A few questions have come up regarding My Grades in WebCT.

• "Pts to A" tells you how many points you need to get an A in the course.  The statement "Out of -XX" should be ignored (it's a meaningless WebCT calculation that cannot be blocked from your view).   Today, I became aware that the formula in WebCT for this item was giving an inaccurate estimate.  I have just corrected the formula to give a more accurate forecast.
  
  
• "Clicker points" are not the same as "Participation Points."  As explained in the syllabus, at the end of the course up to 50 participation points will be awarded based on the clicker points.  The participation points will not be awarded until after the last class day (for all sections). 
  
  
• The "extra extra" credit points (if you did them) have not yet been added to your grade entries.
  

A few notes regarding our upcoming final exam:

• Details regarding how the exam will be given can be found at http://lionden.com/ap1_exams.htm
  
  
• The final exam will have 50 items, each worth two points.
  
  
• About 20% of the items will be from the midterm exam material, with the remaining items from material after the midterm.
  
  
• There will be an online Practice Final, using the same test bank as the actual final exam.  Students may take the Practice Final up to three times.  Students who are also in the A&P 1 Supplement course may take the Practice Final an additional three times in that course's WebCT shell.
  
  
• If you have enough points for an A (or whatever grade you are shooting for) before taking the final, then you don't have to take the final.  However, I strongly recommend that you take it anyway.
  
  
• There are NO MAKEUP exams. So please plan for contingencies in case an emergency happens during Finals week.  You MAY attend any section for their final exam instead of your own section's exam.
  
  
• I will not be giving out any  "review sheets" or "study guides."  You instead have the Learning Outlines and the Practice Final.
  

I've been getting a number of complaints from students in our course regarding discourteous behavior.

Specifically, some students are disregarding the usual rules of courtesy by:

• Talking to other students during class, when I'm explaining something and/or when other students are asking questions.
  
  
• Texting during class and/or surfing and Facebooking during class.
  
  
• Eating snacks or even meals during class.

The SCC Life Science program has recently added an additional AP II Lab for 10/SP.  It will meet on Wednesdays at 8:00 a.m. taught by Pam DeCiechi. Some of youmay wish to adjust your schedules at the SCC Registrar office if you find this section more suited to your needs.

I just extended the time frame of Test 4 by a few days: it now closes at 2pm on Nov 2

The dates for the last two meetings of the semester for the evening class (section 80) were originally incorrect in the course schedule (they were on Wed instead of Mon).  The schedule has been corrected so that the dates are instead on Monday.  See http://lionden.com/ap_1_schedule.htm

I just posted the scores for the midterm exams.  They should now be visible in My Grades at WebCT. 

The bonus question on the back of the exam is reported separately and is worth up to 2 points.  If no points are reported, then you either did not answer the bonus item, or it was incorrect.

You will get the exam back, with corrections shown, as well as your note sheet (if you used one).  This will occur some time AFTER this week.

EXTRA! EXTRA! This news just in from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences . . .

The 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded jointly to

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge,
United Kingdom

Thomas A. Steitz
Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

Ada E. Yonath
Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
"for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome"

Wow, this morning's announcement for the chemistry prize couldn't have been better timed for us, eh? Not long ago we wrestled with the story of protein synthesis and I think we all slowly realized the critical role of the ribosome's structure in that story.
An understanding of the ribosome's innermost workings is important for a scientific understanding of life. This knowledge can be put to a practical and immediate use; many of today's antibiotics cure various diseases by blocking the function of bacterial ribosomes. Without functional ribosomes, bacteria cannot survive. This is why ribosomes are such an important target for new antibiotics.
This year's Nobel Laureates in Chemistry have all generated 3D models that show how different antibiotics bind to the ribosome. These models are now used by scientists in order to develop new antibiotics, directly assisting the saving of lives and decreasing humanity's suffering.

This gives us an opportunity to show how understanding the "basic science" that are teaching translates (ahem) into applications in "the real world."

And it gives me yet another opportunity for a bonus question on the midterm exam!

Today, I submitted Midterm Course Grades to the SCC Registrar.  These are NOT recorded in your transcript.  Instead, they indicate if you are having problems early in the course so you know in time to fix it.

BIO 240 students:
The midterm grade includes only the grades for Test 1 and Test 2.  I'd hoped to use Test 3 also,   but only half of you have finished it so far.  The midterm grade also includes some (not all) extra credit.  Additional extra credit, plus all participation points, will only be posted at the end of the course . . . so these are not included.  Because we haven't taken it yet, the midterm exam is not included.

BIO 242 students:
The midterm grade includes everything up through Week 6.  If you started in Week 1, then  have allowed you to miss some points in case you did not have your clicker.  Those of you who started late, will have had additional adjustments to your grading.

