INSTRUCTOR: Jim Sniezek, Ph.D.
CONTACT: james.sniezek@montgomerycollege.edu
OFFICE HOURS: You can reach me via e-mail with questions and/or arrange to meet me in a chat room at a predetermined time.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The Student will be introduced to the structure and function of human body systems. The Student should develop a basic understanding of the delicate yet intricate processes necessary for maintenance and proliferation the human organism. The Student should be able to discuss elements of the human body including basic chemistry, cell structure and function, tissues, organ systems (e.g. digestive, circulatory, reproductive systems) and associated common diseases and illnesses.
ONLINE MODULES
I have designed modules to be completed according to the schedule outlined in the calendar. Each module presents that module’s goals, relevant Internet/text readings, glossary terms and Internet links to key course concepts. The material in these links provides key concepts in alternative visual formats, which can enhance your understanding of the course content. You will have to complete 1 to 2 assignments per Unit (see ASSIGNMENTS section below). You will have approximately a week to complete the modules, as indicated in the course calendar. Refer to the course calendar for specific due dates.
TEXT
There is one REQUIRED TEXT for this course.
Structure and Function of the Human Body, First Edition by Martini/Bartholomew 
Structure and Function of the Human Body provides a general overview of the structures of the body and the functions they play. The text is written to provide a very basic understanding of anatomy and physiology for non-science majors and will help you master terminology and understand concepts.
ASSIGNMENTS
Always refer to the calendar for availability and due dates. No late assignments will be accepted. Italics below indicate WebCT links or pages.
Introductory Post: 2 Total Points
Follow the instructions outlined in the orientation section of the Syllabus page (below) with regards to posting an introduction. You will receive 2 points for your introductory post
Exams: 198 Total Points
There will be two exams, a midterm and a non-comprehensive final. Each is worth 99 points. These exams will be open book, but you are not allowed to discuss or interact with another student or person when taking the exams or answering the questions. Exams are accessed through the Assessments link.
Module Quizzes: 280 Total Points
There are 14 learning modules. Each module has an
associated 20 pt quiz. After completing
the module, you will take the quiz. The
quiz will be timed and the format of the quiz will be multiple choice,
fill-in-the-blank, and/or short answer.
You will only be able to take the quiz once.
Body Ailment Assignment: 20 Total Points
You will be asked to provide a written paper related to a body ailment. The specific topic must be approved by the instructor ahead of time. The due date of the assignmentis indicated in the Assignment Space. Your paper should be no more than two pages in length but completely answer the questions outlined in the assignment. You will need to research your answer using either Internet or textbook resources and cite at least 4 references following your discussion (lack of citations will result in loss of points). All answers should be in your own words and summarize the cited sources. Cut and Paste answers constitute plagiarism and will result in zero points for the assignment. If the plagiarism persists, an “F” in the course may be awarded. Please post your assignment using the drop box in the following .rtf format with your LAST NAME INDICATED IN THE FILENAME (i.e., Smith_Mod1.rtf).
Plagiarism is a serious offense often resulting from naivety or a lack of understanding about the seriousness of the offense. Four-year institutions dismiss students for plagiarism. In the corporate world, passing off someone else’s material as your own can get you fired! In this course you will take a plagiarism tutorial offered by the Montgomery College Library. Please review this site on avoiding plagiarism. At the end of the tutorial is a quiz on plagiarism. If you take the quiz and score 100% on the quiz you will receive 2 bonus points. See the assignment section for specifics.
LECTURE TOPICS AND EXAM SCHEDULE
The following is a list of the topics for the course and the order we will be covering them in:
UNITS
UNIT 1: The Basic Information
Module 1: What is anatomy and physiology?
Module 2: Chemistry and the Human Body
Module 3: The Structure and Function of Cells
Module 4: Tissues and Body Membranes
Unit 2 Body Systems
Module 5: The Skeletal System
Module 6: The Muscular System
Module 7: The Nervous System
(MIDTERM EXAM)
Module
8: The Endocrine System
Module 9: The Heart and Circulation 
Module 10: The Lymphatic System and Immunity
Module 11: The Respiratory System
Module 12: The Digestive System
Module 13:
The Urinary System and Body Fluids
Module 14: The Reproductive System
(FINAL EXAM)
Late Policy
No late assignments will be accepted. If you know that you will be out of town at a time when an assignment is due, please contact me ahead of time and we will make accommodations. Failing to contact me ahead of schedule will result in an automatic 0 for that assignment.
