Photo by Stephanie Loo
Syllabus
Head TA: Tanja Zerulla
Office hours: By appt. only, contact below.
Contact address: [email protected]
This lab is conducted in four-hour meetings. Be prepared to stay for the entirety of each meeting.
Objectives:
This course will emphasize the integration and practical application of ideas and concepts from the Ecology lecture course. Emphasis will be placed on your ability to synthesize, articulate, and communicate concepts covered in the lab and lecture, in both written and oral form. This course also focuses on quantitative biology skills, including statistical analysis and interpretation of data.
Course Description:
Texts:
Required
Policies:
ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY! If you do not attend class, you will not be allowed to turn in the associated assignment for that week, resulting in a grade of zero. If you must miss a lab, email your lab TA for missing the lab with your reason for missing and necessary documentation. Excused absences and make-up labs are at the discretion of your TA, and they must give you permission in writing.
Appropriate behavior and respect for other students and the TA is expected at all times by both students and the TA.
NO CELL PHONES OR SMARTWATCHES are to be used in class, neither in the classroom nor in the field. Any student found using their phone to make/receive calls or send/receive messages will automatically be subjected to a 10% deduction from the grade on the tasks for that day. No exceptions.
Most of the lab exercises will involve getting dirty and/or wet, so you are advised to dress accordingly. We suggest long pants, a T-shirt and old sneakers. (If you wear “fancy clothing”, you will not be excused from field work!) We do not require lab coats, but closed-toe shoes are required for every lab, regardless of whether it is in the classroom or in the field.
All students must check their e-mail accounts and/or Canvas on a daily basis for messages about the course. Changes to class schedule, assignments and due dates may be announced by e-mail only. Any e-mail address or Canvas notification changes are the student’s responsibility to report to the TA. Include PCB3043L and your name in the subject line of all e-mail.
Quizzes:
A quiz will be given at the beginning of class. Quizzes are based on the reading for that week and the previous week's content. If you arrive after the quiz you will not be allowed to take it.
Assignments:
Assignments will not be accepted if the associated lab is missed. Assignments must be submitted by 11:59pm the day before the following lab. 10% will be deducted from the assignment grade if handed in later than the due date up until 11:59pm of the following day (the day of your lab section). After that, assignments will not be accepted. You will collect data for most assignments as a group. However, all answers on the assignment will be done by you individually, NOT AS A GROUP. Students found to be working with other students will be penalized for plagiarism, cheating, and/or unethical collaboration.
Assignment Formatting:
Assignment answers must be double spaced, 12-point font, in the outline format indicated by the assignment. 5% will be deducted from the assignment if this formatting style is not followed. Assignment questions should NOT be included.
Lab Presentation:
To help students practice experimental design, you will work with your TA to choose a topic in ecology, design and experiment, and give a PowerPoint presentation on this proposed experiment to the class. Instructions for the format of the lab presentation will be given by your instructor in addition to a grading guideline.
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is a serious offense, and one that will not be taken lightly. Plagiarism can be intentional (copying another student’s work, submitting others' work as your own) or unintentional (not citing all references, collaborating with another student, copying graphs/tables). Copying even a single phrase/sentence from anybody (including yourself) constitutes plagiarism. The best ways to avoid unintentional plagiarism are to reference all outside information, and to do all work on your own. If you have any questions about what plagiarism is, please consult your TA. TAs are allowed to ask you to upload your homework on any detection software (such as Canvas or turnitin.com) to determine if plagiarism has taken place. Suspected acts of plagiarism may be investigated and taken to the FIU Grievance Committee. Plagiarism will result in you receiving a 0 grade for your assignment (no exceptions), a subsequent offense is an automatic fail, and may also result in your suspension or expulsion from the University.
Participation:
This lab requires working in groups. Each group member must participate during lab in order to make it a rewarding experience for all involved. You may also be asked to assist other groups when you have finished your assignment. Equal participation of all members in each group during lab is expected.
Field Trips
Ecology Lab includes TWO mandatory field trips. We will go to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and Everglades National Park. Entrance fees will be covered for both trips, and transportation will be provided for the Everglades trip. You will be expected to attend every nature walk during the Everglades field trip. This trip includes deep water wading and muddy walking. These walks are mandatory, and no alternative assignments for the natural walks will be given.
