Instructor: David Froehlich
Office: NRG 2215
Office Hours: M/W 12:00-2:45, T 10:00-12:00, H 10:00-2:45, F 10:00 3:00 by appt.
Telephone: Office: (NRG) 223-4894
Home: 833-6845 (No calls after 10:00PM)
Fax: 223-4641
Email: eohippus@austincc.edu
Web Page: http://www.austincc.edu/eohippus/
Prerequisites: Proficiency in reading is a prerequisite
for this course. In order to successfully pass the course, you
should have at least an ACC basic skills assessment score of 5
or above in reading or a passing score in the reading portion
of the TASP.
You should also have an ACC basic skills assessment score of
5 or more in writing, or have passed the writing portion of the
TASP. Your exams contain short answer/essay questions. You are
expected to have the writing skills to answer written exam questions.
Course Introduction: BIOL 1309, LIFE ON EARTH, is a
self-paced course based on thirteen programs produced by the British
Broadcasting Corporation and narrated by the esteemed British
naturalist David Attenborough. These programs describe the history
of life on earth, travelling to widespread points upon the globe
to do so and introducing you to many different interesting groups
of organisms. Attenborough risks life and limb in the time-honored
explorer tradition to show these organisms.
Course Materials: You will need the following items:
1. Life on Earth: Concepts and Questions, 2nd edition,
December 2003 by Bernice Speer, Betsy Maxim, David Froehlich,
Sarah Strong, and D'Maris Allen. This is available only at all
ACC Bookstores. You must have the most recent version of the study
guide. The study guide is also available at: http://www.austincc.edu/biology/labmanuals/manualsindex.html
2. The videotapes, available at ACC libraries.
Although it is not required for the class, there are copies of
the book, Life on Earth by David Attenborough, on reserve
at the following ACC libraries: Rio Grande, Northridge, Riverside,
Cypress Creek, and Pinnacle. Copies are also available for check-out
at the Austin Public Library. The book may also be available for
sale at Half-Price Bookstores.
Basic Course Information:
How to Prepare for Exams:
Information about videotapes: The videos are available in the libraries at the following ACC locations:
Bold locations have check-out copies available. There
are only a FEW check-out copies available. ALL libraries have
copies that are available for viewing in the libraries. Check-out
tapes usually have two programs on one videotape cassette.
Be advised: there are only a FEW check-out copies of each tape.
Be PREPARED to have to watch the videotapes in the library. If
you cannot check out the videotape and take it home to watch,
you are expected to watch the videos in the library. Otherwise,
you may have insufficient time to prepare for the exam by the
exam deadline. Exam deadlines will NOT be extended if you are
unable to check out a videotape.
Many students in the past have become confused about the videotapes
that are available for checkout and the ones in the library. There
are SEVEN checkout videotapes:
Since checkout tapes (except tape 7) contain two episodes,
you need to be careful when you check out a videotape. IF YOU
ARE CHECKING OUT A VIDEOTAPE, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE
SURE THAT YOU GOT WHAT YOU WANTED. If you are checking out a videotape
to take home, you must ask for the correct tape. For example,
if you want to checkout the videotape that has episode 3 on it,
you must ask for TAPE 2. Double check and make sure the videotape
covers the episodes that you wanted before you leave the library.
On the other hand, if you are watching the episodes in the media
section of the library, you will probably find thirteen videotapes,
with one episode per videotape (although there may some tapes
with two or even three episodes per tape).
Location of Exams and Exam Policies: Exams are available
at the Northridge campus tsting center and by arrangement elsewhere.
Read the attached Guide to Student Use of Testing Centers before
taking your first exam. The attached handout provides locations,
open hours and telephone numbers for each testing center and library.
Please have everything with you when you go to take an exam at
the Testing Center. The Testing Center is there to facilitate
the test-taking process for open campus students. However, you
must do your share in order to be prepared. Read the Guide
to Student Use of the Testing Center. Be aware of their policies.
When you go to take an exam, make sure you have the following:
You must allow A MINIMUM OF ONE HOUR to take any exams for this class. This means that if it is 7:15 PM and the Testing Center is closing at 8:00 PM, you will NOT be allowed to take an exam for this class, even if it is the day of the test deadline. One hour is the minimum time allotted for a test. It may take you longer than one hour to finish the exam, particularly if you are taking Version B.
Exam Information: For each unit there will be a test
composed of some multiple choice questions and some short answer/essay
questions. The testing center will grade the multiple choice portion
of the test and give you the grade on that portion (note
that they will give you a percentage based on the total number
of multiple choice questions not the total points of the test).
The remainder of the test (with the short answer/essay questions)
will be forwarded to me for grading. Keep your test request slip
copies until you receive your final course grade. They are your
only proof that you have taken the exams. The multiple choice
questions are largely oriented toward details. Be prepared to
answer questions about the differences between the various plants
and animals covered in each unit. The short answer questions asked
on the exam will be very similar to the questions in the study
guide.
There is a comprehensive final exam that is optional that can
be used to replace a single exam grade for one of the sections.
This exam will be all essay and will include a number of questions
from which you can choose. This type of test is oriented towards
concepts. However, you still need to know details about plants
and animals. Usually, you earn more points if you include examples
and details in your answer to an essay question.
How do you answer short answer/essay questions? Here are some
tips. Read the question carefully: some of them have more than
one part. If the question asks you to describe an organism, tell
where it is found in terms of geography and habitat, how big it
is, what it eats, what color it is, what unusual or distinguishing
features it has, and how it is adapted to its habitat. Provide
as much information as you can remember. If you are asked for
examples, give as many as you can remember.