From the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention):

Those with flu-like illness should stay away from classes and limit interactions with other people (called “self-isolation”), except to seek medical care, for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines. They should stay away from others during this time period even if they are taking antiviral drugs for treatment of the flu. (For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/exclusion.htm.)

I've been getting a lot of inquiries about the fact that in BIO 240 Test 1 is no longer visible in the page that lists all the tests. 

This happens when a test is over and folks have begun claiming their Free Parking passes to extend that test. 

You may still get to your test in at least two ways:

I was recently informed that critical updates and maintenance to WebCT are to occur on Sunday Oct 11, 2009. 


This downtime for WebCT is planned to occur between 6am and noon, and should take an hour only.

Please plan your WebCT activities accordingly.

As you can see from my previous note today (see below), the developers of the new eLab tool at the Evolve webiste are anxious for additional student input as they develop new modules.

Their next module is on cells.  Even though we don't cover cells (much) in lab, they'd like your input as they develop this module.

If you participate, you'll be asked to log into the "test" site and few preliminary versions of the new module on cells.  Then you'll be asked to type in specific comments about what you like, what you don't like, suggestions for improvement, and so on.  So you'll need to be able to stick with it for a few weeks and be able to communicate in clear, brief sentences about your experience with the initial versions. 

The developer is offering a credit for $125 in Elsevier products (medical/nursing texts, dictionaries, etc.) for each student reviewer chosen.

If you are interested, then send me an email at kevin@lionden.com stating your interest.  I'll pass these along to the developer, who will contact successful applicants.

This is a good opportunity to help benefit other students . . . and is a great item to put on your resume when applying for programs, scholarships, grants, and future jobs.

BIO 240 students now have the opportunity for a new survey that gives extra credit (5 pts) for completion of the survey.  It's in the Online Test page under the heading Surveys.

This one is a brief survey of the initial trial module in eLabs (at the Evolve website) on histology.  The developers would like your honest feedback on what's working and what's not working so that they can tweak this module and then move forward with more modules.

You have to have gone through the Histology module at eLabs before you can take the survey.

The survey ends at noon on October 8.  That five points of extra credit is equivalent to 10% of one online test!  Or an extra 5% on your midterm exam!

The Midterm Exam in BIO 240 is creeping up on us.  Our midterm exam will have 50 items, each worth 2 points.  This is an in-class exam that follows the procedure described at http://lionden.com/ap1_exams.htm

Our midterm exam will cover material to the end of our study of skin.  Although we may move on to the skeleton before then, only material up through the skin will be on the exam.

There is an optional midterm practice exam on WebCT.  I strongly urge you to make all three attempts at this practice exam so that you are well prepared for the real thing.

Please refer to the class schedule at http://lionden.com/ap_1_schedule.htm for the date of your section's exam.  You may attend another class's exam if you cannot attend your scheduled exam.  Remember, there are no make-up exams so make sure you attend one of the exams (or try to rack up a lot of extra credit as "absence insurance").

The midterm course grade will NOT include the midterm exam score.

In one of my BIO 240 lectures this week, I misspoke when describing the editing of mRNA in the nucleus.   Although I corrected myself before the end of that class, I do want to ensure that we are all on the same page.

When the mRNA is edited before leaving the nucleus, segments called introns are removed.  This leaves the exons remaining.  These exons are spliced together to form the edited mRNA sequence, which then leaves the nucleus and is later translated into a polypeptide.

One way to remember this:

INtrons remain behind IN the nucleus (and are recycled and their nucleotides are reused)

EXons form the edited transcript, which EXits the nucleus to be translated.

Students in BIO 242 (AP 1 Supplement) now have access to a self-review for histology in the WebCT course under "Resources."

You'll either need PowerPoint 2007 or the PowerPoint viewer to view the self-review presentation.  Google "PowerPoint viewer" to find the free download for the viewer.

When you open it, go to the Slide Show tab at the top and click From Beginning.  Then use the space bar or Enter key to proceed through the presentation.

(This is accessible ONLY to BIO 242 students)

Here's a good site shared by student Becky Clarke for learning the tissues in lab:

http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/~minckley/anatomy/index.html

Recently, I posted a note regarding access to the new eLab modules available from the lab manual publisher. I have just been made aware of a recent change in the Evolve system.
Don't go the URL that gave you earlier (or if you do, skip to step 2 below).

Here's the easiest route to get to where you need to go:
1. Go to evolve.elsevier.com (do NOT link from this email in WebCT; use a NEW browser window)
2. At the top of the page type Patton into the search bar.
3. In the list of 10 books, find Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory Manual and eLabs, 7th editon
4. Under the title, you can click the Register button for Resources or eLabs. For eLabs, you'll need the access code (found in My Grades at WebCT).
Let me know if you have problems!

