Mount Saint Mary

College
Newburgh, New York
Division of Natural Science licensed under CC BY-SA

BIO - 1130: Biological Principles I Fall 2024

Semester/Session: Fall 2024 Instructor: Suparna Bhalla
Course Dates: August 26 – December 6 MSMC Email: suparna.bhalla@msmc.edu
Credit Hours: 4 Phone: 845-569-3128
Prerequisites: A grade of C or above in MTH 1000 Office: Aquinas Hall 250-H
Class Hours: T, R 9:135-11:00 AM Office Hours: W, F 1:30 – 3:00 PM appointment
Classroom: Aquinas Hall 311 or via zoom
https://msmc.zoom.us/j/5483709354
Preferred Method of Contact: e-mail at
suparna.bhalla@msmc.edu

Course Description
Part 1 of a two-part course for science majors, BIO 1130 is course designed for science majors that covers
basic concepts in modern biological thought emphasizing the chemical and cellular basis of life. This is a
more in-depth presentation of biological principles than BIO 1110. –4 credits (3 hours lecture, 3 hours
lab)

Laboratory
Each student will be scheduled for a 3-hour laboratory session on Tuesday or Friday each week. The
laboratory is not a separate class and the lab grade will be averaged into the final grade for the course. A
separate syllabus for the laboratory will be distributed in lab. A separate Laboratory syllabus will be
provided by your lab instructor to outline the expectations and requirement of the laboratory portion of
the course.

Required Course Materials

Text: Urry, Cain, Wasserman, Minorksi, Reece, Campbell Biology 12th Edition Pearson and its
companion website: Mastering Biology
Jove videos
The textbook and access to Jove videos should be available to you via e class using the instructions that
you have been sent from Follet. Once you follow the instructions, you will be required to make an
account with Pearson.
The course id this course is bhalla27784

**If you have opted out of the one price program you will still need to buy the book and access to
mastering biology which can be purchased directly from Pearson using the ISBN 978013678089 which
contains both the Modified Mastering Biology with Pearson eText for Campbell Biology. After
purchase of this access card, you will need to register for the course by following the instructions

**To register for Biological Principles -1:

1. Go to https://mlm.pearson.com/enrollment/ bhalla27784
2. Sign in with your Pearson student account or create your account.
3. Buy instant access using a credit card or PayPal.

1
 4. Select 18-week access option, if asked
5. Select Go to my course.
6. Select Biological Principles -1 from My Courses.

If you contact Pearson Support, give them the course ID: bhalla27784
To sign in later:

1. Go to https://mlm.pearson.com.
2. Sign in with the same Pearson account you used before.
3. Select Biological Principles -1 from My Courses.

PLEASE NOTE: HW and some quizzes are assigned via Mastering Biology so please make sure you
access your class no later than Sept 2

e-class
All lecture materials, links, handouts, and other information about the course will be available on eClass
at https://eclass2.msmc.edu

Instructor and Student Communication

Communication is vital to your success in this course. The best way to contact me is by e-mail. I check
my e-mail regularly and will typically respond to you within 24 hours. If you do not get a reply, please
feel free to re-send your e-mail. Do not feel that you are bothering me with your questions – I am
happy to hear from you!

I will communicate through eClass and by your Mount e-mail. Please check both regularly for
information about course assignments and expectations, schedule changes, opportunities for extra credit,
internships, and programs of interest. You will also be subscribed, through your MSMC e-mail, to the
science majors listserve through which you will receive information of general interest to those studying
the sciences.

Updates and information will also be posted on e-class. Check it regularly.

Course Outcomes: This course will introduce the student to the laws, theories, and principles of biology.

