BISC 207, Fall, 2005
Grading Policy
The following grading criteria will determine the final course grade. Please note that there is no extra credit work allowed. Please attend to your grade as you go along and take steps to remedy poor grades in a timely manner to avoid end-of-semester anxiety. Some support services and studying tips are included here.
Final course grade is determined as follows:
Laboratory:
25%
3 Hour Exams:
60% (20% each)
PBL activities
15%
Support Services
The first place to look for help is from the course professor (me!)
Please attend office hours or
schedule other times with me if you need some help.
If more extensive services are needed, the Academic Services Center
can help set up both group
and individual tutoring sessions. Their phone number is 831-2805.
Studying Tips
Do not fall behind.
Review on a weekly or, better yet, daily basis.
Study actively. (Ask yourself questions. Write out explanations. Verbalize
what you think you
know. Talk to yourself in a mirror or tell it to a classmate or friend.)
Compose questions about the material for yourself.
Role-play. What would you ask the class if you were the professor?
Use a tape recorder if you have trouble keeping up in lectures.
Exam-taking Tips
Learn as you go along, not all at once before the test.
Begin reviewing about a week before the test.
Take advantage of additional office hours scheduled before the test.
Do not rely solely on a review sheet provided by the professor- put one together yourself.
Be sure you know what the exam questions are asking. Read them over
twice before you
answer. Ask for clarification if you are unsure.
Keep an eye on the time. Move along. If you get stuck on a question, go to the next one and return to the difficult question if you have time later.
If your exam uses a scantron sheet, fill the answers in as you go along.
Do not wait to fill them
in at the end. Many horror stories have arisen from that strategy.
Library
The library is an excellent resource for you at the University. They
provide informational sessions
designed to help you learn how to use the Internet, find resources
from other libraries, etc. Look
at their website and see if any of these programs is of interest to
you.
Computers
Similarly, the computing center at the University offers numerous group
courses of varying levels of
ability for students to learn and to practice using their own computers
or those available at multiple
sites on campus. Since in this course we will use the computer for
our group work and as a source
of course information, visit the computer site on the University website
or in person to obtain a
calendar of classes available to you.