Example Syllabus

Welcome to BIOL2107 Lab!

This syllabus is your guide to success in this course.

 

Course: BIOL2107L, Principles of Biology I Laboratory 

Semester: Fall 2022

CRN: 18611

Section: 002  

Modality, day, time, location: Face-to-face/synchronous, Monday, 8:00 AM – 10:30 AM, Classroom South room 434

Prerequisite/Corequisite: BIOL2107, Principles of Biology I (lecture)

Credit hour: 1

Open and Frequent Email Communication: As the Graduate Teaching Assistant (T.A.) for this course, I will frequently use GSU email and iCollege to communicate with you regarding course content and instruction. I encourage you to check your email often and subscribe to iCollege notifications for important dates and announcements. I also encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to develop your professionalism skills by crafting your email in a professional and courteous manner. This means correspondence must occur through GSU email. Additionally, emails must include an informative yet concise subject line with the course title, section number, CRN, and purpose for correspondence. You are welcome to email me with any questions you may have regarding the course. I have also included the contact information for the laboratory coordinator, laboratory supervisor, or the senior academic professional below.

Contact Information

Instructor Name Position Email Office location
Alexis H. Branch Graduate Teaching Assistant abranch8@gsu.edu ***
Ms. Ashley Little, MS Laboratory Coordinator alittle15@gsu.edu 435 Classroom South
Dr. Rachel Santymire, MS PhD Laboratory Supervisor rsantymire@gsu.edu 812 Langdale Hall
Dr. Matthew Brewer, PhD Sr. Academic Professional mbrewer@gsu.edu 815 Langdale Hall

***Although I do not have an office, I am committed to being available to you. I am available to meet by appointment only in-person in the GSU Library or the Student Center East Lobby or virtual via Webex.

Course Description: This course complements the Biology 2107 lecture by strengthening students’ understanding of core biological concepts and principles that form the foundation upon which future course content is built. This course will introduce students to cellular chemistry and molecular biology, genetics, experimentation and theory.

Course Objectives:

Students will explore core biological concepts through immersion-based application of the scientific method in a laboratory setting. Students will develop the working knowledge and skills required to conduct scientific research which are critical to the function of a molecular laboratory including micropipetting, solution making, dialysis, spectrophotometry, microscopy, responsible data management and record keeping, and laboratory safety.

Standard Learning Outcomes:

Upon course completion, students will

  1. Identify, describe and distinguish foundational biological concepts and apply these concepts to laboratory research in compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
  2. Practice, and master, the basic theory of laboratory techniques including micropipetting, microscopy, and solution making
  3. Demonstrate scientific communication skills both orally and in writing
  4. Critically evaluate and review the scientific writing and oral presentation of their peers
  5. Acquire, record, analyze, visualize, and interpret data

Statement of Inclusivity: You, your individuality, and your unique background are an asset to this class. Your background and experiences shape your thoughts and ideas. I welcome you to share these ideas with me and with your classmates, as you will be working in collaborative groups throughout the semester to fulfill the course objectives. I encourage you to ask me and your peers questions and will promote the supportive and collaborative atmosphere required for everyone to feel safe and comfortable in this classroom setting. I believe that each of your contributions will help this learning community grow together. I will support your growth with each aspect of your individuality in mind, including your race, gender/sex, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, nationality, culture, language, dis/ability, and learning style. I am committed to establishing and upholding the honest, respectful, and supportive environment required for this diverse group of students to reach the learning objectives of this course. I am prepared to stand by you, ready to support and guide you as you aim toward achieving your learning, career, and life goals.

Course Materials: Students are required to purchase the Laboratory Manual and a Laboratory Notebook for this course

Course material Source Cost
BIOL 2107L Principles of Biology I Laboratory Manual, ISBN: 978-1-5339-1597-9 GSU Bookstore,

Hayden-McNeil Publisher website

 $20
Laboratory Notebook (string-bound compositions notebook) GSU Bookstore,

Office supply or grocery store

 Variable, ~$0.50 – $4.25
(Optional) A Student Handbook for Writing in Biology (4th Edition*** or Earlier) – Karin Knisely Amazon, Chegg Variable, ~$15.00 – $50.00

***I will provide a copy of the 4th Edition to be referenced during class time only.

Attendance Policy: Showing up is half the battle. Attending class will not only help you comprehend and engage with the course content, but it will also benefit your Attendance grade. Failure to attend class and failure to arrive to class punctually will negatively impact your Attendance/Participation grade.

