HONORS HUMAN NUTRITION (BIOLOGY 300) SYLLABUS
TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, 10:50 AM TO 12:05 PM, FOLSOM 303
DR. BONNIE WOOD, PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY
SPRING 2006
HOW TO FIND ME
·Office hours, 316 South Hall: Monday &
Wednesday, 1:30 - 2:30 PM
Tuesday & Thursday, 12:15 - 1:15 PM
( 768-9446 (you may leave a voice mail
message)
: Use Blackboard (www.courses.maine.edu), my email
address (wood@umpi.maine.edu) or my webpage (www.umpi.maine.edu/~wood)
If you need to see
me but cannot come during regular office hours, you may make an appointment to
meet at a more convenient time. If you do
not understand some of the course material, please ask questions before it is
too late!
CWHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS COURSE?
Take a look at the Topic Schedule to see what will be covered this
semester.
My goal is to
ACTIVELY engage you in the learning of human nutrition so this course becomes a
positive component of your undergraduate experience---a part that is not only a
stepping stone to a degree but also enriches your life. This class will emphasize USING facts about
nutrition rather than simply memorizing those facts. Sometimes you will do this
alone; sometimes you will do it in collaboration with members of your learning
group.
I teach Biology
300 using methods that I hope will foster an interest in nutrition that will
continue beyond the date of the final exam.
I want to prepare you to make effective dietary choices for yourself,
your family and friends. Most
importantly, I want to help you acquire thinking skills that you can use in
other life endeavors.
To accomplish my
goals, I use "lecture-free" teaching methods. You will participate in
inquiry-based exercises that foster critical thinking about real-world
problems. Active learning will NOT make the course easier and will NOT take
less of your time. However, if you follow my guidelines you will not only enjoy
the course more but also will increase your likelihood of success in the class.
To be successful you must TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR YOUR OWN LEARNING. This syllabus describes how you to do this
and is a resource for the entire semester.
ÑHOW
TO SUCCEED IN HUMAN NUTRITION
All class meetings require
active involvement. To participate, you must PREPARE BEFORE EACH CLASS.
¨ The Human Nutrition CoursePack
(which you must buy at the bookstore) contains outlines of the information you
are expected to know about each subject listed on your Topic Schedule. BEFORE each scheduled class, read appropriate parts of the suggested chapters,
and take notes (in your own words) on the outlines. The outlines are not necessarily in the same order as the
chapters in your text, and you may have to look up some terms in the index or
glossary to learn about them. If one
outline is scheduled for several class meetings, COMPLETE THE OUTLINE BEFORE
THE FIRST CLASS IN WHICH IT IS USED. After taking notes on the outline, do the
assigned Homework Activities that are described at the end of each outline and
be prepared to discuss your results on the first class day scheduled for that
topic.
:Email me BEFORE 7:00 AM ON THE
DAY OF EACH CLASS if you have specific questions or topics you want me
to clarify that day. If I do not receive any questions or requests, I will
assume that everyone in the class understands the topic for the day, and will
spend no time explaining information. You are responsible for any concept
listed in the outlines, even if I don't discuss it in class.
Your completed outlines for a particular topic will be
periodically collected for grading (and without prior notification!). This is
done to give you feedback on your notetaking and to keep you motivated to do
the work ahead of time. (No late submissions will be accepted.)
Class time will be used for active learning exercises
that assume prior knowledge. You will
work with your assigned learning groups for many of the exercises. Some of these will be fun, and all of them
will help you learn and understand nutrition concepts and prepare you for
upcoming tests. If you fail to read the
chapter and take notes on the outline before each class, you will let your
learning group down and you will not gain information and expertise during the
activities.
During the last two minutes of each class meeting you
will describe in writing "The
Murkiest Point" --something from that class which you still do not fully
understand. If you understand
everything, instead describe "The Most Interesting Point". You will sign this paper and hand it in as
you leave. I will begin the next class
with an explanation of the two or three most frequently stated
"murkies." You must write
something other than your name!
ACADEMIC HONESTY. In cases of violation of academic honesty, I will discuss the
matter with you and will assign you a grade of F (zero points) for the violated
work or require that you withdraw from the course with a grade of F according
to the gravity of the offense.
