Introduction to Biology I

BIOL 121

Jennifer Lewis, Assistant Professor of Biology

What is this course?

This course is an introduction to the basic processes of living organisms.  Topics to be covered will include cell structure and function, cellular reproduction, metabolism, photosynthesis, the basic chemical processes, introductory biochemistry, energetics, enzyme structure and function, protein synthesis, and basic Mendelian genetics.

 

This course will satisfy the Area III (Laboratory Science) core requirements for graduation.

What are the prerequisites?

Accuplacer scores of 85+ (English), 82+ (Reading), 66+ (Arithmetic) OR successful completion of MATH 095.  RDNG 113 and/or ENGL 111 can be taken concurrently.

When does this course begin and end?

This course will run the full length of the semester.  Students may access the course on the first day of classes and will have until the last day of finals week to complete their final exam.

Who is teaching this course?

My name is Jennifer Lewis and I have been teaching biology at San Juan College for the past 6 years.  I have an MS in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan (my home area).  I've been teaching online biology for just the past year.  It has been an exciting adventure to say the least!

What materials will I need?

 

You will need the following materials to complete this course successfully:

    Textbooks:

·         Scott Freeman. Biological Science, Third Edition Volume 1: The Cell,Genetics,and Development (ISBN # 978-0-321-54330-1)

·         Mastering Biology  (www.masteringbio.com).  Access code will come with a new textbook, or can be purchased from the Mastering Biology website.

·         Lab kit.  Available from the San Juan College Bookstore

·         Additional household materials (such as toothpicks, gelatin, tincture of iodine) to complete individual labs.  A complete list will be available the first day of class.

Technology:

  • A reliable computer
  • An Internet connection (preferably high-speed).
  • Microsoft Word (old or new version)
  • Microsoft Excel (handy to have for graphing but not absolutely needed)

I strongly advise you to wait until you have a Microsoft Word and good Internet connection before taking this course.

Will I have to meet face-to-face with the instructor or other students?

 

No, we will not be having a face to face orientation.  We WILL have an "online orientation" the first few days of class.  However, if you are in the Four Corners area, feel free to stop by my office or to arrange study groups with other local students.

Will the course be hard for me?

 

I have designed this class to meet the standards of our face to face BIOL 121 classes.  In fact, you will be doing many of the same assignments and work as my face to face students.  Many students feel that online classes are easier than face to face classes, but this is not always true. On-line courses aren’t easier. In fact, many students find them actually more difficult because you don’t have the regular face-to-face instructor contact and the support of other students.  

 

Doing well in an online course takes a lot of time and dedication.  Because there is no set time to be in class, students need to be self-motivated to keep up with the coursework.  They also have to be a little pushy when it comes to making sure they understand the material, and not be afraid to ask questions of the instructor.  Students who can follow written instructions and learn through reading on their own have the best chance of succeeding. Along with the assignment load, working online can be a challenge. Computer-savvy students who are comfortable with the computer do best. If you don't learn well on your own or are unsure of yourself on the computer, you should reconsider whether you are suited for this course right now. To help you determine whether an online course is the right choice for you, look over the “Online Readiness Checklist” under “Getting Started” on the SJC Virtual Campus webpage. See the list of links at the end of the page to go to "Getting Started."

How much time will I have to spend per week on this course?

You will need to spend as much time on this online course as you would in any other course. An in-class version of BIOL 121 meets 5 hours per week in lecture and lab. As a rule, for every hour you are in class, you need to spend a minimum of 2 hours studying. So, 5 + (5 x 2) = 15 hours per week. Plan on spending a minimum of 10 to 15 hours per week on this course.  I want you to succeed, so don't sign up for the course unless you are able to commit ALL of the necessary time.

Can I go at my own pace?

 

Not really. You may find as we go through the semester that most of our topics will be based on topics we have covered previously.  To make sure that everyone has a strong foundation upon which to build their knowledge, we will be limiting how fast you can go through the course.  In addition, as this course is designed to be completed in 16 weeks it is not a good idea to go any slower or you will not be able to complete the course on time. I will be following the schedule as closely as possible so if you ever wonder what is coming up the course schedule is a good place to look.

What do I need to do if I decide to take this course?

 

The course space is limited. If you enroll and then don’t participate, or drop the course early on, you will deprive another student (who may not have other options for completing the course) of this opportunity. If you are serious about takingBIOL 121 online, follow these steps:

  1. Register for the course!
     
  2. Purchase the required textbook and lab kit. This is available at the college bookstore. For bookstore hours, visit the bookstore website. A link to this site is provided at the end of this page.
     
  3. Log into the course on the first day of classes to complete the online orientation.

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