Message Board
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4/16 - All Students - Dear Macomb Community College Faculty Member, This email is to inform you that the Student Evaluation of Teaching survey for BIOL-2710-C1619 W24 is now open. Please encourage your students to check their Macomb email accounts for a link to the survey.If your students have any issues accessing or submitting the survey, please direct them to offofstueval@macomb.edu for assistance. Survey start: 04/15/2024 11:31:00 am // Survey end: 05/06/2024 11:59:00 pm

4/15 - All Students - We will start the Digestive System for the second lecture period next week. The Digestive System homework/study guides will be due 4/22. This will give you extra time over the weekend to complete this assignment. I will also need you to work ahead of my lecture schedule to complete the study guide/videos for the Reproductive System and turn this work in on 4/22. I will have more to say about the Reproductive System's study guide in class.

4/13 All Students - Grades posted on Canvas.

4/11 - All Students - We will start Unit Four with the Urinary System C23). Study renal structure for lab and complete Renal Study Guide and Video Homework for lecture. Turn in Study Guide and Video Homework for credit during first lecture period.

4/11 - All Students - About grades: Canvas lab grade is the "score" on the lab exam. The Canvas lecture grade is the score on the lecture exam plus "all of your bonus points.

4/5 - All Students - Homeostasis bonus point quiz first lab session of next week.

4/2 - All Students - My goal is to cover the Respiratory System this week. The first lecture next week before the exam will be open for review and questions. All study guides and homework video assignments need to be submitted by the end of this week for full credit. You will also have another opportunity to write the homeostasis definition in next weeks first lab session.

3/31 - All Students: Heart dissection during first lab session of week.

3/18 - All Students - I made a mistake on the original 3/17 message. Please note the corrections.. 

3/17 - All Students- Unit Three Seven Lectures Sessions Before the Unit Exam.:   
#1 C18 Blood (Study Guide due)
#2 C19 Heart
#3 C19 Heart + C20 Blood Vessels (SG C19 due plus C22 SG due) Please Note - C22 is the correct assignment.
#4 C21 Lymphatic System + Intro Immune System
#5 C21 Immune System (SG due)
#6 C22 Respiratory System
#7 C22 Respiratory System + Review
#8 - Lab & Lecture Exam

Study Guides need to be turned in on schedule to receive bonus points. You need to watch the video homework assignments as we progress through the unit and turn in your video homework as you complete the assignments.

We will cover C18 Blood Type in lab (30 minutes) with demonstration and C20 Heart Structure in lab (30 minutes).

3/15 - All Students - Grades are now posted on Canvas. C18 Study Guide and Video assignments are due on next week's first lecture session and C19 Study Guide and Video assignments are due on the following week's first election session. For the lab, you need to prepare to identify the learning objectives for the heart.

3/9 - All Students - Homeostasis Bonus Point Opportunity at beginning of first lab session next week.

3/1 All Students - Unit Two Exam Questions: C12 =27 // C13 = 13 // C14 = 22 // C15 = 12 // C16 = 11 // C17 = 14

2/24 - All Students - Unit Grades are now posted on Canvas.

2/24 - All Students - You may now view your lab, lecture, and overall grades on Canvas.

2/21 - All Students - Homework assignments for C15 Autonomic Nervous System is due for the first session and C16 Special Senses is due for the second session. Lab preparation for eye and ear anatomy.

Dear Student, - Macomb Community College is pleased to announce free, immediate access to confidential and secure mental health support services for students. The college has partnered with Uwill, a mental health wellness company, to provide teletherapy, a direct crisis connection and wellness programming. // To schedule teletherapy:

• Create a profile with Uwill using your Macomb Community College email address.
• Choose a therapist based on your preferences including availability, issue, gender, language, ethnicity.
• Choose a time that fits your schedule. Appointments are available days, nights and during the weekend.

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, help is available anytime by calling 833.646.1526. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911. // You also have free access to on-demand wellness programming through an online platform. // If you need assistance with Uwill services, you can refer to the FAQ, Student User Guide or reach out directly to Uwill at support@uwill.com. // We are committed to your success and hope these new resources support you in your educational journey at Macomb. // Sincerely,

2/16 - All Students - We will finish C13 during the first hour of our M/T lecture and during the second hour start C14 Brain. We will complete C14 in the W/Th session. You will need to turn in your C14 homework on the W/Th session. You need to preview and identify all the brain's lab learning objectives for the M/T lab session. The Brain #1 /// Sheep Brain Dissection Video /// Sheep Brain Dissection Article + ( Image1 / Image 2 / Image 3 / Image 4

2/12 - All Students - C13 Study Guide and Video Homework due on Wednesday. You need to review lab learning objectives at home before coming to lab. This is the only way to improve the lab class average from 68% to 94%.

2/7 - All Students - Chapter 12 Study Guide and Video Homework due on Monday/Tuesday session. In lab you need to prepare to identify the following Unit Two Lab Learning Objectives: Nervous Tissue, Spinal Cord, Spinal Nerves, and Reflex Arc.

The Unit One Exam results were "mixed". There were a few "very good scores" but to many "not so good scores". If you do not like your test results then you need to do something different. (Here the adage applies: If you find yourself in a hole then stop digging!) I warned you on day one about how difficult this class is if you do not learn the lecture and lab objectives as we cover the topics in class. My formula for success has not changed: Preparation + Opportunity = Success. A failure shows only that you were not prepared for the opportunity.

There are three more unit exams so you have an opportunity to improve your grade. The best Unit One Grades were posted by students who attended lecture and labs. So if you are not attending the lecture or lab sessions then it maybe wise to come to all classes and ask questions if you do not understand something. You might what to review my first day Welcome comments.

If you need an inspirational note to lift your spirits and motivate you to do better then try this! The Man in the Arena (Part of Teddy Roosevelt's 1910 Speech)..

2/2 - All Students - I hope you can make time to use the Learning Center's Lab Resources. Models, charts, and practice exam are in the library. Here is the best way to prepare for the lecture exam. Use your study guides and ask someone to ask you the the questions. Make yourself answer the questions from memory. If you can then check that questions off as OK; repeat. It would be best if you do this with a classmate, but it is a great method with anyone. Remember what Seneca, the Roman philosopher said. It it is not that we have to short of time but we waste much of it.

2/1 - M/W Students - Unfortunately, we will need to cover C6 Integument System on Monday before the Wednesday Unit Exam. I will cover C6 and if there is time at the end of the lecture then I will make comments on essential information in C7-C10. Information in C7-C10 is not included in the Unit One Unit Exam. I will not accept any study guides or video homework assignments for Unit One after Monday.

1/31 - All Students - How to calculate your grade

1/30 - T/Th Students - We will finish C5 and C6 on Thursday. You need to turn in all study guides and video homework assignments through C6 by this Thursday. C6 will be the last topic included on the Unit One Exam. However, Tuesday I will make comments on essential information included in C7-C8-C9-C10. You will need to submit the posted study guide and video for these chapters on Tuesday and must attend class to receive full credit for the last homework assignment.

Most students are falling behind the schedule for learning lab objectives. Remember, you are suppose to prepare for lab at home so you can spend your lab time to identify learning objectives using charts, models, and bones. To many students are spending their lab time looking images in the lab book and not identifying learning objectives with the lab resources. If this is you then use the learning center to get additional lab time to prepare for the lab exam.

1/29 - M/W Students - We will cover Chapter 6 Integument System on Wednesday. You should have all study guides and video assignment through C6 to turn in on Wednesday. You will need to have C7 and the essentials for C8-C9-C10 study guides and video assignment turned in next Monday. I will lecture on these chapters on Monday but this information will not be included on the exam. You will to be present in lecture to receive credit for these bonus points..

1/26 - All Students - I had problems formatting the Chemistry Quiz on Canvas. Therefore, we will not use the computers and you will take the exam formatted on paper and record your answers on a Scranton. We will take the Chemistry Quiz during our lab period. There are 35 questions and you will have 30 minutes to complete the quiz. Make sure you arrive for the lab session on time.

1/26 - All Students- You need to submit C11 and C5 Study Guides and HW Video Assignments for your Monday/ Tuesday lecture session. We will finish C11 (skeletal muscle) and C5 (histology) in the first lecture period of the week. We will complete C6 (integument) in the W/Th lecture session. This will complete the chapters to be included on the Unit One Lecture Exam.

You will need to submit C7 Bone Study Guide and HW Video Assignment four the Monday/Tuesday lecture session before the Unit Exam. I will review essential information from C7 C8, C9, and C10 during the M/T lecture but these chapters will not be included in the Unit Lecture Exam. You must attend this lecture or C7 bonus points will be subtracted.