IATTENDANCE. Attendance at
all scheduled class meetings is very important. Each class will include activities that you do alone or with your
learning group. You are responsible for
all material covered during class whether you were present or not. If you miss class you should discuss what
was done with one of the members of your learning group. A record of "The Murkiest Point"
papers will assess your attendance.
RESOURCES
THESE MUST BE PURCHASED AT THE BOOKSTORE AND BROUGHT TO ALL CLASSES:
& Nutrition: An Applied
Approach, by Thompson and Manore. The chapters of this book that correspond to
each week’s lectures are indicated on the Topic Schedule.
&Human Nutrition
CoursePack is a three-ring binder containing outlines that you must complete
before class as well as detailed instructions for homework and in-class
activities. Other materials (like this
Syllabus and the Topic Schedule) that I give you throughout the semester should
be added to the CoursePack.
:DINE® Healthy5 computer software is
available for your use in all student computer labs.
Using the instructions in your CoursePack you will learn to enter data into the DINE® Healthy5 program. There will be homework assignments for you
to complete with DINE® Healthy5 throughout
the remainder of the semester.
THIS CAN BE ACCESSED
IN ANY UMPI COMPUTER LAB AND WITH MOST HOME AND PUBLIC COMPUTERS
:BLACKBOARD is an online software tool that will be used in Biology
300. Using Blackboard you can receive
announcements from me, communicate with me, access course materials, as well as
other activities that I will explain during the semester.
To access the Blackboard Website ( www.courses.maine.edu)
you will need:
·
An active University (@maine.edu) email account. Your Blackboard
Username is the same as your University email name---the part of your email
address before the @.
·
Access to a computer with a Java compliant browser (either Internet
Explorer or Netscape). If you don’t
have a computer at home, Web access is available in all campus computer labs as
well as public libraries.
:COMPUTER LABS:
You may learn about locations and hours of Houlton and
Presque Isle computer labs from the UMPI homepage (www.umpi.maine.edu) by going
to General Informationà Computer ServicesàFor StudentsàComputer Labs.
TUTORING AND
OTHER ASSISTANCE:
If you are at all concerned about your ability to
succeed in this course, you should sign up for tutoring IMMEDIATELY. Do not wait until you have failed the first
test! To sign up see the Tutor
Coordinator, first floor of South Hall, 768-9614. If you have a disability and
need accommodation or assistance in this course, contact Student Support
Services, South Hall, 768-9613.
ASSIGNMENTS
E LEARNING GROUPS:
As part of an activity on the first day of class about
the energy-yielding nutrients, you will be randomly assigned to a learning
group. You will work with these
students in and out of class for the entire semester.
Group Coordinator:
Choose a group coordinator who will organize meetings, facilitate
discussion and keep me informed of progress and problems in the group. On the first day of class you should
determine several times during the week when you are all available outside of
class.
Exchange Information: Exchange telephone numbers and email
addresses among yourselves.
Behavior: Arrive promptly to class and sit with your learning
group. There will be activities during
each class in which you will interact and your fellow group members will depend on you to be there at the beginning
to hear the instructions.
äA Meal With the
Prof.: Your group coordinator should write down for me your group name, members
of the group, and a possible day and time that we can get together for either
breakfast, lunch or supper. This will
be an informal occasion where we can either talk about science class or anything
else---the purpose is to get to know each other. I will set up a schedule to meet each group at the door of the
cafeteria. If you do not subscribe to the meal plan, I will bring you a meal
ticket.
Breakfast at Kelley Commons is from 7:00 to 9:00 AM (I
am available Monday through Thursday)
Lunch is from 11:15 AM to 12:45 PM (I am available
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:05)
GFIRST WEEK ASSIGNMENTS:
·
Read this syllabus
carefully!! Note especially your
responsibilities in the course.
·
Read the appropriate parts of the assigned chapters and complete
Outline 1 for the next class; before 7:00 AM on the day of the next class,
email me any questions or subjects you would like explained further.
·
If you have not activated your University “@maine.edu” email account,
contact Computer Services in the Library basement (768-9626) for help.
·
If you forgot your password, you can reset your password using the
following Website: http://mail.maine.edu.
·
I will send you email via Blackboard by using your “@maine.edu” account. If you check a different account more
frequently, use the UMS Mail Server (http://mail.maine.edu) to forward your
@mail.edu email to your preferred account.
