Benson 2014-2015
Welcome to Biotechnology and Society
This course is designed to familiarize you with the many aspects of biotechnology including applications in agriculture, medicine, forensics, and pharmaceuticals. Students should have an interest in and a basic understanding of DNA and genetic principles. This lab-based course will also include discussions and presentation based on ethical considerations in biotechnology. Career options in this developing field will be explored.
How to succeed in Biotech:
Be here!
- This is a lab based course and there are some things that just can’t be made up. You need to be here to earn your lab grades.
Be on time.
- We will be doing a lot of lab work, and 68 minutes is a tight window of time for many of the activities. Be in your seat, ready to go, when the bell ring.
Be prepared.
- You must have your book, folder and lab notebook EVERY day. Your preparation or lack thereof will be a factor in your grade. Organization and preparation are big keys to success.
Be organized.
- You need to keep both a folder and lab notebook for this course. The lab notebook will contain the majority of your work and will also be a large part of your grade. Be sure to keep up with it and follow the rules. Lab notebooks will be routinely checked and graded. Organization and preparation are big keys to success.
Be a good team member.
- This is a hands-on, lab based course. You will be doing some type of lab work in groups nearly every day. Not only will your lab conclusions, questions or write-ups be graded, but your performance in the lab will also be assessed.
Be Respectful:
- Be respectful of other students, the teacher, visitors in the classroom and the equipment that you will be using. A great deal of the equipment that you will work with was purchased just for this class and is very expensive. We have limited equipment due to the price, and therefore we must make it last.
- Inappropriate behavior and language will not be tolerated in this classroom.
- Students who cannot handle lab equipment appropriately will not be allowed to work in the lab.
Eating:
NO EATING IN THE CLASSROOM. For safety reasons, food is NOT allowed in the classroom. You may have a beverage (in a closeable bottle), but not during a lab activity.
Bathroom Passes:
There is plenty of time between classes or at lunch for these trips. Leaving the classroom should only be done in an emergency and will ABSOLUTELY NOT be allowed in the first or last 10 minutes of class. Lots of “business” gets done at the beginning and end of each class, therefore, being here is imperative.
Folder:
A biology folder must be kept for this class. It will contain all graded work and handouts which are not required to be put in your lab notebook. All graded work must be kept. In the event of a grade dispute you will have a record of all work returned to you.
Late Work:
Late work of any type will be accepted for up to 75% of the original value. Penalties are as follows: one day late is 75% of grade earned, more than one day late is 50% of grade earned. Late work in a particular chapter or unit WILL NOT be accepted after the test on that subject takes place.
Extra Credit:
Extra credit questions may appear on individual quizzes or tests, but extra credit assignments will not be available.
Make-up Work due to Absence:
Your student handbook allows one day of makeup time for each day of an absence. Please be aware of the rule and get makeup work done quickly to avoid a zero.
Each class period has a drawer for their make-up work. This drawer should be your first stop after missing a class. You will find stapled packets of work with your name on it. Pick up any assignment, complete the work and arrange with me to make up any missing tests, quizzes, or labs.
Tablemates will be responsible for collecting an extra copy of all handouts and recording the homework assignments for each other in case of absence.
If you are absent on exam day, the exam will be made up the afternoon of the day you return to school.
No class time will be extended for makeup exams (it must be done after school).
A reminder, if you come to school later in the day but miss this class, you must make up any and all work after school the same day.
Evaluation and Grading:
Your grade will be based on the following categories:
Assessments: Tests, quizzes, and performance assessments in the lab
Lab reports or questions
Homework
Projects: both group and solo assignments
Lab notebook and Lab work : including teacher and peer assessment of lab work
Punctuality, Preparedness, and Participation
Grades are calculated using a point system. Point values will vary according to the length and complexity of the assignment or topic.
It will be YOUR responsibility to keep track of your average on X2.
The Mr. Kelly Rule: If your homework average is an A or B, it can be substituted for your lowest quiz grade each term.
Academic Integrity and Cheating:
Duxbury Student handbook, page 8: “The school promotes an environment where honesty is valued; students who cheat compromise that environment. Furthermore, to provide the best possible education for each individual student, a student’s work must reflect his/her best effort.” Cheating is considered a serious offense at DHS, and the consequences are clearly spelled out in the student handbook.
Cheating includes, but is not limited to the following:
Copying homework, labs, class work, or material during tests and quizzes.
Communicating with other students during a test or quiz.
Sharing test or quiz information with other students after you have taken the assessment, but before they have.
Having the EXACT same answers for lab questions or conclusions. The purpose of a lab partner is to share the work and experience of a lab activity. They are there to discuss your experience with and bounce ideas off of. Lab partners should NEVER have the same exact answers for lab questions. It is impossible to determine which student was the source of an answer, and which student(s) took advantage, therefore, all students with the particular answer(s) will be considered in violation of the cheating policy.
As a general rule, you should NEVER be in possession of another student’s work. If I find you to be in possession of anyone else’s work, both documents will be confiscated and both students written up for a cheating offense. If I confiscate work other than Biology work, I will turn that work over to the subject area teacher.
Being dishonest when you are asked to correct your own work in class
Required Materials:
Students must provide:
A quad ruled (graph paper) composition book which will serve as your lab notebook.
A folder or 3 ring binder with white lined paper for class notes and handouts.
A book cover. An extra large book sock is needed for the size of your text.
A box of non-latex (due to allergies) gloves for use during lab work. These are readily available at CVS, the grocery store, or warehouse stores such as BJ’s.
Students will be issued a textbook and lab coat.
Signatures:
I have read and understand these expectations.
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StudentDate
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Parent or GuardianDate