Rules, Grades, & Assignment Policies

LAB 315 RULES

You may do what you need to in this laboratory to learn, provided it doesn’t cause a problem for anyone else.

Lab 315 Safety Rules: 

• • Be sure not to bring large bags into the science lab. 

  • Be sure to store your cell phone during class so that they are not visible. 

  • Be sure to not eat or drink in the science lab including bottled water.

CONSEQUENCES IF RULES ARE BROKEN

When a student causes a problem to others in the class (including the teacher), the teacher and student will mutually agree to a consequence. 

Special consideration for laboratory and student personal safety may cause an immediate consequence. Students will receive a copy of the safety guidelines while learning in the science laboratory.

REQUIRED LEARNING MATERIALS

Materials listed below must be brought with you each class period. 

• • Chromebook 

  • Pen/Pencil

  • Three-ringed binder for handouts and notes

  • 3-hole punch filler paper OR notebook

  • Positive Attitude

TECHNOLOGY

Biology e-Binder

Biology resources online can be found in the e-Binder. Just like a real 3-ring binder, you can find organized information. Items included are notes, websites, and information about the course. The announcements section will be updated regularly to keep students up-to-date about class activities and assignments. 

Google Classroom

Some assignments will require students to submit work using Google Classroom. Each online Google Classroom assignment will have specific directions as well as scoring guidelines. 

All lab reports will be completed and submitted through Google Classroom. 

Textbooks Online

There is no physical textbook for biology. There will be two online texts that are linked through the e-Binder for your use during the course. Information in the e-Binder will indicate the important pages and/or chapters to find information from class. Some assignments will require you to access the online textbooks. Be sure to download them to your device or an online file storage area like Google Drive. 

GRADING

Student progress will be determined by grading a variety of assignments including quizzes, unit tests, projects, laboratory activities and reports, homework, and written responses. There is no set percentage for each category per nine-weeks. Generally, a unit will have a test worth up to 50% of all of the possible points. Each unit will have laboratory experiments and activities that account for up to 25% of the total points for a learning unit.

Science experiments and demonstration labs will be conducted every week during class. A write up from the lab must be turned in as part of the grade for the class. 

Grade reports will be available online. 

QUIZZES AND TESTS

This course will have several quizzes and tests per grading period. Quizzes are generally shorter and cover less course content compared to tests. Quizzes may be multiple choice, true/false, completion, or essay and will be administered through an online form such as a Google Document or by Smart Response. Some quizzes will be an essay with specific requirements for successful completion.

Tests will be administered at the conclusion of a major topic in which the content has been thoroughly reviewed in class. There will be two-four tests per grading period. Tests may be administered online through a form, Google Document, or by paper/pencil. Tests will be comprehensive in that they will include a Keystone Review section to assess prior topics in biology. 

EXTRA-CREDIT AND/OR GRADE REPLACEMENT

Throughout the course there will be opportunities to earn extra-credit or use alternative assessments. Directions, scoring, and grading will be explained to the entire class. These opportunities range from conducting field research to a book club. The goal of the extra-credit or alternative assessment is to take the course content in different directions and also to allow student variation and enrichment. 

For enrichment activities, students can earn digital badges also known as a micro credential for accomplishing enrichment tasks. This course uses open digital badges which makes it easy for students earn and display badges. More information about the enrichment projects and the digital badges will be explained in class throughout the various marking periods. 

BIOLOGY HELP

There may be points during the school year where students need help to review content or redo a laboratory experiment or revise a document that they have created. There will be days set aside each week after school or during lead time which will allow students to come to the lab and work. 

Some of this time may be used for enrichment activities. Specific information about each of the projects and activities will be shared in class. 

MAKE UP WORK

Students will have as many days missed from school to make up an assignment. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain assignments and notes. Students should check the biology e-binder when they are absent from class.

Laboratory activities need to be made up after school – no exceptions. Labs must be completed within 5 school days of the original completion date. Students will need to schedule a time to complete missed lab assignments or attend the biology workshop after school.

Missed tests, quizzes, or other assessments must be made up after school – no exceptions. If a re-test is to be given, it must be taken after class. Students may use the scheduled biology workshops after school to take missed assessments. 

LATE WORK

Assignments, lab written reports, written responses, and homework must be submitted by the due date. No work will be accepted after the end of a particular unit. All late work will be assessed with a 10% reduction in awarded points each day beyond the due date.