Biology 233 (course content, outlines)
Biology 234
Instructor Dr. Ed Krol, Biology Chairman
e-mail:texased@mediaone.net
more info about Dr. E. Krol
1. Teaching style
Lectures - Lectures start and finish on time. They involve explanations to clarify topics/areas that students have found difficult. They DO NOT cover exactly what is on the exams.
Demonstrations - Demonstrations are few. Instead, the use of computer videos and laser disks with overhead transparencies are used as needed.
Discussions - Portions of various lectures will involve student answers. Individuals are not called on, but rather the class is asked for answers or statements that cover the material of that lecture. Class participation is encouraged.
Hands on - Hands-on is difficult because each session has 56 students.
Groups (collaborative) - Contemporary collaborative learning occurs in lab.
Other - Handouts are made available as needed. Attendance is not taken. Audio tape recorders are allowed and encouraged. Instructor-written lecture guides are purchased at the College Store to aid student study.2. Self-paced, independent learning with instructor as facilitator? Yes, the labs are self paced once the student is introduced to the material. The student is held responsible for learning the assigned material prior to each lab practical. Each adult student has his/her individual learning style. Students can study in the library or elsewhere during the lab. They are free to leave lab once directions are completed.
3. Type of assessment
Exams - Yes - Lectures use scan-tron responses with a few essay questions. The essay questions are posted two weeks prior to the exam.
Projects/major papers - No
Other - Assessment is performed on the class as a group. One method includes the use of item analysis points for the scan-tron portion of lecture exams only. If a question is missed by 75 percent or more of all students, then I assume that something is wrong with that question. The student should not be penalized for my turning around the material so far that they cannot recognize the answer. This is not a graduate school class. Those points are awarded to all students. If the student was correct in that answer, they still get the item analysis. Other assessments are performed on the essay questions. I try to make sure that the students understand what was expected of them on the essay answer.
4. How many assessments/exams? Five lecture exams are given over the semester, including the course final. Some years it is comprehensive. Those years, the students are informed exactly what material will be retested on the final. Some exams cover two or three chapters while on covers one chapter.
5. Grading policy - A straight percentage is the grading scale. Curving a grade in my opinion is a lottery form of education. If you enter a section of honor students, your grade suffers.
6. Timeliness of feedback to students. Exams and lab quizzes are returned in the earliest possible session following that test. Then, in most cases, I post the exam with answers for students to check the accuracy of their answers. I do not waste class time to review an exam. Students with questions about the posted exam are encouraged to meet with me.
7. Is the final exam/assessment comprehensive? The lecture final exam is the last of five exams and covers the last fifth of the course. Some years, I add a comprehensive portion to this exam. Students are told well in advance what to study for the comprehensive portion.
8. Weight of final exam/assessment in relation to final course grade It counts like any other lecture exam.
9. Attendance Policy - I do not take attendance. However, I, like other instructors, have noticed through the years that if students do not attend regularly then they probably will not do well in the course.
10. Homework policy - No homework as in the high school sense is assigned. Students are expected though to read and study the lecture and lab textbooks before attending classes.
11. Use of technology in class - Yes, currently, I am phasing the use of video cadavers and computer-generated graphics into lab. Students can use a computer to access various videos during lab.
12. Available outside help: Extensive use of the library is expected. CD-ROMs, videos, computer disks and a study room for anatomy are part of the library experience. Also, supplementary material is available for purchase in the College Store.
13. Why should students enroll in your class? The course is dedicated to cause student learning. Lecture tries to make the material interesting and usable for a career in medicine. In addition, the student is challenged to learn and develop study skills that will be used in future courses. This course definitely prepares the student for a career in allied health and medicine while providing study and learning skills that will last a lifetime.
14. Description of typical course meeting: There is no typical meeting. Instead, each session of lecture or lab has a variety of student experiences and instructional presentations.
August 19, 1999
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