Final Exam:
You will be given a final exam at the end of the course. This exam will be based on material covered during the entire lab course (i.e., cumulative). The format of the exam and suggestions for preparation will be discussed with you prior to the exam.
Expectations and Suggestions for Success:
Student’s grades are generally reflective of the effort made to prepare for weekly labs. Prepared students have read and reflected upon the main points made in the assigned readings for each lab. Students who begin to work on their lab reports and assignments the day that they are assigned (and NOT the day that they are due) have a greater opportunity to ask questions of the TA, are able to turn in their assignments on time, and generally get better grades. Often students that have initial difficulty with the course can still be successful, but you must reach out to your TA for help. Interacting with your TA early in the semester outside of class is the best way to accomplish this, visit your TA during office hours!
Grading Breakdown:
Assignments = 30%
Everglades Field Trip = 1 assignment
Lab Report = 20%
Quizzes = 20%
Fairchild Field Trip = 1 Quiz
Final Exam = 25%
Participation = 5%
Total = 100%
Course grades will NOT be curved
Grading Breakdown:
A = 90-100%
B+ = 87-89%
B = 80-86%
C+ = 77-79%
C = 70-76%
D = 65-69%
F = <65%
Grading Disputes:
TA’s keep scanned copies of quizzes & assignments to check for any alterations to the original quiz. If you are found trying to pass off a changed answer for an extra point, you will receive a 0 on the quiz. You are allowed a time period of ONE WEEK to dispute a quiz/assignment grade.
If the instructor missed a question or an addition error is found, you must submit the following items in an email:
If you disagree with the grade for a question on the assignment, submit the following items in an email:
*** Syllabus is subject to change at any time during the semester, at the TA’s discretion
Office hours: By appt. only, contact below.
Contact address: [email protected]
This lab is conducted in four-hour meetings. Be prepared to stay for the entirety of each meeting.
Objectives:
This course will emphasize the integration and practical application of ideas and concepts from the Ecology lecture course. Emphasis will be placed on your ability to synthesize, articulate, and communicate concepts covered in the lab and lecture, in both written and oral form. This course also focuses on quantitative biology skills, including statistical analysis and interpretation of data.
Course Description:
- Most labs will involve outdoor work. Be prepared to get hot and sweaty, wet and muddy, rained on, waist-high in water, and even bitten by bugs every week. Some weeks you may want to bring a change of clothes and shower at the gym after lab.
- Students must be prepared to perform laboratory tasks at each meeting. Your attendance and participation in all lab exercises will determine a substantial percentage of your lab grade.
- DO NOT BE LATE! After the initial quiz, many of the labs will involve fieldwork away from the classroom making it difficult for you to catch up (or even find your lab section) once lab has begun.
Texts:
Required
- I will post materials on Canvas, which will consist of readings, exercises, and assignments that will be available for download. I recommend that you print out readings each week and bring them to class. All materials are subject to change. Changes will be noted to you via Canvas or in class.
- Any ecology textbook (such as those required for the lecture class) may be helpful for understanding background information.
- Three-ring binder to keep lab manual exercises.
- Field notebook. A bound composition notebook is most appropriate.
Policies:
ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY! If you do not attend class, you will not be allowed to turn in the associated assignment for that week, resulting in a grade of zero. If you must miss a lab, email your lab TA for missing the lab with your reason for missing and necessary documentation. Excused absences and make-up labs are at the discretion of your TA, and they must give you permission in writing.
Appropriate behavior and respect for other students and the TA is expected at all times by both students and the TA.
NO CELL PHONES OR SMARTWATCHES are to be used in class, neither in the classroom nor in the field. Any student found using their phone to make/receive calls or send/receive messages will automatically be subjected to a 10% deduction from the grade on the tasks for that day. No exceptions.
Most of the lab exercises will involve getting dirty and/or wet, so you are advised to dress accordingly. We suggest long pants, a T-shirt and old sneakers. (If you wear “fancy clothing”, you will not be excused from field work!) We do not require lab coats, but closed-toe shoes are required for every lab, regardless of whether it is in the classroom or in the field.
All students must check their e-mail accounts and/or Canvas on a daily basis for messages about the course. Changes to class schedule, assignments and due dates may be announced by e-mail only. Any e-mail address or Canvas notification changes are the student’s responsibility to report to the TA. Include PCB3043L and your name in the subject line of all e-mail.
