BIOL 230 Course Information, Dr. G. E. Kaiser

Attendance Policy and Work Outside of the Classroom

Lab

Since lab provides a critical hands-on component to the understanding of Microbiology, attendance in the majority of labs is essential. Twelve of the lab exercises are considered "core labs" and students will be graded on their mastery of lab techniques for each of these labs. In addition, Labs 12 & 13, Lab 14, Lab 15, and the Final Group Project are all case study-based identification of bacterial unknowns. Attendance is essential for these labs. A total of 245 points in lab is based on in-lab participation.

The following 12 lab exercises are considered "core labs" and students will be graded on their mastery of lab techniques for each of these labs.

  1. Introduction to the Microscope and Comparison of Size and Shape of Microorganisms
  2. Aseptic Technique and Transfer of Microorganisms
  3. Isolation of Pure Cultures from Mixed Populations
  4. Enumeration of Microorganisms
  5. Direct Stain and Indirect Stain
  6. Gram Stain and Capsule Stain
  8. Biochemical Testing to Identify Microorganisms
12. Isolation and Identification of Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas: Part 1
13. Isolation and Identification of Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas: Part 2
14. Isolation and Identification of Streptococci
15. Isolation and Identification of Staphylococci
19. Using Chemical Agents to Control Microorganisms

Student performance during each of these 12 core labs is worth 10 points for a total of 120 points. Your instructor will allow you to miss only one core labs and only for a valid and documented reason. If the core lab involves inoculation and incubation, 5 core points will be based on  performance during the inoculation lab and 5 points for the results the following lab period. Unless you are able to attend one of the other lab sections doing the lab you miss the week it is missed, there is no way to make up a missed core lab.

Labs 12, Lab 14, Lab 15, and the Final Group Project are all case study-based identification of bacterial unknowns. Each of these will require you to turn in a detailed lab reports for grading and they will collectively be worth 125 points.

(For summer session only you will turn in the reports for Lab 12 and the Final Group Project: collectively worth 75 points

Lecture

 All lectures contain at least one active learning activity where small groups of students will work to answer critical thinking questions, complete concept maps, or use audience response (clicker) systems. In-class participation is worth a total of 66 points. Furthermore, if a student who has regularly attended lecture and lab is border line for a letter grade (defined as within ONE percentage point of the next higher letter grade), that student will be given the benefit of the doubt and assigned the higher grade. Attendance cards will be passed out at the beginning of each lecture period and collected at the end of class.

Statement of Student Out-of-Class Work Expectations

These expectations are the minimal requirements based on national standards and may not be decreased: in a standard 16 week semester, students are expected to spend 2 hours per week, per credit hour on work outside of class. This is a 4 credit course taught in a 16-week semester, and so you are expected to complete at least (8) hours of work per week outside of the class including reading, class preparation, homework, studying, etc. If this is an online section, an additional 4 hours are required per week. Students: please note that these are minimal requirements for any course, and that many students require more time than this for science courses.