Student Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, a student should be able to:
1. Demonstrate understanding of four major themes: Characteristics of life: that includes
a. Levels of biological organization
 The chemistry of life including the structure -function of important organic macromolecules,
important chemical reactions and the role of enzymes.
 Cellular organization: including structure and function of organelles and the plasma
membrane and cell –cell communication

b. Energy transfer through living systems: that includes photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
c. The continuity of life: that includes the molecular basis of information transfer including cell
division, the basic principles of heredity, gene expression and recent developments in the field of
molecular and biotechnology
d. Evolution: that includes topics on Pre-Darwinian ideas, Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection, the
genetic, anatomical and fossil evidence in support of the theory and principles of population
genetics

2
 2. Identify, research, and analyze information needed for problem solving
3. Communicate ideas in an oral and written format
4. Collaborate productively in groups
5. Demonstrate the ability to design and carry out a scientific experiment

Learning Activities:
 Lecture
 Videos
 Textbook readings
 Case studies and Homework problems
 Review sessions

Student Assessment/ Evaluation Methods

 Regular in person and on-line quizzes
 Assigned Homework
 Exams
 FYE project
 Final Exam

General Education Curriculum: Biological Principles, BIO 1130 is also part of the General Education
curriculum and students taking this course can use it to fulfill their lab science requirement. Outcomes
specific to the General Education Curriculum in this course include the acquisition of:

Skills (I): Possess communication, problem-solving, and technological skills in a variety of contexts as
demonstrated in the ability to:
1. write a clear, well-organized paper that incorporates relevant details, sources, and examples,
while following standards for style, usage, and documentation appropriate to the discipline;
2. deliver an oral presentation that demonstrates internalized knowledge and understanding of a
topic, engages an audience, and makes effective use of appropriate visual aids;
3. correctly assess and analyze graphical and statistical data;
4. accurately interpret, analyze, and evaluate evidence in order to construct well-supported
arguments that justify clearly stated conclusions;
5. identify, access, and evaluate relevant sources of information and use technological tools and
other resources for organizing, conducting, and presenting research.
Knowledge (II): Acquire and integrate knowledge essential to the understanding of:
1. major theories, methodologies, and applications of the natural sciences, including the use of
the scientific method for the study of living organisms and the physical environment;

Evaluation Criteria
Quizzes: There will be regular quizzes. Quiz formats may change from week to week. Quizzes may be
administered a number of different ways, including but not limited to:
 Via Mastering Biology and Jove
 In-class written quiz
 Sent by e-mail, with your work scanned and uploaded to eClass as a pdf

3
  Online via a link on e-class or google forms during class time
 Online to be completed before the next class begins
 In-class group quiz

Exams: 54% of your final grade. In addition to quizzes, assigned HW through Mastering Biology there
will be three scheduled exams. The quiz and HW average will count as an exam grade. The lowest exam
grade will be dropped and substituted with the combination of HW and quiz grades. Final Exam: 16 %
of your final grade A cumulative final that includes important topics covered during the semester.

FYE assignments or Non-FYE project: If you are in both Chemical Principles I with lab on Tuesday
(this course, BIO 1130) and Chemical Principles I (Dr. Maelia’s CHM 1510), you will complete First
Year Experience (FYE) reflections, essays, and other assigned work which will provide an FYE grade
that is 5% of the course grade. The components and weights of those assignments are given in the FYE
portion of the syllabus. If you are in this course, but not in CHM 1510, you will complete a separate,
non-FYE project that is worth 5% of the course grade.

Final grade calculation

Lecture – worth 75% of total course grade
Exams .....................................................= 54% (18x3)
*Quizzes..................................................= 10%
*HW (jove and Mastering)…………......= 8%
FYE / non FYE project…………..…….. = 5%
Final Exam …………………………… = 16%
* If required, the combined score of your quizzes and HW could be used instead of your lowest lecture
exam in the final calculation of your class grade

Laboratory – Worth 25% of total course grade (details given by your lab instructor)

You may be exempt from the final exam by maintaining an A average (90 or above) leading up to the
final, including the laboratory grade, all three exams and the quiz average without any extra credit or
dropped grades and the FYE/non FYE project. You must complete the quizzes until the end of the
semester

Grading Scale
A 90-100% C+ 75-77%
A- 88-89% C 70-74%
B+ 85-87% C- 68-69%
B 80-84% D+ 65-67%
B- 78-79% D 60-64%

Distributing Grades
You will be able to see the grades of your assignments in the gradebook of eClass. Online assignments
also allow you to see instructor comments so that you can use the feedback to improve your
understandings. Your final grade will appear in the Student Information System, not in eClass. Dropped
quizzes and exams will not be reflected in the eClass grade.