1/23 - T/Th Students - School is canceled today due to weather. You should complete all C4 assignments and start working on C11 assignments which will be due next week. Use the Web site lab resources to continue working on the identification of the skeletal system and you should also start to work on the identification of skeletal muscles.

1/23 - MW Students - You will need to turn in C4 Study Guide and Video Homework on Wednesday. //// I am concerned with the lack of preparation that I see. You are falling behind in your lab objective identification and I sense that you are not keeping up with lecture topics. The way this class is structured requires that you learn (memorize) the material as it is presented to you. You will fail the class if you delay learning the material and think you can learn everything the weekend before the exam. There is still time to prepare for the Unit One Exam but you have no time to waste. Do it now! // For Wednesday's lab you need to start the identification of skeletal muscles.

1/22 - All Students - (Library Hours) - My name is Clare Williams and I am the lead tutor for Biology (over at the Learning Center). I just wanted to take this time to let you know who I am in case you ever need to contact me. If you are not familiar with the Learning Center allow me to explain. We offer tutoring to students and have a variety of resources ( books, worksheets, models, and more). I have attached our winter schedule and information about the Learning Center and library to this email, so that you can share that information with your students. The Biology tutoring schedule may change throughout the semester, so I would advise students to check (our scheduling system) for up-to-date tutoring hours (directions in the black box in the "How to sign up for tutoring" document).

1/19 - All Students - After we complete C4 we will "jump" to C11. This chapter is a special challenge because of the amount of information you will need to learn. Moving the lecture covering C11 forward in our lecture schedule should give you more time to learn the sequence and events regulating skeletal muscle contraction. After we cover C11 then we will "drop back" and continue our lecture sessions with C5.

1/19 - M/W Students - We lost a lecture/lab session because of the recent holiday. This means we need to make up for lost time! On Monday we need to complete C3 and I hope we can start C4. You will need to submit both the C3 and C4 study guide answers and C3 Video HW. You will need to submit the C4 Video HW on Wednesday. For lab you need to prepare to identify the bones and features for the axial skeleton, vertebral column, and skull. (Please Note: we may need to use some lab time to make up for the lost lecture due to the holiday. You may offset the lost in lab time by using the lab resources in the library.)

1/19 - T/Th Students - For lecture you need to turn in C4 Study Guide and C4 Video HW on Tuesday. For lab you need to prepare to identify bones and features of the skull.

1/17 - All Students // Chemistry Quiz #1 Schedule: M-W Class January 29th // T-Th Class January 30th - Please note - You need to practice logging onto Canvas using an "on campus computer". Please go to the library and log onto your Canvas account. You will need to use your cell phone to authenticate and complete the process for logging onto Canvas while on campus. You need to do this before taking the chemistry quiz and the unit lecture exam.

1/17 - T/Th Students - On Thursday turn in C3 Study Guide and Homework Video Assignment. In lab you should prepare to identify Vertebral Column learning objectives.----

1/16 - M/W- C1619 // We will finish C2 on Wednesday and start C3. You should start you assignments for C3 but this work will not be due until next Monday.

1/14 - Chemistry Quiz #1 Schedule: M-W Class January 29th // T-Th Class January 30th (You will have two opportunities to take the chemistry section of the Unit One Lecture Exam. The second opportunity will be during the posted Unit One Exam Date. The highest score will be used in the calculation of your lecture grade.).

1/11 - T/Th Students - Due next Tuesday - All C2 homework and study guide answers. We will start chapter 3 on Tuesday so you need to start reading C3 and homework assignments. Lab - you need to prepare to identify the bones and markings in the lower extremity. You can do this. But it will require setting aside about three hours a day to complete this work. Carpe Diem

1/11 - All Students - Please do not email me any of your homework. All homework (study guides and video assighments) need to be turn in to me in class.

1/11 - M/W- C1619 - Due next Wednesday (no school on Monday): Complete C1 and C2 Study Guides and turn in for full credit // Complete C1 and C2 Homework Video Assignments and turn in for full credit. For lab you need to prepare to review last Wednesday lab assignment plus these new lab learning objectives (Lower Extremity Bones and Markings // Axial Skeleton // Vertebral Column) You should also read C1 and C2 in the textbook. Use your time wisely.

1/10 - All Students: If you have not answered these questions then please answer these questions and turn in your answers to me in class. Please do not email your answers.

