Peg Johnson Spring, 2004
Dr. Peg Johnson Office: Room 189, Life Science office
area, south end of nursing building
Office Hours: Tues/Thurs
2:30 - 3:30 P.M., Wed. 1-2 P.M.; contact via email other times for appointment
Email: johnson@mail.mc.maricopa.edu
Phone: (480)
461-7111 [recorder on 24 hours a day]
Homepage:
http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/~johnson
WEB RESOURCES
Web Resources accessible from instructor's homepage include:
A. Practice exams with answers
B. Tutorials and chapter questions from the textbook publisher
C. Reflections on Bio 205 from prior students
D. Extensive collection of photographs of microorganisms, biochemical tests, equipment etc. that you will see in lab, as well as practice practical exam questions. To get to this password-protected site, follow the directions in your lab manual.
Biology 181 or equivalent or permission of instructor. One semester of college level chemistry is also recommended but not required. The pass rate for students who enroll in BIO 205 without the proper biology prerequisite is abysmal. If you are in this situation and choose to ignore this information, it is at your own risk as it is unlikely you will pass the course.
You must be registered simultaneously for BIO 205 laboratory and lecture sections and be in the correct section numbers as indicated in the MCC Class Schedule (lecture section 2720, lab section 2721 or 2722).
If you register incorrectly (i.e. not in compliance with the instructions in the MCC Class Schedule), you must drop and add in order to be in compliance. If you cannot arrange your schedule to accommodate this, drop the course and register for it in another semester or at another institution. Failure to follow this requirement will result in loss of credit for this course.
MIC 220, not BIO 205, is the introductory Microbiology course designated by ASU and NAU as appropriate for biology and microbiology majors. MIC 220 requires a prerequisite or corequisite of Organic Chemistry.
If you have any doubt as to whether Bio 205 will work for your degree, check with the department of your major at the school to which you intend to transfer. Regulations change frequently; this procedure assures you have the most-up-to-date information.
OBJECTIVES
BIO 205, Microbiology, is an introductory microbiology course. Course objectives include, but are not limited to developing and demonstrating an understanding of the following:
In this age of molecular biology, the impact of microbes is becoming ever more apparent. This course should expand your horizons, enabling you to better understand the potential benefits and challenges microorganisms offer human beings. For students headed for allied health careers, the lack of understanding and application of generally accepted microbiological principles may well result in the death of a patient.
You need not only know about microbiology. You also need to know how to learn. Much of the information you learn in school will become obsolete in a few years. Thus, if you have not learned how to learn, your education has been faulty. You will also need to be able to access information in a technological society and utilize it. This course will provide you with opportunities to become a lifelong learner.
Employers frequently complain that college graduates lack communication skills. They have difficulty expresssing their ideas coherently in both the spoken and written word. Thus, you will have opportunities to develop your communication skills. These skills are important in your future careers in working with co-workers as well as patients.
A variety of teaching methods will be employed in this course. No one approach is best for all learning styles; thus, I have incorporated various approaches to expand your knowledge and skill base.
I encourage you to view me as a resource. I am a "guide on the side" - not a "sage on the stage". I would like to facilitate your learning rather than impress you with the knowledge I have acquired. Feel free to speak up in class with any ideas or suggestions you wish to share, or visit me in my office.
As with most of life, you will get out of this course what you put into it. Read before coming to class. Re-read after class. Review your notes frequently. Ask questions. Get feedback. Don't wait to get help if you have questions.
You are expected to read and comprehend your textbook and laboratory manual before coming to class. For some chapters, online quizzes must be completed at home on assigned readings before lecture class (see specific dates on lecture schedule.) Online quizzes may also be required before laboratory classes. Online quizzes can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection, e.g. from home, at a public library, at the MCC Library/High-Tech Center, or in the computer lab in the Life Science office area (southwest corner of the nursing building).
Some assignments are done individually; others involve contributing your share to group work. One group assignment will involve a class presentation on a particular disease. Part of your grade on this project will come from an evaluation by your group members of your contribution to the project. Examinations will include questions on student presentations as well as presenations by any guest speakers.
Visual images may be supplied in class by transparencies, films, laserdisc player, LCD projector, and/or 35 mm. slides. Students are permitted to make audio tapes of class if they so desire. You are required to use the microscope extensively in the laboratory portion of the course.
In addition to questions requiring rote memory, exams and/or quizzes may include questions that require comprehension, analysis, synthesis and/or application of concepts addressed in Bio 205.