Quizzes:
A quiz will be given at the beginning of class. Quizzes are based on the reading for that week and the previous week's content. If you arrive after the quiz you will not be allowed to take it.
Assignments:
Assignments will not be accepted if the associated lab is missed. Assignments must be submitted by 11:59pm the day before the following lab. 10% will be deducted from the assignment grade if handed in later than the due date up until 11:59pm of the following day (the day of your lab section). After that, assignments will not be accepted. You will collect data for most assignments as a group. However, all answers on the assignment will be done by you individually, NOT AS A GROUP. Students found to be working with other students will be penalized for plagiarism, cheating, and/or unethical collaboration.
Assignment Formatting:
Assignment answers must be double spaced, 12-point font, in the outline format indicated by the assignment. 5% will be deducted from the assignment if this formatting style is not followed. Assignment questions should NOT be included.
Lab Presentation:
To help students practice experimental design, you will work with your TA to choose a topic in ecology, design and experiment, and give a PowerPoint presentation on this proposed experiment to the class. Instructions for the format of the lab presentation will be given by your instructor in addition to a grading guideline.
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is a serious offense, and one that will not be taken lightly. Plagiarism can be intentional (copying another student’s work, submitting others' work as your own) or unintentional (not citing all references, collaborating with another student, copying graphs/tables). Copying even a single phrase/sentence from anybody (including yourself) constitutes plagiarism. The best ways to avoid unintentional plagiarism are to reference all outside information, and to do all work on your own. If you have any questions about what plagiarism is, please consult your TA. TAs are allowed to ask you to upload your homework on any detection software (such as Canvas or turnitin.com) to determine if plagiarism has taken place. Suspected acts of plagiarism may be investigated and taken to the FIU Grievance Committee. Plagiarism will result in you receiving a 0 grade for your assignment (no exceptions), a subsequent offense is an automatic fail, and may also result in your suspension or expulsion from the University.
Participation:
This lab requires working in groups. Each group member must participate during lab in order to make it a rewarding experience for all involved. You may also be asked to assist other groups when you have finished your assignment. Equal participation of all members in each group during lab is expected.
Field Trips
Ecology Lab includes TWO mandatory field trips. We will go to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and Everglades National Park. Entrance fees will be covered for both trips, and transportation will be provided for the Everglades trip. You will be expected to attend every nature walk during the Everglades field trip. This trip includes deep water wading and muddy walking. These walks are mandatory, and no alternative assignments for the natural walks will be given.
Final Exam:
You will be given a final exam at the end of the course. This exam will be based on material covered during the entire lab course (i.e., cumulative). The format of the exam and suggestions for preparation will be discussed with you prior to the exam.
Expectations and Suggestions for Success:
Student’s grades are generally reflective of the effort made to prepare for weekly labs. Prepared students have read and reflected upon the main points made in the assigned readings for each lab. Students who begin to work on their lab reports and assignments the day that they are assigned (and NOT the day that they are due) have a greater opportunity to ask questions of the TA, are able to turn in their assignments on time, and generally get better grades. Often students that have initial difficulty with the course can still be successful, but you must reach out to your TA for help. Interacting with your TA early in the semester outside of class is the best way to accomplish this, visit your TA during office hours!
Grading Breakdown:
Assignments = 30%
Everglades Field Trip = 1 assignment
Lab Report = 20%
Quizzes = 20%
Fairchild Field Trip = 1 Quiz
Final Exam = 25%
Participation = 5%
Total = 100%
Course grades will NOT be curved
Grading Breakdown:
A = 90-100%
B+ = 87-89%
B = 80-86%
C+ = 77-79%
C = 70-76%
D = 65-69%
F = <65%
Grading Disputes:
TA’s keep scanned copies of quizzes & assignments to check for any alterations to the original quiz. If you are found trying to pass off a changed answer for an extra point, you will receive a 0 on the quiz. You are allowed a time period of ONE WEEK to dispute a quiz/assignment grade.
If the instructor missed a question or an addition error is found, you must submit the following items in an email:
- Course name, quiz or assignment number/topic, your name, & the problem (which question was missed or addition error)
- Example: PCB 3043 L: Quiz 5 missed #2 (John Smith)
If you disagree with the grade for a question on the assignment, submit the following items in an email:
- Course name, assignment number/topic, your name, & the problem (question number)
- Submit an explanation for why your answer is correct
*** Syllabus is subject to change at any time during the semester, at the TA’s discretion