Getting Started
A. Course Description: BIOL 230 - 4 credits - MICROBIOLOGY
Introduces concepts related to the study of bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi. These microorganisms maintain both beneficial and pathogenic relationships with humans, and concepts related to both types of relationships will be examined. This course emphasizes basic laboratory techniques such as microscopy, staining, and aseptic technique.
3 lecture hours and 3 laboratory hours
B. Prerequisite: BIOL 110 with a final grade of “C” or higher; MATH 073 or MATH 083
C. Your Syllabus
Everything you need to know regarding the workings of this course can be found in your syllabus. The first thing you need to do is carefully read every page of the course syllabus. You can read it on-line or print a PDF hard-copy from my website menu. Note that the course is NOT on Blackboard. My lecture E-text, the on-line version of my Laboratory Manual, syllabus, and all other materials needed in this course can be found on my faculty website.
For a more detailed description of lecture topics, laboratory topics, and other information relevant to this course, go to the course website at http://student.ccbcmd.edu/~gkaiser/index.html and click on “Course Info.”
D. Statement of Student Out-Of-Class Work Expectations
The number one reason why students do not successfully complete this course is procrastination!
Make sure you keep up with both lecture and lab learning objectives each week! (Each day during summer session.)
E. Getting Started in Lab
Lab is worth 30% of your grade. Since lab provides a critical hands-on experience critical to to the understanding of microbiology, attendance in the majority of labs is essential. Lab quizzes are a combination of multiple choice, matching, short answer, practical, and critical thinking questions.
1. Purchase or print-off a hard-copy of your lab manual The Grapes of Staph: A Microbiology Laboratory Manual by Kaiser and bring it to each laboratory session. You can either purchase a copy of this manual from the Catonsville campus bookstore in the K-building or print your own PDF copy from the link on my website in the menu on the left.
When using the hard-copy of your Lab Manual for studying, make sure you use it in conjunction with the on-line version to take advantage of the hundreds of illustrations, animations, photomicrographs, and electron micrographs included.
2. Read the lab exercises in advance of lab so you are familiar with what is being done that day. The lab schedule can be found under "Course Info" in the menu of my course website.
3. There are Concept Maps for each of the labs. These can be found by clicking on "Puzzles and Concept Maps" in the course website menu. There are also direct links to the finished Concept Maps in the online Lab Manual itself. The Concept Maps include direct links to relevant illustrations, photographs, photomicrographs, and Flash animations in your E-Lab Manual. The Concept Maps provide a nice summary of the keypoints of that lab exercise.
4. Lab quizzes will be a combination of multiple choice, matching, short answer, practical, and critical thinking questions. Questions will come directly from the Learning Objectives found at the end of each lab exercise in your lab manual. As soon as possible after each lab session, write out the answers to each objective. Remember that your online lab manual contains a color photograph of everything we look at in lab. Reviewing these photographs will be a big help in preparing for the practical portion of each lab quiz. Using the Learning Objectives as a guide, make up and ask yourself possible test questions and practice writing and saying the answers. Each lab quiz also has an optional crossword puzzle to help learn vocabulary. Each puzzle is worth 1 point of extra credit. Crossword puzzles can be found and printed by clicking on "Puzzles and Concept Maps" in the course website menu.
5. Lab quizzes will be given in lab prior to beginning that day's assigned lab exercise. Lab quiz dates can be found on the Course Calendar and under "Important Dates" in your syllabus.
6. We have no facilities for making up a missed lab unless you attend one of the other lab sections on the Catonsville campus doing that lab that week.
7. Since lab provides a critical hands-on component to the understanding of Microbiology, attendance in the majority of labs is essential. Twelve of our lab exercises are considered "core labs" and students will be graded on their mastery of lab techniques for each of these labs. Student performance during each of these 12 core labs is worth 10 points for a total of 120 points. Your instructor will allow you to miss only one core labs and only for a valid and documented reason. If the core lab involves inoculation and incubation, 5 core points will be based on performance during the inoculation lab and 5 points for the results the following lab period. Unless you are able to attend one of the other lab sections doing the lab you miss the week it is missed, there is no way to make up a missed core lab. For more information on the core labs, see "Course Info" on the course website.
8. Labs 12, Lab 14, Lab 15, and the Final Group Project are all case study-based identification of bacterial unknown. Each of these will require you to turn in a detailed lab report for grading and they will collectively be worth 125 points. (During summer session, two of these (Lab 12 and the Final Project) will require you to turn in a detailed lab reports for grading and they will collectively be worth 75 points.) For more information on the Case Study Lab Reports, see "Course Info" on the course website.
9. Review the "Hints for Success" under "Course Info" on the course website.
F. Getting Started in Lecture
Lecture is worth 70% of your grade in the course. Lecture exams are a combination of multiple choice, matching, discussion, and critical thinking questions.
1. You will need a hard-copy of your microbiology E-text, BIOL 230 - Microbiology: Lecture E-Text and Learning Objectives by Kaiser. You can either purchase a copy of this manual from the Catonsville campus bookstore in the K-building or print your own PDF copy from the link on my website and clicking on "PDF Lecture E-Text in the menu on the left.
When using the hard-copy of your E-text for studying, make sure you use it in conjunction with the on-line version to take advantage of the hundreds of illustrations, animations, photomicrographs, and electron micrographs included.