Course Calendar * - This is a tentative schedule for this course and is subject to change as needed.

4
Week Topic Text Chapter
Aug 27 -29 Introduction, Scientific Method, The themes of Biology (HW) 1 and 22
and Evolution

Sept 2 MONDAY LABOR DAY

Sept 3-5 Chemical Context of life, Water and life 2, 3

Sept 10-12 Molecular diversity of life 4
Sept 17-19 Biological molecules 5

Sept 24 A tour of the cell 6

Sept 26 Lecture Exam 1 (Chapters 1– 5, select topics from 22)

Oct 1-3 Biological Membranes (Tonicity and transport) 7

Metabolism and enzymes 8
Oct 8-10 Cellular Respiration
Oct 15 -17 Photosynthesis 10

Oct 22 Cell cycle 12

Oct 24 Lecture Exam 2 (Chapter 6 –10)

Oct 29 - 31 Mitosis and Meiosis 12 -13

Nov 5-7 Meiosis, sexual reproduction 13 -14
Nov 12 -14 Mendel and the Gene Idea 14 -15
Nov 19 Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance 15 -16
Nov 21 Lecture Exam 3 (chapters 12 - 15)

Nov 26 No class (Monday class schedule)

Nov 27 – 29 Thanksgiving break

Dec 3-5 Molecular Basis of Inheritance and Gene expression 16, 17

Dec 10 – 13 Final Exams – date TBD

Final exam : TBD

A cumulative final exam will be scheduled during the final exam period by the registrar.

Please be aware of important Fall 2023 dates:

 September 1 - Add/Drop deadline with 100% refund
 September 12 - Academic Withdrawal (AW) deadline for those who never attend class
 November 13 - Last Day to Withdraw without academic penalty

*It is the responsibility of the student to facilitate an official course drop/withdrawal by the date(s) listed
above. The student should inform both the instructor and the Registrar’s office if he/she plans to drop or
withdraw from this course.

5
List of Instructional Tools
 Microsoft Office’s current Version (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.) will be needed for
writing papers, organizing data, and presenting your work.

 Google documents may be used to share information with other students as you work on problems or
laboratory activities. You should be familiar with the Gsuite and google drive.

 A scanning app may be needed. There are many scanning apps available; you can use any one as long
as you are able to use it to submit documents as multi-page pdf files. Camscanner
(www.camscanner.com ) is an app for your phone or tablet that allows you to scan documents into
pdf files, while also cropping them, putting multiple pages into one file, and making them clearer and
easier to read.

Expectations for Course Collaboration and Active Learning

“Learn” is an active verb and you must actively participate in order to succeed. Just as you cannot learn a
language without practicing, you cannot learn biological concepts without actively engaging with the
content of this course. Your active participation is necessary for successfully completing the course.

You will be working closely with the instructor and your classmates in this course. There will be several
other opportunities to interact with others in the class through group problem-solving, review sessions,
group quizzes, and extracurricular activities.

I will hold weekly zoom review sessions to address any material that you may struggling with in class and
before every exam. You should take advantage of this opportunity to practice problem-solving and ask
questions of the instructor. If this time is not convenient, please let me know. I can arrange another time if
it works better for multiple students.

