Biology 6A Syllabus
Form & Function in the Biological World
Welcome!
Welcome to Biology 6A! My name is Elizabeth (Beth) McPartlan, and I will be your instructor this quarter. I have been an instructor at De Anza College for 27 years. Before that I taught as a part-timer on many local campuses. So, I have been teaching for over 30 years!
The pandemic brought with it many changes in the way our courses were taught, and some of those changes persist. I think the hybrid version of this class is the best yet. The lecture portion of the course is online and asynchronous (except exams). The lab portion of the course is in person, but includes online resources. My goal is to provide the hands-on experiences that you can only get in person while still offering the convenience of learning online. I hope you enjoy this hybrid version of the class, and I look forward to working with you this quarter!
How this course works
The Essentials
Class Meetings
This class is a hybrid course which means it is a mixture of in-person class time and asynchronous online time.
Our lab meetings are:
Section 1: Tuesdays & Thursdays 8:30am - 11:20am in room SC2108
Section 2: Tuesdays & Thursdays 11:30am - 2:20pm in room SC2108
Weekly Schedule
Our class is organized into 24 modules, two for each week. The first module for each week includes the Weekly Overview and the Weekly Overview quiz. The Weekly Overview outlines what we are doing that week, and includes important updates and reminders. Reading the Overview carefully is an important aspect of being successful in this course. To open the Content Module for the week (the second module) you will have to read the Overview, click "Done" and complete the Overview Quiz.
In the second module of the week you will find the lecture and lab materials as well as assignments. The due dates for each part of the weekly module are the same each week (listed below). Please make note of due dates so you do not lose points for missing or late assignments.
Each week begins on Monday morning and ends Sunday night at 11:59pm. Here is our weekly due date schedule:
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Tuesday- Weekly Overview quiz is due by 7:30am (must be completed to open Weekly Module)
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Tuesday- Pre-lab A is due by 7:30am (no late assignments accepted)
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Wednesday- Post-lab A is due by 11:59pm
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Thursday- Pre-lab B is due by 7:30 am (no late assignments accepted)
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Friday- Post-lab B is due by 11:59pm
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Sunday- all other assignments, including Mastering assignments are due by 11:59pm
Modules will open over the weekend. Read the Overview right away, and work ahead if possible, beginning with the pre-lab due Tuesday morning. Sways and text readings do not have due dates, but the course will not be manageable if you do not do some reading as close to every day as possible. It is important to pace yourself throughout the week.
Accommodations
Please meet with your Disability Support Programs and Services (DSPS) counselor to determine and arrange your accommodations. Once DSPS provides me with information about your accommodations, I can work to make sure they are in place for you in Canvas. If you would like to talk with me about your accommodations, please make a private appointment by clicking here: Make an appointment , or by clicking on the Office Hour link in the left navigation menu in Canvas.
How to get your questions answered
Contact Me
I am here for you! Please contact me if you have questions or concerns. You can reach me by email, come to an office hour, or talk with me in lab.
If you email me, I will respond within 24 hours. If you do not hear back from me, please email again. You have two options for email:
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Canvas Inbox (preferred)
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email (mcpartlanelizabeth@fhda.edu)- please indicate which class you are in.
Office Hours
Office hours are on Zoom. Please use drop-in time for general, non-private topics, such as questions about course content. Other students may be in Zoom with you, in which case we take turns asking questions. To discuss grades, including graded exams, quizzes, and assignments, or to discuss any other topic that requires privacy, please make an appointment for a private meeting with me. Please note that I prefer you to turn your camera on when you meet with me in Zoom office hours so that we can communicate most effectively.
Office hour schedule:
Mon: 8:30 - 9:30 am
Wed: 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Fri: 8:30 - 9:30 am
<a href="https://storyset.com/work">Work illustrations by Storyset</a>
For links to Zoom and to make appointments, please visit the Office Hour page linked in the left course navigation menu in Canvas.
Official Course Description
This is the first class in a three-course series intended for Biology majors. In addition to an introduction to science and the scientific method, this course will explore the universal challenges of life by comparing the structure and physiological processes of organisms, with an emphasis on plants and animals. Topics include: obtaining nutrients, gas exchange, transport, excretion, reproduction, movement and phylogenetic relationships between organisms.
Student Learning Outcome
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Analyze and compare the process of homeostasis as applied to common physiological processes across higher taxonomy.
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Use principles of scientific method to critique case studies in comparative biology research.
