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Biology 215 (Biostatistics) Laboratory
Spring 2016 Syllabus
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TA: Patrick Saldaña
Office: LS 201 (Fish Ecology Lab, there is an angry fish on the door window)
Hours: Thursday 1230-1330 (or by appointment)
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Email: psaldana@rohan.sdsu.edu
Course Information:
Located in room LS-126
Section 6, Thursday, 0800
Section 7, Thursday, 1400
Required materials: Biology 215 Course Packet, Dr. Douglas Deutschman
Specific Grading Scheme Laboratory (Total = 40%) | Note | Quizzes and Homework 10%
Lab Practical 1 12%
Lab Practical 2 12%
Participation 6% | You must pass both the lecture and lab portion of the class in order to receive a grade of C or higher for the class |
Welcome to Biostatistics laboratory! The information below should be referenced for questions regarding class structure, policies, and procedures.
Attendance is Required:
You must attend lab! If you have more than two unexcused absences you will fail the course! Speak to me beforehand if you need to miss a lab for any reason.
Come to Lab Prepared:
You are responsible for reading the laboratory manual exercise for that day before class.
Check Blackboard Regularly:
You are responsible for checking Blackboard for announcements and materials.
Be On Time:
You are responsible for reading the laboratory manual exercise for that day before class. Lab exams and quizzes are given at the beginning of lab. If you walk in late, it is your job to make sure that I count you as being present.
Quizzes
Quizzes will cover the lab reading due that day in the Lab Manual. All quizzes will be completed through Blackboard. * If you are late you have that much less time to complete your quiz and generally, these quizzes will take no longer than five minutes. * No make-up quizzes. The quiz will be dropped if missed for a legitimate reason. I will also drop your single lowest quiz at the end of the semester.
Written Assignments:
An important part of the lab will consist of written assignments. Your grade will depend not only on the accuracy and appropriateness of the statistical analysis that you carry out, but also on your writing. Assignments that are poorly organized or sloppy (including grammatical mistakes and misspellings) will be graded down or rejected as unacceptable. Written assignments are USUALLY due on Sunday at 5 pm on Turn it In. Late assignments will not be accepted. If Turn it In fails, you must email me the assignment before the deadline, otherwise it is late and will result in a zero.
Grading Procedures:
Graded exercises or activities will be performed almost every lab. Missed/Late assignments will result in a zero. Lab activities include, but are not limited to, in-class discussions, lab exercises, and turning in lab materials to be graded. I expect you all to be productive and on task during lab. Surfing the web, checking email, or being disruptive will result in a lowered participation grade.
98-100% A+ 88-89% B+ 78-79% C+ 68-69% D+
93-97% A 82-87% B 73-77% C 63-67% D
90-92% A- 80-81% B- 70-72% C- 60-62% D-
< 60% F
Lab Policies:
1. You are responsible for retaining all graded material until you have your final grade.
2. Lab exams and quizzes are given at the beginning of periods. I will not give make up quizzes if you are late. Be on time!
3. Lab is mandatory! Unless you have an excusable reason to miss lab and contact me beforehand you will not be able to make up the lab. Sickness and family emergencies would be excusable. Alarm clock malfunctions would not.
4. Cheating… don’t do it.
5. Plagiarism … don’t do it.
Plagiarism is defined as, “taking someone's words or ideas as if they were your own.” Keep this in mind when you are working on homework in groups. Turn in your own assignment written in your own words. I am required to report any cheating or plagiarism to the University and after that, it is out of my hands with possible severe consequences. Really, don’t do it.
6. Please ask me questions! I encourage you to stay on track with the course material and always email me, attend office hours or make an appointment with me if you are struggling or need help on anything related to class.
7. If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that I cannot provide accommodations based upon disability until I have received an accommodation letter from Student Disability Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.
“Luck is statistics taken personally”
-Penn Jillete 