Extra Credit: For each unit, you can earn five points of extra credit by carrying out an internet assignment. If you are interested in earning the extra credit for a particular unit, email me in advance of the deadline stated below and I will email back a web site URL and a series of questions to answer. Go to the web site, explore it and find the answers to the questions and email the answers to me.
If you don’t have an email account, it is easy to set up a free email account through services like Yahoo or Hotmail. Every ACC student has access to computers on every ACC campus. Ask the friendly people at your local campus.
Extra Credit Deadline: Nov 9 Email me your request by Nov 2
How to get your Grades: I strongly urge you to check on your grades. While mistakes rarely happen, Murphy's Law is more than a mere slogan. It normally takes me 1-4 days to receive your test from most testing centers, and up to 7 days from the testing center in Fredericksburg. I try to grade the exams on the day that I receive them. However, it takes longer for me to grade Version B (all essays) than it does to grade Version A. I keep all tests and grades at the office ONLY. If you call me at home, I will not be able to answer any specific questions about your grades. You can find out your grade by any of the following methods:
1. You can look at your grades in balckboard (assuming I figure out how to use the gradebook - shouldn't be a problem)
2. You can call me during office hours after you take the
exam.
3. You can attach a stamped, self-addressed envelope or postcard
to your exam. I will mail it as soon as your exam is graded.
4. At the end of each exam, write a message to me on the
exam, such as "Please call me at xxx-xxxx and leave my grade
on the answering machine." Please give me the phone number
to call.
5. If your information sheet contains an e-mail address, your
grade on each exam will be automatically e-mailed to you as soon
as I have graded the test. You can also put your email address
on the exam.
6. You may come by my office (NRG 2215) during office hours and
look at your exam. If my office hours are inconvenient, other
alternatives may be possible. Just ask.
NOTE: If you choose options 1-4, you are voluntarily giving up
your right to privacy. Privacy is a major area of concern in any
class, but especially in open campus courses. In order to protect
your privacy, I cannot leave a message on your answering machine
or voice mail without your permission in writing. Even with your permission, I cannot leave a message about your specific
grade with another individual. I cannot leave a grade in response
to a verbal message, such as on my voicemail.
Course Grades: You must complete at least one exam for each of the six units to pass the course. You will receive a grade of F if you do not complete all six unit exams by the stated deadlines, regardless of your actual scores or percentages. Final grades for the course will be based on these percentages:
A: 90-100%; B: 80-89%; C: 70-79%; D: 60-69%; F: below 60%
Percentages will be rounded to the nearest whole number before assigning a letter grade. For example, an 89.5% rounds up to an A (90%); a 79.4% rounds down to a C (79%).
Scheduling your Exams: Exams may be taken at any time within the limits of testing center policy and the mandatory exam deadlines below. The exams must be taken in order.
Recommended Exam Schedule: The following schedule lists recommended target dates for exams. This schedule allows about the same amount of time for each unit and assumes that you are working regularly on the course materials.
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| Exam 1 | Episodes 1 & 2 and corresponding information in the study guide |
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| Exam 2 | Episodes 3 & 4 and corresponding information in the study guide |
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| Exam 3 | Episodes 5 & 6 and corresponding information in the study guide |
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| Exam 4 | Episodes 7 & 8 and corresponding information in the study guide |
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| Exam 5 | Episodes 9, 10 & 11 and corresponding information in the study guide |
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| Exam 6 | Episodes 12 & 13 and corresponding information in the study guide |
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| Exams 1 through 4 | Nov 9 |
| Exams 5 and 6 | Dec 7 |
| Optional Final | Dec 14 |
The exams indicated must be completed by the two mandatory
exam deadlines. These deadlines are only negotiable if you have
a legitimate emergency that prevents you from meeting the deadlines.
These emergencies MUST be documented. For example, a hospital
stay for you or a close family member such as your child would
require notes from doctors and copies of billing statements from
the hospital. Rest assured that I will check out your documentation.
You WILL NOT be given extra time to take exams except in a documented
emergency.
Exams taken after these dates will NOT be accepted for credit
(your grade is 0), It is your responsibility to complete
the exams by the mandatory deadlines. If you have not completed
Exams 1-4 by the first mandatory deadline, you will be dropped
from the course. If you have not completed exams 5-6 by the second
mandatory deadline, you will receive a grade of F. You will not
be given extra time to complete the course.
Withdrawals:
Student-initiated withdrawal:
Please note: You may make a legible photocopy of the withdrawal form (front and back) and send it to me in the campus mail. Go to the Provost's Office of any ACC campus and tell them you want to send me a message in intercampus mail. Address it to David Froehlich, NRG. Just be sure that the photocopy is readable and the date stamped on the back is clear.
Instructor-initiated withdrawal:
You will be withdrawn from the class for any of the following
reasons:
Contact Dates: Three contacts with the instructor during the semester are strongly recommended for open campus learning students. The first (and only mandatory) contact is the scheduled orientation session. I strongly recommend you keep in touch with me throughout the semester. Contacts can be made in a variety of ways: e-mails, messages left on my voice mail or home answering machine, phone conversations with me, notes left in my mailbox or even notes left on your exams. Please let me know how you are progressing through the course and if you are having any problems.
Please note: It is your responsibility to inform me of any changes in your mailing address or phone number.
Incompletes: A grade of I (incomplete) will be given ONLY if:
Be advised that incomplete grades automatically convert into F's if the incomplete is not finished and the appropriate paperwork submitted to the admissions and records office, regardless of your average at the time you receive the incomplete.
STUDENT
GUIDE FOR USING ACC TESTING CENTERS
Testing centers locations and hours: