MICROBIOLOGY 102 SYLLABUS FOR 2000

INTRODUCTION

This material was prepared using Microsoft Front Page 2000. View this material with IE 4.0 for the best results, although the latest update of Netscape Navigator should work almost as well. Please let me know if you are having problems viewing the material.

This page must be assumed to be a "WORK IN PROGRESS". As such it will change from time to time. I will note last date this page was worked on and all significant changes below. You may contact me by E-mail at any time. All constructive suggestions are appreciated. The content of this page is designed to serve Extended Degree Programs students taking the lecture component only, Micro 102, as a Distant Learning Course through the WSU Extended Degree Program. This can include ON-CAMPUS students also.

REVISED: 01/17/00

ANNOUNCEMENTS
  1. 1/12/00: As I am not longer teaching the on-campus version of this course, the syllabus is entirely directed to the distant learning students. It is important to remember that all DLS must finish this course by May.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Micro 102 for Distant Learning Students
  2. Course Materials
  3. Grading System
  4. Study Aids
  5. About the Exams
  6. Behavioral Policies
  7. Lecture Schedule

HOW TO USE THIS SYLLABUS

This syllabus explains how the course operates for two classes of students:

new-spinning.gif (12646 bytes)Information specifically for ON-CAMPUS students taking Micro 102/Micro 105 will be colored GREEN and will be designated by the letters OCS.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DLS

EDP: Since Micro 102 will be taught almost exclusively over the Internet DLSs taking the course must have access to the following:

new-spinning.gif (12646 bytes)REQUIREMENTS FOR THE OCS 102 STUDENTS

The OCS must have access to the internet as described above. There are numerous computer laboratories on campus where computers are available. Most of these require that a use-card be purchased or a fee be paid.

COURSE MATERIALS

  1. MICRO 102 INTERNET TEXT: A Micro 102 TEXT (hereafter referred to as "NetText 102") is on the WWW at: http://www.slic2.wsu.edu:82/hurlbert/micro101/pages/101hmpg.html 
  1. OPTIONAL-TEXTS: Fundamentals of Microbiology. 5th Edition, by I. E. Alcamo.

COURSE DESIGN:

Micro 102 was originally designed to be an ANYTIME/ANYWHERE COURSE (asynchronous). However, due to my retirement DLS who sign up after June1 of 1999 must agree to finish by May 1, 2000:

  1. The examining process currently operates through the WSU Extended Degree Program.
  2. I will make a good faith attempt to give exams as requested by the student. However, I must have two weeks warning. 
    • Example 1: A DLS informs me and EDP two weeks after entering the course at the beginning of the semester that they are ready to take the first exam. EDP will forward their proctor an appropriate exam.
    • Example 2: A DLS informs me after 4weeks that they are ready to take the first and second exams together. EDP will forward their proctor the appropriate exams.
    • Example 3: A DLS informs me a week after signing up to take the course they are ready to take all 4 exams. EDP will forward their proctor the appropriate exams.
    • In each case, if the student wants to take an exam over a vacation etc., they will be sent the exam as normal, but the grading may be delayed until I return. 
    EXAM NUMBER CHAPTERS COVERED
    1 Prologue, 1-7
    2 8-11
    3 12-16
    4 17-20
  3. The exam coverage is as follows:

     

HOW TO ARRANGE FOR A 102 EXAM AND FOR A PROCTOR

ARRANGING FOR A PROCTORED EXAM

Visit this site: http://www.eus.wsu.edu/edp/resources/exams.htm and follow the instructions

ARRANGING TO TAKE AN EXAM

At least two weeks prior to the proposed exam date, request an exam by sending an e-mail to EDP@wsu.edu, with a cc: to Hurlbert@wsu.edu, giving the following information:

The exam will be sent by US mail directly to your proctor at his or her place of business, and an e-mail notification will be sent to you. The proctor will send the exam directly back to EDP in a postage-paid envelope. (You will be expected to pay proctors’ postage costs when proctors must return exams by foreign or express mail.)