Participation In-Class
Collaboration will allow us to work together to learn, but everyone must do their part. Students are
expected to:
1) Be on time
2) Be on time - Quizzes will be administered in the first few minutes of class. If you miss an in-class
quiz, you will earn a zero. Some quizzes may be online. Please stay aware of what is going on with
the class so you don’t miss a quiz. Missed quizzes earn a grade of zero.
3) Be prepared – Make sure you have a calculator, paper, and writing implement.
4) Be respectful – all questions are welcome and should be valued as a way to enhance learning. Take
your turn speaking and allow others to share their ideas.
5) Participate!
a) Interact with the instructor when questions are asked during class.
b) Attempt to solve problems posed in class.
c) Contribute to group discussions in lecture and lab.
6) Respond to group members’ requests for information, feedback, or meetings.
7) Do your share of the work of a group.
8) When applicable complete peer evaluations honestly.

Attendance Policy
Attendance in lecture is expected; attendance in laboratory is mandatory. Excessive absence can be cause
for loss of a grade or failure at the discretion of the instructor. Please contact me if you will be (or have
been) absent. Absence from a quiz or exam will result in a grade of zero. You must notify me of your
reason for missing a quiz/ exam BEFORE it is given (or as soon as possible thereafter, if a medical

6
emergency). Absence from a graded exercise is excusable only through a certified excuse. It is
exclusively the judgment of the instructor whether an excuse is acceptable. Missed assignments for
which no acceptable excuse is provided will result in a grade of zero. Students are responsible for all
material covered in their absence.

Please see me about any circumstances that will interfere with your work in this course. I will work
with you to find a way to minimize the disruption to your learning.

Late Work/Make-Up Policy

Please contact me if you have an issue that will keep you from submitting assignments on time. I will
work with you find a reasonable accommodation for you. I want you to succeed! However, late work
without a valid excuse and an agreement with the instructor will incur a 5 point per day penalty.

Covid Guidelines
If you are not feeling well, or have been diagnosed with Covid-19, please self-quarantine and let me
know. I will work with you to keep you up-to-date with the coursework.

College Policies
Students are responsible for complying with all policies in the Student Handbook, including the
Academic Honesty Policy.

Academic Honesty Policy

The mission of Mount Saint Mary College is concerned with “…the development of sound values, goals
and commitments on the part of students. Equipping students to play responsible roles in society has been
a consistent aim of our institution.” Instances of academic dishonesty subvert the mission of the College
and the experience students derive from it. These instances harm the offender as well as students who
maintain academic honesty. The Mount community, therefore, commits itself to do all in its power to
prevent such dishonesty and imposes impartial sanctions upon those who harm themselves, their fellow
students and the College in this way.

Definitions:
Generally, academic dishonesty may be defined in the following ways:
a) Cheating: using or attempting to use, giving or attempting to give, unauthorized materials,
information, assistance or study aids in any academic exercise or evaluation (tests), unless the
nature of the academic exercise legitimizes cooperative learning;
b) Plagiarism: copying or imitating the language, ideas or thoughts of another person, and passing
off the same as one’s original work;
c) Falsification: forgery, alteration or misuse of academic documents, records or forms.

For additional information, please go to the Student Handbook located at

www.msmc.edu/studenthandbook.

Student Support Services

Counseling Services (https://www.msmc.edu/Student_Services/Counseling):
Many students face personal challenges or have psychological needs that may interfere with their
academics, social life, or emotional well-being. MSMC Counseling Services offers a variety of
confidential services to help students through difficult times including counseling, crisis intervention,
consultations, and mental health screenings. Counseling Services can be reached at
counseling@msmc.edu.

7
Disability Services (https://www.msmc.edu/Student_Services/Disability_Services):
It is the policy of Mount Saint Mary College to accommodate students with disabilities in accordance
with federal and state laws. If you, as a student with a disability, have difficulty accessing any part of the
course materials or activities for this class, please notify the instructor immediately. Accommodations for
test-taking should be arranged in advance. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the
Disability Services Office as soon as possible so that appropriate accommodations can be determined.
Please call the office at 845-569-3638, or email them at disabilityservices@msmc.edu.

