BIO637 --
Advanced Plant Physiology
Web-Based Version
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Tim Mulkey, Science Building 261, Office (812)237-2418, FAX (812)237-4480, home (812)877-9735
TEXT: None required. All materials are provided via the web.
GRADE DETERMINATION: The course is divided into 15 Units. Each unit represents material presented during a typical week of a traditional, classroom-based course.
| Associated with each unit are 3 Quizlets worth 5 points each. Quizlets are multiple choice and short answer questions designed to test your knowledge and comprehension of the material presented in the current unit. You build upon your knowledge base as you progress through the units of the course. Quizlets will assist you in determining whether you have mastered sufficient knowledge to progress to the next unit. | To see an example of a Quizlet, click the button. |
| Each unit will
present you with a "Critical Thinking" question. These questions
are short, discussion-style questions concerning the topics presented
in the units. You will discuss, analyze, interpret, and apply the
information you gain from a unit to a current issue related to plant
physiology. Each "Critical Thinking" question is worth 10 points.
|
To see an example of a "Critical Thinking" question, click the button. |
| Your responses
to the "Critical Thinking" questions will be posted to an on-line
bulletin board for other members of the class to read. In classes
with large enrollments, students will be assigned to groups of 10-12
students. Each group will have a separate bulletin board to
prevent the number of postings on bulletin boards from becoming
overwhelming. You should read other students' responses to the
"Critical Thinking" questions. You can post comments concerning
other students' responses to the bulletin board. You should
participate in this activity. Your participation will earn you up
to 10 points per unit.
|
|
| Seven times
during the course (every other unit), you will be asked to apply the
knowledge you have gained during the course. You will be provided
with an on-line form. On the form, you will be asked to provide a
citation for an article you have read a scientific journal related to
plant physiology. This "Real World Biology" form will ask for the
citation of the article, an one paragraph abstract of the article, and
a paragraph in which you discuss, analyze and interpret the importance
or effects of the the news item. The "Real World Biology"
abstracts will be posted to a bulletin board so that other members of
the class can read the abstracts and interpretations. You can
make comments concerning other students' abstracts/interpretations by
posting them to the bulletin board. You can also respond to
posting concerning your "Real World Biology" articles/interpretations.
|
To see an example of the "Real World Biology" form, click the button. |
| Four major exams will be given during the course. These exams are not comprehensive in testing your mastery of units covered by previous major exams. But, your knowledge of biology increases from unit to unit. Knowledge mastered in previous units is used in understanding, analyzing, and interpreting new knowledge; thus in one sense, the exams will be comprehensive since they build upon previous knowledge. Each major exam will include multiple choice, true/false, short answer questions. The exams will be taken on-line and will be worth 100 points per exam. |
The various activities will provide you with an opportunity to earn 1065 points during the course. A breakdown of the course activities is shown below. |
| Activity | Frequency of Activity |
Points per Activity |
Total Points per Activity |
| Quizlets | 3 per Unit | 5 per Quizlet | 225 |
| "Critical Thinking" Questions | 1 per Unit | 10 per Question | 150 |
| Discussion/Participation | per Unit | 10 per Unit | 150 |
| "Real World" interpretations | 7 per Course | 20 per Abstract | 140 |
| Exams | 4 per Course | 100 per Exam | 400 |
A total of 1065 points are available. You can check the number of points which you have earned from the Utilities/Help page. The grading scale for the course is shown below.
|
|
Percentage |
Total Points |
Final Grade |
|
90 - 100 |
958 - 1065 |
A |
|
87 - 89 |
926 - 957 |
B+ |
|
80 - 86 |
852 - 925 |
B |
|
77 - 79 |
820 - 851 |
C+ |
|
70 - 76 |
745 - 819 |
C |
|
67 - 69 |
713 - 744 |
D+ |
|
60 - 66 |
639 - 712 |
D |
|
0 - 59 |
0 - 638 |
F |
| Week | Topic | Assignments |
| Week 1 | Cell Structure and Function | 3 Quizlets, 1 "Critical Thinking Question, "Real World Biology" abstract |
| Week 2 | Plant Tissues and Organs | 3 Quizlets, 1 "Critical Thinking Question, |
| Week 3 | Water - The
Fluid of Life
Water Movement |
3 Quizlets, 1 "Critical Thinking Question, "Real World Biology" abstract |
| Week 4 | Minerals -- From Soil to Plants | Exam 1 3 Quizlets, 1 "Critical Thinking Question, |
| Week 5 | Organic Molecules -- The Building Blocks of Life | 3 Quizlets, 1 "Critical Thinking Question, "Real World Biology" abstract |
| Week 6 | Nature of Energy -- Photosynthesis | 3 Quizlets, 1 "Critical Thinking Question, |
| Week 7 | Nature of Energy -- Respiration | 3 Quizlets, 1 "Critical Thinking Question, "Real World Biology" abstract |
| Week 8 | Growth and Development - Messenger Systems and Signaling | 1 "Critical
Thinking Question, "Real World Biology" abstract Exam 2 |
| Week 9 | Growth and Development - Phytohormones | 3 Quizlets 1 "Critical Thinking Question, "Real World Biology" abstract |
| Week 10 | Growth and Development - Phytohormones | 3 Quizlets, 1 "Critical Thinking Question, |
| Week 11 | Growth and Development -- External Regulators | 3 Quizlets, 1 "Critical Thinking Question, "Real World Biology" abstract |
| Week 12 | Environmental Factors Influencing Growth and Development | 3 Quizlets, 1 "Critical Thinking Question, Exam 3 |
| Week 13 | Tissue Culture | 3 Quizlets, 1 "Critical Thinking Question, "Real World Biology" abstract |
| Week 14 | Genetic Engineering | 3 Quizlets, 1 "Critical Thinking Question, |
| Week 15 | Useful Plants in Society and Medicine | 3 Quizlets, 1 "Critical Thinking Question, Exam 4, Course Evaluation |