OFFICE VISITS:
Please feel free to come in during my office hours or by appointment regarding your progress in the course.

GRADES:
Sixty percent (60%) of the final grade will be determined by three exams. All exams will consist of multiple-choice, fill in the blank, and essays questions. The questions will come from the text, lecture, library reading assignments, and handouts.
Ten percent (10%) of the final grade will be a notebook to include daily homework assignments, learning and study strategies used in class along with comments, lecture notes, outside reading notes, vocabulary, copies of all written assignments including questions and science article critiques, a copy of the class syllabus, class schedule, student understandings document, class notes, and an example of the mathematical process used to figure out your grade plus your tentative grade. The notebook is due with each exam.
Twenty-five percent (25%) of your grade will consist of class work, graded questions and critiques, graded homework, and oral presentation.
Five percent (5%) of the final grade will be for active participation and attendance. Daily assignments will be checked at the beginning of the class. If you are not present at that time you will be marked absent. More than four absences will decrease your participation percentage by 1% per each absence over four. Ten absences earns a grade of "F". Two excused absences will allow the late assignment to be accepted. All other late assignments will not be accepted. Make up exams may consist of essay questions.

The basis of the final grade is as follows:	Percentage	Grading Scale
Average of all exams	60%	A = 90 - 100%
Notebook including daily assignments	10%	B = 80 - 89%
Graded homework,class work, presentation	25%	C = 65 - 79%
Active, participation and attendance	5%	D = 51 - 64%
Total	100%	F = 0 - 50

No extra-credit assignments will be given in this course.

TEST QUESTIONS:
Sixty percent (60%) of your grade is taken from the material in the book, lecture material, video news clips, assigned readings and handouts. Therefore, regular attendance is required to attain a good grade.
Prohibited classroom activities include: any disruptive behavior, late arrival or early exit, eating or drinking in class, cheating, bringing children to class, videotaping, and unregistered audit of lecture. Cheating results in an automatic zero for the test and is cause for immediate disciplinary action.

WITHDRAWALS and INCOMPLETES:
Remember that the final date for withdrawal from the course is____________.  A "W" (withdrawal grade) after ____________ requires the instructor's signature and is given only in cases of extreme or unusual circumstances: 1) a certified medical reason or 2) a death in the immediate family.
An "I" (Incomplete  grade) will be given only to students who are achieving passing grades and are very close to completing the course. The request form needs to be presented prior to the last day of instruction. In addition, the student must have a very good reason for not completing all the work on time, such as those listed under the withdrawal policy.

INSTRUCTION:
Lecture: The method of instruction is by lecture, Socratic questioning, group discussion, homework, and small group activities. Review the course competencies and you will see such words as "think critically, explain, describe, discuss, analyze, and problem solve."   In order to address these objectives, you need to talk and write. In the small groups, you will be discussing specific problem issues and then writing a response addressing the problem, applying it to yourself or Kaua'i, or answering questions. Some of the homework assignments will be checked in class and some will be turned in to be graded. This written work needs to be kept in your notebook (10 percent of your final grade) which is your file cabinet and should contain your ideas, your work, and important information which will help to determine your grade.

STUDY SKILLS and ADVISING:
Transfer science courses are very academically demanding courses that require developed study skills. Generally at least 6 hours of study time/week are required to obtain a passing "C" grade. Not only does the text, articles, and library reading assignment need to be read; they need to be studied, and written notes taken. Since memory coding and retrieval are critical to success, students are usually advised to organize; summarize; and rewrite the information contained into a set of coherent notes which can be used for review.

Students who perform poorly on tests should seek academic advising from the instructor.  During the semester, only estimated letter grades are given. As a general rule, students who fail a single test ("F") or perform poorly ("D") should make an appointment to see the instructor IMMEDIATELY. The Learning Center also has tutoring and counseling available in learning strategies. If a student has a complaint or concern regarding the class or teaching, that person needs to make an appointment and talk with the instructor to resolve the problem.

If you have a disability and have not voluntarily disclosed the nature of your disability and the support that you need, you are invited to contact the Student Services Office, 245-8314 or 245-8212 as soon as possible.  This is to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.

STUDENT CONDUCT and ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
As members of the academic community students are expected to promote an atmosphere of honesty and learning, respect for others, and appropriate classroom behavior to maintain the academic integrity essential to the educational process.  "Academic dishonesty cannot be condoned by the University.  Such dishonesty includes cheating and plagarism which violate the Student Conduct Code and may result in expulsion from the University." (Kauai Community College 2007-8 Catalog, p. 53)

SCHEDULE FOR BIOL 123 INTRODUCTION TO SCIENCE: HAWAIIAN ENVIRONMENT

 

