Biology 2424 - Human Physiology Lab - Spring 2006

General Information and Policies

Welcome to the Human Physiology Lab! We’re glad you’ve decided to participate in this semester’s lab activities. In order for you to know and understand the policies and rules your lab instructor will maintain throughout the semester, this handout has been prepared for you. Keep it in a safe place and refer to it whenever you have an “administrative type” question during the next 16 weeks of class.

The physiology lab exercises that you will participate in this semester have been designed to offer you the opportunity to gain practical experience with the topics being discussed in the lecture portion of the course in a “hands on” way. Your opportunity to learn and understand human physiology will be enhanced by your attention and active participation in the lab experience. You will see in this course how the knowledge of human anatomy you have is applied to an understanding of how the human body functions and how the various organ systems interact with one another to maintain homeostasis, otherwise known as human physiology!

Lab Instructor Info:

Instructor: ______Office: ______

Lab Meeting Day: ______Meeting Time______Lab Sect Code:_____

Office Hours:______

Office Phone: ______E-Mail______

Required Supplies:

1.. Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach, 3rd Ed. Silverthorn (2004), Prentice-Hall.

2. Integrate Experiments in Physiology, Tharp, W. G., and David Woodman, (2005), Prentice -Hall Publishers.

Earlier versions of the texts are fine; however, you will be responsible for referencing the correct page numbers.

3. PhysioEx 6.0 : laboratory Simulations in Physiology (software) , Stabler (2005). Benjamin Cummings

Publishers. (software) available online w/ password protected access OR as a CD ROM (The Lab schedule

attached indicates which lab activities will require this.)

Interactive Physiology (software) available online w/ password protected access OR as a CD ROM

Both items above offer online versions which are accessed through a password provided at the time of purchase of a new (not used) copy of the text and lab manual. If you chose to purchase used copies of the text, access must be purchased separately. See your instructor for additional information, if necessary.

IWORX Labs on CD (simulation and review software) It is suggested - but not required. This will be an

excellent resource for reviewing and studying laboratory procedures results and pertinent information related to

lab exams. It is currently available for purchase at the ASU campus bookstore for a very nominal fee.

4. You will also need an inexpensive calculator that does basic math functions, a metric ruler, and a protractor. It’s

best not to count on having one available or borrowing one from someone else in your class.

5. You will also be required to have internet access and an e-mail account you check regularly.

ASU provides both of these services at no additional cost to you, at any of the computer labs on campus.

These will make it possible for you to use resources available online AND to communicate with your instructor

and classmates.

See the following webpage(s) for important references and useful resources:

http://www.angelo.edu/faculty/cadkins/

http://www.angelo.edu/faculty/cadkins/physlab.htm (Bio 2424 Lab Resources)

http://www.aw-bc.com/physiologyplace/ (textbook publisher’s page for Silverthorn w/ PhysioEx & IP

access all-in-one)

http://www.physioex.com/login.html (direct access to PhysioEx6.0 online w/access codes)

http://www.interactivephysiology.com/login/index.html (online Interactive Physiology tutorials w/ access

codes)

Laboratory Grade Determination:

A student’s final laboratory average represents 40% of their composite overall grade in this course. To determine what this grade is, four scores are used with each having equal weight.

Lab Exam 1 + Lab Exam 2 + Lab Exam 3 + Pre-Lab Quiz Average (lowest single score dropped) = Overall Lab Grade Average

The overall lab average is then reported to your lecture instructor and used to represent 40% of your overall grade in the course.

Laboratory Agenda:

By examining your lab schedule you will see that each week has a designated topic(s) to be addressed at that week’s meeting. You will be expected to read and review specific pages in your lab manual (Tharp) and reference pages which will introduce and support the content in your course textbook (Silverthorn). Additionally these “pre-laboratory preparation activities” will usually include completing assignments with Interactive Physiology and /or PhysioEx as well. Every student is expected to have access to these materials outside of the laboratory beginning the first day of the semester.