Questions? E-mail EDP@wsu.edu, or call 1-800-222-4978, or 1-800-422-4978, extension 4. (Fax 509-335-4850)

GRADING SYSTEM:

Grades are based on a possible total of 400 points. The following scale is used to determine your grade:

GRADES

PERCENTAGE

A

90-100

B+/A-

86.6-88.2/88.4-89.8

B

80-86.4

C+/B-

76.6-78.2/78.4-79.8

C

70-76.4

D+/C-

66.6-68.2/68.4-69.8

D

50.2-66.4

F

50 or <

NOTE: Anyone with a D or F average after the second exam should consider DROPPING THE COURSE unless they are prepared to do a lot of extra credit work.

GRADING STYLE:

I DO NOT GRADE ON THE CURVE.

Generally your grade will be determined from the above scale. However, there is some flexibility in the system. The percentage of "A's" pre-Internet has been between 21 to 26%, although it increased to >40% in the Springs of 1996 & '97 when I began using the NetText 102 and allowing more extra credit.

1. If you do poorly on the first exam and then obtain >90% on ALL the remaining exams (this only applies to the FIRST EXAM PERFORMANCE) and well in the lab (e.g. 98%), your grade may be raised to the next level above your numerical score (but NOT to an A). HINT: I have observed that the score most people get on the first exam is a strong indication of how they will do on subsequent exams.

2. An A grade will be given ONLY if the percentage is 90% or greater; i.e., NO ONE'S grade will be raised to an A for any reason. 89.5% to 89.9% is rounded off to 90% = A.

3. In close-call situations I will ask your TA to rank your lab participation and attitude and reward you accordingly.

EARNING EXTRA CREDIT POINTS

NOTE: ALL EXTRA CREDIT MATERIALS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED BEFORE THE FINAL EXAM IS TAKEN. NO EXTRA CREDIT POINTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER EDP HAS RECEIVED THE FINAL EXAM

There are numerous ways to obtain EXTRA POINTS in this course. A total of 60 extra points for DLS: 60 points can be added to your exam total. That is, a person can obtain 460 total points, BUT their grade will still be calculated on the 400 point maximum. These include the following:

TIME LIMITATIONS FOR EXTRA CREDIT (FOR MICRO 102 ON-CAMPUS STUDENTS ONLY)
I will accept visits to the commercial and sewage treatment facilities through finals week. All other extra credit activities must be submitted by the Friday before close week.

1. TOURS OF COMMERCIAL FACILITIES THAT UTILIZE THE ACTIVITIES OF MICROBES.

A. A local sewage treatment plant after the third exam: 10 points.

B. An approved commercial operation, anytime: 10 points.

2. Read one or more of the books on the list below. You are required to give me an oral report (DLS will be interviewed over the phone using the 800 number provided by the EDP) on a book. I will ask you to describe the general content of the book, to answer some general questions about how the material in a book relates to the information you should have learned in the class and we will discuss its significance. You may bring notes. If you fail to answer the questions adequately you have two choices: (1) to reread the book and to give another oral report, but for a maximum points or (2) take the points I think your interview is worth.

Note that some books should be read prior to taking certain exams, but that is not required: 15 points maximum for most books (some books will be worth fewer or more points, as indicated). Three books or 45 pts maximum.

No more than 60 extra credit points total will be given per student. That is, a student can earn 55 points by doing a self-testing exam plus visits to a sewage and appropriate commercial plants, but they can't visit the sewage plant 5 times (yuck! sick!), the cheese plant 10 times (yum yum) or write 200 exam questions.

If I find that any of the above Extra Point opportunities are being misused I will remove them from the list at any time and to take away points obtained by cheating in any way.

LECTURE: 400 points

1. Four 100 point 50 minute lecture exams will be given, each consisting of 50 questions worth 2 points apiece. The questions will be taken from the LECTURE /INTERNET MATERIAL.

2. Each exam will cover only material given SINCE THE PREVIOUS EXAM. However, INFORMATION from previous lectures may be required to answer questions on later exams.

