Anatomy and Physiology I Syllabus for 2015-2016
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Instructor Information

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

N/A

Student Withdrawal Procedures

N/A

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The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

BIOL-2401-001 Anatomy and Physiology I

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: RDNG 0331-minimum grade of C or a score on a state-approved test indicating college-level reading skills; SCIT 1307 recommended

Course Description

Anatomy and Physiology I is the first part of a two course sequence. It is a study of the structure and function of the human body including cells, tissues and organs of the following systems: integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous and special senses. Emphasis is on interrelationships among systems and regulation of physiological functions involved in maintaining homeostasis. The lab provides hands-on learning experience for exploration of human system components and basic physiology.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Hours

(4 sem hrs; 3 lec, 3 lab)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Required Texts: 

1. Text:  Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology. Tenth Edition. By Martini, Nath & Bartholomew. 
2. Lab Manual:  Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory Manual, Cat Version. Custom edition for Amarillo College.  By Marieb, Mitchell & Smith.  (Note: you may also use the 11^th edition of this lab manual.)

Optional Resources:

1. Online Materials:  Mastering A&P – Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology; access code for online content
2. Notes:  Human Anatomy & Physiology 1 Notes.  Dr. Amanda Pendleton.  Available through the AC bookstore.

Supplies

No supplies available

Student Performance

Learning outcomes:

1. Use anatomical terminology to identify and describe locations of major organs of each system covered.
2. Explain interrelationships among molecular, cellular, tissue and organ functions in each system.
3. Describe the interdependency and interactions of the systems.
4. Explain contributions of organs and systems to the maintenance of homeostasis.
5. Identify causes and effects of homeostatic imbalances.
6. Describe modern technology and tools used to study anatomy and physiology.
7. Apply appropriate safety and ethical standards.
8. Locate and identify anatomical structures.
9. Appropriately utilize laboratory equipment, such as microscopes, dissection tools, general lab ware, physiology data acquisition systems and virtual simulations.
10. Work collaboratively to perform experiments.
11. Demonstrate the steps involved in the scientific method.
12. Communicate results of scientific investigations, analyze data and formulate conclusions.
13. Use critical thinking and scientific problem-solving skills, including, but not limited to, inferring, integrating, synthesizing and summarizing to make decisions, recommendations and predictions.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

1. Technical difficulties:  If you experience technical difficulties please immediately call AC help at 806.371.5000.    Please also immediately email your instructor and notify him/her about these difficulties.
2. Make-up policy: If you experience computer problems or miss an exam, you will not be able to make up or retake the exam. You are only allowed one dropped lecture exam.  I suggest that you use this dropped lecture exam wisely.  Lab practical exams and the final exam will not be dropped.  A missed exam will result in a zero on that exam, no exceptions.
3. Mandatory tutoring:  In an effort to increase retention in Biology courses, if you make less than a 70% on any exam, you must attend an online tutoring session prior to taking the next exam.  You will use the Blackboard Collaborate tool to complete this tutoring.  You will not be allowed to take the next test until you have completed the tutoring requirement.   You may also make an appointment with the Science Enrichment Center to receive mandatory tutoring in person.  The Science Enrichment Center is located on the first floor of Warren Hall, Room 110.  Appointments for tutoring can be made by calling 806.345.5536.  Mandatory tutoring is a Biology Department policy.
4. Cyber bully:  Disorderly conduct, such as verbally abusive or intimidating emails, or the subjection of another person to inappropriate, abusive, threatening, or demeaning actions will be subject to disciplinary actions.  Students who behave in a disorderly fashion may be required to withdraw from the course.
5. Cheating:  Honesty and ethical behaviors are imperatives in any career.  Therefore, cheating will not be tolerated.  Amarillo College’s “Student Code of Conduct” will apply to all work in this course.  Cheating on a test includes all of the following:

• Copying from another student’s paper.
• Using test materials not authorized by the person administering the test.
• Collaborating with or seeking aid from another person during a test without permission from the test administrator.
• Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, or soliciting, in whole or in part, the contents of an unadministered test.
• The unauthorized transporting or removal, in whole or in part, of the contents of the unadministered test.
• Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for one’s self, to take a test.
• Bribing another person to obtain an unadministered test or information about an unadministered test.

If you have any questions about what constitutes your own work, definitely ask.

6. Mandatory proctoring of major exams:  All major exams will be given online and these exams must be proctored.  Therefore, students will be required to either 1) use webcam software that records them while taking exams, OR 2) take all quizzes and exams on the Washington Street campus in the Science Testing Center (first floor of Warren Hall, Room 112).  For either of these options, students will be required to show official picture identification prior to the start of the exam.   Please note that embedded webcams cannot be used, since they do not give good scans of the testing environment.  An external webcam is required for the webcam testing option.
7. Exam testing procedures:  The following table lists conduct requirements for online exams, as well as consequences for conduct violations:

Consequences for violating the above requirements will be suspended on the syllabus quiz, so that instructors can educate students about proper testing behavior.  This suspending of consequences is done as service to students to prevent unintentional or honest mistakes during subsequent exams.  Consequences will be suspended only on the syllabus quiz.

