Announcements
08 May 2022 C.E.

All grading is done, and all scores are current. Please realize that if you take Examination 5, you will not be allowed to withdraw. If you would prefer to withdraw rather than taking the examination, please email me. I hope the studying is going well.
27 April 2022 C.E.

Examination 4 Statistics %
Historic Low Mean: 46.0
Historic High Mean: 76.6
Historic Overall Mean: 65.0
Current Term Mean: 69.9
Current Term Low Score: 34.0
Current Term High Score: 96.0

25 April 2022 C.E.

If you haven't already done so, be sure to click on the Retake Option button on the Hoffman site, and carefully read the page.
06 April 2022 C.E.

Because I took so long to grade the osmosis reports, the enzyme report's due date will not be enforced. Submit it when it is convenient for you, and as long as it's in by the last day of regular classes (before finals week), it will not be counted as late.
01 April 2022 C.E.

Examination 3 usually provides a clear picture of whether or not it will be possible to pass this course. Please do not misinterpret this message. I am not encouraging anyone to withdraw. However, withdrawal is appropriate when it is becomes mathematically impossible to pass the course, because withdrawing can free up time for you to devote to other courses you might be taking. Please take a moment to carefully look at your "Minimum Score on Remaining Assignments to Achieve C" entry in your Canvas Grades page. If you do not see a number, that means that it has become mathematically impossible to pass the course, so even if you were to score 100% on all remaining assignments, you would still not make the minimum total score required for a C. Sometimes, for financial-aid reasons, students would rather receive an F than withdraw. For most students, it is better to withdraw than to fail, because the GPA is not affected by withdrawing. The deadline for student-initiated withdrawal has passed. But I, as the instructor, am still able to withdraw you from the course. If withdrawal is appropriate, please email me to let me know. There is no need to sign anything or to meet in-person. I can process withdrawals entirely online. Thanks for reading.
29 March 2022 C.E.

Section 22161 Examination 3 Statistics %
Historic Low Mean: 44.3
Historic High Mean: 69.9
Historic Overall Mean: 57.3
Current Term Mean: 46.0
Current Term Low Score: 32.0
Current Term High Score: 54.0

Section 33896 Examination 3 Statistics %
Historic Low Mean: 44.3
Historic High Mean: 69.9
Historic Overall Mean: 57.4
Current Term Mean: 64.9
Current Term Low Score: 30.0
Current Term High Score: 94.0

Section 22071 Examination 3 Statistics %
Historic Low Mean: 44.3
Historic High Mean: 69.9
Historic Overall Mean: 57.4
Current Term Mean: 52.4
Current Term Low Score: 28
Current Term High Score: 78

28 February 2022 C.E.

Section 22161 Examination 2 Statistics %
Historic Low Mean: 33.7
Historic High Mean: 67.9
Historic Overall Mean: 55.4
Current Term Mean: 33.7
Current Term Low Score: 26.0
Current Term High Score: 44.0

Section 33896 Examination 2 Statistics %
Historic Low Mean: 33.7
Historic High Mean: 67.9
Historic Overall Mean: 55.4
Current Term Mean: 58.0
Current Term Low Score: 32.0
Current Term High Score: 90.0

Section 22071 Examination 2 Statistics %
Historic Low Mean: 33.7
Historic High Mean: 67.9
Historic Overall Mean: 55.4
Current Term Mean: 56.4
Current Term Low Score: 26
Current Term High Score: 86

20 February 2022 C.E.


10 February 2022 C.E.

Section 22161 Examination 1 Statistics %
Historic Low Mean: 45.0
Historic High Mean: 71.6
Historic Overall Mean: 59.3
Current Section Mean: 45.0
Current Section Low Score: 30.0
Current Section High Score: 56.0

Section 33896 Examination 1 Statistics %
Historic Low Mean: 45.0
Historic High Mean: 71.6
Historic Overall Mean: 59.3
Current Section Mean: 58.5
Current Section Low Score: 40.0
Current Section High Score: 84.0

Section 22071 Examination 1 Statistics %
Historic Low Mean: 45
Historic High Mean: 71.6
Historic Overall Mean: 59.3
Current Section Mean: 58.5
Current Section Low Score: 30
Current Section High Score: 92

Notice that two of my three face-to-face sections (both Tuesday-Thursday sections) have class means that are almost exactly where they "should" be (i.e., they're very close to the overall mean for all of my BIO181 sections in my teaching history).

