BIOL 2401 Laboratory Syllabus

Spring 2018
Laboratory Instructor
Name: Liliana Cantu E-mail: Pending
Office: SCNE 2.326 Office Hr: Thursday 9:30 am-10:30 am Tel.: (956) 665-3547

Communication with your lab instructor/teaching assistant:

If you have questions please let your lab instructor know. Ask questions during lab, during office
hour, or by email. If you email your lab instructor allow 72 hours for a response. Emails will be
responded to Monday through Friday, though the TA may at times respond on the weekends it is
not to be assumed.

Purpose of Laboratory:
Is to complement the lecture by presenting the fundamentals of human anatomy and physiology in a
“hands on” environment. The selected specimens, organs, models and the use of a microscope to
look at tissue slides are designed to acquaint the student with visual and tactile knowledge of the
human body at the end of the lab course, the student will demonstrate knowledge of the basic
principles and concepts of biology, including: human organ system, mechanisms of support and
movement, integument, skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems.

This is a reduced seat time or “flipped” class which means you must come to class prepared to do the
lab exercises each and every week. You will not be admitted to the lab without completing the pre
lab assignment.

Textbook:
Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory Manual, Biology 12th Edition by Elaine N. Marieb and
Lori A. Smith (required).

Technology:
You will be completing pre lab assignments and post lab quizzes on line and will be using Blackboard
Learn. You will also need to print handouts to bring with you to lab.

*Browser notice: All pre-lab activities and quizzes must be completed using Mozilla Firefox.
Use of any other browser is at the risk of the student and may not work.

Lab Materials:
The following items are to be brought to every lab meeting:
lab manual, lecture text (Human Anatomy & Physiology, by E. N. Marieb), pencils, colored pencils,
and 1 pen. In addition, a lab coat and eye protection is required before entering the lab each
week and disposable gloves are required during dissections (see “Tentative Schedule”). The
Biology Department will supply dissecting instruments (i.e. scalpels, probes, scissors, etc.).
You may also want to bring your lap top or other device to refer to the pre-lab materials
during class.

BIOL 2401: Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory I (lab)

The lab provides a hands-on learning experience for exploration of human system components and
basic physiology. Systems to be studied include integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, and
special senses.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
1. Apply appropriate safety and ethical standards.
2. Locate and identify anatomical structures.
3. Appropriately utilize laboratory equipment, such as microscopes, dissection tools, general lab
ware, physiology data acquisition systems, and virtual simulations.
4. Work collaboratively to perform experiments.
5. Demonstrate the steps involved in the scientific method.
6. Communicate results of scientific investigations, analyze data and formulate conclusions.
7. Use critical thinking and scientific problem-solving skills, including, but not limited to, inferring,
integrating, synthesizing, and summarizing, to make decisions, recommendations and predictions.

Learning Objectives for Core Curriculum Requirements

This course meets 3 hours of the core requirement for Life and Physical Sciences (2 courses–6 hours
required; lecture only) Objectives: Critical Thinking, Communication, Empirical & Quantitative
Skills, and Teamwork

Critical thinking: is a way of examining and exploring issues, ideas, artifacts, and events before
accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion.

Communication:
Written communication is the development and expression of ideas in writing. Written
communication involves learning to work in many genres and styles. It can involve working
with many different writing technologies, and mixing texts, data, and images. Written
communication abilities develop through iterative experiences across the curriculum.
Oral communication is a prepared, purposeful presentation designed to increase
knowledge, to foster understanding, or to promote change in the listeners' attitudes, values,
beliefs, or behaviors.

Empirical and Quantitative Skills: Quantitative Literacy (QL) – also known as Numeracy or
Quantitative Reasoning (QR) – is a "habit of mind," competency, and comfort in working
with numerical data. Individuals with strong QL skills possess the ability to reason and solve
quantitative problems from a wide array of authentic contexts and everyday life situations.
They understand and can create sophisticated arguments supported by quantitative evidence
and they can clearly communicate those arguments in a variety of formats (using words,
tables, graphs, mathematical equations, etc., as appropriate).

Teamwork: is the ability of individuals to work together to accomplish a task or produce a product
in a way that is respectful and values the strengths of the members of the team.

AND

1 hour of the core requirement for Integrative and Experiential Learning Courses (up to 3 hours
from science labs) in this category involve interdisciplinary topics or approaches and/or learning
through direct experience. Science Labs (maximum 3 hours; offered in conjunction with science
courses listed in the Life and Physical Sciences component area)

The direct experience in these labs will include dissections, experiments and observations using
equipment such as the microscope. This will allow the student to learn to use and practice using
scientific equipment.

