General Zoology  BIOS1380  Spring 2007                         

Instructor:   David Nash   WNCC 635-6108,  Home 436-2914;  dnash@wncc.net

Lecture:  MWF 9:00   C - 1        Lab:   Tues.   8:00   C -4

Text:  Animal Diversity Hickman/Roberts/Larson   4th Edition        Publishers Web:   http://www.mhhe.com/hickmanad4e

 

WEEK of-                                 

Topic/Lab

Readings

Jan 15

Introduction

Lab:  Intro

Chapters 1-4

Jan 22

Protozoa

Lab:  Protozoa

Chapters 5

Jan 29  

Sponges and Radiates

Lab:  Porifera and Cnidaria

Chapters 6,7

Feb  5

Acoelomates

Lab:  Platyhelminthes

Chapter 8

Feb 12

Pseudocoelomates

Lab:  Rotifers and Roundworms

Chapter 9

Feb 19

Mollusks

Lab:  Molluska

Chapter 10

Feb 26

Annelids

Lab:  Annelida / Segmented worms

Chapter 11

March 5           

Arthropods I

Lab:  Arthropoda I

Chapter 12

March 12

Arthropods II

Lab:  Arthropoda II

Chapter 12

March 19

Spring Break

 

March 26

Echinoderms and Lesser Deuterostomes

Lab: Lab Practical

Chapter 13, 14

April 2

Chordata

Lab:  Echinodermata

Chapter 15

April 9

Fishes 

Lab:  Shark Dissection I

Chapter 16

April 16

Amphibians

Lab:  Shark Dissection II

Chapter 17

 

April 23

Reptiles           

Wild Cat Hills Nature Center / Presentations

Chapter 18

April 30

Birds

Lab:  Owl Pellets

Chapter 19

May  7

Mammals

Presentations/Lab Practical

Chapter 20

May 16th

Final Exam 8:00

 

                                                                       

Your grade will consist of:

1.         Weekly quizzes ,  quizzes will cover the animal group covered during the previous week.   Each quiz will be given at the beginning of lab.   As soon as you have completed the quiz you will proceed with the lab activity. If a quiz is missed you have 48 hours to make it up.   Since the quiz is first given at 8:00 on Tuesday, it must be made up by 10:00 Thursday.  Quizzes will comprise 50% of your final grade.

 

2.          Lab practical exam.  There will be one lab test covering materials dealing specifically with invertebrate animal groups that we observed during lab prior to spring break.   This test will be based on sight identification of the organisms we viewed in lab.   A second practical will cover animal groups discussed after spring break.   You will need to know organisms, characteristics and classifications.   Creation of a lab book with detailed sketches is recommended.   Lab practicals comprise 20% of your final grade.

 

3.         Comprehensive final.   Don't panic, you will have the questions/topics at your disposal by spring break.   Essay format covering concepts we covered in class.   Final will comprise 20% of your final grade.

 

4.         Research/Presentations.   You will be required to develop a written and oral presentation about a specific animal or group to be presented to the class.   You will be evaluated by the class.   Details and guidelines will be provided during the first lab.   Research and Presentations will comprise 10% of your final grade.

 

Grading:  90-100 % A ;  80-89% B;   70-79% C;  60-69% D;   Below 60% F

 

Class Materials :

Class materials (notes) can be secured from the WNCC web site  http://www.wncc.net/dnash/     then click on Zoology.   I have attempted to include a number of additional web sites that contain information pertinent to the topics at hand.   The publisher of your text maintains a very good web collection.   When you first go to the site you will need to register, it is free of charge to students utilizing their books.   The address is listed at the beginning of this document.

 

Attendance/ Tardiness :  

Please understand that the provided notes do not serve as a substitute for class time, they simply allow you to do more listening in class rather than writing.  Attempting to do both as the same time is ineffective.  The notes alone do you little good without the accompanying explanations from class.  Do not get a false sense of security over having the notes, leading you to assume that missing class is no big deal.  I tend to generate my best quiz questions when attendance is low!

 

Although WNCC does have a formal attendance policy I have never used it  (There are two exceptions 1.the lab where attendance has a point value and 2. to help the financial aid office).  I have always been of the belief that you are all big boys and girls now and should be responsible for your actions.  If you want to sign up for a class, pay tuition and then not show up that is your choice.   In reality it matters little if you missed because of an illness or because you couldn’t get yourself out of bed, the end result is the same. . . you missed class and additionally could lose some financial aid.  It matters little if your absence is excused or not . . . you missed class.   By the same token, if you can’t stay awake during class . . . you missed class.  If you constantly talk to your neighbor during class . . . . you missed class.  If you are late to class . . . . you missed class.  A pattern should be developing for you by now.  It is truly amazing what you can accomplish when you go to class!

 

It should be fairly obvious that missing class isn’t a good idea, just like missing work means you won’t get paid.   The ultimate measure of your attendance is, of course, your grade.   Absences always have a way of showing up on test scores.

 

I do realize that life happens.  If you know ahead of time you will be missing it would be helpful to let me know so I can give you an idea about what you will be missing and how far the rest of us will be progressing in your absence.   Life does move on.

 

Reading/Writing Abilities:

You probably noticed that BIOS1380 does not have a basic reading and writing prerequisite.  Please understand that reading and writing are both significant components of this class.  You will be expected to do a considerable amount of reading to keep up and you will additionally be expected to express yourself in written form.   If you struggle with either you should consider starting with the basics before tackling Biology which has a language all its own.

 

Disabilities:

Western Nebraska Community College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.  If you qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please notify the Director of Counseling, 308-635-3606, as soon as possible to begin the process of documentation review and determination of appropriate accommodations or adaptive strategies .

 

Best Preparation :  

I strongly encourage you to form study groups.   This is also a very effective mechanism to help reinforce the information from class.

 

It is also necessary to go over your materials daily.   It is estimated by the experts that you need to spend at least two additional hours per week studying for every hour your class is worth.   That would suggest that you need to spend at least eight hours a week on zoology alone! (that’s in addition to the five hours you spend in class) Going over your material daily will help keep it more manageable.  It is definitely worth a shot.