Disruptive behavior in class will not be tolerated. Inappropriate behavior will lead to student disciplinary action. Examples of inappropriate behavior include misbehaving or disrupting class, or activating either the emergency shower or eyewash system in the laboratory in a non-emergency situation. Activation of the emergency shower or eyewash is considered vandalism and subject to the student code of conduct.
We humans are social beings. We rely on one another and often can only successfully accomplish a task as a member of a group. Your fellow students are an important resource for you and you will be expected to hone the skills needed to work as a part of a team.
Purchase at the Mesa Community College bookstore or The Textbook Company at 1840 W. Southern Avenue. Ave.
Optional Purchases:
LEARNING AIDS
Computer assisted instruction is available in the Library/High-Tech Center for transcription and translation and other selected topics. On a PC machine (e.g. Compaq) click on the "Start" button in lower left corner of the screen. Select "Programs", then "Classes", then "Biology". A menu will appear with many choices on it, including the following:
1. DNA: The Molecule of Life (CD-ROM)Programs that are not CD's can be accessed simply by clicking on the name of the program. Software on CD-ROMs is available from the staff at the Circulation Desk from staff who can provide instructions for loading it. The Chemistry of Life CD may be checked out of the library for up to two days at a time, but the other CD's must not be taken out of the High-Tech Library.
2. Microbes in Motion (CD-ROM)
You may access the instructor's homepage and the resources available there on the computers in the Library/High-Tech Center. You can also bring in a copy of the MicroVision CD-ROM for viewing.
Some videos may be shown in class. In addition, the Library/High-Tech Center houses several videos that are useful resources. These are available at the Circulation and Reserve desk in the library under "Biology Department Holdings". They include "Translating the Code: Protein Synthesis" and "Genetic Engineering: Prospects of the Future".
Depending on the availability of qualified employees and funding, tutors may be available free of charge in the Library/High-Tech Center, phone (480) 461-7492. Appointments are necessary for this service.
In accordance with college policy, if you have a documented disability and require accommodations to obtain equal access in this course, please contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester or when given an assignment for which an accommodation is required. Students with disabilities must verify their eligibility through the MCC Special Services department (480-461-7447) east of the Student Center. The Special Services department can provide assistance to students with special needs such as physical disabilities, learning disabilities, minority students, foreign students, students in developmental studies and older students. Call 480-461-7447 for further information. Their website is http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/disability
Learning in this class is an active, ongoing process. Information will be presented in class that can not be effectively communicated by reading another student's notes. You need to experience each class yourself. Your performance in class depends a great deal on your attendance. It is important that you are on time, have few or no absences, and remain in class the full period. In Dr. Olney's book Where There's a Will, There's an A, he concluded that for each class missed, your overall course grade may drop 3 to 5 percentage points. He also states that the first and last minutes of each class are the two most important periods of the teaching hour. Dr. Olney's book is available on videocassette at the MCC Library (LB 2395 W5 1988b).
Sometimes in-class quizzes or other graded activities occur. These may be individual or in groups, as determined by the instructor. If you miss a class in which one of these take place, you have a zero for that quiz/activity.
Attendance is taken at the beginning of class. If you are late, it is your responsibility to inform your instructor that you were present.
If a student wishes to withdraw from the course, it is his or her responsibility to inform the instructor. Appropriate withdrawal deadlines are listed on the lecture schedule. When a student accumulates unofficial absences in excess of two lectures or two labs, the instructor may, but is not obligated to file a withdrawal.
If you withdraw from Bio 205, your grade is recorded as either" Withdraw Passing" or "Withdraw Failing". I respect your status as an adult. Thus, you are responsible for the consequences of your choices. If you wish to withdraw from Bio 205, I expect you to communicate as soon as you have arrived at this decision. In this case, it is possible that you will be earn a "Withdraw Passing" grade. However, if you simply quit coming to class, you will continue to accumulate zeros as grades on all assignments, quizzes, and exams that you miss. This makes it likely that the grade you earn will be either an "F" or "Withdraw Failing". A "Withdraw Failing" grade is calculated as an "F" for GPA purposes.
You may make up a lab that you miss by attending another lab section that is performing the same lab activities. This privilege is accorded as long as the instructor determines that there is sufficient room available in the laboratory for you to work without seriously inconveniencing the other students. However, other instructors do not give the same lab quizzes as your instructor. If you happen to miss a lab class in which a quiz is given, you will earn a zero for that particular quiz.
If you miss a lab class, safety and procedural issues come into play. It is the responsibility of the student to remind the instructor when they return that he or she has missed a lab. This will ensure that any safety procedures or equipment directions that may have been missed can be reviewed with the student.