3. The "Final" exam will NOT BE COMPREHENSIVE as it will only cover the material after the third exam.

4. All the exams will be of the "multiple choice format". 

FAQ: "What can I do if I think that the instructor has asked obtuse, unfair or poorly worded question that cost me points?"

ANSWER: I recognize that poor questions occasionally slip into an exam, so if you feel that you've lost points because of a "poor" question, please come in and talk to me or E-mail me about it. You must present a reasoned, civil argument to justify your position. Students get their points a significant percentage of the time.

ANYONE RECEIVING A "C-" OR LESS ON THE FIRST EXAM, AND WHO WANTS TO DO BETTER, SHOULD DISCUSS THEIR PERFORMANCE WITH ME, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT IT IS HARD TO RECOVER WITHOUT SOME HELP. THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS WHO SEEK HELP IMPROVE THEIR SCORES. ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT THE "STUDY ADVICE".

LEARNING/STUDY AIDS:

The following study aids are available to help the students of Microbiology 101:

  1. colorball.gif (1653 bytes) SELF TESTS are available for each chapter. I suggest that you study the material and then take these exams at least 48 hours before the actual exam so that you can concentrate on areas you are weak in.
  2. Exams from each section of the previous semester is posted on the Internet at the GRADES site.
  3. I am available to answer reasonable questions about the material via E-mail or phone call. I will try to answer your E-mail questions within 24 hr.

ABOUT THE EXAMS

FAQ: "How do you choose your questions for the exams?"

ANSWER: I set my NetText 102 notes beside me and prepare the majority of the questions based on that material. I record the site (page) in the notes from which the questions was taken on the exam at the end of each question. For example, if I ask a question about "Pasteur" the answer sheet will show (1/3 =Chap. 1, pg. 3), which = Chapter 1, page number on the published notes from which the question was taken. If it is material taken from something I told you in the lecture, but that isn't in the NetText 101/102, I note it by the date of the lecture and the subject (e.g. 1/24, evolution).

FAQ: "What logic do you use to construct questions?"

ANSWER: I write my questions in a VERY EXACTING WAY such that it is important that the student carefully reads and assesses the significance of EVERY WORD in a question. That is, a single word in a question/answer usually determines the correct response. I try to make every word significant or important in both the question and in the answer. A particular question may have two choices that appear to be correct, but the student should always choose the BEST of the two choices. It is usually the most inclusive answer. I use Boolean logic in framing my answers; either a choice is completely correct or, if any part is not correct, the entire answer is wrong. Don't read anything into my questions or choices of answers.

FREQUENT STUDENT COMPLAINTS ABOUT EXAMS:

  1. "The instructor's exams are unfair and he tries to TRICK us": This is a matter of perception. I can only state that I do not begin the process of constructing an exam with anything else in mind other than trying to prepare a test that rewards knowledge, creative thinking and problem-solving skills. I do admit to asking a number of challenging questions.
    I also include a     CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS in every exam that are designed to make the student consider a number of pieces of information presented to them in the class (lab/lecture). These questions are complex and designed to test the problem solving ability of students by requiring them to synthesize an answer from a variety of facts. Further, they are designed to represent "real-life-situations" (which, I readily admit are often "tricky"; like personal relationships) and may require data interpretation, figuring out the organization of related events, demonstrating understanding of an important principle or the application of scientific reasoning; if they appear "tricky" it is because real life is very murky & messy.
  2. "The instructor asks questions over material not covered in the class": See above for a description of how I write the exams.
  3. "The instructor asks questions over material he did not emphasize": In general I try to craft questions that cover the important principles, facts and terminology required to grasp Microbiology. Just because I don't make something COLORED, CAPS and/or BOLD doesn't meant that it won't be on the exam.

Copyright © Dr. R. E. Hurlbert, 1999.
This material may be used for educational purposes only and may not be duplicated for commercial purposes.
FAX: 509-335-1907
E-mail address: hurlbert@pullman.com 

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