Anytime you submit an assignment thru the Assignment drop box, you should receive a statement of confirmation indicating that your assignment has been submitted. If you do not receive this email, then you should assume that your submission was not received by the system, and you will receive a grade of 0 points for your missing assignment. If you do not receive a confirmation statement, try to submit again, AND email your assignment to me via the internal course e-mail and my external e-mail given above.
Grading Policy
Please be sure to keep track of your points and to contact me via email at james.sniezek@montgomerycollege.edu if points that you earned do not appear under your “My Grades” link after 2 weeks.
Midterm grades will be assigned according to the following:
A 90-100 % 225-250 points
B 80-89 % 200-224 points
C 70-79% 175-199 points
D 60-69% 150-174 points
F less than 60% 149 and fewer points
Final grades will be assigned according to the following:
A 90-100 % 450-500 points
B 80-89 % 400-449 points
C 70-79% 350-399 points
D 60-69% 300-349 points
F less than 60% 299 and fewer points
You can view my comments on your submissions submitted thru the Assignments link by returning to the assignment in the Assignments link, and clicking “graded”.
Orientation to
BI130: The Human Body
Before beginning our course, please read thru this page carefully and refer back to it as necessary. This page provides:
1. Helpful links and
information designed to introduce you to WebCT, and
2. A description of the course layout, and
3. Instructions for completing a brief Introduction assignment (2 pts)
4. Instructions for completing your Written Assignments and Avoiding Plagiarism
The purpose of this page is to supplement the information provided in the above syllabus, define my expectations of your work, and hopefully answer FAQs. Welcome, and I hope you have a positive learning experience!
Introduction to WebCT
For those of you using WebCT for the first
time, it may be helpful to take this Distance
Learning Orientation to assess your readiness to take classes at-a-distance. Please visit this WebCT
tutorial, which demonstrates
the basic skills necessary to successfully use WebCT.
At this site, be sure to view the following tutorials on
For WebCT to work properly with your computer, you
must ensure that your browser is properly configured to work with WebCT. Click here
and follow the steps. If you need assistance, contact the WebCT
Help Desk at (877) 691-5059 or http://hdo.collegis.com/lt. Usage of online materials may require viewing PDF files via
Adobe Acrobat.
WEBCT HELP
If you need help, you can click on the WebCT Student Users Manual on the entrance page. Or, the WebCt Help Desk is available to all registered students. Click Help Desk to learn about hours and anticipated response times. Help is also available by phone at 1-877- 691-5059 or online at http://hdo.collegis.com/lt.
Contacting the Instructor/Office Hours:
If you think you have a question or comment that may be of general interest to the class, please post it using the Discussion tool into the appropriate module. I will check the discussion tool frequently, and respond to your questions there for the class to view. I do not have a set "office hour" but will answer questions submitted via course e-mail promptly. My email address is available through the internal course e-mail or you may e-mail me outside the course at james.sniezek@montgomerycollege.edu. If necessary, we can arrange a time to communicate using the real time chat rooms provided with WebCT. If you contact me with a comment concerning a link, please include the module number and the link address (URL).
COURSE CONTENT
This course consists of “Modules”, which are all available. Feel free to work ahead of the schedule outlined in the Calendar. Each module consists of: Goals, Text Readings, links to Internet sites, and popup-type pages that define unfamiliar terminology. Each module requires you to complete a quiz worth 20 points. Each student also will complete 2 written assignments (20 points), and take a midterm and a final exam (both open book and multiple choice/FITB/short answer, 99 pts each). Assignment and Exam availability and closing dates are posted on the Calendar also available at the Assignment and Assessment links.
PLEase check the course calendar for the course schedule and ALL due dates. I suggest that you stay on top of your assignments. The semester goes by quickly. Don’t wait until the last minute to do the written assignments and assessments.