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Contrast the Linnaean traditional phylogenetic and cladistic processes of taxonomy.
Prerequisite
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Satisfactory score on the chemistry placement test or a grade of C or better in Chem 25 or Chem 1A.
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Advisory: Completion of English 1A or ESL
What you will need
Tech Requirements
<a href="https://storyset.com/work">Work illustrations by Storyset</a>
Our course is on Canvas, so you will need internet access and a computer or tablet. We will also be using OneNote Class Notebooks, available to you for free through the Microsoft 365 app in MyPortal. We also sometimes use Google Docs, so you should have a Google Drive account (free from Google).
Canvas Requirements
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Use a computer or tablet, not your phone, especially for important functions like taking quizzes or submitting assignments. It is important to know that although Canvas is viewable on a phone, the app is glitchy and results are not consistent.
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Use either Chrome or Firefox when using Canvas. Safari does not currently support images in Canvas, which may affect your ability to see images in quizzes and exams.
Textbook: Campbell Biology 12th ed. etext with Modified Mastering
We will be using an etext with Modified Mastering. The bookstore is the place to go if you are using a book voucher or financial aid through the school. The bookstore does mark up all texts and materials, so if you are not using financial aid, you may want to purchase from Pearson (the publisher) by going through our Canvas course.
Following is information for both options:
1- To purchase from the De Anza Bookstore
What you will purchase from the bookstore is a combo access code for both the etext and Mastering. The bookstore will email you a code to use a third party (Red Shelf) to get the access code for the etext. One you have the access code, use the link in Canvas to register with the code. Once you have registered, there are options for upgrades such as ordering a loose leaf hard copy of the text, or extensions on the time you have access (if you need it for subsequent quarters, for example). Textbooks- De Anza Bookstore
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If you wish to use a book voucher, you must purchase from the bookstore.
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If you need to wait for funding, you may register with a free 14-day trial access, so you don't fall behind (instructions below under "How to access your etext").
<a href="https://storyset.com/work">Work illustrations by Storyset</a>
2- To purchase from Pearson
To purchase from Pearson directly, click on MyLab and Mastering in the left navigation panel of our Canvas site. You will be offered several options for purchase, but make sure you are getting both the etext and Modified Mastering. You will also have the option to buy a print version of the book if you prefer.
Important- Please read!!
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If you need to wait for funding, you may register with a free 14-day trial access, so you don't fall behind (instructions below under "How to access your etext").
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I teach more than one class. Make sure you are buying for 6A!
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You can only access the etext and Modified Mastering from Canvas. You do not need a Course ID, and if you are being asked for one, you are registering incorrectly.
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If you find a cheaper price somewhere else, you have the wrong thing! It will not link to our Canvas course so it will not work for this class. Trust me on this, please, and save us all a lot of trouble. At the very least, make sure you have the same ISBN, or email me to check.
To Access your etext and Modified Mastering
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Enter our Canvas course.
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From the navigation panel on the left, open "MyLab and Mastering".
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If the Pearson payment page appears, go to step 6.
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Agree to Pearson privacy or authentication requests.
If you're asked for a course ID, cancel and return to step 1. -
Enter the Username and Password for your Pearson student account. If you don't have a Pearson student account, select Create.
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If applicable, select any of these available access options:
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Enter the access code that you bought from the bookstore
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Use a credit card or PayPal.
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Get temporary access by selecting the link near the bottom of the page: Upgrade your access before it expires to continue using your Modified Mastering course. (Upgrade link- scroll down to near bottom)
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From the You’re Done page, select Go to My Courses.
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Check for your confirmation email.
Lab Manual
I will provide lab materials in Google Drive and in Canvas.
Course Policies
Attendance
Attending the First Class Meeting is Required: If you have an urgent, unavoidable situation that prevents you from attending the first class meeting, please email me before 5pm or you will be dropped from the class. Be prepared to show documentation for your absence. Vacations are not urgent nor unavoidable.
Other Attendance Policies: If you do not submit work for one week, miss an exam, or miss more than two labs, I may drop, withdraw you from the class, or give you a failing grade, depending on the situation and the date of the occurrence. If you have a serious, unavoidable situation that requires you to miss more class than allowed, or if you are in need of extensions, be sure to contact me and be prepared to provide supporting documentation. Note that being 20 minutes or more late, or leaving before the lab activity is finished, will count as an absence.
Drop (without a W): If you wish to drop the course without a “W” on your transcript, you have until April 20th. After April 20th, if you wish to drop the course, it will show as a Withdraw (W) on your transcript.
Withdraw (with a W): If after April 20th you wish to withdraw from the course (with a “W”), your last opportunity is May 31st. You will be unable to withdraw after this date.
If at any time you feel you are not doing as well in the course as you would like, please talk with me (email or office hour). The earlier you reach out, the better your position to make changes in your approach to learning and bring up your grade.
Grades
Your final grade will be determined by the percentage of points you have earned using this weighted system:
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Exams: 65% of total grade
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Assignments/Quizzes: 35% of total grade
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Successful completion of course criteria listed below.
Grade Scale
A+ = 100 - 97% B+ = < 90 - 87% C+ = < 80 - 75% D = < 65 - 55%
A = < 97 - 90% B = < 87 - 80% C = < 75 - 65% F < 55%
Criteria for passing grade
In addition to earning at least 65%, there are a few other criteria that must be met for you to pass this course. Please read this list very carefully so that you are not surprised later. Failure to meet these criteria may result in grade penalty, being dropped or withdrawn from the class, or receiving a failing grade, depending on when in the quarter the infringement occurs, and the nature of the circumstances.
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You must take all exams.
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If you miss an exam, be sure to contact me by 5pm that day. If you have documentation of a serious, unavoidable circumstance, we will discuss a make-up exam. If you do not have documentation, you may receive a grade penalty or a zero on the exam, depending on the situation. If you do not contact me, you may be dropped/withdrawn from the course, or receive a failing grade in the course, depending on when in the quarter the missed exam occurred. See exam policies below for additional information.
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You must be active in Canvas and submit assignments each week.
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If you fail to submit assignments for an entire week, and you have not contacted me, you will be dropped/withdrawn from the class for non-participation, or receive a failing grade if it is after the withdraw date.
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For every 5 assignments you do not submit, including Mastering assignments, your final grade will be dropped one "step". For example, if you finish the course with a B but missed 5 assignments during the quarter, you will receive a B- as your final grade.
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You must not miss more than two labs.
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If you are absent for more than two labs, you will be dropped, withdrawn, or receive a failing grade, depending on when in the quarter the third absence occurs.
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You are responsible for all materials you missed during your absence, including the parts of the lab assignments you can complete. Please use the online materials and work with your lab mates to make sure you have a thorough understanding of what you missed, but keep in mind that not all parts of all assignments can be made up because they require group work that was missed.
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To avoid grade penalties, make sure you are keeping track of due dates and make sure you communicate with me if you are having difficulties. If you have an emergency or an unavoidable circumstance, please contact me right away so that we can work together to address your specific needs.
Exams
Both lecture and lab exams will be taken during lab. Exams are to absolutely be completed independently. You will not be given extra time if you are late. If you are unable to take the exam at the scheduled time because of a serious, unavoidable situation, you may be given a make-up exam. Please contact me by 5pm of the exam day, and be prepared to show documentation to support your make-up request. A make-up exam may not be the same exam taken by the rest of the class, and may be an oral exam. If you do not have documentation to support your reason for missing an exam, you may be given a make-up but with a grade penalty, or you may not be given a make-up at all (which means you will receive a zero on the exam), depending on the situation. I may also decide to prorate your course grade in lieu of providing a make-up. If you do not take an exam and do not contact me by 5pm of the scheduled exam day, you may be dropped or withdrawn from the course. Missing any exam, including the final exam, may result in you being dropped, withdrawn, or you will fail the course, depending on when in the quarter you miss the exam.
<a href="https://storyset.com/work">Work illustrations by Storyset</a>
Academic Integrity: Sharing information about quizzes and exams with students who have not finished taking them is also cheating. This includes posting exam and quiz questions online and sharing screenshots. See below for more information about academic integrity.
Labs
Labs are an important part of this course, and although materials are provided online, the hands on, in person experience is very valuable. You are allowed two lab absences, but you should only be absent if you are sick or for a serious unavoidable situation. If you miss an in-person lab, please email me to let me know what your situation is. You are responsible to completing the lab assignments to the extent possible using online materials. Missing more than two labs will result in you being dropped/withdrawn, or receiving a failing grade depending on when in the quarter the third absence occurs.
Quizzes and Assignments
Assignments are valuable: Although most assignments are not worth a lot of points, it is important to do a good and thorough job on each of them. The assignments alert you to topics you may need to clarify, review, or seek help with. Make sure you always review your assignments after they are scored and read the feedback I leave. The effort you put into your assignments will translate into higher exam scores.