Any student who thinks that a penalty was misapplied can request that the penalty be reviewed according to the grievance procedure listed below.    

8. Grievance procedure: If a student is having a problem with the course policies or the instructor, he or she should first try and resolve any such problems with the instructor. If the problem is not resolved, the student may proceed to the Biology Department Chair (Dr. Claudie Biggers); the interim Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Dean (Dr. Dan Ferguson), the Vice President for Academic Affairs (Dr. Deborah Vess), and the College President (Dr. Russell Lowry-Hart), in that order.
9. State law on dropping courses:  Effective with the Fall 2007 semester a new Texas law mandates that students may only drop or withdraw six (6) times in their entire college career. If you transfer to another Texas school, you do not start over; so, if you drop four classes at AC, then you only have two drops left. If you drop before the census date, then that does not count in the six drop status. As I understand the law, if you use six drops and decide to try to drop a seventh class, you cannot do so.

Grading Criteria

• Homework (5%) – There will be a number of homework assignments throughout the semester.  All homework grades will be averaged and will be worth 5% of your final grade.  Due to potential technical difficulties, two homework grades will be dropped.
• Quizzes (5%) – There will be a number of quizzes for both the lecture and lab portion of the course in various formats.  All quizzes will be averaged and will be worth 5% of your final grade.  Due to potential technical difficulties, two quiz grades will be dropped.
• Lecture examinations (40%) – Five lecture exams will be given throughout the course of the semester covering online lecture lessons and reading materials. The lecture exams will consist of multiple choice questions.  The lowest lecture exam grade will be dropped.
• Practical examinations (25%) – Your lab grade for the semester will be based on five lab practical examinations consisting of mostly fill-in-the-blank questions.  No practical examination grades will be dropped.
• Final examination (25%) – The final exam will be a comprehensive exam equal to one-fourth of the total grade for the semester.  The final exam is mandatory and cannot be dropped.                                                     

Final grade determination: Grades are not curved under any circumstances.

89.5 - 100% = A                  80 – 89.5% = B                   70 – 79.5% = C                    60 – 69.5% = D                  <59.5 = F

Attendance

Regular and consistent involvement with online lessons and textbook materials is necessary for satisfactory achievement.

Calendar

Additional Information

Tips for Success:  Anatomy & Physiology I is an intensive course that requires time and commitment.  To perform well in this course, you must manage your time appropriately and have a proper study plan, beginning from the first day of class.  The following are some tips that will help you succeed:

• Make a study schedule.  To pass this course, most students need to study around 12 hours per week.  The best overall study strategy is to work consistently, in small doses.  “Cramming” for an exam is rarely successful.  I suggest that you plan out your study time at the beginning of each week.  Begin by marking down the times for each day that you have family or work commitments, as well as other non-negotiable time commitments.  Then plan out the specific days, hours, and places that you will study throughout the week.  Be sure to pick a study location that is as free from distractions as possible.  Be sure to stick to your plan as much as possible and then reward yourself at the end of the week for a job well-done.
• Read, view online lessons, and re-read.  It’s helpful to skim through the readings from your textbook and lab manual before viewing the material online, jotting down questions or areas of confusion.  Then, use your books while working through the online lesson material and mark on the text and the figures as needed.  Finally, read a second time after viewing the online material, using a different color of highlighter and paying careful attention to topics covered in the lessons.  Be sure to note any topics that still confuse you, because all online and reading materials are fair game for quiz and exam questions.
• Ask questions.  Learning is enhanced through collaboration.  Therefore, if you don’t understand something, ask questions during virtual office hours, through email, or through online or in-person tutoring resources.  I welcome your questions, and if you’re struggling, it’s important to get help early.  Additionally, by asking questions, you take charge of your own learning.
• Study effectively.  Any biology course these days will have a lot of information, so making the most of your study time is key.  To master the course material you should begin by making your own study aids.  For example, make outlines and flash cards of course material as you read and view the online lessons.  Doing this will help you to not only remember course concepts, but also better understand how they relate to each other.  I also suggest that you study the diagrams in your reading and online materials, practice writing out and linking concepts by memory, prepare your own tables and diagrams as a study aid, create lists of questions that help you remember the material, and then practice answering those questions by memory.   Remember, all online quizzes and exams are timed, so it’s important to know the material well before beginning an exam.  Additionally, good preparation before an exam can reduce the testing anxiety that many students experience.

• Tutoring  resources:  In-person tutoring is available from the Science Enrichment Center, located on the first floor of Warren Hall, Room 110 at Amarillo College’s Washington Street campus.  Call 806.345.5536. for Enrichment Center hours of operation.  Please take advantage of this great resource!