If you have met with the Coordinator in the Disability Services Office and have been given an
accommodation letter, please make an appointment to speak with me as soon as possible so that we can
discuss the logistics and implementation of your accommodations.

IT Support Center (https://portal.msmc.edu/ICS/Offices/Information_Technology/):

The IT Support Center is here to assist you with your general technology needs including Mount Account
support, computer hardware/software issues, and more. IT will continue to assist with hardware, software,
and/or network/connectivity issues during remote operations. Seek support from the IT Help Desk by
emailing IT.Support@msmc.edu.

Kaplan Family Library (https://www.msmc.edu/library/):

The MSMC Library creates a dynamic, responsive learning environment by connecting people with
information. They facilitate teaching and learning, foster scholarship, and create a vibrant intellectual and
social gathering place for the Mount Saint Mary College community. They offer outstanding information
resources, expert information literacy instruction, attentive personal service, and relevant programming in
a space designed for study, discovery, collaboration, and inspiration. For more information, visit the
library website, email library@msmc.edu, or call 845-569-3600.

Tutoring (https://portal.msmc.edu/ICS/Offices/Tutoring_Center/):
Free individualized and small group tutoring is available to all MSMC undergraduates in most major
subject areas through the Office of Student Success. Drop-in tutoring only is available for some Natural
Science and Nursing courses with no appointment necessary. A schedule for the drop-in tutoring is posted
every semester on the tutoring site. Contact oss@msmc.edu for more information.

The Writing Center (https://www.msmc.edu/Student_Services/writing_center):

The Writing Center is the home for writing at Mount Saint Mary College. Their primary function is to
support students as they are completing academic writing assignments. The Writing Center’s team of
trained writing tutors assists Mount students in all stages of the writing process: brainstorming and
organizing ideas; structuring sentences, paragraphs, and essays; strengthening argumentation;
incorporating research and appropriate systems of citation; improving grammar and style; and more!
Students seeking help with their writing should email writing.center@msmc.edu.

Other Resources

Instructional Support
My office hours are listed at the beginning of the syllabus. If these are inconvenient for you, please make
an appointment with me for another time. You can come with specific questions, just to go over
problems, or to discuss issues you are having with the class. Don't let yourself fall behind before you
seek help!! You can contact me by e-mail at suparna.bhalla@msmc.edu. You can use my e-mail to ask
questions about the homework, about the requirements of the course, or to set up times to meet, etc.
Other avenues: attend the review or you can also get free peer tutoring by signing up for help at the
Office for Student Success (X 3177).

8
Support with eClass and Other Instructional Tools
If you are having trouble with the online textbook, eClass, or anything else, please let me know. If I
cannot help you resolve your problem, I will help you find someone who can.

eClass Basics for Students:

This optional self-paced eClass training will introduce you to many of the common features you may
experience in this course. Participants will be introduced to general eClass information, become familiar
using common activities, such as forums, quizzes, and assignments, and receive tips for success when
participating in your course on eClass. To begin, please visit the “Getting Started” link on the eClass
Homepage and click on the training titled, “eClass Basics for Students.”

Recording of Remote Classes:

When class or review sessions are recorded, there may be instances that require the sharing of that
recording in video format, such as when instructors and/or students are sharing their work with the rest
of the class. Otherwise, class recordings may be shared using an audio or transcript recording, which
does not include one’s image or profile image. Students who participate in this class with their camera
on or use a profile image are agreeing to have their video or image recorded solely for the purpose of
creating a record for students enrolled in the class to refer to for later use in studying. If you are
unwilling to consent to have your video image or profile recorded, simply keep your camera off and/or
do not use a profile image. Likewise, students who un-mute during class and participate orally are
agreeing to have their voices recorded. If you are not willing to consent to have your voice recorded
during class, simply keep your mute button activated and communicate exclusively using the Chat
feature, which allows you to type questions and comments in real time.