Due dates: Please pay attention to the due dates listed for each assignment in Canvas. Assignments and quizzes must be completed and submitted to Canvas before the indicated due date to receive credit. All assignments and quizzes, except pre-labs, may be submitted up to one week late with a 10% grade reduction for each day past the due date. Missing assignments will result in a lowered final grade. At the end of the quarter, I will decrease your grade one "step" for every 5 assignments missing. For example, if you end the quarter with a B and you are missing 10 assignments, your grade will be a C+ (dropped to a B- for the first 5 and a C+ for the second 5). This will not be reflected in Canvas, so be sure you are keeping track of your assignments to avoid grade penalties.
Open book & notes: For quizzes and assignments (but not exams) you may use your lab manual, books, and notes, but not each other. Communication of any kind regarding any online activity before everyone has completed it will be considered cheating. Use of online "study aids" such as Chegg and Course Hero to submit questions or use answers submitted by others is also cheating. Use of AI to complete any portion of any assignment is also cheating.
Effort counts: Written work in this class should be written in coherent, complete sentences and free of spelling and grammar errors. Use of AI generated help in written assignments is not allowed and will be considered cheating. Handwritten assignments must be clear and easy to read. Please make corrections with one neat line-through, or use a pencil and eraser. Assignments that are not properly presented may be penalized points or not accepted at all, depending on the condition of the assignment.
Canvas settings: Please pay attention to the instructions in Canvas. Some quizzes and assignments have a time limit and only one attempt is allowed. (The idea is that you have read and prepared ahead of time, rather than just looking up the answers to the questions during the quiz.) Also, pay attention to the types of questions asked in the assignments and quizzes. For example, some multiple-choice quiz questions have one answer (answer choices have circles) and for some you choose all that apply (answer choices have boxes).
Expected Behavior
Courtesy and respect: Communication, both face to face and online, is important and valued in this class. Please share your thoughts and be willing to listen to perspectives that may differ from your own. In this class, communication in all forms must be courteous and respectful.
Courtesy in the classroom: During lab, please be help each other and work together to ensure your entire group is understanding the materials. Be patient with each other and remember that helping another to understand is an excellent way to help you to learn and retain information, too.
Courtesy in the lab also includes the following:
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being prepared for lab (reading the lab materials and taking the pre-lab quiz)
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arriving to lab on time
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listening to the lab lecture and paying attention to the instructions given
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being mindful of lab safety, including wearing gloves and safety glasses as instructed
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keeping the lab counters clean and disposing of waste materials as directed
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putting away microscopes and other equipment properly
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cleaning your tables when you are done with lab
Courtesy online: Keep in mind that typed communication in discussions, chats, and even emails and texts, does not include facial expressions or voice tones. It is easy to read unintended meaning into comments made by others. Let’s all make extra effort to write clearly and to read what we have written critically before submitting it. On the other side, let’s all be generous in how we receive comments. Let’s not assume the worst, but rather, let’s all work together and support each other.
Electronic devices in the classroom: We will be using tablets and computers to access course materials in the classroom, and many students prefer to take notes on these devices as well. Phones may be used in the lab to take photos of materials, but phones should not be in use until I have finished the lab lecture and instructions. Use of electronic devices in ways that distract other students or myself will not be allowed. Electronic devices should not be used for texting, shopping, playing games, watching videos, or any other non-lab activity, during class time. If you must use your phone during lab, please step outside. You are required to ask permission to record my lectures and to take photos that include me. Students on their phones while I am giving lectures or instructions, or using their devices inappropriately in class, will be given only one warning. Repeat offenders will be asked to leave for the remainder of the period, and will be marked as absent for that lab.
Students unable or unwilling to exhibit appropriate interpersonal interactions and classroom behaviors may be asked to leave the classroom and may be reported for disciplinary action, depending on the nature and frequency of the offense.
Cheating & Plagiarism
One of my highest priorities as a teacher is to make my courses as fair as possible for all students. Students who cheat are working directly against this goal. Cheating undermines the very fabric of our education system, and on a more personal level, it undermines the relationships I strive to build with my students. I will be very honest here. I put a lot of effort into minimizing the opportunities for cheating, but there is no way I can make a course “cheat proof” without sacrificing a lot of other important elements of the course. So, I will do my part in trying to minimize cheating opportunities, and you must do your part as well to maintain the integrity of this course (and all of your other courses, too). “Just say NO” when people ask you to cheat. They are asking you to compromise your integrity and you should not be comfortable with that.