On the other hand, the numbers for the Monday-Wednesday section are quite troubling. Not only is that section's mean the lowest in my history (it is the Historic Low Mean), but it is far lower than the overall mean. This is even more troubling when you consider the fact that the score for Examination 1 is usually the highest examination score in the course. Please don't misinterpret this; I am not complaining or scolding. I am simply concerned. Please realize that much more preparation will be required in that section to get the scores up to a point that will allow for passing the course.

Regardless of what section you are in and what score you received, it is important to carefully examine how your various Summary & Forecast numbers have changed in response to this first examination. Those numbers are very important for keeping on track with respect to receiving the score you have set as a goal.
28 January 2022 C.E.

Now that you have a few graded items, it's a good idea to take a look at your Summary & Forecast numbers and see how they have changed as a result. That will give you an idea of how useful those numbers can be throughout the term. Enjoy the weekend.
23 January 2022 C.E.

I finally found the PDF version of the Metric System Prelab. Normally this would be due as you come into the laboratory this week, but because of the manuals being unavailable, I will allow you to submit it as late as the beginning of the laboratory meeting NEXT week (when we do molecular modeling). I'm sorry for the disarray that the unavailability of the laboratory manual has caused.

Metric System Prelab Worksheet (to be submitted in the laboratory, as a hard copy)
23 January 2022 C.E.

I have made the division-wide Life Sciences Assessment available as a link near the top of the Canvas menu. Please complete it by 30 January. Thanks.
23 January 2022 C.E.

Blood Donation Information

Vitalant.pdf
21 January 2022 C.E.

The laboratory manuals have arrived at the bookstore. It's okay if you want to work from the PDF for the upcoming meeting, but you'll need to have a manual for the third meeting.
20 January 2022 C.E.

There was a technical problem on the Hoffman server that was disallowing FTP transfer of my recordings, but that has apparently been resolved, so the recordings from this week are now available (on the Current-Term Lecture Recordings page). Don't forget, however, the greater usefulness of the synchronized slide shows on the Online Lectures & Slide Shows page. Enjoy the weekend.
19 January 2022 C.E.

Here is a PDF for next week's laboratory exercise:

Salt Water Boiling

Here is a PDF for this week's laboratory lecture:

Scientific Fundamentals
14 January 2022 C.E.

I have revised the laboratory schedule on the course syllabus. Please make sure you use the one labeled as "(Last Modified 13 January 2022 C.E."
03 November 2021 C.E.

Introductory Remarks

Welcome to BIO181. If you've never taken this course before, the most important thing you can do to help you succeed is to realize IMMEDIATELY what you are in for. BIO181 is a very demanding course that will require many hours outside of the classroom to learn the huge amount of information that will be presented. Please do yourself a favor and just believe me on this, regardless of how easy your other courses might have seemed.

Since BIO181 is going to consume so much of your time just to stay afloat, it is worth taking some time right now looking at the various items that are on this website. After the term starts, you will be very busy, and if by then you already know what's available here to help you, you'll be able to work as efficiently as possible.

Although this site and Canvas are not yet complete, you should fully explore both sites to see what's there and to get a feel for how things are organized. Click on every menu item to explore the contents. This includes the Rules Consent Form, which is absolutely required. If you do not submit it, then you will receive no credit for your work, and you will not be able to see your total score.

You should also realize that checking the website FREQUENTLY is absolutely required. If you would like to receive automated email notifications of new announcements, then simply join the list.

Even if no announcements are posted for several days, you still need to check for new announcements, because announcements will be official (and therefore binding).

It's also important to be sure that you are enrolled in the correct course. BIO181 is for biology majors, whereas BIO156 (which I also teach and which is very similar to BIO181) is for allied health majors.

If I sound like I'm trying to scare you, that's because I'm trying to scare you. But I only want to scare you into believing me about how demanding this course will be, because I want you to succeed, and I want you to get a lot out of the course. I certainly don't want to imply that you cannot enjoy this course. It'll be a lot of work, but it's also a very good course, and I think you'll learn a lot and have some fun. I'll see you in the classroom.

Ty