2. Your lecture E-text for this course, has been created as a series nesting Learning Objects. A Learning Object is basically a digital resource that is used as an element to support learning experiences. In constructing each of my Learning Objects I've tried to include:
- A list of learning objectives for that object telling the learner what they should be able to do after completing that Learning Object;
- Illustrations, photographs, and/or animations to help the visual learner; and
- A self-assessment component.
3. First read the "Overall Purpose" for the Learning Object you are going to study. This gives you a general description of what we are going to learn in that Learning Object.
4. Now click on "Learning Objectives for This Section" and write out these objectives on which you will be tested. Any objective could be tested for by way of multiple choice or matching questions. Only those objectives indicated by (*) or (**) will be possible discussion questions.
5. Go back and carefully read the Learning Object you are studying and answer each Learning Objective you have just written down. Don't forget to look at all illustrations, animations, and photographs for that section. Make note of any visuals that are particularly useful in understanding and learning a particular objective. Review the "Hints for Success" under "Course Information" on the course website.
6. Study the objectives until you can answer each without looking at the answer.
7. Click on "Quiz Yourself on This Section" and try to answer the self quiz. Click on (ans) to see if you are correct.
8. There are Concept Maps for most of the Learning Objects. These can be found by clicking on "Puzzles and Concept Maps" in the website menu. There are also direct links to the finished Concept Maps in the Learning Objects themselves. Use the "Unfinished Map" and the "Keywords and Phrases for Map" as a self-quiz. The "Finished Concept Map" is the completed map and includes direct links to relevant illustrations, photographs, photomicrographs, and Flash animations in your E-text. The Concept Maps provide a nice summary of the keypoints of that topic.
9 . The Lecture Schedule can be found under "Course Info" in the menu of my course website and the exam dates can be found on the Course Calendar and under "Important Dates" in your syllabus.
10. Lecture exams are a combination of matching, multiple choice, discussion, and critical thinking questions. Each lecture exam also has an optional crossword puzzle to help learn vocabulary. Each puzzle is worth 1 point of extra credit. Crossword puzzles can be found and printed by clicking on "Puzzles and Concept Maps" in the course website menu.
11. All lectures contain at least one active learning activity where small groups of students will work to answer critical thinking questions, complete concept maps, or use audience response (clicker) systems. In-class participation is worth a total of 50 points. Attendance cards will be passed out at the beginning of each lecture period and collected at the end of class.
12. Sign up for my BIOL 230 Facebook page by logging into your Facebook account, searching for "Dr. Kaiser BIOL 230 Page" and clicking Like. Students can use this page to communicate with one another regarding the course, participate in discussions relative to microbiology, and receive reminders of upcoming course events.
13. You will notice many "boxed" links as you go through the online E-text. Some are required viewing, others are optional. They include the following:
a. Yellow boxes with links indicate reusable Learning Objects. These either review a Learning Object previously covered or preview a future Learning Object. These are for optional viewing.
Review or Preview
b. Brown boxes with links indicate sources outside my website such as online journals or textbooks. These are for optional viewing.
Outside Source
c. Light blue-green boxes with links indicate highlighted microorganisms. These are required viewing and are tested by a matching question where you match the microbe with its description as part of the lecture exam.
Highlighted Microbe
d. Green boxes with links indicate brief, student-authored descriptions of microbial infections. These are for optional viewing.
Microbial Infection
e. Blue boxes with links to Concept Maps link you to completed concept maps on that Learning Object with links to relevant illustrations and animations in your E-text. These are useful study aids for some of the more complex Learnin Objects. These are a great study aid for your exams and quizzes!
Concept map
f. (def) indicates a definition of a term previously used or a term that will be defined later in the course. These there if you need them but you won't be tested on definitions not listed in the Learning Objectives for the Learning Object you are studying.
g. Gray boxes are links to critical thinking Think-Pair-Share Questions that will be done during class in lecture. Students will read the questions and then be given 30 seconds to look over their notes and think about answers to the questions. Students will then pair up and be given 2-3 minutes to discuss possible answers with their partner. Finally, pairs will share their answers with the rest of the class.
G. BIOL 230 Course Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:
1. classify organisms using appropriate terminology related to their structure, metabolism, genetics and ecology;
2. differentiate between opportunistic and pathogenic microorganisms and explain how contact with susceptible hosts can result in infection and/or disease;
3. explain innate and adaptive immune responses as they apply to the infectious disease process;
4. explain principles of physical and chemical methods used in the control of microorganisms;
5. assess methods of prevention and control of diseases based on acquired knowledge of immune responses and methods of microbial growth control;
6. demonstrate appropriate laboratory skills and techniques related to the isolation, staining, identification, assessment of metabolism, and control of microorganisms;
7. develop the ability to work both independently and with others in the laboratory and draw appropriate conclusions from laboratory results; and
8. develop an information base for making personal health decisions in regard to infectious diseases.
H. CCBC Online Technical Support: 24/7 Help Desk
To contact the CCBC Online Support Help Desk, available 24/7, go to http://d2.parature.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=8106
I. CCBC Student Support Services
See http://ccbcmd.edu/services/index.html.
I hope you enjoy microbiology and find the course meaningful. Feel free to contact me any time you have questions!
Gary E. Kaiser, Ph.D.
Professor of Microbiology
CCBC, Catonsville