  • Absences: If you are absent for a lab class or miss an assignment, contact your instructor (Alexis Branch) within 24 hours of your absence.
    • Excused: Accommodations will be made for only excused absences (i.e. serious illness, death or hospitalization of yourself or an immediate family member, car wreck, religious holiday, jury duty, etc.) by the Dean of Students Office. You can submit proper documentation here https://deanofstudents.gsu.edu/student-assistance/professor-absence-notification/. Valid documentation (e.g., a note from a doctor, jury summons) must be submitted within one week of the absence. It is your responsibility to reach out to the instructor for missed activities and content.
    • Make-up Policy:
      • Make-Up Policies: You are responsible for communicate with me via email within 24 hours of your absence regarding make-up accommodations. All make-up assignments should be submitted via iCollege within 1 week of your return to class. Please refer to the attendance policy above for information regarding excused absences. Assignments submitted after the 1 week period will not be accepted
      • Open Lab: You have the opportunity to complete missed lab activities during Open lab, which is held on Fridays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM in Room 434 Classroom South. Open lab also provides you the opportunity to make up any missed lab work, including that which was missed due to an unexcused absence. Open Lab is also a great time to ask questions and practice laboratory techniques under the guidance of a T.A. Before attending Open Lab, notify me via email.
    • Unexcused: unexcused absences are those for which valid documentation has not been submitted to the Dean of Students Office within one week of the absence. Accommodations will not be considered for unexcused absences.
  • In-person Lab/Class Meetings: I will host lab/class meetings each week in the assigned lab classroom at the scheduled time of this section. Class will last 2.5 hours. For your and your classmates’ safety, please follow standard lab safety guidelines
    • Attire: You are required to wear protective clothing (i.e. lab coat, mask, goggles, gloves, long pants, close-toe shoes, etc.) in the lab to prevent any injury or harm to yourself and other
    • Cell Phones: GSU prohibits all cell phone usage (i.e. call, text, social media, etc.) in the laboratory. If necessary, I will be required to ask you to remove your phone from your workspace.
    • Food/Drink: No food or drink is allowed in lab. Again, this rule was designed to protect you and others.
    • Technology: We have the privilege of offering you tablets and laptops for instructional use. However, these devices are used as teaching aids and are not for your personal use. If you are unable to follow this policy you will be asked to leave class, and your Professionalism and Participation grades will be negatively impacted.
    • Panther Card: To maintain a safe and secure environment, the instructional labs are under restricted assess. You will need to swipe your Panther Card to gain access to the lab.
    • Group Work: Each week, you will work in groups to complete lab activities. Be mindful and considerate when interacting with your classmates. Collaborate with your group members as outlined in the Ethical Group Work contract.
  • Virtual Course Content Engagement
    • iCollege: It is important that you access the course page on iCollege to engage with course content. You are required to access iCollege for assignments, assessments, resources, and supplemental materials.
    • Assignment Submission: All assignments should be submitted as a Word document of a PDF by the due date and time through iCollege only. Other file format submissions and email submissions will not be accepted. Late submissions will not be accepted. When managing your time, consider the impact of technology failures on your prompt submission of assignments. Be proactive!

Enrollment: If you are dropped from the course for any reason, immediately notify your instructor. During the re-enrollment process, you will still be able to and responsible for completing assignments including weekly quizzes, Labsters, etc.

Academic Integrity: Academic integrity the moral policy of behaving with academic honesty, fairness, trust, respect, and responsibility in respect to teaching, learning, and researching. Maintaining steadfast academic integrity protects your and your peers’ ability to acquire knowledge, generate new ideas, and create new work with respectful accountability. Because of academic integrity, you can take credit for your innovative and original ideas and works.

  • Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty is behaving in a manner that fails to uphold academic integrity (see above). Behaviors that fail to uphold academic integrity include plagiarism, cheating, falsification, and unauthorized collaboration. At GSU and in this course, we have a zero-tolerance policy regarding academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty undermines the true and honest hard work of everyone affiliated with this course and with this institution. Cheating, plagiarism, falsification, and unauthorized collaboration will result in a poor grade and penalties from the University. These behaviors can stunt your learning and lead to mistrust in your professional relationships. I encourage you to see the Student Handbook for the University’s policy on academic dishonesty. Violations of the university policy on academic dishonestly will result in a 0/F letter grade. If you are the least bit unsure about whether something is considered academically dishonest, please contact me or the supervisory staff with questions. Dishonest academic behaviors cannot be justified with a claim of ignorance.
  • Recognizing Plagiarism/Plagiarism Certificate: You will be required to complete an online plagiarism training within the first week of class. Plagiarism certificates must be submitted to the appropriate location on iCollege. Plagiarism certificated completed within the last 6 months can be uploaded for credit. For example, if you completed the plagiarism certificate for a course last semester, you can submit that same certificate for this course. If the certificate is not submitted within the 2 weeks of the first class meeting, your professionalism grade will be reduced by 10% for every week that it is late.
  • Intellectual Property: Distributing course content including assignments, lecture presentations/notes, lab reports, assessments, video/audio recordings, or any other instructor-generated content in an unapproved and inappropriate manner is strictly prohibited. Dispersal of content which I or the supervisory team have created is a violation of intellectual property acts and of the privacy rights of your classmates. Violations of this policy on intellectual property will result in a 0/F letter grade.
  • Unauthorized Collaboration: Collaboration is permitted only when explicitly permitted by myself. Sharing course work (e.g. writings, assignments, assessments, and lab notebooks) is strictly prohibited. Any unpermitted collaboration will be penalized.

Interpersonal and Professional Interactions: Help me maintain an inclusive environment by treating all those you encounter with the utmost respect and kindness. Try to empathize with your classmates. Recognize and appreciate what makes each of you unique, and consider how your actions and thoughts towards others impact this learning environment.

  • Disruptive Student Policy: Disruptive and inconsiderate behaviors are detrimental to a positive learning environment. Engaging in disruptive behaviors will result in your removal from class. Examples of disruptive behaviors inlcude inappropriate communication, threatening others, repeated obscenities, creating a safety hazard, using unapproved devices during class. Engaging in disruptive behaviors will negatively impact your Professionalism grade. You are responsible for understanding disruptive conduct as outlined by the Office of the Dean of Students.
  • Sexual Misconduct: In instances of sexual misconduct, the supervisory staff and myself are considered Responsible Employees, meaning that we are required to share all reports of sexual misconduct with administrative officials for university review. You are safe to disclose an incident of sexual misconduct confidentially, and you have options regarding how you choose to do so. If you would like more information on this policy and how to disclose an incident of sexual misconduct refer to the Sexual Misconduct Policy section of the GSU Student Code of Conduct.

Student Resources

  • Access and Accommodations: If you need to request accommodations for a disability, please register with the AACE (Access and Accommodations Center, formerly Disability Services). To request and receive accommodations, you will need to submit proper documentation to AACE. You are responsible for providing a copy of your Accommodation Plan to the instructors of all classes for which you need accommodations, myself included. If you do require accommodations due to a disability, please inform me within the first week of class. Additionally, AACE will give you documentation to then give to your instructors. I can only accommodate you if the AACE issues you a signed Accommodation Plan. The Senior Academic Professional, Dr. Brewer, will electronically sign the documentation. After obtaining Dr. Brewer’s signature, you will need to return the documentation to AACE. Please reach out to me to discuss the specifics of your accommodations early in the semester.
  • Dean of Students: I understand that student life is challenging and events outside of academics can make it even more difficult to succeed. If you are struggling with anything including mental/physical health, food insecurity, homelessness, disaster, family issues, etc., please reach out to me. I would love to be able to connect you with the resource you want and need. If you are not comfortable contacting me that’s okay! You can also contact or visit the website for the Office of the Dean of Students.

Safety:

  • Lab Safety: Your safety in the lab is my number one priority. I want to ensure that each of you acknowledge lab safety by receiving your signature on a lab safety contract. Submission of this signed contract via iCollege is required and is due during the first week of lab. Read and review the lab safety guidelines, sign the contract, and submit it to the appropriate location on iCollege before the start of the second week of classes. Your signature on this document will represents your acknowledgement of and commitment to adhere to the lab safety policies while enrolled in the lab. To receive full credit for this assignment, you must indicate an emergency contact on the form. You will not be permitted in the lab after week 2 of the course without submitting this contract. Briefly, lab safety policies include proper lab attire (i.e. goggle, lab coat, gloves, sleeves, closed-toed shoes, face mask etc.).
    • Personal safety
      • Panther Alerts: Sign up for emergency alters including life-threatening situations and weather events.
      • LiveSafe app: Download the LiveSafe app to get in direct communication with Georgia State Police (404-413-3333)
      • Active threat: In the event of an active threat, call the university police department at(404) 413-3333. In case of a life-threatening event, each individual should take actions necessary to protect his or her own life.
        1. Perpetrator(s) Inside the Building: If it is possible to flee the area safely and avoid danger, do so. If flight is impossible, lock (or barricade) all doors and secure yourself in a safe area.
        2. Perpetrator(s) Outside the Building: Close and lock (or barricade) all doors and windows. If you can do so safely, get all students and staff on the floor and out of the line of fire.
  • Remain in place until an “all clear” is given by an authorized person or law enforcement official.
  1. Observe and make notes of the following if this can be done safely:
    1. Descriptions of the people involved in the act
    2. Vehicle(s) description
    3. Types and number of weapons
    4. Statements and other pertinent information

