Comparative Anatomy consists of 8 UNITS. Each unit will consist of multiple readings, tasks, labs, and case studies. There will also be guided notes for each unit which you will complete using the Class Slides. All class readings must be annotated. You can choose to annotate electronically using the Kami app (or other approved app - talk to Mrs. Wright if you have an app you prefer to use) or to annotate on paper using a printed copy. (If you are doing full remote learning, you will need to either scan or photograph your paper copy and submit it to your teacher.) Either way, the expectations (and due dates) for annotations are the same. (See the "How do I annotate for Anatomy?" PowerPoint below for more details.) You will also need to refer back to the Readings and Slides when completing class assignments or studying for your quizzes.

This year, due to Covid-19 constraints, all lab and dissection components will be virtual. While this may not be ideal, it does help ensure everyone's safety as well as provide the same experience for students who are fully remote and those on a hybrid schedule. It also allows you to complete and review dissections from home, since our class sessions will be shortened. More information about our virtual dissection platform will be provided when we begin our first lab.

There are also multiple Videos for each unit that highlight the most important ideas. These can be extremely helpful when studying or trying to understand difficult material in the readings or PowerPoints. But remember, there are a lot of things in the reading and PowerPoints that aren't in the videos, so make sure you are not relying completely on the videos. The videos do not replace you putting in the work with your readings and PowerPoints. They are there to help you.

Along with these resources, you should also be taking good notes in class and in live/recorded sessions. Sometimes there is extra information in our lectures that is not in the resources (or vice-versa). You should review your notes after each class and when studying for your quizzes.

Each unit will end with a Unit Exam. We will also have smaller Topic Quizzes periodically. Additionally, we will have a Benchmark Exam in the beginning of the course to measure where you are when you start the course (don't worry, you aren't expected to know about Comparative Anatomy yet and you will not lose points for wrong answers). We will also have a Midterm Exam in the middle of each semester, and a Final Exam at the end of the Course.

Your grade in Comparative Anatomy will be based on the following categories: Readings, Labs & Dissections, Assessments, Participation, and Classwork/Homework.

Labs, Dissections, & Case Studies are worth 25% of your grade. Make-up labs will be made available periodically for students who missed or failed specific labs. (Do not wait until the end of the course to make-up your labs. They must be done in a timely manner.) Lab Make-up Dates will be announced and posted in the classroom and online. Labs are graded not only on completion but also on your demonstrated understanding of the topic. In other words, you must use what you learned about the topic to complete the lab.

Assessments are worth 25% of your grades and include all 8 Unit Exams, periodic Topic Quizzes, 2 Midterms, and 1 Final. Assessments for this course will be completed online.

Participation is worth 20% of your grade and consists of showing up, keeping up, and pushing up. Showing up means you are there, both physically and mentally, whether it is our classroom, an online live session, or in small group break-out sessions (more on that later). Keeping up means being an active part of our class community, doing your work in a timely manner, asking questions, and contributing to class discussions. Pushing up means that you continue to push yourself to do your best work and to set the bar higher and higher. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses and no one is perfect all the time. Our goal is to set goals, then do the work to meet them. Everyone can be successful in this course!

Readings & Guided Notes are each worth 10% of your grade and are extremely important as they will help you be successful in the rest of the course.

Guided Practice (Classwork & Homework) is worth 10% and can include a variety of tasks and assignments. It is important to submit your work on time and to ask questions when you have them. Assignments are designed to help us learn the material. It's not just about "finishing" it... it's about learning from it. These assignments combined with our readings, PowerPoints, and class lectures are how you learn the material. Labs and dissections are where you practice the material as well as develop our skills as a scientist, and assessments are how you prove that you learned it.

To access the units and their materials, click on Students > Materials at the top of the page.