9
 First Year Experience (FYE)

Description & Objectives

Some of you are part of an FYE Learning Community (LC6) that is partnered with Dr. Lynn Maelia’s
Chemical Principles course (CHM 1510). You will take these two courses together, and as a result, have
a built-in community as you are beginning your journey here at the Mount. Some assignments and
activities will connect across both courses.

The goal of the Mount's First-Year Experience program is to welcome first-year students and foster your
success as you transition into Mount Saint Mary College’s community of learners. To complement your
Learning Community coursework, you will also participate in two Community-Based Learning activities,
and participate in First-Year Connections, which is a part of this course.

After completing this semester, all students will

 recognize the Dominican heritage and how it is lived through the student experience by
o exploring the charism of truth and pillars of study, spirituality, service, and community;
o identifying the pillars’ integration in their coursework and campus life; and
o cultivating the Dominican practice of contemplation by reflecting on how the pillars aid
in the development of their own sense of meaning and purpose.
 recognize what it means to serve a community by
o exploring community needs and the personal and collective capacity to contribute;
o identifying connections between service and personal development, coursework,
engagement with campus life, or beginning a future career; and
o brainstorming future opportunities to serve.
 explore the role they play in their own academic success by
o applying strategies to study effectively and manage their time and priorities;
o utilizing campus resources; and
o participating in academic processes related to advising, course planning, and
major/degree completion.
 recognize and critically think about their career, vocational, and self-development by
o describing potential careers in the Learning Community disciplines,
o demonstrating a holistic understanding of a particular occupation, and
o reflecting on personal preferences and strengths while applying them to a major and
career path.
 recognize diversity, equity, and inclusion by
o examining myths and stereotypes related to race, gender, sexual orientation, socio-
economic status, and other categories of identity;
o reflecting on their personal identities and how they inform their engagement with the
world; and
o developing an empathetic eye by considering the perspectives of people who are different
than them.
 recognize and practice tools for holistic mental and physical wellbeing by
o identifying the features of healthy relationships and practicing self-advocacy;
o developing financial wellness; and
o identifying the factors involved in ethical decision making.

Information Literacy & Personal Librarian: Part of the First-Year Experience is to acquire and
develop information literacy. With the guidance of a personal librarian assigned to our Learning

10
Community, you will be required to complete a pre-test, 6 tutorials, and a post-test. The tutorials cover
topics necessary for success with academic research assignments and will be assigned as homework/a
quiz grade/etc. throughout the semester in our class. These assignments are available on the FYE
connections eClass site.

Your personal librarian is Ms. Gina Trask, and she can be reached at gina.trask@msmc.edu . I encourage
you to set up an appointment so that she may help you with any research you have to do.

Due dates for the Information Literacy tutorials:

Week
Tutorial name Due date Time #
11:59p
1
Pre-test for Information Literacy 8/30/2024 m
11:59p
2
Orientation to the library and information literacy 9/6/2024 m
11:59p
3
IDENTIFY - Authoring Research questions 9/13/2024 m
11:59p
4
SOURCES - Common sources and search tools 9/20/2024 m
11:59p
5
FIND - Database search techniques 9/27/2024 m
11:59p
6
EVALUATE SOURCES - Lateral reading 10/4/2024 m
APPLY and ACKNOWLEDGE - Avoiding 10/11/202 11:59p
7
plagiarism 4 m
10/18/202 11:59p
8
Post-Test for Information Literacy 4 m

Academic Coach: As part of the First-Year Experience Learning Community, you also have an
Academic Coach who can help you with everything from time management and study skills to connecting
with all kinds of resources available to you on campus. Our embedded Academic Coach is Ms. Nancy
Herrera, and she can be reached at Nancy.herrera@msmc.edu.

Attendance & Participation

First Year Connections
In addition to our regular class meetings, you are required to attend First-Year Connections as a part of
your course attendance. Our class will attend First-Year Connections on Mondays from 1:25-2:20 from
September 9th through November 18 th. The schedule is provided below. An absence from First-Year
Connections constitutes an absence from class and will adversely affect your grade.