Course Evaluations: Your feedback regarding the course content, organization, structure, delivery, and presentation is critical to course design and effective learning in the course and at Georgia State University. There are 2 opportunities to provide feedback for this course those being, a Midsemester Survey and an end-of-semester course evaluation. I would appreciate you taking the time to give a constructive assessment of this course so that I can improve it for future students like yourself. 

Assessment:

assessment breakdown

  • Professionalism: Professionalism is the way in which you act appropriately in a professional setting and can be identified by your conduct, character, attitudes, and communication as a professional. Professionalism is a critical skill for success in this course and the careers for which this course is preparing you. An opportunity to develop professionalism skills exists within the application of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), which are a part of the learning outcomes for this course (see above). Successful application of the SOPs requires you to behave respectfully and dress appropriately in a laboratory setting. If you are asked to leave the lab classroom for any reason (see below), your professionalism grade will be affected. Your interactions with your instructors and classmates will contribute to your professionalism grade. Failure to follow any of the course policies outlined in the syllabus will negatively impact your professionalism grade.
  • Attendance & Participation: Active participation and engagement (Eyler, 2018) with the course content, instructors, and other students will enhance your opportunity to fulfill the standard learning outcomes (see above) of this course while contributing to your participation grade. Participation points may be earned through active participation in lab sessions and group work. Active participation and engagement include punctually attending each lab, contributing to class and group discussions, and mindfully engaging in group and laboratory activities.

If you miss a lab session, Open Lab is held on Fridays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and gives you the opportunity to complete missed lab activities and lab notebook entries. You are responsible for completing the work that you have missed and recording your results in your notebook. If you do not make up missed lab activities, and the activities are not recorded in your notebook, your lab notebook will be considered incomplete. Do NOT copy records from other students, current or former. This is a form of academic dishonesty. Representing and submitting lab notebook records from a previous semester or course is academic dishonestly.

  • Lab Notebook: Maintaining clear, accurate, detailed, and complete records of lab activities is an integral part of continuous scientific research that is conducted with integrity (NIH, 2008). Diligent record-keeping is a valuable skill and will aid in your practice of data acquisition, analysis, visualization, and interpretation skills as outlined in the standard learning outcomes for this course. Mindful practice of this skill will positively impact your grade while preparing you for future course and careers. In this course, you are expected to record your lab activities (in pen) in your lab notebook clearly, accurately, completely and with detail. Be sure to bring your lab notebook to class each week.

Guidelines for how to keep a laboratory notebook are included in the laboratory manual. You will also be thoroughly guided through the correct method of keeping a laboratory notebook during the first week of classes.

Briefly, each lab notebook entry should be organized with the following headings. 

  • Purpose
  • Question/Observation
  • Hypothesis
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Conclusions
  • Notes

Lab notebooks will be graded periodically for completeness and quality. Lab notebooks can be taken home but must be physically present in the lab on days which lab notebooks are due for assessment. Late submissions of lab notebooks will not be accepted.

