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GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION:
Course Description--Introduction to Evolution is designed to introduce the student to the major principles of evolutionary biology. The course will include a history of evolutionary thought and will work through the fundamental concepts of the nature of science, mechanisms of evolution, the evolutionary history of the major animal groups, evolutionary genetics, and modern day applications and issues. Although the emphasis will be on major concepts, the course will also provide some understanding of the methods used in evolutionary investigations.
Required Software--
First Class EdNet-- You will need to install the First Class EdNet system on your home computer. The course will be taught entirely on EdNet. To obtain the EdNet software, visit the EdNet website (see link on sidebar) to download the software and to access tutorials. You will need internet access on your computer to run the EdNet software. I suggest that you get your EdNet software account up and running at least two weeks before classes start, to make a smooth transition into the course. The friendly people in the EdNet Support Center can be contacted at 815-921-4836 or through the website if you need assistance. It is important that you download the EdNet software onto your computer rather than using the web-based version of EdNet.
Quicktime-- Some weeks you will need to view short video clips as part of your homework assignments. To view these clips, you will need Quicktime. This is a free program that you can download by following the link on the sidebar.
Microsoft Word and PowerPoint-- The documents that I will be using in the course are written in Microsoft Word, and Microsoft PowerPoint. You will need these programs to be able to properly view the documents, lectures, and assignments, etc. If you do not have MS Word and/or Poweroint, you can download free viewers for both of these programs at the Microsoft website (see link on sidebar).
Required Computer Skills--
· Ability to send and receive email in EdNet.
· Ability to open and post to appropriate EdNet conferences.
· Ability to open and send attachments.
· Ability to search the internet for related course material.
· Ability to read documents in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.
Additional Materials--
Course Textbook--Your textbook, What is Life?, by Jay Phelan, will be packaged in both the loose-leaf and e-book format. This package will include an access code for the Prep-U quizzing and practice site, as well as a copy of the book Mean Genes by T. Burnham and J. Phelan (2001). This package will be available in the RVC bookstore. There is a chance that the access code for the e-book is not yet ready when the publisher ships the package to the bookstore. If this is the case then I will be sending you your access code as part of your first week's orientation. You can preview the
textbook by going to the Phelan preview website.
IS ONLINE LEARNING RIGHT FOR YOU?
Online learning is not for everyone. It is not the type of course to take just because nothing else is open or just because you don't want to have to come to campus numerous days a week. Online courses require a certain kind of student: self-directed and motivated, disciplined and organized. To find out if online learning might be right for you take the quiz Am I Ready For Online Learning
You might also check out the following list of characteristics of succesful online students at the Illinois Online Network.
ASSIGNMENTS/ASSESSMENT:
You can expect several types of assignments and methods of assessment throughout the semester. Generally course units (including instructions, readings and assignments) are opened and made available on Thursday mornings. All due date times are 11:55pm. Reading quizzes are due on Mon; Original discussion posts on Tues; Activities on Wed; and Reflections and responses to discussion posts on Thurs. Below are basic descriptions for the assignments. More detailed instructions for each assignment are given in the current syllabus and in the EdNet course conference, both available only to registered students.
Readings-- Your readings will come from both the textbook and online articles and videos from science magazines and websites. You will also have PowerPoint lectures to accompany some lectures. These will often complement but not duplicate the readings and will also frequently provide additional internet resources.
Quizzes-- You will be quizzed over the material you read and the material presented in the PowerPoints. The majority of these quizzes will be accessed from the Prep-U website that accompanies your textbook (the access code for your course on this website is obtained from me once you begin the first week of class). The
grades for these quizzes will automatically be sent to my gradebook.
Discussion--You will be assigned a discussion group with several other students for each of the eight units (these are similar to critical thinking or essay questions that might be part of a homework assignment in a regular face-to-face class). By the due date you will be posting an answer (100-200 words) to your discussion question. Your answer must be well-developed, mechanically correct, apply relevant information from the unit, and use at least one internet resource that you find on your own. You will also be required to respond to the discussion question of other students.
Reflections--There will be one reflection for each of the eight units (200-300 words). Your reflection will be a well-developed and well-written summary of the most important points to YOU in this unit, including an explanation why those points were important. Your reflection will also include a discussion of how this unit relates personally to your life.
Activities--Activities vary between units (and occasionally there may be none). Usually you will be working on an activity with a small group of other students (I will assign these small groups). Past activities have involved describing and identifying pictures of fossils (including hominid skulls); interpreting fossil footprint patterns; viewing and discussing a popular movie, or completing and discussing an online activity accessed through an internet link.
Exams--You will be taking a midterm and a final exam. Both exams are essay format and will be done at home and turned in online. Very stringent plagiarism rules will apply, and your work will be checked for plagiarism of online material, text material and the work of current and former students. A review of plagiarism guidlines will be available in your orientaion in the first week of class.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Is this a self-paced course-- No. While you will have the flexibility within each week to work on class materials when it is convenient for you, I will be posting new materials each week at a specific time and there will be deadlines you must meet each week. This will keep everyone in the class at the same place and working together throughout the semester.
At the beginning of the semester how will I know how/where to get started?-- Once you've enrolled in the course, go to the BIO 140INT Course Orientation Web Page. You'll find all the information you need to get started at that page.
INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION:
Department Office and Location-- Life Science Department, CL-II, G04.
Email Address-- LBallard@ednet.rockvalleycollege.edu
Phone Number-- 815-921-3476
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