Course Prerequisites: Required:Chemistry 30 or equivalent (with grade “C”” or better) AND Biology 31 or equivalent (with a grade “C” or better).Students must be able to provide documentation of prerequisites by the 3rd class meetings.
Strongly Recommended:English 31 or equivalent and eligibility for English 1A or 52A.
When contacting by email please address the Subject:“ Micro Student “
Office Hours:
Thursday: 12:00pm – 1:00pm, Room 2027; or by appointment.
Laboratory Support:Helene Ha
Required Course Materials: Text:Microbiology, 10th edition. Tortora, Funke & Case. Benjamin Cummings.(Available at the bookstore).Includes study guide.
Lab Manual:Laboratory Experiments in Microbiology (Custom edition for ChabotCollege).Johnson & Case.
Recommended materials: Microbiology Atlas Photographic atlas for the microbiology lab.Michael Leboffe & Burton Pierce. (Any edition)
Related Materials: 1 Small Blue Book (or Green Book) Scantron 886E & 882 Forms
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Welcome to Microbiology!
This microbiology course covers basic principles includingcell and molecular biology, microbial genetics, biotechnology, infectious diseases and host defense mechanisms. The topics are interrelated and by the end of the course I hope you are able to get the “big picture.This course is for nursing majors and pre-professional students in allied health.It is intended to provide you a foundation and introduction to the field of the microbiology.
Be prepared to work hard and think in terms of science – that means a lot of terms you have probably never heard before and ones that you probably won’t use in your daily lives.You will learn about complex concepts, which will require significant effort to understand.Be prepared to invest the necessary time to understand all the material, review your notes to keep it all fresh in your head, and ask questions when I loose you on a topic!!
Each week you will have roughly 3 hours of lecture and 6 hours of lab.The grade you receive will be based on your success in both lecture and lab components combined; no separate lab grade will be issued.Labs are designed to supplement the lecture material and help you understand the concepts better.Prior to coming to lab, review the lab activities in the Lab Manual and complete the vocabulary exercises. Having a clear understanding of the lab will help you be a more effective learner.
I expect you to attend all the lectures and lab meetings and read the assigned chapters in the textbook.Some of the exam/quiz questions will be drawn directly from the lectures and may not be covered in the book.My lectures should follow the book’s organization, and as such my best piece of advice to you is review the chapter ahead of class!Even if you don’t comprehend much of it, it will truly enhance your understanding when we do go over it.Overall you may need to spend about 6 hours a week outside of class to succeed in this course.
Regarding classroom procedures, I appreciate promptness in your arrival to class.Lecture will begin with a short quiz and is open only to those who arrive on time.Students missing more than 4 class meetings will be dropped from the course.Also out of respect for fellow classmates, please be sure to turn off your cell phones during lecture and refrain from texting during class or lab.I expect academic honesty.Do not copy assignments or drawings from another student or from a published source; this, like cheating on an exam, will not be tolerated.
About myself, I have taught at ChabotCollege for a year. Prior to joining ChabotCollege, I have taught majors biology courses at both AmericanRiverCollege and SierraCollege in Sacramento, CA, and led education programs in biotechnology at UC Davis.My education and training is in molecular biology and drug metabolism.I earned my bachelors in molecular pharmacology and master’s degree in biology from UC Santa Barbara.Prior to teaching, I was in Research and Development for biotechnology/ pharmaceutical industries for seven years.My goal this semester is to provide you with an understanding of microbiology, and an introduction to this fascinating field.Please share with me your experiences as they relate to what we discuss, that adds so much to the learning environment!
Course Format
Schedule:
This class meets twice a week for a 75 minute lecture followed by a 2 hours and 50 minute lab. For the most part these sections will be distinct; however, lecture may be appropriate during the lab portion of class.Grades will be determined by a combination of points earned on quizzes, lecture exams, lab assignments, homework, lab practical exams, and the final exam.
Grading:Final grades will be based entirely on a percentage of total points:
Approximate total points possible: 760 points
A>90% (684 points and better)
B 80% - 89% (608 points – 683 points)
C70% - 79% (532 points – 607 points)
D60% - 69% (456 points - 531 points)
F < 59% (455 points or less)
Quizzes (~65 points) – You will have short quizzes at the beginning of each lecture.You must be present at the start of class to pick up your quiz book and to participate in the quiz.These quizzes will cover material from the previous lecture and lab, and each quiz will be 3-4 points.You will need a small blue (green) book for the quizzes.These quizzes are closed notes, multiple choice or short answer.No make up quizzes will be given.Any points exceeding 65 points will be counted as extra credit.