In the course of the Microbiology laboratory exercises, you will be exposed to microorganisms that are capable of causing disease under the proper circumstances. If you follow directions and utilize the proper microbiological techniques that you are taught, you reduce your risk. However, if you are an immunocompromised individual (undergoing chemotherapy, taking corticosteroids, are pregnant, have leukemia, are HIV positive, etc.) your risk is greater than that of an average healthy adult. If you have ANY reason to suspect that your immune system is not functioning at the normal adult level of immunity, consult your physician for advice as to whether or not you should take Microbiology at this time. If you suspect that your immune system is not functioning at the normal adult level, but after consultation with a physician decide to remain enrolled in Microbiology, inform your instructor of your unusual status.
Before staining procedures are tackled in the laboratory exercises, all students will be required to earn a perfect score on the safety quiz administered by the instructor. A student may repeat the quiz until a perfect score is earned, provided mastery is accomplished prior to the first staining laboratory. Failure to master all the safety questions will necessitate withdrawal from the course in the interest of safety for all persons working in the laboratory. A lab coat or smock and protective eyewear are required and must be purchased, brought to each class, and worn whenever students are working with live microbes in the laboratory, beginning with the third laboratory meeting. Wearing closed-toed shoes (rather than sandals etc.) is mandatory in laboratory class.
Any inappropriate behavior will lead to student disciplinary action and/or be considered vandalism that is subject to the student code of conduct (see student handbook). This includes activating the safety showers in the laboratory in non-emergency situations or changing the setup on the computers or otherwise tampering with equipment in an inappropriate manner. Student access to lab prep areas is prohibited unless specifically authorized by an instructor. Telephones located in classrooms and laboratories are for medical/safety emergencies only. NO personal calls are permitted. Food and drink are NOT permitted in the classrooms or laboratories.
Some lecture activities and most lab work will require working in groups. Cooperation and teamwork will be important in successfully completing these tasks. However, unless otherwise directed by your instructor, exams and quizzes are to be an individual effort. Academic honesty (cheating) will not be tolerated. A student found to be cheating on a quiz or exam will receive a 0 for that activity and may be sent to the Department Chairperson and/or Dean. Cheating may result in withdrawal from the course. It is the responsitibility of the student to be sure he/she does not engage in any activity which involves even the appearance of cheating.
Visitors, including children of students, are not allowed in lecture or laboratory classes. The district carries insurance on students enrolled in classes while they are in session, but this does not cover visitors. Therefore, only currently enrolled students are permitted in the classroom while class is in progress.
Your course grade will be determined 70% by lecture and 30% by lab as shown below:
| Three Lecture Exams | 300 points (100 points each exam) |
| Lecture Final Exam | 140 points |
| Online Quizzes on Lecture Assignments | 140 points |
| Group Presentation | 120 points |
| Lab Practical | 80 points |
| Lab Final Exam | 80 points |
| Lab Quizzes | 70 points |
| Gram stain unknown | 10 points |
| Gram negative rod unknown | 20 points |
| Urinary unknown | 30 points |
| Paper unknown | 10 points |
| Total Points Available | 1000 points |
| 900 to 1000 points | course grade A |
| 800 to 899 points | course grade B |
| 700 to 799 points | course grade C |
| 600 to 699 points | course grade D |
| below 600 points | course grade F |
The majority of your grade is determined by your scores as delineated above. However, the instructor reserves the right to incorporate a subjective evaluation if the situation warrants it. Students are expected to come to lab having properly prepared for the day's activity by reading the exercise BEFORE lab begins. Failure to complete this preparation may result in a lowering of the lab grade, as determined by the instructor. It is not fair to spend precious class time bringing the unprepared student up to the level of understanding that other students have as a result of adequate preparation. In the laboratory setting, the lack of preparation can result in unncessary health risks to both you and your classmates.
Microbiology is one of the most expensive classes we offer at MCC in terms of equipment and supplies. We value the taxpayer and student investment in our resources. Thus, instructions for equipment and supply usage must be carefully followed. Equipment that has been used must be properly cleaned and returned to the location in which it belongs. Students are expected to leave their work station so that succeeding students have a clean, safe place in which to work. Failure to abide by this policy will result in a lowering of the grade or withdrawal from the course, as determined by the instructor.