  • Lab Report: Sharing your scientific findings with the community in a clear and complete way is critical to the progress of science and its application to real-world problems. Practicing and demonstrating effective scientific communication skills will help you fulfill one of the standard learning outcomes of this course. To do this, you will complete a lab report on experiments performed in lab. While the experiments in lab will be performed as a group, the lab reports are to be written independently. Draft portions of each lab report component will be due periodically during the semester. A peer review workshop will be held prior to the final lab report due date to give you the opportunity to critically evaluate and review scientific writing as describe in the standard learning outcomes above. Late lab reports will not be accepted.
  • Quizzes: Weekly quizzes on iCollege will be used to assess your ability to identify, describe and distinguish core biological concept introduced in this course to fulfill the outlined learning outcomes. These quizzes are intended to help you practice recalling and conceptualizing biological processes. The quizzes will be available as soon as your lab ends each week and will be due by the start of lab the following week. For example, if your lab is scheduled to start at 8:00 AM and end at 10:30 AM on Monday, the quiz will be available at 10:31 AM on Monday be due at 7:59 AM the following Monday.
  • Group Presentation: Collaborating effectively with your peers to meet a common goal will give you the tools to navigate future interpersonal and professional relationships. In the context of this course, effective collaboration within your groups will help you learn and retain core biological competencies (Eberlein et al., 2008;Hockings et al., 2008). You will have the opportunity to demonstrate effective scientific communication skills and benefit from group learning through a group presentation. For this group presentation, your group will be required to present on a topic in biology or a recent primary literature article. Your group will be provided collaboration time in class to work on your presentation. Your group’s topic or paper must be approved by your instructor. The group presentation will be assessed on the incorporation of logically organized and relevant content and the delivery of the presentation. Each member’s contribution to the presentation will be assessed by other group members. Failure to contribute to the group presentation will negatively impact your grade.

Assignments and Labster Simulations: Online laboratory simulations in conjunction with physical instruction can help reinforce the introduced biological concepts in a flexible manner, meaning they can be completed virtually and are not restricted to a laboratory setting or physical equipment (Campbell et al., 2002). In the context of this course, you are required to complete several Labster simulations prior to in-class activities to familiarize you with background information and procedures. All assignments and simulations will be available on iCollege. Labster simulations will be available at the end of each lab and will be due at the start of lab the following week (see Quizzes for an example).

Additionally, virtual lab simulations will serve as a means of laboratory completion for excused COVD19-related absences

Grading Policy: Final grades will be assigned according to the scale below:

A+       96.5-100%

A         90.5-96.49%

A-        89.0-90.49%

B+       86.5-88.99%

B         80.5-86.49%

B-        79.0–80.49%

C+       76.5–78.99%

C         70.5-76.49%

C-        69.0–70.49%

D         60 – 68.99%

F          below 60%

  • Grading Discrepancy: In the event in which an instructor has made an arithmetic error, this can be resolved by immediately contacting the instructor after the lab session/week in which the assignment/exam was graded and requesting the correction. Be proactive and earlier in your communication with me so that I can solve any issues promptly. If you have a complaint regarding how something was graded, you must submit in writing exactly where you believe points were deducted without cause.
    1. Written submission policy: This document, along with the original assessment must be submitted to the me at in writing at abranch8@gsu.edu using the guidelines for correspondence outline above. If the reasoning for the original grade does not change, and you wish to pursue the matter further, you are required to contact Ms. Ashley Little, the Laboratory Coordinator, at alittle15@gsu.edu using the guidelines for correspondence outline above. The supervisory staff will review and regrade your submitted materials. The grade earned by the student as determined by the supervisory staff is final and will be recorded in the gradebook.

 

 **This course syllabus had been adapted from the Principles of Biology I Laboratory (BIOL2107) syllabus and is supplemental to the source syllabus. This syllabus provides a general plan for the course, and deviations may be necessary.

 

 

References

Campbell, J.O., Bourne, J.R., Mosterman, P.J., and Brodersen, A.J. (2002). The Effectiveness of Learning Simulations for Electronic Laboratories. Journal of Engineering Education 91, 81-87.

Eberlein, T., Kampmeier, J., Minderhout, V., Moog, R.S., Platt, T., Varma-Nelson, P., and White, H.B. (2008). Pedagogies of engagement in science. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education 36, 262-273.

Eyler, J.R. (2018). How Humans Learn: The Science and Stories Behind Effective College Teaching. West Virginia University Press.

Hockings, S.C., Deangelis, K.J., and Frey, R.F. (2008). Peer-Led Team Learning in General Chemistry: Implementation and Evaluation. Journal of Chemical Education 85, 990.

Nih, N.I.O.H., Office of the Director (2008). “Guidelines for Scientific Record Keeping in the Intramural Research Program at the NIH”, (ed.) 1.).

Wang, J.T.H., Schembri, M.A., Ramakrishna, M., Sagulenko, E., and Fuerst, J.A. (2012). Immersing undergraduate students in the research experience. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education 40, 37-45.

 

 

Citations are for the purpose of this assignment only and will be removed from the version that is distributed to students.