BIOL 1208 Summer 2020

General Biology I Lab for Science Majors

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Instructor: Brooke Trabona, M.S. Graduate Teaching Assistant: Shova Pandey
Email: btrabona@lsu.edu Email: spand12@lsu.edu
Zoom personal link: btrabona Zoom personal link: 378-663-9592
Virtual office hours on Zoom: Virtual office hours on Zoom:
• By appointment • By appointment
• Tuesdays and Thursdays: 12:00–1:00 p.m. and 3:30–4:30 p.m. CST

COURSE DESCRIPTION
General Biology I Lab for Science Majors. Prerequisite: credit or registration in BIOL 1201. Credit will not be given for
this course and BIOL 1005 or BIOL 1207. Three-hour lab primarily for students majoring in science, agriculture, or
education.
This online lab course will be a combination of case studies, "kitchen" labs, and research modules to teach critical
thinking and the scientific process. To teach these topics, activities and labs that are relevant in today's world were
chosen. For example, to learn cell biology, you will study the SARS-CoV-2 virus and how the COVID-19 disease
affects individuals and communities.
While most labs will be asynchronous, a portion of labs will be held synchronously on Zoom via Moodle during
regularly scheduled class time. Attendance and participation in these labs are mandatory and will be reflected in your
grade.
This is a certified Communication-Intensive (C-I) course that meets all the requirements set forth by LSU’s
Communication across the Curriculum program, including:
• instruction and assignments emphasizing informal and formal writing,
• teaching of discipline-specific communication techniques,
• use of feedback loops for learning,
• 40% of the course grade rooted in communication-based work, and
• practice of ethical and professional work standards.
Students interested in pursuing the LSU Distinguished Communicators certification may use this C-I course for one
writing credit.

COURSE OUTCOMES
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
1. Conduct experiments using basic biological techniques.
2. Formulate research questions, hypotheses, and predictions for biological experiments.
3. Analyze raw data to determine basic trends and infer implications.
4. Design tables and graphs with appropriately written captions.
5. Communicate biological techniques, findings, and implications through presentations and scientific writing.
6. Explain the fundamental biological processes of enzymes, genetics, cells, and carbon metabolism.

REQUIRED MATERIALS
Software:
• Zoom
• Microsoft Office 365 Desktop Apps: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (online versions will not suffice)
• JMP 15.1 through TigerWare
Materials:
• Headset with microphone
• Webcam
• Kitchen lab materials: The total amount you will spend will not exceed $50.
o The first kitchen lab is June 16th; the materials under Start Here on Moodle must be purchased
beforehand.
• OpenStax free peer-reviewed online textbooks
o Recommended: Biology 2e, Concepts of Biology, Microbiology, and/or Biology for AP Courses
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TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Moodle runs on Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, or any device with a web browser. For information on browsers, please
visit the LSU ITS Web Browser Recommendation page. Google Chrome and Firefox are the recommended browsers for
Moodle 3 at LSU. It is also recommended that you have Adobe Flash installed and enabled, and that Javascript is enabled.

COURSE OUTLINE AND SCHEDULE

Week Date Topic Synchronous?
June 9 Course Introduction and Scientific Method Synchronous
1
June 11 Scientific Method -
June 16 Enzymes: Kitchen Lab -
2
June 18 Enzymes: I Scream for Ice Cream -
June 23 Genetics: Medical Mystery -
3
June 25 Scientific Literature and Genetics: Genetically Modified Apples -
June 30 Genetics: Genetically Modified Apples Synchronous
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July 2 Genetics: Genetically Modified Apples Synchronous
July 7 Cell Biology: COVID-19 -
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July 9 Cell Biology: COVID-19 Synchronous
July 14 Genetics, Cell Biology, and Evolution: Skin Color ?
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July 16 Genetics, Cell Biology, and Evolution: Skin Color ?
July 21 Carbon Metabolism: Fermentation Kitchen Lab -
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July 23 Carbon Metabolism: Photosynthesis/Cellular Respiration ?
8 July 28 Final Exam Synchronous
The course outline and schedule are subject to change at any time. You will be given at least a two-week notice if any
labs need to change to a synchronous delivery method.