Most lecture quizzes are online. They can be accessed via any computer with an internet connection. You may take the quiz as many as three times prior to the deadline. You will have fifteen minutes in which to complete the quiz each time you open it. Once you have taken the quiz, it will not be available to your for another thirty minutes. The highest score you earn will be recorded in the gradebook (accessible through the gradebook icon on course homepage). Quiz deadlines and dates of availability are listed on the lecture schedule. Deadlines are usually 10:30 A.M. on the day class meets. Technology can fail. If you choose to wait to the last minute to take the quiz, you incur the consequences.
To access the quizzes, you must have an MCC email account. Directions for this account will be provided. If you need assistance settupup your account or accessing the quiz, you may ask your classmates or the instructor for help. Additionally, some lecture quizzes or assignments may be given in class. These may be individual or group activities as directed by the instructor. If you are not in class, you will receive a “0” for that quiz. No make-up quizzes are given.
You will be a member of a group that makes a presentation to class on one of the diseases indicated by your instructor on an assigned date. (Further information is provided on details of this presentation.) This assignment gives you the opportunity to improve your ability to work as part of a team, develop your written/oral commuinication abilities, and utilize time-management skills. Surveys of employers indicate these attributes are highly valued in employees. As with most of life, these skills get better with practice!
You are encouraged to use your creativity in developing an interesting, comprehensive presentation. The use of powerpoint presentations, skits, and/or posters are but a few of the ways information can be presented to the class.
At least one week prior to the class presentation, you and your group must meet with your instructor (make an appointment with her) to discuss a detailed plan of you will present. Bring a one-page (minimum) description of the major points of your group presentation, including five questions you would include on an exam about this disease. She will make copies for you to give as a handout the day of your presentation. This meeting provides a chance for feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of your presentation while you still have time to make adjustments, if necessary. Be sure to test your presentation on classroom equipment (computer/projector) at least one class meeting prior to your presentation.
Your grade will be partly determined by the group grade and partly by the group's assessment of your contribution to developing the presentation.
Three exams plus a comprehensive final will be given in lecture. If you absolutely must miss an exam, contact your instructor PRIOR to the time the exam is being given. Portions of the final may be more heavily weighted under special circumstances, at the discretion of the instructor. No one will receive a passing grade for lecture if two or more exams are missed.
This is a comprehensive exam, which means it covers material from the entire course. It is administered at the time listed in the MCC Schedule of Classes and in the Lecture Schedule for this class.
Laboratory time is limited. Thus it is essential that you be to class on time. To complete the tasks at hand, it is important that you are familiar with that day's lab before coming to class.Lab quizzes will given either online (must be completed before lab begins) or in class, as determined by the instructor. If you are not in your seat when a quiz is passed out in class, you may receive a "0". No make-up quizzes are allowed.
When the lab involves a staining procedure, it is extremely helpful if you write the staining procedure on a piece of paper in a stepwise fashion, including the dyes to be used, timing of each step, etc. A large index card (e.g. 5" x 7") is ideal for this purpose. If there is an in-class quiz, the instructor may let you use these cards as a resource, but she will not let you use your lab manual. When the lab involves a biochemical test (e.g. IMViC, carbohydrate fermentation, nitrate, oxidase, KIA, gelatin), you will appreciate having the following items written on a piece of paper:
A large index card (e.g. 5" x 7") is ideal for this purpose. Colored illustrations of positive/negative results are helpful. (Some students like to print the photographs from the MicroVision CD-ROM or internet site on their cards/papers.) If there is an in-class quiz, the instructor may let you use these cards as a resource, but she will not let you use your lab manual. These are great resources for studying for the practical and final exam!
The lab practical is administered on the date indicated on your lab schedule. It covers all the material assigned prior to that date. It incorporates microscope slides, photomicrographs, and/or laboratory equipment. In preparing for the practical exam, students may review slides several ways:
a. via the internet at a password protected site accessed via Peg Johnson's homepage - (see Web Resources at the beginning of this document)
b. by using the MicroVision CD-ROM available for purchase at the MCC bookstore or The Textbook Company.
The laboratory final exam is comprehensive. It may incorporate microscope slides, photomicrographs, and/or laboratory equipment.
You will be given a bacterial culture to stain and identify as to Gram reaction and morphology (shape).
You will be given a bacterial culture to identify as to genus and species.
You will be given a bacterial culture containing a Gram-negative rod and a Gram-positive coccus. Your task is to identify both organisms as to genus and species. This will involve designing an appropriate flow chart to deduce the Gram-positive coccus.
You will be assigned the number of an unknown bacterium and asked to develop a flow chart to identify this organism. Upon submitting your flow chart to your instructor, you will receive a list of the reactions your unknown organism produces on various biochemical tests. Based on this information you will identify the bacterium. Late assignments will incur a 10% per day penalty.
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