Elsevier Publishing, which produces your textbook and lab manual, has
recently released a preliminary offering in their new eLab series. 

This resource has just become available at http://evolve.elsevier.com/Patton/AP along with the other resources mentioned in your BIO 240 or BIO 242 syllabus.

The eLab resources require an access code.  If you are in my BIO 240 lecture sections, your eLab registration access code is now available in My Grades in WebCT.  Just scroll down to the item just before your clicker data.

If you are in my BIO 242 but not in my BIO 240 course,  you will receive your eLab access code from your lecture instructor OR by stopping by the science office (ADM 2442) and asking Vicki for an eLab access code.

The eLab modules are meant to help you get ready for your labs . . . a sort of optional "pre-lab."  The only modules available so far cover histology (tissues), which you have probably just begun in your lab section.

These are "beta" modules, so any feedback you can give me will be passed along to the developers to improve this resource.

Due to instructor illness, A&P 1 (BIO 240 01 and BIO 240 02) sessions are cancelled today, Thursday 3 September. 

Recall that SCC classes have a holiday next Monday and Tuesday.

If you have forms for me to fill out or sign, or need individual help of any kind, you are welcome to visit me in my office during regular office hours or other times that I'm on campus and available.

My office is in the office suite at the end of the 2400 hallway, past all the science labs.

Of course, you can also contact me by phone or email, too.

It is not appropriate to use class time (or the time I need to set up or take down materials for class) for individual matters.

The Preliminary Survey, an anonymous survey that gains you some extra credit points, is available in the form of an online test in the test section of WebCT through September 20.

Because WebCT does not automatically post points for a survey, I have to download the list of participants by hand and then upload them to My Grades.  I will do that for the whole group AFTER the September 20 end date.

So right now, you won't have any points to show for it . . . not until after September 20.

On a related note, I do not usually post extra-extra-credit points until after the November 15 deadline.

From the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention):

Those with flu-like illness should stay away from classes and limit interactions with other people (called “self-isolation”), except to seek medical care, for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines. They should stay away from others during this time period even if they are taking antiviral drugs for treatment of the flu. (For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/exclusion.htm.)

Just got off the phone with iClicker after reporting that some of you are getting a "time out" error when trying to register your clicker.

Here's the solution:

1. Use Firefox or Internet Explorer as your browser if possible.  Definitely avoid using the Safari browser.  (you can use campus computers if needed)

2. Go directly to www.iclicker.com/registration  DO NOT use a link from inside WebCT.  Some of you are viewing Lion Den pages from within a frame in WebCT and using a link to iClicker--DO NOT do that.  Instead open a new browser window (or tab) and type in the URL.  Or go to Lion Den directly (not from WebCT) then click the link from Lion Den.

3. If you've already gotten the error on your computer, you'll have to clear your cache and cookies and do it again (but this time not from inside WebCT).  Depending on your browser, you can clear the cache/cookies by using Tools, Options, Privacy, Clear Private Data . . . or simply closing out all browser windows and restarting your browser. 

4.  If none of this works, or you are having a hard time understanding these solutions, then call iClicker support at 1.866.209.5698 from 8-4  Monday-Friday and they will register you by phone.  It only takes a couple of minutes.

In the BIO 240 Learning Outline INTRO TO A&P (the first outline), there is a typo in the section about ecosystems.  It incorrectly states that "biotic" refers to nonliving elements.  Unfortunatly, when I reformatted the page, an "A" was dropped off.  It is ABIOTIC elements that are not alive.  Living elements are "biotic." 

This concept is correctly represented in the Preview that covers this topic.

I'll be correcting the outline within the next 24 hours.

Two items of note for those in the BIO 242 course:

1. The clicker points were blocked from your view for the last several days and this morning I released them.  So you should be seeing them now.  Go to My Grades in WebCT and scroll all the way to the bottom.

2. The Flash Card assignment is being moved to Week 4 (not Week 3).

Don't forget to keep up with your online Check-ins.  We are now working on the Week 3 Check in.

A couple of notes re: printing out your outlines . . .

The ACE Center is (for good reason) very picky about printing out large numbers of pages at one time.  When using the ACE Center printers, please follow these guidelines:

I just became aware that WebCT is not allowing you to download podcasts fo the Preview presentations to your computer or a portable device.  You can, however, listen to them on WebCT.

Because I know that some of you want to download the podcasts, I've provided another while our expert WebCT team figures out a more convenient solution.

When you go to the Previews listing in WebCT, follow the directions in instruction #5, which explains how to access a drop site where I'm placing the podcast files for download.  Only the first set are there now.  I'll be posting others as soon as I get them updated.