Syllabus
 Biology 106A

Plants and People Laboratory, 1 Credit Hour



Schedule:  W, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., H110

Prerequisites:  None.

Corequisites:  BIO 105.

Catalog Description:

BIO 106 Plants and People Laboratory Credit, 1 sem. hr. Corequisite: 105.  Laboratory three hours a week.

A laboratory investigation of the plants used in human societies  throughout the world.  This course along with BIO 105 will meet the core curriculum four hour laboratory science requirement.


Purpose:

To be a non-majors course providing hands-on experience with the plants used in human society and detailed investigations of how plants are used in American  society.
Instructor:
Robert G. Hamilton, Ph.D.
Hederman Science, room 205
(601) 925-3872
rhamilto@mc.edu
Textbooks:
Instructions for all labs will be supplied.
Students will be organized into study groups of not more than six students.

Laboratory Sessions:

Laboratory #1. Jan. 22
Laboratory #2. Jan. 29 What is a Plant?
Laboratory #3. Feb 5 Seeds.
Laboratory #4. Feb 12 .Fruits.
Laboratory #5. Feb 19 Competition, set up experiment.
Laboratory #6. Feb 26 Photosynthesis and Respiration.
Laboratory #7. March 5 Lab Exam #1.
Laboratory #8. March 19 Bread I.
Laboratory #9. March 26 Bread II.
Laboratory #10. April 2 Beverages.
Laboratory #11. April 9 Spices.
Laborartory # 12. April 16 .Competition, Harvest and analysis.
Laboratory #13. April 23 Wood
Laboratory #14. April 30 Lab Exam #2.
Each Laboratory session will begin with a video lasting about 1 hour. The hands on activity will follow the video.

IF YOU NEED SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS DUE TO LEARNING, PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, OR OTHER DISABILITIES, PLEASE CONTACT DR. BUDDY WAGNER IN THE COUNSELING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER. HE MAY BE REACHED BY PHONE AT (601) 925-3354 OR BY MAIL AT P.O. BOX 4063, CLINTON, MS 39058.


THE LAST DAY TO DROP A CLASS IS MONDAY MARCH 31. STUDENTS CANNOT WITHDRAW AFTER MARCH 31 UNLESS ALL OF THE THREE FOLLOWING CRITERIA ARE MET:
  EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES (CLEARLY OUTSIDE THE STUDENT'S CONTROL).

PASSING THE COURSE AT THE TIME OF THE WITHDRAWAL

DOES NOT HAVE EXCESSIVE ABSENCES AT THE TIME OF THE WITHDRAWAL


Rationale for Course:
Plants play central roles in the lives of all peoples in all human cultures. Many economic opportunities in American culture involve plants as either clothing, food, building materials, ornamentals, sources of drugs, furniture, perfumes, sources of oils and waxes as well as uses of plants  in emerging biotechnology industries.

A greater understanding of the uses of plants in human cultures other than our own will provide the basis for cultural enrichment, enhancing students capacity for service to the global community via missionary work in cultures other than our own.

A greater understanding of the uses of plants in our culture promotes social and physical development among students through a better understanding of the relationship of plants and American society as well as a better understanding of the nature of the plants used as food.

A greater understanding of plants and human culture provides an enhanced ability to recognize economic opportunities, and compete for employment in areas associated with plants in American culture, from agriculture to food processing to medicine to biotechnology, enhancing the ability of students to utilize their skills, talents and abilities as they pursue meaningful careers, life-long learning, and service to God and others.


Specific Learning Objectives:
 

Students will learn the basic morphological and anatomical structures via direct observation and analysis of living and preserved plant material.


Teaching Methodology:

Laboratory sessions will be direct, hands-on analyses of plants used in human cultures.
Evaluation:  Grading Scale:

    90-100% A
    80-89% B
    70-79% C
    60-69% D
    <60% F

Students will be given group assignments each week (10 points) based on material presented the laboratory session. Also, a daily grade (5 points) will be given for attendance and participation in each laboratory session. Two laboratory examinations worth 50 points will be given at the 5th and the last laboratory session. The percentage of the sum of the total of the daily grades and the final; laboratory examination score will be compared with the preceding grading scale to determine the letter grade for the course assuming the student doesn’t have excessive absences.

Attendance:

Strict adherence to Mississippi College's class attendance policy will be followed. "Any student whose absences, whether excused or unexcused, exceed 25% of the class will receive an "F" in the course." This means that if you miss more than 10 classes, you get an F. See page 50 in The 2002-2003 Mississippi College Undergraduate Bulletin.

Academic Integrity:

See pages 53 of  The 2002-2003 Mississippi College Undergraduate Bulletin for what the university considers to be academically dishonest, the student's responsibility, and the consequences for academic dishonesty.