Safety: Consumption of food or drink in lab is prohibited. You must be properly attired to participate
in lab. Proper lab attire includes long pants/skirts (must go to the top of the shoe) and closed-toe and
heel shoes. Shorts, short skirts, sandals, and open-toe/heel shoes are not allowed. Because this lab
employs biological agents immersed in chemical solutions, state law requires that each student wear
a lab coat and eye protection during every lab meeting. Students not in compliance with the lab
dress code or other safety regulations will not enter the lab and this will be an unexcused
absence. This is a zero-tolerance policy! It is advisable not to wear contact lenses to the lab because
of the danger of trapping chemicals behind them, and the additional difficulty of ineffective flushing
of the eyes with eyewash. Students who are pregnant are advised to immediately inform their
instructor.

Grading:
Mid-term Exam ............................................. .20%
Final Exam .................................................... .20%
Presentation (In class and online)……………..5%
Post Lab Quizzes…………………………….20%
Participation/Quiz Out................................... .15%
Pre Lab Activities (Online)………………….20%
100%
Pre Lab Activities:
The pre lab activities are online and available through Blackboard. You must complete your pre lab
by midnight the night before the lab to be admitted to the lab. You may do the pre labs as many times
as you like and may redo them for practice and to study for the mid-term and final exam. The highest
grade you earn will be taken. Any pre lab activities that have a “reset” option may be reset before
submitting to get full credit.

Participation/Quiz Out grade:

The participation/quiz out grade will be determined by your attendance, punctuality, preparedness
(including bringing handouts with you to class), cooperation, completion of the lab activities, cleaning
your work area and any other cleaning duties your instructor includes and a practical quiz (group or
individual) at the end of lab.

Post Lab Quizzes (Online!):

Post lab quizzes will follow each lab and will be due at 11:59 pm (one minute before midnight) the
night before the next lab. The quizzes will consist of 10-15 questions and will be online in Blackboard.
You will have 10 minutes to complete each quiz. You may not collaborate on the quizzes, they are to
be taken on your own.

Presentations:
Each lab group will draw to determine which model they will present to their peers. They will present
the model in class and produce a written guide to the model, including a labeled picture or pictures
which will be posted in Blackboard. Students will be graded on completeness, accuracy, spelling and
pronunciation. Groups may use the print and bring handouts to guide them in developing their
presentation.

Mid-Term and Final Exams:

There will be two examsas indicated on the schedule and the final exam is non-comprehensive. The
exams will consist of 67 questions all fill in the blank practical with no true/false or multiple choice
questions. The exams test practical knowledge of the materials that ask you to identify, classify and/or
name the function of a specific, labeled part/area on these items by using models, microscope slides,
preserved cats and organs. Note: The handouts provided in Blackboard are important, but do not cover
everything that you need to know for that particular exercise(s). You are responsible for everything in the
lab manual and in the pre-labs. There will be no exam review sessions outside of the lab other than
what is stated in the “tentative schedule”. Also, there will be no other bonus points or extra credit
other than what is listed above or instructed by the Lab Coordinator or faculty director.
Questions about grades on quizzes, exams or assignments:
If there is an issue with any grade in the course you must address it in a timely manner. You have one
week from the issue/release of the grade to notify your TA. You must notify the TA by email. If the
TA is not able to resolve the issue it is to be forwarded to Mrs. Gunn for review. Any issues not
addressed within one week of the grade released will be reviewed but will not be granted credit. Stay
on top of your grades.

At the end of the semester, the student’s lab grade will be combined with the lecture grade to derive
a single course grade for Biology 2401. Typically, the lab grade will count for 33% of the course
grade and the lecture grade will count for 67% of the course grade. The relative weights of each grade
are set by the lecture professor.

Student Dishonesty and Conduct in the Laboratory:

Cheating on quizzes and exams, or other forms of scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Students
caught cheating will be referred to the Dean of Students for proper disciplinary action and reported
to their lecture instructor. This will usually mean receiving an “F” in the lab. Students are expected
to conduct themselves in a manner that helps maintain a classroom environment that is conducive to
learning. To ensure that all students have the opportunity to gain from time spent in class; students
are prohibited from engaging in any form of disruptive behavior. This includes eating, drinking,
using all electronic devices (such as a cellular phone, iPad, etc.) for anything other than lab work in
the laboratory, arriving late to class, leaving lab early, talking and/or using electronic devices while
instructor is giving instructions, demands for special treatment, challenges to authority, making
offensive remarks, prolonged chattering, sleeping, etc. Students displaying inappropriate or
disruptive behavior in the classroom will be given a warning the first time, failure to comply will
result in a request to leave the laboratory and will be referred to the Dean of Students for disciplinary
action (HOP 5.5.2 & 5.5.3). For more information check your UTRGV Student Guide and Handbook
of Operating Procedure (HOP) or visit the Office of the Dean of Students. If you are removed from
lab for behavior issues your lecture instructor will be informed.
Attendance:
Attendance to each lab at the scheduled time is mandatory. You will not receive credit by continuously
going to or transferring to another lab section to take quizzes, exams, and participate in lab
activities/experiments without the approval of the laboratory coordinator which will be handled only on a
case by case basis. A student who misses a lab for a legitimate reason or due to an emergency (e.g., a
medical problem, accident, etc.) should contact their lab instructor immediately and provide
documentation for the absence (e.g., a doctor’s note, accident report, etc.). For an unexcused absence,
the student will receive a zero for all work missed that day, and no makeup work will be accepted.
Students are responsible for all material covered in the course, even material missed during an
excused absence. If you know you will miss an exam for a legitimate reason (e.g. sanctioned travel)
and you notify your lab instructor at least one week in advance of the exam, arrangements may be
made for you to take the exam at a different time. You must take the exam the week it is given
and at your scheduled time. Make-ups will not be granted if an exam is missed and no prior
arrangements were made before your exam, except under special circumstances which can only be
approved by the lab coordinator on a case by case basis.
Student Concerns:
Step 1: Contact your lab insturctor and allow 10 business days for a response.
Step 2: Contact the Laboratory Faculty Director: Mrs. Gunn E-mail address:
bonnie.gunn@utrgv.edu. OR the Laboratory Coordinator: Liza B. Vela, Office: SCNE 1.368,
Office Tel.: (956) 665-7935. Allow 10 business days for a response.
Step 3: Contact the Lab Advisory Committee Chair: Erin Schuenzel, SCNE 1.332, Office Tel:
(956) 665-2229, email: erin.schuenzel@utrgv.edu. Allow 10 business days for a response.
Step 4: Contact the Biology Department Chair: Fred Zaidan, SCNE 2.236, Office Tel: (956) 665-
3537, email: Frederic.zaidan@utrgv.edu. Allow 10 business days for a response.

If the issue remains unresolved Dr. Zaidan will advise you as to what to do next.
Calendar of Activities
January 16 First day of classes
January 19 Last day to add a course or register for spring 2018
March 12 – 17 SPRING BREAK – NO classes
March 30 – 31 EASTER HOLIDAY – NO classes
April 12 Last day to drop a course; will count toward the 6-drop rule
May 2 Last day of classes
May 3 Study Day – NO class
May 4 – 10 Spring 2018 Final Exams
May 11 - 12 Commencement Ceremonies

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

If you have a documented disability (physical, psychological, learning, or other disability which
affects your academic performance) and would like to receive academic accommodations, please
inform your instructor and contact Student Accessibility Services to schedule an appointment to
initiate services. It is recommended that you schedule an appointment with Student Accessibility
Services before classes start. However, accommodations can be provided at any time. Brownsville
Campus: Student Accessibility Services is located in Cortez Hall Room 129 and can be contacted by
phone at (956) 882-7374 (Voice) or via email at accessibility@utrgv.edu. Edinburg Campus:
Student Accessibility Services is located in 108 University Center and can be contacted by phone at
(956) 665-7005 (Voice), (956) 665-3840 (Fax), or via email at accessibility@utrgv.edu.

MANDATORY COURSE EVALUATION PERIOD:

Students are required to complete an ONLINE evaluation of this course, accessed through your
UTRGV account (http://my.utrgv.edu); you will be contacted through email with further instructions.
Students who complete their evaluations will have priority access to their grades.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT, DISCRIMINATION, and VIOLENCE:

In accordance with UT System regulations, your instructor is a “responsible employee” for reporting
purposes under Title IX regulations and so must report any instance, occurring during a student’s time
in college, of sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, domestic violence, or sexual harassment about
which she/he becomes aware during this course through writing, discussion, or personal disclosure.
More information can be found at www.utrgv.edu/equity, including confidential resources available
on campus. The faculty and staff of UTRGV actively strive to provide a learning, working, and living
environment that promotes personal integrity, civility, and mutual respect in an environment free from
sexual misconduct and discrimination.

CAMPUS CARRY EXLCUSION ZONE:

Science labs are excluded from campus carry. You may NOT carry a firearm into your lab.