Community-Based Learning
Our first Community-Based Learning activity will take place on Monday, September 9, 2024 from 1:25-
2:20 pm. The entire first-year class will be participating in a campus-wide scavenger hunt.

To complement your Learning Community coursework, you will also participate in another Community-
Based Learning activity based on our service learning project with the Newburgh Armory, which is
scheduled for November 18th at 1:25 in room 209.

Components of Your FYE Grade (5% of class grade)

11
 ● Weekly Reflections 25%
● Final Reflection Assignment 30%
● CBL participation 30%
● Information Literacy tutorials* 10%
● Attendance at office hour/review** 5%

* Information literacy tutorials will be given weekly through the Learning Community 6 eClass and must
all be completed by October 18th.
** You must attend at least one office hour session or review to earn these points.

FYE First Year Connections Workshop Schedule

Mondays from 1:25-2:20 p.m.
Sept. 9 – Nov. 18, 2024

Date Topic Presenters Locatio Reflection

n Due Date
Mon., Sept. 9, 2024 The Great First-Year Scavenger Hunt! TBA
Mon., Sept. 16, 2024 Holistic Wellness Office of Health & AQU Sept. 22
Wellness, Campus 311
Ministry, & Student
Engagement
Mon., Sept. 23, 2024 Dominican Charism The Catholic AQU Sept. 29
Dominican Institute 311
Mon., Sept. 30, 2024 Academic Success Offices of Student AQU Oct. 6
Success & Disability 311
Services
Mon., Oct. 7, 2024 Service Desmond Center AQU Oct. 13
311
Mon., Oct. 14, 2024 Fall Break – No Workshop
Mon., Oct. 21, 2024 Career, Vocational, & Career Center AQU Oct. 27
Self-Development 311
Mon., Oct. 28, 2024 Diversity, Equity & Office of Diversity, AQU Nov 3
Inclusion Equity, & Inclusion 311
Mon., Nov. 4, 2024 TBA TBA.

Mon., Nov. 11, 2024 TBA TBA

Mon., Nov. 18, 2024 Community Based Learning for our Learning Aquinas
Community – Mandatory meeting 209
Reflections are due by the end of the day on Sunday after each workshop. The schedule of due-dates and
prompts for your reflections is available on your FYE connections eClass site.

12
 FYE Project – BIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES I & CHEMICAL PRINCIPLES I – FALL 2024
For students in FYE Learning Community #6 and all other students in BIO 1130/CHM1510

For this project, teams of students will work together to develop a learning activity to be presented to
young students (grades 1-3 or 4-6) who are participating in the Newburgh United Armory Center’s
programming on Saturday mornings during the semester. Our program will run from October 19 th to
November 16th. This will count toward the 5% of your grade in both Biological and Chemical Principles
that is given for FYE and will be graded based on evaluation of your work in the group, your
documentation of the work done, and your adherence to the guidelines provided.

The project requires your team to develop a 45 - 50 minute program with a hands-on component and a
final assessment. To do this, you will:

1. Meet with your team and prioritize your topic choices from the list provided (see below). The
theme for this program is “Where We Live”. (Due Sep 9 on eclass)
2. Meet with your team and prioritize the dates to maximize everyone’s attendance. (Due Sep 9 on
eclass)
3. Once your topic and date have been assigned by Drs. Bhalla and Maelia, find age-appropriate
activities that can be shared with students. These activities should fit the theme and the topic you
have chosen and should be able to be adapted to allow students to ask and answer questions such
as “what would happen if…”.
4. Meet with Drs. Bhalla and Maelia to discuss the project and how it could be run. (Before October
4)
5. Compose an age-appropriate introduction to the subject using handouts, PowerPoints, or both.
6. Develop materials to be used to perform the activities associated with the topic. This should
include:
a. A list of materials that are safe and can be used in the experiment.
b. Safety precautions for the materials to be used.
c. Directions for running the experiment.
7. Write a clear discussion/explanation for the science behind the activities.
8. Prepare a script for the event, including how you will:
a. Introduce the topic in an age-appropriate way
b. Engage the students with the topic
c. Present the activity or activities and discuss the science involved
d. Have options and materials for the “what would happen if” part of the activity
e. Check for understanding and wrap up the program.
9. Meet once again with the instructors to review your presentation.
10. Present the program to the students on your Saturday and time slot.

