Course Description:
This 1-credit course clusters with Bio 120: Organismal Biology. It introduces freshman students to Biology at Eastern Connecticut State University and helps integrate course work with student life. The purposes are to help students make the transition to college and prepare them for a successful academic career in biology at ECSU by building a community of learners who work comfortably together in the major. This is a one-credit attempt at these goals; a more substantial (3 cr) effort is planned for Fall 2012.

Expectations and Grading:
Grading in this course will be primarily based upon your performance in meeting the following expectations...

• appear ON TIME to all class meetings listed below, including those on different days and times. This includes the field trip that goes beyond normal class time! You need to clear your schedules for these activities! You will be penalized for being late or missing any class/activity.
• stay in all class meetings, once you are there, for the entire meeting
• read all assignments prior to class and be prepared for the activity(ies)
• hand in all course assignments on time; see on-line syllabus for due dates
• check your ECSU email daily for announcements
• silence all cell phones during class meetings: no texting during meetings
• be courteous to your classmates and all guest speakers
• respect points of view different from your own
• meet with your peer mentor more than once outside of class
• attend at least one meeting of an ECSU club
  Bio Club meets Wednesdays at 3 PM in Science 333
  Pre-Med Club meets Mondays at 6 PM in Student Center 107
  Biochem Club meets Thursdays at 5 PM in Student Center Cafe (Pool Tables)
  (written summary of at least one club meeting is required)

Regular Weekly Friday Meetings are in Science 331 at 1 PM

9/2 Getting to Know Each Other
Assignment: Send Email to gawronk@my.easternct.edu due 9/9

9/9 Downtown Scavenger Hunt (Dress for weather. Bring digital camera, phone w/camera, etc.)
Assignment: Team Finish Scavenger Hunt and Sheet to Ross. Due 9/16 at 1 PM
Assignment: Group Collage or Slideshow of photos to Ross. Due 9/30 at 1PM

9/15 Thursday from 6-8 PM Attend Third Thursday Event, Downtown Willimantic
Assignment: Written summary to Ross

9/16 Classroom Etiquette
Assignment: Post Blog Entry to Kelly Gawron via WordPress (NOT VIA email!):
http://peerkellygawron.wordpress.com/

9/23 Field Trip: New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks, CT
Bring a Box Lunch from Hurley/Home, Return 5 PM or later!
Assignment: Meet with Peer Mentor, Kelly Gawron

9/30 Time Management
Ethology
Time Log
Time Log Table
Amplified Abstract

10/5 Wednesday 3-4 PM Science 104 Dr. John Mandelman: Overfishing, Bicatch, etc.
University Hour and Global Citizenship Assignment: Summary to Ross

10/7 Plagiarism Presentation: Kelly Gawron
Assignment: Meet with Kelly at Pancakes
if you missed John Mandelman's talk, ask Kelly for an alternative campus event that you will attend with her, perhaps a field hockey game!

10/14 Using Excel for the Ethology Project (bring time log, laptop, or USB drive)
Assignment: Written summary of Ethology Project To Ross
DEADLINE: Scavenger Hunt Paper, Scavenger Hunt Photos

10/21 Using eweb: Kelly Gawron
Assignment: Ethology Pie Chart with Caption to Ross
DEADLINE: Air Museum Summary, Shark Talk Summary
Post Blog Entry to Kelly Gawron via WordPress (NOT VIA email!):
http://peerkellygawron.wordpress.com/

10/28 Registration Advising
Assignment: Send email with Advisor Name, Phone, Office to Ross

11/4 Career Planning
Assignment: Visit eastern.experience.com (logon, create account, send profile print/screen to Ross)
Assignment: Visit www.easternct.edu/career/focus (logon, take test, send results print/screen to Ross)

11/9 Wednesday 3-4 PM Johnson Room (Library) Dr. Steve Buchanan. Biological Illustration
University Hour Assignment: Summary to Ross

11/11 Presentations: Results of Ethology Graphs. What did you learn?
Assignment: Learning Management System Module

11/17 Thursday 4-5 PM Student Center 219 New York College of Podiatric Medicine Rep
Assignment: Optional Summary to Ross to replace prior missed events

11/18 Presentations: Results of Ethology Graphs. What did you learn?
Assignment: Learning Management System Module

11/25 (no class: Thanksgiving Vacation)

12/2 Final Meeting/Course Evaluation/etc.
ALL PAPERS DUE ON THIS DATE Late papers unacceptable; score = 0!

12/7 Wednesday 7-8 PM Shafer Hall Auditorium ECSU Band Concert
Assignment: Optional Summary to Ross to replace prior missed events

12/10 Saturday 4:30-? PM Shafer Hall Auditorium ECSU United Voices of Praise Concert
Assignment: Optional Summary to Ross to replace prior missed events

There are no Exams or Final Exam for FYR 174-N,O

Participation Notes
Participation in out-of-class seminars (see bold dates above) and the required Bio Club and/or Premed Club meeting is documented for grading purposes by writing a one-page summary of the presentation/meeting including your observations and comments. This should be neatly computer-printed in 12-point serif font (Times, etc.) with one-inch margins. Use good English, proper sentence structure, and organize in paragraphs. Your summary should be submitted to Ross before the next class period.

Students having difficulty in courses are advised to use the office hours of the instructor, to seek the help of the peer mentor, and to use the tutoring, math, and writing support offered by the Academic Services Center.

If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to contact the Office of AccessAbility Services. Accommodations based upon disability cannot be provided until we receive a letter from the Office of AccessAbility Services.

This page © Ross E. Koning 1994.

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Send comments and bug reports to Ross Koning at rkoning@snet.net.