Biological Sciences 56
Biology: A Human Perspective
Instructor Contact Information:
Instructor: Keri Muma
Phone: 916-660-7921
Office: S120, Rocklin Campus
Fax: (916) 630-4501
E-mail: kmuma@sierracollege.edu
Class Information - Fall 2009:
Class Information for Bio. Sci. 56 Online
This section of Bio. Sci. 56 is being taught as an online lecture class. This online lecture course can be taken for 3 units. This class will utilize Sierra College's Blackboard Distance Learning Site. When you enroll as an online student you MUST complete the Blackboard orientation materials, if you have not done an online class before. Please view the following Web site for general online information and Sierra College's Blackboard Orientation Requirements: http://lrc.sierra.cc.ca.us/dl/.
When our semester starts additional course material will become available on the Blackboard site at the following address: http://online.sierracollege.edu. Without this information you will not be able to access class instructional materials (lectures, announcements, assignments, quizzes, etc.) Please contact me if you have questions about the distance learning requirements.
If you need a science course with a lab to meet your degree requirement you can take the lecture online course in conjunction with the Biology 56 lab. The lab is a separate course for 1 unit and will meet for 3 hours a week on the Rocklin campus of Sierra College. The specific laboratory meeting times are listed in the Sierra College class schedule (listed under the correct year, semester, and Bio. Sci. 56L. Please review the schedule and make sure you will be able to attend these important class sessions if you choose to take the lab. In these lab sessions you will have the opportunity to interact with your classmates and instructor to apply course concepts in a hands on laboratory experience. Note: You can just take the online lecture course, the lab course is not required if you do not need a lab science.
Required Textbooks:
For online lecture course: Essential Biology with Physiology by Neil A. Campbell, Jane B. Reece, and Eric J. Simon, 2nd edition ISBN# 0-8-0536841-8
If you choose to also take the lab course you will need the following lab manual which can be purchased at the Sierra College Bookstore: "Bio. Sci. 056 Lab Manual" by K. Muma
Welcome to Bio. Sci. 56
In this course we will be focusing on the biological principles which are fundamental to understanding yourself and the world in which we live. As humans we are all biological specimens so it is important for all of us to have a general understanding about life. Biology is one of the most exciting disciplines! Some of you may roll your eyes when you read that statement but, I think you will find that you already use biology and can apply it to your everyday life more than you realize. We all will have to make decisions about our health, coexist with other organisms that share our environment, and make educated choices as consumers and voters.
This is an introductory course to human biology, but don’t expect it to be too easy. A science class should develop your critical thinking, problem solving, data analyzing, and observational skills. Be prepared to learn a lot of new terms and concepts. You will have to invest some time and effort in order to succeed. I encourage all of you to get to know your peers and collaborate with each other. Each of us comes from a unique background and has had different life experiences. We can all learn something new from every single person in this class. I expect you to respect one another and create a classroom environment where all students feel comfortable participating and sharing their thoughts. Finally, my overall goal in this course is that you will gain a deeper appreciation for biology and we will have a lot of fun together this semester! I am excited to start the new semester, and I am looking forward to getting to know each one of you better.
Sincerely,
Keri Muma
Sierra College Biological Sciences:
Copyright 2008 Sierra College Biological Sciences Department. All Rights Reserved.