&READINGS AND /OTHER HOMEWORK
Before each class, read appropriate
parts of the chapters listed on your Topic Schedule. Determine the parts of the
chapter you should read by looking at the topic outline. You should also do any
other assignments listed in HOMEWORK column of the Topic Schedule, such as
looking at specific websites. You are
expected to be familiar with this material before the first class at which it
is discussed.
2 WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
ONE
POINT IS DEDUCTED FOR EACH DAY THAT ANY PART OF WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT IS LATE,
INCLUDING THE CONSULTATION AT THE WRITING CENTER.
&BOOK REVIEW
Choose and read a book related to human nutrition from
the Biology 300 Book Review Choices on my Blackboard Webpage and write a review
of its appropriateness for Biology 300 students. Each student must read a different book. For the review, follow
carefully the Book Review Grading Criteria, page ix of your CoursePack.
Due
dates:
(See the Topic Schedule Homework column
/ You do not have to wait until the due date to complete each part!):
·
Tuesday, January 31:Tell me the book you
have chosen to read. Since each student
must read a different book, borrow your book early from the library to ensure
you get your first choice.
·
Before Thursday, March 30: Complete your consultation with one of the UMPI Writing Center
tutors. You should make an appointment
well in advance by going to the Writing Center located in South Hall. Students from many different classes use the
Writing Center, so getting an appointment at the last minute may be impossible.
·
Thursday, April 13: Submit your final book review with the Book Review Grading
Criteria sheet stapled to the front. Behind the final
copy, attach the first draft along with notes made during the consultation at
the writing center.
FINAL
PROJECT: SERVICE LEARNING NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT AND LUNCHEON FOR PARTNERS
·
A copy of an article I published in the Journal of College Science Teaching that describes this service-learning project is located near the
front of your CoursePack.
·
You will be paired with someone who has volunteered to be the subject
of a complete nutritional assessment.
·
During the first half of the semester you will learn how to do a
nutritional assessment of yourself.
During the second half of the semester you will apply these skills to a
nutritional assessment of your service-learning partner.
·
Before 5:00 PM on Tuesday, May 9: In place of a final exam, for your final
project you will submit to me a written
nutritional assessment of your service learning partner.
·
During your final meeting with your partner, you will
give him or her a copy of the written assessment, accompanied by a
verbal explanation.
·
Thursday, May 4 (the final day of
class): We will host a luncheon of healthful foods for all of the
service-learning partners. Please sit
with your partner at the meal!! You
will contribute a food item labeled with Nutrition Facts.
·
A detailed description of what should be included in the written
nutritional assessment is in your CoursePack.
TESTS
TYPES OF QUESTIONS. Questions emphasize
critical thinking skills acquired during homework and in-class activities. For
each test you may bring with you one 8.5" x 11" paper on which you
have written important facts (using one side only) and your name. This will be stapled to the back of your
test when you turn it.
MAKE UP. If you
know in advance that you will be absent during a test, you must obtain
permission from me at least two school days before the day of the
test. Unanticipated absences will
result in a grade of F (zero points) unless you call me on the day on which
the test was scheduled (you may leave
a voice mail message and I will call you back) and present medical or legal
documentation at the earliest possible date after the class period.
If you have just read this entire syllabus, email me
before 7:00 AM of the second day of class with a statement of the most
important thing you learned from the syllabus and you will receive 3 extra
credit points!
GRADING PROCEDURES:
The total possible
points for the course is 300 distributed in the following way:
3 topic tests @ 50 points = 150
Service Learning Nutritional Assessment = 100
Book Review = 30
Supersize Me Project = 10
Outlines, homework activities, participation =
10
Total course points = 300
To determine the
letter grade for a test or for the course:
1. Calculate your percentage based on the total
possible points using this ratio: points obtained/total possible points X 100 =
%
2. Convert the percentage to a letter grade
using the scale below:
|
A = 93-100% |
B- =
80-82.9% |
D+ =
67-69.9% |
|
A- =
90-92.9% |
C+ =
77-79.9% |
D = 63-66.9% |
|
B+ =
87-89.9% |
C = 73-76.9% |
D- =
60-62.9% |
|
B = 83-86.9% |
C- =
70-72.9% |
F = 00-59.9% |