have all been hard a work on everything that can be done for the course at home :-)
Get ready for the next deadline, November 6, by which time units 7, 8 and 9 must be done. And remember, the draft for the photosynthesis lab report is also due on that date at 2:00PM. Pace yourself, the lab takes up to 3 hours to complete!!! If you wish, you can do this lab in pairs. It is more fun this way and you will probably get better results. Just let me know who your lab partner was when you turn in your report.
Guess we'll be seeing a lot of eachother between now and then.
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Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Week 8 ... 1/2 way there!!!
This Friday, exams for units 4, 5, and 6 must be taken. I have had a few requests from students with flu-like symptoms for an extension and will honor them. However, let this be a warning to you: we are expecting a higher-than-usual incidence of the flu this semester due to H1N1. This means that those of you who rarely get sick just may do so this Fall. So what can you do to protect your grades? GET AHEAD! There will be no extensions for the next deadline. If you are healthy, now is the time to put in those extra hours in the BLC and spend time doing labs and using the software that is only available on Campus.
Get plenty of sleep, regular exercise, healthy food and be well,
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Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Week 7... almost to the half-way mark in the semester. Hope you are also almost at the half-way mark in your units for this class. No deadline this week but on Friday of next week, units 4-6 must be completed.
Please note that the Photosynthesis lab is a long one and you should plan on spending 3 hours in the BLC. Budget your time wisely! The rough draft of the lab report will be returned to you. Please attach it to your final draft.
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Wednesday, September 30, 2009
This is the begining of Week 6 which means you should be working on unit 6 to be on track (I know, I got a bit ahead of myself last week). The next deadline is October 16 and by then the tests for units 4, 5 and 6 (at the very least) must be completed.
I am pleased with most students' progress but I think that a couple of you could use some private tutoring. Remember, my services are FREE! ... and I spend long lonely hours in my office just waiting for my students to come and visit me!
If any of you missed the test deadline for units 2 and 3, you can retake one of the tests once you have completed all of the units and have completed the lab for that unit. So don't worry... just move forward with units 4 and beyond!
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Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Just a friendly reminder: This Friday, units 2 and 3 are due. The BLC closes at 2:00 so the last test is administered at 1:30.
Hope to see you all hard at work! Remember that to be "on-track" you should be starting to work on unit 6 by now.
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Wednesday, September 9, 2009
The first deadline, Fri Sept 11, 2009 is coming up fast. At least the first exam has to be completed by this date. You need to bring in your completed lab worksheet to be signed off by the BLC staff and take the exam in the BLC examination room. If you miss a deadline, you may not be able to go back and complete the units. Please note that on Fidays we close at 2pm so the latest that you are allowed to take an exam is 1:30pm. Do not leave your exam for the last moment as the BLC is very busy on a "deadline day".
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Wednesday, September 2, 2009
At this point you should have completed your onsite Biology Learning Center Orientation, and received your syllabus and first worksheets. You should have completed the Unit 1 Labs and taken your Unit 1 Exam by the end of the day on Wednesday September 2, to be considered "on track" in your course. The deadlines are condidered "absolute latest"; the first deadline is September 11 at 2:00PM. There are 15 lessons and a final exam and 16 weeks in which to do them. I always like to advise students to get a bit ahead early in the semester when your workload is probably lightest.
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If you are enrolled in one of our on-campus, self-paced BIO 181 courses for the Spring 2008 semester, you must come by the BIOLOGY LEARNING CENTER (Downtown Campus, ST 107) sometime during the first week of classes (Aug 26-31) for a brief orientation. During this orientation,you will take a chemistry assessment test to determine how well prepared you are for this course. You will also receive important instructions, your course syllabus, and your first worksheets. It is not advisable to print out all of the worksheets for the semester in advance as I will make changes.
Fall 2009 BIOLOGY LEARNING CENTER HOURS:
Mon-Thur 9:00 am
- 8:00 pm
Fri 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Sat 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
You cannot begin your course until you have had your orientation. Do not wait until after August to come into our center. Otherwise, you will already be behind in your course!
After you have completed your orientation, you need to begin working on your course right away. You are expected to have completed the first unit and first exam by the end of the day on Tuesday, September 1, to be considered on track to meeting your first deadline.
Have a good semester!