1/9 -T/Th Students - Due Thursday 1/11 - Read Chapter One, C1 Study Guide Answers, C1 Homework Video Answers, time log sheet. You should also read C2, Preview both C2 power point slides, start C2 Study Guide and start C2 Video Homework Assignment (50% is good). You will turn in C2 work next week on Tuesday. /// Llab on Thursday you should inedentify these lab objectives (see lab objective Unit 1 - Body Cavities and Associated Structures + Addominal Regions + Serous Membranes and Associated Strucures + Upper Extremity Bones and Markings // Carpe Diem

1/8 - To All Students: print and turn in the survey questions posted on Canvas. Thank you.

1/8 - M/W- C1619 - Due Wed 1/10tth - C1 Study Guide Answers, Homework Video Worksheet Answers, Fill out time log sheet // You should also have all of C2 Study Guide completed by next week to be tirmed in on Wed 1/17th // for lab on Wednesday you should inedentify these lab objectives (see lab objective Unit 1 - Body Cavities and Associated Structures + Addominal Regions + Serous Membranes and Associated Strucures + Upper Extremity Bones and Markings // Carpe Diem

BIOL 2710 Lecture + Exam Schedules M/W
Syllabus Section M/W C1619

BIOL 2710 Lecture + Exam Schedues T/Th
Syllabus Section T/Th C1608

Student Acknowledgment Course Policies..

> Last day for refund >> : Second Wednesday after class start!  

> Last day to withdraw >> In order to properly withdraw from a class, the student must complete and submit the class withdrawal on Self Service Student Planning or in person at the Office of Records & Registration. Non-payment or non-attendance does not constitute a proper withdrawal and students who stop paying and/or attending classes without properly withdrawing will be held financially and academically responsible for the class(es)....

Key Idea: Neuroscience research discovered that it is more beneficial if you study daily. If you skip five two hour daily study times, but then try to make up for lost daily study time by spending one ten hour study time later in the week does not work. The benefit of the daily study time idea is based on how your brain works: synaptic potentiation, memory recall, and memory re-consolidation. We know recalling stored information reinforces "the memory trace". This is a nerve pathway which is established in our brains as we place information (i.e. the factoid) into our memory. Recall and re-consolidation (i.e. retrieving and replacing the memory) reinforces the synaptic connections along the memory trace. This is how the brain works! "Neurons that fire together wire together". So if we hope to benefit from our scientific knowledge, then we should be willing to change our behavior.

The purpose of science is to find the truth! Researchers who study classroom learning have discovered how personal digital devices (e.g. cell phones and lap-top computers) affect learning in the lecture class. The experimental results are alarming. When digital devices were allowed in the class room, class test results were one full grade lower! So in the interest of both "science and best practices in the lecture room", I prohibit cell phones and personal computers in my lecture classes. No exceptions!

This scientific evidence is not an isolated finding. There is a growing body of evidence all suggesting the negative impact of digital devices on classroom learning. The negative impact on learning occurs for both the user and those students near the digital user. Even the mere presence of the digital devices, turned off and in the student's backpack, will have negative consequences on the individual. I have provided you with several articles below to support my classroom policy. I realize that for some students this policy may feel unfair or inconvenient. My policy is based on scientific research and is in my student's best interest. Please read the reference articles below to learn how digital devices in the classroom harms classroom learning and lowers test scores.

How Smart-phones Hijack Our Minds - If you are smart then you will read this article. If you are wise then you will leave your phones at home or in your car when you come into school. "Students who didn't bring their phones to the classroom scored a full letter-grade higher on a test of the material presented than those who brought their phones to class."

Laptop Multi-tasking Hinders Classroom Learning for Users and Nearby Peers -- "Seeking Best Practices in Teaching" means a willingness to apply knowledge to ensure the best possible outcome for your students. This article is my justification for prohibiting laptop computers in my lectures. You can use laptop computers in lab. The "How Smart-phones Hijack Our Minds" is the justification for my cell phone policy. Sometimes science is inconvenient and in conflict with your personal wishes; but science seeks the truth. I hope you will read the smart-phone and laptop computer articles.

French school children head back to school without their cell phones, smart phones, and tablets. (link to article)

Digital Addiction: Rising rates of depression and anxiety in wealthy countries like the U.S. may be a result of our brains getting hooked on the neurotransmitter associated with pleasure