13
 Topic ideas: Choose one from each area

1. Where We Live in the kitchen

 Oobleck with cornstarch and water
 Baking reactions with baking soda and vinegar
 Water and capillary action
 Milk & food coloring
 Salt volcanos

2. Where We Live in the bathroom

 The importance of handwashing and minimizing infection spread
 Water and its properties
 Diapers and their properties

3. Where we live in the playroom

 Making slime - polymers
 Making play-dough
 Shrinky-dinks & polymers

4. Where we live in the yard

 Identifying trees from their leaves
 Plants as paint
 Pop rockets
 Invasive species

Deadlines
Date Assignment
By September 9 Rank your team’s preferences for topic and date on google form on e class
By September 14 Drs. Bhalla and Maelia will assign topics and dates for the project
Before October 4 Meet with Drs. Bhalla and Maelia to discuss your ideas for the project
Two weeks before Your google folder should be complete, including the list of materials, safety
your presentation considerations, experimental procedure, scientific explanation, and script.
One week before your Meet with Drs. Bhalla and Maelia to review your project
presentation
November 18 Present your project to the class in the CBL – (FYE students only)

Non-FYE project for class credit

14
Description & Objectives
Students will earn the reflection and information literacy portions of their FYE grade by reading and
reporting about an article in the Science Times section of the New York Times. This will replace the
reflection part of the FYE grade and the Information Literacy Tutorials that your FYE classmates will
complete. You will earn the rest of the “FYE” grade (5% of your total grade) by completing the project
with the Newburgh Armory Unity Center and writing a final reflection.

Expectations
In this project, you will:
 Choose an article in the New York Times Science Times section (through th library website or at
https://www.nytimes.com/section/science) that has been published within the last year about a
topic of your choice, and submit it on eClass for approval by your instructor. (By Sep 9 th). Be sure
the article reports on a scientific study.
 Find and upload a copy of the primary research article about which the Science Times article
reports. (By Oct 1st)
 Once it is approved, read the article and other books, papers, websites, or articles that will
provide you with background and a fuller picture of the topic.
 Complete a write-up about this article and submit it via eClass. (By November 18 th)

Details
The write-up will include:
 INTRODUCTION:
o A summary of the article from the New York Times including why you chose it.
o What was your prior knowledge of the topic – what did you know about the topic before
you chose this article? How does what you read in the article fit with what you knew
about the topic?
o What did you learn from the article?
o Did anything surprise you? If so, explain. If not, why not.
 DISCUSSION:
o Give more information that you researched from the original article or from other
sources.
o You can apply your science knowledge to the topic or give your opinions to discuss it.
 CITATIONS:
o References listed appropriately at the end, citing all sources appropriately, including the
article and also the original primary paper.
 Submit via dropbox on eClass by November 18th.

Components of Your non-FYE Grade (5% of class grade)

● Science Times Paper 35%
● Final Reflection Assignment 30%
● CBL participation 30%
● Attendance at office hour/review** 5%
**You must attend at least one office hour session or review to earn these points.

15
Deadlines
Date Assignment
By September 9 Choose a Science Times article to report on
By September 14 Drs. Bhalla and Maelia will approve your article or ask you to choose another
By October 1 Upload a pdf of the primary research article about which the Science Times
article reports
By November 18 Submit your paper
By November 25 Complete your Final Reflection on your service project

16