Importance of the Textbook: The textbooks serve to supplement module readings. Purchase of the textbooks is required.
Using the Internet Components of the Modules: I have designed the Internet component of each module to be the foundation of the course, by choosing sites that present relevant anatomical concepts. Please review each link thoroughly, unless directed to a specific location on the website. The sites listed under the Sites for Further Information Section of each module are for your interest only, and are not a testable part of the course. If you find a new link that you think is useful, or might be an improvement, for our class, please post it in the Discussion Section: Websites to share. Also, if one of the links has been removed, please contact me via e-mail and I will fix it promptly.
Assignments: Please post all assignments as .rtf files only. An .rtf file is a file saved in "Rich Text Format". Most word processing programs have this option as a "save as" feature. Assignments must be posted by the due date time posted on the assignment link (generally10:00pm the day they are due); late assignments will not be accepted. End-of-module assignments are designed to be thought questions that will often require some further research on your part. Each assignment file should be titled with LAST NAME INDICATED IN THE FILENAME (i.e., Smith_Mod1.rtf).
Posting an Introductory Email: Because we will be working together, I would like
you to post a message by clicking the Communication: Discussion:
Introduction space and place your introduction into the Introduction thread
by 3 DAYS AFTER CLASS BEGINS. In your posting, please identify yourself,
your career ambitions, whether you are a freshman, sophomore etc., and INCLUDE your email address. Your
completed introductory post is worth 2 points.
How to answer an assignment question
The body ailment assignment is designed to extend and apply
your understanding of module content to management questions. Assigments may not have one correct answer but may
have a range of appropriate responses. Completeness and the referencing of
sources are critical in writing responses to the assignment questions.
For your assignments, you must use a minimum of
four publications as references. There are different types of publications:
Primary and secondary source publications.
What is a primary source publication? A primary source publication is an authored
publication found in a peer-reviewed journal, such as Science or
the Journal of the American Medical Association. In these journals, an
author submits a paper to the journal but it is not published until it is
reviewed by several of the author’s peers. Only if they conclude that the
methods used and the conclusions drawn by the author are sound, then the paper
is published.
What is a secondary source publication? A secondary source publication is a one that summarizes
the content of a primary source publication. Review publications, which are
papers where the author summarizes other scientists’ work on a particular
topic, are appropriate to use as sources as are certain websites from credible
scientific agencies or organizations (government sites, mainstream
environmental groups, ect.).
No Internet references designed for the non-scientific public (such as
about.com, CNN.com, or encardia.com) are appropriate.
If you use papers as references that you find in subscription-only sites, you
are required to email the papers as an attachment to me. You may wish to
contact an MC Librarian for assistance and/or use the MC Library electronic
database to find high quality sources. From the MC homepage,
click on the Libraries link or click here
In this class you are writing a scientific
response to the assignment question. A scientific response may be different
from other types of writing you have been exposed to or have written. Your
research paper must include citations located within the text. What is a
citation? This means that if you use an idea from another source, you must
“cite” that source’s name and year of its publication in parentheses following
the sentence. Therefore, a citation is when you give credit to your source for
the idea(s) in your sentence or paragraph. As an
hypothetical example, if you read a paper on reproduction by Smith that was
published in 2003, and then use his statistics in your research paper, you
could write “cryopreserved embryos are twice as
likely to have birth defects (Smith, 2003).” Note, the
author is NOT included in the sentence, but only in the proper citation
following the sentence. An example of an improperly cited sentence would be:
“In 2003, a researcher named Smith found that cryopreserved
embryos are twice as likely to have birth defects.”
The
What is Plagiarism?
Plagiarism is a serious ethical violation that
occurs when you copy exact words from your references without paraphrasing or
re-writing the idea in your own words. Honesty and reliability are paramount.
All students are expected to achieve their academic goals honestly.
The
You are encouraged to participate in this tutorial and submit the electronic
quiz at the end (2 bonus pts). When taking the summary quiz, you will need to
provide your name, course, instructor, and instructor's e-mail address. You
will be given credit for the quiz when a score of 100% is attained. Check the Calendar
for the quiz completion date.