Prior to attending each lab, students will be expected to:

1.  Visit the Bio 2424 – Human Physiology Lab Web Page (http://www.angelo.edu/faculty/cadkins/physlab.htm).

2.  Locate the entries for the upcoming week’s lab activities.

3.  Download and print all handouts associated with the upcoming lab, including the lab checklist review guide. Reference reading for pages in Silverthorn, Tharp and pertinent PhysioEx or Interactive Physiology is provided in these to assist in making necessary preparations for lab sessions.

4.  Proceed to the Interactive Physiology or PhysioEx activities assigned and complete them BEFORE coming in to lab the next time.

Students are expected to read and review the assigned reading BEFORE you come to lab. These Lab Guides will also assist you in determining the objectives for your learning in the lab. Labs are designed to give each student the opportunity to participate with their lab partners in the class in completing specific activities which give them the opportunity to observe and “experience” the physiological concepts being addressed every week.

The most successful students in this portion of the course are those who are well prepared to begin lab by completing the lab readings ahead of time. Your understanding and comprehension of the physiological science will be enhanced dramatically by your level of preparation prior to arriving for lab each week. It will be difficult to successfully complete each week’s activities if you have not reviewed the assigned material BEFORE you come to lab. It is your responsibility, then, to obtain the Lab Review Guide from the physiology web page and complete it’s assigned activities.

Pre-Lab Quizzes:

Each week that a lab exam is not scheduled, a “pre-lab quiz” will be given at the beginning of the lab (first 10-15 minutes). Thorough preparation and completion of these pre-lab assignments will offer the best opportunity to build a high average of scores on pre-lab quizzes. The average of pre-lab quiz grades will be counted as the equivalent of a lab exam grade; i.e. 25% of your lab grade in this course. (See attendance policies for information regarding “missed lab quizzes and exams”)

Your lab instructor welcomes your questions and is prepared to assist you with any aspect of this assignment during his/her office hours. To make the most of your lab experience you must come to lab as well-prepared as possible. In general, most “lab lecture” offered by your instructor will briefly introduce procedures to be used in the lab, and include an opportunity at the end of each lab to review results and apply key physiological concepts to them as each week’s session concludes.

During the lab session, you will be expected to carefully collect data on your activities and experiments for use by your lab group. Lab reports included in your lab manual, PhysioEx 6.0 software manual worksheets and additional handouts you receive will be completed by each lab group for your use in relating the course concepts to those covered in lecture as well as in the lab, and particularly as you are studying for exams. During the lab each working lab group will perform experiments, collect data, make observations and record these. Discussion and collaboration within the group is encouraged so that the work accomplished is a direct reflection of the efforts of all members of the group and a true shared experience. Each student will learn how to analyze and interpret the data collected. A major part of lab work extends beyond simply collecting experimental data.

The larger objectives for labs are to be able to:

1. Analyze and interpret the data collected in order to make reasonable conclusions.

2. Associate actual observed phenomena from lab to physiological processes.

3. Apply the concepts connected to the experiments to practical “real life” scenarios related to human homeostasis,

health, and disease.

Each member of a lab group will be expected to do his/her fair share and contribute willingly to the completion of each day’s activities. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT EACH STUDENT SHOULD RETAIN A COPY OF EACH ASSIGNMENT SINCE THESE WILL BE VALUABLE IN HELPING STUDENTS TO PREPARE FOR LAB EXAMS. (See lab schedule for exam dates)

Lab Exams:

Exam Format:

Objective Questions (Multiple Choice, True/False, Matching ------75%

Fill-In-The Blank, etc.)

Data Analysis, Calculations, Interpretation, Conclusions ------15%

Short Answer / Discussion – Clinical or Practical Applications ------10%

Additional Bonus Points Opportunities ------5% (maximum)

All lab exams will be of the written format, rather than the practical exam format you may be accustomed to from the human anatomy course.( See the lab schedule for dates.) Each exam will employ a variety of testing methods. You could expect to see multiple choice, matching, fill-in-the-blank, list and explain, short answer, and true/false type questions. You can expect to see about 75% of the test composed of objective format questions.