GRADING SCHEME AND COURSE WORK

Your grade in this course will be determined by the specific activities and assessments described in this syllabus. In the
following sections you will find details about each type of activity and assessment, as well as the grade breakdown and
grading scale. Specific expectations for each graded item are included within these sections.
LSU letter grades will be assigned according to the table below. Your end of semester numerical grade is rounded up to a
whole number; for example, 94.49 = 94 and 94.50 = 95.
A+ 97-100 B+ 87-89 C+ 77-79 D+ 67-69
A 93-96 B 83-86 C 73-76 D 63-66 F ≤ 60
A- 90-92 B- 80-82 C- 70-72 D- 60-62
While subject to change at any time, final grades will be computed from the following activities:
Discussion Forums 20%
Quizzes 25%
Assignments 25%
Participation 10%
Final Exam 20%

DESCRIPTION OF GRADED ACTIVITIES

Discussion Forums
Throughout the course you will participate in discussion forums where you will be required respond to a prompt asking
you to demonstrate critical thinking about the concepts presented in the module and engage in conversations with peers.
When needed, citations should be used in discussion forums. Postings and responses should be professional, complete,
and concise. Any behavior that is deemed unbecoming of a student based on LSU’s Code of Student Conduct will be
reported to LSU’s Student Advocacy and Accountability department.
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Quizzes
Each module contains a Moodle quiz that will test your knowledge of the information covered. These quizzes serve as
checkpoints to gauge your progress toward achieving the course outcomes. Quizzes will be timed with one attempt
allowed, and answers will be available to review after the due date. Sharing quiz questions or answers with anyone in the
class or elsewhere is prohibited; any suspected misconduct will be reported to the Office of Student Accountability.
Assignments
Throughout the course you will be asked to submit assignments to apply key concepts and show mastery of course
outcomes. These assignments will include student guides submitted via Turnitin, as well as other laboratory assignments
throughout the course. Submission of assignments may vary, but most will be due by 11:59 p.m. CST on Tuesday or
Thursday evenings. More detailed instructions for each assignment will be provided on Moodle.
Late assignments will incur a 10% grade reduction for every 12-hour window that the assignment is late. For example, if
an assignment is ten minutes late or 10 hours late, the penalty will be a 10% penalty.
Final Exam
A cumulative final exam will be administered on July 28th during the scheduled lab time. The exam will include questions
to test your knowledge of the key concepts and topics covered during the course, as well as scientific literacy and critical
thinking skills. A portion of the exam will be administered on Moodle in the form of multiple-choice and short answer
questions, while a second portion will be administered in a take-home format. Both exam components should be
completed independently and without collaboration.

ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATION

Please check Moodle frequently to keep track of your work. Participation obligations involve specific points of
engagement in course activities and interaction with peers. Your active engagement in discussion forums, synchronous lab
meetings, or other required collaborative activities constitutes your participation in this course. You are expected to
contribute and collaborate according to the requirements of the specific activities and assessments described in this
syllabus.
Timely communication is an e-learning best practice. Rather than emailing, general questions that peers may also have
should be posted with a clear, descriptive, specific title to the Student Q & A Forum on Moodle so peers and/or the
instructor can answer the questions publicly. Check your LSU email and the News and Announcements Forum daily
to make sure you do not miss any communications from your instructor or classmates. Contact the instructor in
advance if you are going to miss an assignment or turn in work late. This will give the instructor sufficient time to
discuss an alternative schedule.

ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITY

Federal Financial Aid regulations require the confirmation of course participation for students to receive federal aid. The
confirmation of attendance is achieved by students completing an academic engagement activity (AEA) in Moodle by the
census date (June 11th). Failure to complete the activity by the specified due date may result in a delay in the disbursement
of financial aid funds. Another required academic activity is due on the last day of class to ensure participation throughout
the course duration.

