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BioSci 100 - General Biology - Dr. C. Shane Ramey

Course:General Biology
Professor:Dr. C. Shane Ramey
Email:Shane.Ramey@canyons.edu
Format:
  • Online
  • OnlineLive
Course Length:
  • 5 Week

Introduction

Dr. Ramey wearing a lab coat and bowtie, holding a Q-Tip and peering into a glass dish.

Dr. Ramey is a lover of the outdoors.  With his family, he enjoys boating, wakeboarding, camping, hiking, and snow skiing.  Dr. Ramey attended College of the Canyons before transferring to UCLA, where he earned his B.S. and Ph.D. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics.  He values diversity, and is passionate about equity and inclusion in education.  More than anything, Dr. Ramey enjoys helping his students succeed in their academic and career goals!

Course Description

Explores the structure, function and development of living systems from cells to ecosystems.

Lecture Student Learning Outcome: Characterize the nature of science and scientific inquiry, and describe and analyze biological concepts from cells to ecosystems on a basic level.

Laboratory Student Learning Outcome: Evaluate and analyze data and observations based on standard methods of scientific inquiry.

What to Expect in this Course

The lecture & lab components of this course will be 100% online.  If you are used to face-to-face classes and prefer the live classroom environment for learning, you may find the online format harder since you will need to work through the course material on your own. You should expect to devote just as much time (if not more) to this class as you would for a face-to-face class.  I highly recommend that you not miss any of the live Zoom meetings during the semester because they will allow you to experience a live lecture of the main topics and an overview of the assignments that will be due each week.  It will also give you a chance to ask me any questions you have and interact with your classmates as well.

The main method I will use to communicate with students is through COC email and Canvas notifications and announcements.  You must check these every day and set up alerts on your phone for these messages so that you receive communications from me in a timely manner.

If you are in need of special accommodations, you should register with the office of DSP&S (Disabled Students Program & Services) at COC at the beginning of the semester so that they can work with you to identify what accommodations and resources you may need to complete this course.  They will provide you with an official accommodation letter for the current semester, which you should send me a copy of by the second week of the semester.  That will ensure that your needs are met in a timely manner (see Disabled Students Program & Services section below for more details).

Types of Assessments

All assignments and tests will be accessed through the Canvas learning management system. These will consist of a variety of exams, quizzes, discussion boards, chapter lessons, and active learning exercises (some of which will be held synchronously through Zoom).

Textbook Information

Student equity and access to high-quality education are very important to me, and I am a proponent of open educational resource (OER) materials as a way to lower the cost of college.  Therefore, the textbook & lab manual for this course are both free.  A free digital version of the lab manual will be available on the course Canvas site, and the textbook is free from OpenStax: Concepts of Biology, access for free at https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/1-introduction

Other Relevant Course Information

All students are required to attend the Zoom meeting on the first day of class so as not to lose their spot in the class to students on the waitlist.

Attendance is required per college policy, which states, “Any student absent for any reason for more than 10% of the class meetings may be dropped by the instructor prior to 75% of the course.”  For this course, regular attendance will refer to completing the weekly lecture and lab assignments and completing the tests by the due dates listed.  You should communicate with me right away if you anticipate a disruption in your schedule that will impact your ability to complete the assigned coursework by the due date.  If you miss one week’s worth of course work without contacting me, you may be dropped from the course for non-attendance.  When in doubt, communicate with me!  Email me as soon as possible regarding any previous or upcoming absences/tardies, and we can discuss options.


Additional Resources

Canvas

This course can be accessed on the first day of class via Canvas at https://coc.instructure.com. Log into Canvas using your CanyonsID single sign-on:

  • CanyonsID Username is your COC student email address (Ex: username@my.canyons.edu)
  • CanyonsID Password is your COC student email password

Please visit the Get to Know Your Online Classroom page for help logging into Canvas and for tips on using Canvas and Zoom. Canvas Chat Support is also available 24/7 for any Canvas related issues.

Online Education

Check out the Online Education website for more information on a variety of topics that can help you be a successful online student such as: exam proctoring, learning styles, computer skills, and tips for student success. If this is your first online course, feel free to take our online learning readiness assessment to assess your skills.

The Learning Center (TLC)

The TLC provides FREE online tutoring resources to COC students!

Academic Accommodation Center (AAC)

College of the Canyons AAC provides educational services and access for eligible students with documented disabilities who intend to pursue coursework at COC. A variety of programs and services are available which afford eligible students with disabilities the opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of the college programs and activities through appropriate and reasonable accommodations. For more information on their services visit the Academic Accomodation Center website.

Online Counseling

The Counseling Department offers appointments online. You can schedule an appointment by visiting the Online Counseling website. Counselors can help you map out a plan to reach your educational goals as well as advise you on course selection and registration.

Management of Stress and Mental Health

Often the pressure on our students is very strong, involving academic commitments, relationships, outside jobs and family pressure to name a few. The staff and faculty of College of the Canyons are here to see you succeed academically and care about your emotional and physical health. You can learn more about the broad range of confidential student services, including counseling and mental health services available on campus by visiting the Student Health & Wellness Center in the Student Services Building (across from the bookstore). The phone number is 661-362-3259 that you can call 24/7. You can also e mail for an appointment at StudentHealthCenter@canyons.edu. At the Canyon Country Campus the Health Center will be in the new Student Services Building.

Also, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number is now 988. All students at COC are encouraged to enter that phone number in their cells. You can call it when you, or someone you know, is having thoughts of suicide or is in severe distress.

You can also now use the Crisis Text Line: Just text "Courage" to 741741. Someone will get back to you immediately. Its free, 24/7, and confidential.

Veterans Resource Center

The College of the Canyons Veterans Resource Center is a department within the Student Services Division at the college, created to help veterans and veteran dependents with applying to College of the Canyons, enrolling in classes, and requesting VA Education or Vocational Benefits. For more information please visit the Veterans Resource Center website, email veterans@canyons.edu or phone (661) 362-3469.

Library

The Library provides live online and in-person research help, access to a full range of e-resources and physical materials that support the curriculum, individual and group study areas, and much more!

Last updated: 10/05/2021 Sub#: 695