In addition, on 15% of a lab exam you will be expected to interpret and analyze data that is similar to that you collected, analyzed, and interpreted in the laboratory as well as the physiological concepts that are involved with each of them. This section will also include questions which call for the use of critical thinking and problem solving skills acquired in the lab sessions. You should also be prepared to make mathematical calculations using the formulas you used in the lab exercises. In general if you are familiar with and understand the material represented in the lab report / worksheets and study your lab manual and notes, you will be well prepared for each lab exam.

Finally, about 10% of each exam will be of the short answer or discussion format. Questions of this type will require

written answers that offer a discussion or explanation. Generally these will require complete sentences which sufficiently use the appropriate terms and concepts applied to the question at hand. The number of points you earn is based on how thoroughly and clearly you answer the particular question. It is always best to be as thorough and clear as possible with these answers in order to earn maximum credit.

Exam dates for your particular lab section are noted by week on the lab schedule.

The average of these three exams and the average of pre-lab quizzes will be reported to your lecture instructor and will represent 40% of your overall course grade in Bio 2424 this semester.

This semester there are 14 different laboratory sections for this course, taught by five different instructors. In order to facilitate consistent application of these policies and instruction, each quiz and exam that you will be given represents a collaborative effort by each of the lab instructors involved in teaching this course. Your lab instructor will provide a share of the questions used in the examination. Multiple versions of the lab exam will be produced, but the exam you take will be made using the questions submitted by all lab instructors teaching this course. Each lab instructor will have equal input into the preparation of lab exams. You should find that studying your completed lab review guides, lab manual,. lab reports, lab notes, Interactive Physiology, and PhysioEx lab activities guide and pertinent assignments in the lecture text (Silverthorn) will assist you most in preparing for the exams.

Further details about lab exams will be given as the date of the first exam approaches.

Grade Review / Regrading Procedures:

An answer key of each exam will be provided / posted for your review when your answer sheet is returned at your next lab session and at other times as announced by your lab instructor. Most instructors will make answer keys available at the time exams answer sheets are returned and prefer that students arrange to review these during regular office hours. Students are encouraged to review the key. Students are also encouraged to confer with your instructor if there are any questions regarding exams once they have compared their exam to the key. Questions regarding scoring should be reported to your instructor immediately for consideration. You must follow the Procedures for Regrading that follow:

  1. If the error is strictly an addition and/or division error:

·  attach a note to your exam which reads “math only” and highlight the error

·  turn in your exam to me personally

  1. If you believe you have found a grading error:

·  remember that a 1 pt error is, at best, 0.25 pts or less on your final course average.

·  remember that the exams are photocopied immediately after you turn them in (e.g. I will know if you have changed an answer). It is an expense I wish I did not feel compelled to bear.

·  be sure you have studied the key before you request that any question(s) be regraded.

·  you must highlight the error and clearly state your reason(s) for thinking the question has been graded incorrectly in an attached note.

·  “Question X is graded wrong or I deserve more points on question Y” are not reasons. I expect a clearly delineated and thoughtful reason with verification from a published reference.

·  turn in your exam to me personally

  1. Understand that I will be very fair but I will regrade the entire exam AND if the resulting grade is lower than the previous, the second grade will replace the first.
  2. The deadline for requesting any regrading is 5pm one week following the return of your exam. No Exceptions.

Attendance Policy:

Students are expected to attend their normally scheduled lab and to actively participate every week. Each lab instructor will monitor class attendance as required by the University. Each student will be required to attend lab prepared to begin on time. If a student regularly arrives late, or leaves early it is doubtful that they are making a reasonable contribution to the activities of their lab group. Although there is no formal category of grade dedicated to attendance, each lab instructor reserves the right to report observations related to attendance, effort and attitude, level of participation and performance in lab to each student’s lecture instructor along with the average of their exam grades. Most instructors will employ a sign-out sheet which will be used to monitor attendance at the end of each lab session. Students not present to indicate their attendance in this manner will be counted absent, and although they may have been present for even most of the lab session, without discussing the reason for leaving early, they will be counted absent. Therefore, plan to be in the lab for the entire session.