CREDIT HOUR AND ENGAGED LEARNING TIME EXPECTATIONS

LSU’s general policy states that for each credit hour, you should plan to spend about 45 hours of combined “in-class”
and “out-of-class" time working on course related activities such as viewing and interacting with instructional materials,
activities and assignments, assigned readings, research, or study time. Therefore, a seven-week, one-credit hour lab
course typically requires around six to ten hours of student work per week.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Students must comply with the LSU Code of Student Conduct. Academic misconduct includes but is not limited to
cheating, plagiarism, collusion, falsifying academic records, and/or any act designed to give unfair academic advantage
to the student. Preventing academic misconduct requires learners to take ownership of their individual work for
individual assignments and assessments. Students who violate the LSU Code of Student Conduct will be referred to
Student Advocacy and Accountability. For undergraduate students, a first academic violation could result in a zero
grade on the assignment or failing the class and disciplinary probation until graduation. For a second academic
violation, the result could be suspension from LSU. To read more, please visit the LSU Code of Student Conduct page.
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PLAGIARISM AND CITATION METHOD

It is your responsibility to refrain from plagiarizing the academic property of another and to utilize appropriate citation
method for all coursework. In this class, it is recommended that you use APA formatting. Ignorance of the citation
method is not an excuse for academic misconduct. Remember, there is a difference between paraphrasing and quoting
and how to properly cite each, respectively.
One tool available to assist you in correct citations is the “References” function in Microsoft Word. This program
automatically formats the information you input according to the citation method you select for the document. This
program can also generate a reference page for your document. A demonstration of how to use this tool is available
online at the LSU Student Advocacy and Accountability page.

UNAUTHORIZED ASSISTANCE
All work must be completed without assistance, unless explicit permission for group or partner work is given by the
instructor. This is critical so that the instructor can assess your performance on each assignment. Read the syllabus and
assignment directions carefully. When in doubt, ask in a discussion forum or e-mail your instructor. Seeking
clarification is your responsibility as a student. Assuming group or partner work is okay without permission constitutes
a violation of the LSU Code of Student Conduct.

NETIQUETTE
Communication in the online classroom comes across differently than the communication we are accustomed to
through academic writing and face-to-face classroom discussion. Please review LSU’s Online Etiquette Guide and refer
to these guidelines to craft your communication. You can also read The Core Rules of Netiquette by Virginia Shea
(1994) to understand the human aspect of online communication.
All Zoom meetings will be recorded. When communicating through Zoom, please adhere to these guidelines:
• Use your first and last name so you are easily identifiable in the course roster.
• Always maintain an appropriate appearance (clothing, background, lighting, etc.).
• Close unnecessary files and programs to optimize Zoom functioning.
• Arrive five to ten minutes early to scheduled meetings to ensure technology is working properly.
• Always keep your microphone muted unless you are speaking to avoid unnecessary distractions.
• Always keep your video on unless told otherwise.
• Keep chat messages relevant to the lesson.
• Behave appropriately and pay attention.
Failure to comply with these terms may results in a participation grade reduction and/or removal from the meeting.

ACCESSIBILITY
A student with a disability is entitled by law to equal access to university programs. Two federal laws protect persons
with disabilities in post-secondary education: the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Pub. L. No. 93-112, as amended), the
1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (Pub. L. No. 101-336) and the ADA Amendments Act (Pub. L. No.110-325).
LSU A&M is committed to ensuring that its websites, online courses, and all online materials are accessible to people
with disabilities. If you have accessibility needs that we can help with, visit the LSU Disability Services page and
register for accommodations before you begin your course work.
If you notice that your course contains material that is not accessible, please contact your instructor directly to discuss
accommodations.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT
Diversity is fundamental to LSU's mission, and the University is committed to creating and maintaining a living and
learning environment that embraces individual difference. Cultural inclusion is of highest priority. LSU recognizes
that achieving national prominence depends on the human spirit, participation, and dedicated work of the entire
university community. Through its Commitment to Community, LSU strives to create an inclusive, respectful,
intellectually challenging climate that embraces individual difference in race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual
orientation, gender identity/expression, age, spirituality, socioeconomic status, disability, family status, experiences,
opinions, and ideas. LSU proactively cultivates and sustains a campus environment that values open dialogue,
cooperation, shared responsibility, mutual respect, and cultural competence—the driving forces that enrich and
enhance cutting-edge research, first-rate teaching, and engaging community outreach activities.
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