Midterm Lecture Exams (200 points) – 3 Midterm exams (100 pts each) will be given as indicated on the lecture schedule.Exams will cover lecture material and readings.You will need to bring a Scantron 886-E for each midterm exam.Your lowest midterm lecture exam score will be dropped.Midterm exams will be a combination of multiple choice, vocabulary and short essays.No make up tests will be given.
Final Exam (150 points) – A cumulative final will be given during finals week and according to the college final schedule. You will need a Scantron 886-E.This final is approximately 20% of your total grade.
Lab reports (~100 points) – For most labs a lab report will be assigned.These labs must be turned in at the beginning of the next class meeting. Each assignment will be worth 5 points.Late lab reports (any report turned in after class has begun) will be given a maximum of 3 points; lab reports turned in after one week will not be graded.
Lab Practical (200 points) – Four 50 point lab practical exams will be given as indicated on the laboratory schedule. These exams will follow a traditional practical format relating to lab activities.Questions will be a combination of multiple choice, short answer, and essays to evaluate laboratory proficiencies.
Lab Unknown (25 points) – Correct identification and analysis of an unknown. 5 points will be deducted for each day an assignment is late. For full credit assignments must be turned in at the beginning of the scheduled class meeting.
Lab Safety (20 points) – Students are responsible for understanding all rules regarding laboratory regulations and safety.Infractions in laboratory safety outlined below will result in 5 point deductions for each violation.No warnings will be given.
Attendance:
Students missing a total of four consecutive or six cumulative instructional hours and/or two consecutive weeks of instruction may be dropped from that class by the instructor.This action constitutes an official termination of class enrollment and will be recorded.SeeChabotCollege Catalog 2006-2008 pg 161 for the complete policy.Students missing an exam will not be able to make up the exam.
Academic Honesty:
It is cheating to steal an examination, use a crib sheet, copy test answers from another student, let a student copy off you test, to give or receive any test information to or from another student or to plagiarize.Any student caught cheating on a test or paper will receive a failing grade and a test or assignment score of “0”and be referred to the Vice President of Student Services for misconduct.
Classroom Conduct:
While in class, be respectful to your peers and your instructor.Do not take phone calls in lab, or text during lecture or lab.Use lab time wisely and complete all lab assignments before leaving class.
Additional Learning Resources
Blackboard:
All enrolled students have access to the Bio 2A Blackboard site.This site contains various student resources, including lecture notes, web links, learning objectives.Students are encouraged to use blackboard site.
Tortora Text Online Resources:
Benjamin Cummings website provides great online tutorials and quizzes.Students are encourage to review practice quizzes and animations on the website:http://www.microbiologyplace.com
LearningResourcesCenter:
FREE Peer tutoring is available to all Micro students through the LearningResourceCenter.Of particular note are resources to develop your study skills, including note- taking, flashcards, concept mapping and test taking strategies.
Path Tutors:TBA The Peer Academic Tutoring Help is located in Building 2300, room 2351.
Safety & Emergency Procedures
Laboratory:
During lab your instructor will outline specific procedures for lab safety.These should be followed at all times.Ask your instructor for help if you are in doubt concerning how to handle laboratory equipment or waste.
*Absolutely no food Or beverages are not allowed in laboratory classrooms.
*No visitors are allowed in class without permission.
*Pregnant students and students with suppressed or compromised immune systems should inform the instructor of their condition and consult their physicians before taking the class.
*Students with physical disabilities or students diagnosed with learning disabilities should discuss their special needs with the instructor at the beginning of the semester.
Blackouts:
Should the building or classroom unexpectedly loose power and incur a blackout, students should turn off any hotplates or Bunsen burners in use.Students should collect their belongings and calmly leave out the nearest exit.Students should wait outside the classroom until it has been determined that we are experience an actual blackout and not a brief electrical short.Should the class be cancelled due to a blackout, this does not necessarily mean that other classes on campus are cancelled.
Earthquakes, Fires & Emergencies:
In the event of an earthquake students should seek nearby cover until the shaking stops.Seek shelter under the lab tables or in a doorway.Students should turn off any hotplates or Bunsen burners in use.Students should collect their belongings and calmly leave out the nearest exit.Likewise if there is a fire or the fire alarm sounds, students should calmly and quickly evacuate.