Instructor: Peter Bice
Phone: 972-548-0684
(long-distance outside Allen and
E-mail: pbice@ccccd.edu
Office Hours: Lab Prep area, as needed before and after class
Note: The door to the laboratory is kept locked. It is not kept open during class, except at break times. Failure to arrive on time means a missed lab quiz.. Please do NOT ask to make up lab quizzes if you arrive late, and please do not knock on the lab door if you arrive late. You will be admitted to the lab when I can get to the door.
The laboratory component of General Biology I
is the “hands-on” portion of the course.
But do not be misled…We will not always be playing with test tubes and
chemicals; in the science labs, “gophers” do much of the grunt work. The job of the scientists is to develop
hypotheses, design the methods for testing the hypotheses, and then interpret
the results in both qualitative and quantitative fashion. The lead scientist is the brain of the
outfit. Researchers often do far more
reading and writing than they do manipulating equipment. Analytical thinking is the real key to the
researcher’s art. While you will be
playing the role of the research assistant as well, learning to properly use
measuring devices, chemical reagents, and the microscope, the real work you
will do involves the tasks of the lead researcher, particularly when it comes
to understanding how and why equipment and chemicals are used when they are,
and interpreting results of experiments.
The laboratory component counts 25% of your total General Biology I grade. Your job is to accumulate points via lab quizzes, lab reports, and two practical exams. At the end of the term, your lab grade is computed by adding the total number of points, then dividing by the total number of points possible during the term.
Lab quizzes – Weekly (except on Practical Exam days) 10 to 15 points each, given orally or in writing following the attendance check or at the end of the lab period.
Lab Reports—As directed in your laboratory manual and by the instructor; point values vary
Practical Exams -- Mid-term and Final, covering anything and everything done during the laboratory sessions. Point values will be from 50 to 75 points for each exam.
At this time, I make no promises concerning dropping any lab quiz grades or “curving” any grades. As stated above , your job is to accumulate points….by doing well on the quizzes, reports, and practicals, as well as prompt and consistent attendance.
MAKE USE OF YOUR TIME. We have 2 or 3 hours allotted for lab class. If we finish early, then plan to stay anyway. You can read from your lab manual or textbook, ask questions about topics in lecture or lab, quiz each other, take more time to study slides, models, etc., study for upcoming lecture tests, write lab reports….whatever will help you learn biology. USE THE TIME.