Policy: Let me be very clear about my position on cheating. Any assignment, lab, quiz, or exam that has been completed through any form of cheating will receive a zero. In addition, I will report any incident of cheating to the Dean as well as file a report with the Judicial Affairs Committee. Depending on the circumstances, you may have a permanent note of it in your transcripts, you may be suspended, or you may even be expelled.
To be clear about what constitutes cheating: Copying another student’s work is cheating. Copying material from any source, including our textbook, without proper citation is plagiarism, which is a form of cheating, and is also illegal if the material is copyrighted. All work in this course should be your own work in your own words. Copying anything from any source, including AI generated text, for any lab, assignment, quiz, or exam, is plagiarism, and you will receive a zero for the assignment/exam and I may file a report with Judicial Affairs, depending on the severity of the offense.
Any communication between students during an exam is cheating. Discussing an exam or quiz with others who have not yet taken it is cheating. All of the above behaviors, and any other creative means students may devise to obtain an unfair advantage, will result in grade penalty and disciplinary action.
In addition, quiz, exam questions, and any of the other materials from my course are my intellectual property and you are not permitted to post or share any of it online in any form, on any platform, without my permission. Posting any course materials online without permission is also considered cheating because the primary reason for posting would be to give other students access they should not have. Likewise, using materials from these sources is obviously cheating because you are not doing the work yourself.
I know students often cheat because they feel overwhelmed and unprepared. Please continue reading this syllabus for some ideas and links that may be helpful to you.
How to succeed in this course
Participate! Schedule! Be consistent!
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Attend and engage in our in-person class meetings. Interacting with each other, TAs, and with me, will help you stay motivated and connected. You will also feel more comfortable speaking and participating in class and coming to office hours the more engaged you are when we meet. It is worth the effort!
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Participate consistently throughout the week. Regular and consistent participation is necessary for your success. I am expecting you to work on the asynchronous lecture portion of the course, including readings and assignments, throughout the week. If you try to complete everything due right before the due date, you will find yourself overwhelmed and less successful.
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Come to office hours. You will be more motivated and more interested in the course if you feel connected. One way to do that is to talk with me during an office hour. Please drop in or make an appointment to get your questions answered, or just to say hello.
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Put in the time. You should be working on this class as close to every day as you can. Realize that this is a 6 unit class, which means 6 hours of lab, 4 hours of lecture plus several hours of homework each week!
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Make a schedule and stick to it so you do not fall behind. Students who have a routine are most successful. Studies have shown that a routine decreases procrastination and stress. Plan time for your asynchronous course work and stick to it.
<a href="https://storyset.com/work">Work illustrations by Storyset</a>
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Be realistic about your time commitments. I urge you to use a planner. Write in your synchronous class times for all your classes, your work schedule, and anything else that has set times that are non-negotiable. Then add in a realistic amount of study time for asynchronous course work. Take a good look at what your week looks like. Are you being realistic in what you can accomplish? Do not set yourself up for failure by overloading yourself.
Need Help?
Sometimes students feel unprepared, stressed, overwhelmed, and pressured to achieve. If you find yourself feeling this way, I urge you to reach out to me or to our counselors. Below you will find links to academic, tech, and personal resources you may find helpful.
Student Success / Tutorial Center
Free Zoom group and one-on-one tutoring & workshops
Online Education
For help with Canvas, Zoom, tech issues, and online learning tips for success:
<a href="https://storyset.com/work">Work illustrations by Storyset</a>
Academic Counseling
Academic advising for help with establishing an educational plan, learning about transfer, graduation, and degree requirements, and more. There are group advising sessions and individual drop-in sessions, or you can make an appointment to speak with a counselor.
If you are a Biological, Health, and Environmental Sciences major, we also have our own counselor! Tom Nguyen is dedicated to just our division and is experienced in the specific needs of students in our division.
Personal Counseling
If you are in need with someone to talk with, there are people who are there to help you. Now more than ever, students are coping with difficult circumstances. If you feel overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, or just need a little help, you are not alone. If you need help making an appointment, please let me know.
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Psychological Services: to make an appointment with a De Anza counselor
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Timely Care: to speak to someone right now (24/7) online or on your phone
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De Anza Connect: to get connected with both academic and personal resources, such as food and housing
Images from: <a href="https://storyset.com/online">Online illustrations by Storyset</a>