MONTH	TUESDAY	THURSDAY
JANUARY	(1/15) Syllabus and Introduction(1)	(1/17) Introduction (1)
JANUARY	(1/22) Ecosystems (2)	(1/24) Ecosystems (2)
JANUARY	(1/29)Ecosystems - Energy (3)	(1/31) Ecosystems - Energy (3)
FEBRUARY	(2/5) Ecosystems - Change (4)	(2/7) Ecosystems - Change (4)
FEBRUARY	(2/12) Human Populations (5)	(2/14) Human Populations (5)
FEBRUARY	(2/19) EXAM #1 (Ch. 1-5) & 1 article	(2/21) Populations & Development (6)
FEBRUARY	(2/26) Water (7)	(2/28) Water (7)
MARCH	(3/4) Soil (8)	(3/6)Food (9)
MARCH	(3/11) Food (9)	(3/13) Biodiversity (10)
MARCH	(3/18) Biodiversity (10)	(3/20) Ecosystem Capital (11)
MARCH	(3/24 to 3/28) HOLIDAY	SPRING BREAK
MARCH	(4/1) Exam #2 (Ch. 6-11) & 1 Article and Student Presentation Work Day on Chapters 12 to 23	(4/3) Student Presentation Work Day on Chapters 12 to 23
APRIL	(4/8) STUDENT PRESENTATION ON Fossil Fuel(12) and Nuclear Fuel(13)	(4/10)STUDENT PRESENTATION ON Renewal Energy (14)
APRIL	(4/15) STUDENT PRESENTATION ON Environmental Hazards (15)	(4/17) STUDENT PRESENTATION ON Pests and Pest Control(16)
APRIL	(4/22) STUDENT PRESENTATION ON Water Pollution (17)	(4/24) STUDENT PRESENTATION ON Municipal Solid Waste (18)
APRIL	(4/29) STUDENT PRESENTATION ON Hazardous Chemicals (19)	(5/1) STUDENT PRESENTATION ON Atmosphere (20) & Pollution (21)
MAY	(5/6) STUDENT PRESENTATION ON Sustainable Communities (22 & 23)	(5/13) Final Exam #3 (Ch. 12-23) & 1 Article

READING LIST , BOOKS FOUND IN LIBRARY HAWAIIAN SECTION

Bushnell, O.A., The Gifts of Civilization, Germs and Genocide in Hawai'i, University of Hawai'i Press, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1993.

Carlquist, Sherwin, A Natural History (2nd ed.), Pacific Tropical Garden, SB Printers, Inc., Honolulu, Hawaii, 1980.

Cuddihy, Linda W. and Charles P. Stone, Alteration of Native Hawaiian Vegetation, Effects of Humans, Their Activities and Introductions, 3rd. ed., University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1993.

Decker, Robert and Barbara, "Volcano Watching" (4th ed.), Hawaii Natural History Association, Honolulu, Hawai'i, 1993.

Finney, Ben, Hokulea: The Way to Tahiti, University of Hawai'i Press, Honolulu, Hawai'i.

Forbes, David M., Encounters with Paradise, University of Hawai'i Press, Honolulu, Hawai'i, 1992.

Howarth and Mull, Hawaiian Insects and Their Kin,

MacDonald, Abbott and Peterson, Volcanoes of the Sea, 2nd ed., University of Hawai'i Press, Honolulu, Hawai'i.

Seiden, Allan, Hawai'i The Royal Legacy, Mutual Publishing, Honolulu, Hawai'i, 1992.

STUDENT UNDERSTANDINGS

1. I understand the standards in this course and that I am responsible for monitoring my own learning. _______(initial)
2. I understand that the class-time will focus on practice, lecture, and class activities. _____
3. I understand on a typical class day I will be working in a small group and that I will be responsible to take an active part in advancing the assigned work of the group. ______
4. I understand that I will be held regularly responsible for assessing my own work using criteria and standards discussed in class. ______
5. I understand that if at any time in the semester I feel unsure about my "grade", I may request a meeting with the professor. _____
6. I understand that I will have a written assignment due for almost every class day except test days. _____
7. I understand that I must keep a lecture notebook, using a special format and include five entries pertaining to learning methods or study strategies used in class along with comments, all daily homework, a copy of all computer generated reports, graded discussion group assignments, a copy of the class syllabus and schedule, student understandings agreement, and an example of the procedure used to figure out my grade. _____
8. I understand that if the assignment for the day is not completed, then I am not prepared to do the "in-class" work of the day and may be asked to leave. ____
9. I understand that there are three exams in lecture class. _____
10. I understand that I must write a number of one page critiques, questions, and summaries on reading assignments. _____
11. I understand that I must participate in group assignments. _____
12. I understand that no extra-credit assignments will be given in this course.____
13. I understand that the work of the course requires consistent class room attendance and active participation. ____
14. I understand that the final class grade will not be graded on a curve. I understand that it is theoretically possible for the whole class to get an "A" or an "F". ____
15. I understand the final grade is based on the following items:

Daily assignments will be checked at the beginning of the class. If you are not present at that time you will be marked absent. More than four absences will decrease your participation percentage by 1% per each absence over four. Ten absences earns a grade of "F". Two excused absences will allow the late assignment to be accepted. All other late assignments will not be accepted. Make up exams may consist of essay questions.

The basis of the final grade is as follows:	Percentage	Grading Scale
Average of all exams	60%	A = 90 - 100%
Notebook including daily assignments	10%	B = 80 - 89%
Graded homework, class work, presentation	25%	C = 65 - 79%
Active, participation and attendance	5%	D = 51 - 64%
Total	100%	F = 0 - 50%

No extra-credit assignments will be given in this course.

DAIILY ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE CHECKED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CLASS.
Late assignments will be accepted for up to four excused absences.____

NAME: (Print) ____________________________________________________
(Sign) ____________________________________________________DATE: ____________________