| CRN: 20294 |
| 16 Weeks - Distance Education course |
| Students enrolled in the course are required to visit campus eight times during the semester (three mid-term exams and a final to be taken in the campus Testing Center). |
Welcome! You are either enrolled in, or you are interested in enrolling in, the Biology 104 Distance Education class.
This course is intended for non-biology majors with emphasis on energy relationships, cell structure and function, nutrient processing, reproduction, development, genetics, diversity of life, ecological interrelationships and a discussion of contemporary issues. This course is offered in a distance education format, utilizing a Blackboard website. Students enrolled in the course are required to visit campus eight times during the semester (three mid-term exams and a final to be taken in the campus Testing Center). Effective use of both the textbook and the website are required for successful completion of the course. 3 units.
Getting Started: Enrolled students must utilize the textbook, as well as the Blackboard web site (see below), in order to succeed in this course. You are responsible for all reading and assignments published on the web site. In order to help guide you in preparation for this course, I have constructed the following "tips":
- Realize that your grade in this course is essentially dependent upon your performance on exams. To succeed in this course, you must learn the material and perform well on each of the four exams.
- Read the weekly reading assignment before attempting to use the Chapter Notes.
- Utilize both the weekly announcements and weekly assignments sections of the web site. The majority of the weekly assignments will not be collected, however, I will be happy to evaluate your answers to the weekly questions if you turn them in to me either by email or in person. If homework is to be collected, I will inform you one week in advance. I will probably collect a total of 4 homework assignments during the semester.
- Utilize the Chapter Notes to help clarify information from the textbook. Rather than rewrite the entire chapter for you, I have highlighted each of the Chapter Concepts within the textbook that you are responsible for. These are intended as "notes" and should be used as a guideline to help you understand the most important concepts within the chapter. I have highlighted key words in blue. You are responsible for all these terms.
- Take advantage of the links I have incorporated within the Chapter Notes as well as the Links section of the homepage. These links should help you understand difficult concepts.
- I have included discussion questions and a self-test within each Chapter Notes section. Please answer these to aid in your understanding of the material.
- Please take advantage of the message board and post questions or respond to questions asked by others and/or the instructor.
- Do not fall behind in this course! We cover, on average, two chapters/week. You must keep up with the pace of the course. It is best to spend time on this course every day...do not put studying off until the night before an exam.
- Above all, please ask questions (either in person or via email) if you do not understand material within this course.
Email your professor: Send me an email immediately confirming that you are enrolled, that you have located the Blackboard course site, and that you are getting started. Provide me with your full name and the email address you will be using during the duration of the summer term.
Textbook:
Biology: Concepts and Connections, Campbell, Reece, Taylor, Simon, and Dickey 6th edition, 2009 ISBN = 0558314414 (Custom publish for Citrus College)
- Update email on WingSpan so it will transfer to Blackboard
- Your WingSpan ID becomes your Blackboard Username
- Your WingSpan PIN number (six digits only) becomes your Blackboard password
- To change these on Blackboard requires you change them on WingSpan
- Data will be transferred from WingSpan to Blackboard on a regular basis
Once you get to the welcome page, click on the Biology - Contemporary Topics course link on the right, and you will go to the course site. Familiarize yourself with the course site and if you have any questions please email your instructor with your concerns. Get your textbook and get started with your initial assignments. A major key to your success in this course will be keeping up with both the reading and other assignments.
If you have a disability documented by a physician or other appropriate professional and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please contact the DSP&S office at (626) 914-8675. Please discuss your accommodations with me by email and be sure to allow at least one week to arrange appropriate accommodations.