Course Description

I am excited to welcome you to this human biology course! We will learn about the human body as well as relevant recent discoveries in the field of biology. I hope you will find the labs, readings, activities, and discussions interesting and relevant. I also hope you will feel empowered by your knowledge of science, will appreciate the connections between biology and your health, and will consider creative ways to support evidence-based approaches for better living at home and in your communities. We will explore these topics and more through readings, labs, reflections, group activities, and discussions.

My course communication policy 

Feel free to contact me anytime with questions that pertain only to you. The Canvas Inbox is the best way to reach me. You can also email me — jsiekmann@ccsf.edu — or leave a voice message for me — +1 415 452 5056. I respond to all messages within 24 hours, Mon–Fri, excluding holidays.

If you have a question about something related to the course or an assignment, please utilize the course Q&A Forum (in Canvas) to post your question to the class. If a classmate or I do not respond within 48 hours, feel free to contact me directly using Canvas Inbox.

Drop-in Office Hours via Zoom: Wednesdays 1–2 pm.   You can also visit my in-person office hours on Tuesdays from 2-3 pm at the Chinatown North Beach Center.  If neither of these options work for you, feel free to reach out and make an appointment to speak with me by Zoom or in-person (e.g., before or after class). We can talk about assignments and anything that is coming up for you related to the course and your studies.

Additionally:

• You will be expected to contribute to learning forums and class activities sincerely and substantively. Discussion forums and class activities will prompt you to interact with your fellow classmates in meaningful and substantive ways.

• I will be an active participant in the discussions, reading all your posts and responding to several students each week to further discussion and clarify comments.

Should you have any trouble logging into your course or if you don't understand how to log in please contact the CCSF Online Course Support Center

My drop policy

No-shows

Students who arrive late or do not come to the first scheduled class meeting will be considered  “no-shows” and will be dropped.

Additionally, you will be asked to complete and submit a syllabus survey & student contract  by Day 3 of the first week of the course.  Students who do not submit this by 23:59 on Thursday 18 January 2024 will be dropped and considered 'no-shows'.

Students who stop engaging with the course for 6 or more classes or for at least two modules can be dropped.

If at any time during the course before the the drop deadline you miss 6 or more classes or you stop submitting assignments, do not participate in required discussion forums, and do not reach out to me to let me know what is going on for a period of two modules or more, I have the right to drop you from the course. However, if you stop participating in the class, do not assume I will automatically drop you.  You are ultimately responsible for dropping yourself from the class on MyRAM (formerly Web4). If you do not remove yourself from the course, you will receive an FW at the end of the term. All enrolled students must complete the final exam components to avoid an FW grade.

My late work policy

Submitting assignments on-time helps keep you engaged with the material being covered at the right time, and it allows you and your classmates to have a timely exchange of thoughts and ideas that are relevant to the specific topics that are being covered in the module that week.

For this reason, I expect you to submit your assignments on-time. Don't worry too much about having perfectly formed thoughts or ideas when you submit your work.  I ask that you engage thoughtfully with materials and assignments and do your best to submit something, even if it isn't as developed as you would like.  Don't let perfect be the enemy of good.

All assignments are due by 23:59 PDT/PST on the due date. A late submission will receive a 10% penalty per day late. 

Class Culture and the Learning Process

This class is based on the belief that everyone has the capability to learn biology. How we act as individuals and as a class will be the key to accomplishing our goals successfully. With this in mind, the class has the following norms:

• Treat our time with respect. We have a short amount of time together, so be ready to engage and learn when a new module begins. This means reviewing the content of each module so you can plan ahead, making time to complete assignments and participate in discussion forums on time, and staying engaged until the activities and assignments are finished.

• Approach your classmates with kindness and encouragement. Creating a successful class means being able to rely on those around us when we are in need. Be the type of person you would like to turn to when you are in need of help.

• Struggle productively. My goal is to give you what you need to make an attempt at each assignment or activity, but I also don’t expect that you will always be able to do all of these successfully. I want you to work hard, and I also want you to work productively. If you find yourself spending a lot of time without making any progress, contact me or your classmates through the Q&A Forum. A small bit of direction can make a big difference.

• Learning is a process. It is ideal that you do smaller amounts of work over a greater number of days. An hour’s worth of learning done over four days will provide more benefit than four hours of work done on a single day. I aim to provide just the right amount of work and I expect you to do that work in a good faith way. Students generally need to spend at least 11– 13 hours per week reading, engaging with classmates and completing assignments.

Special Software or Materials Required

Required Material

We will be using an Open Educational Resource (OER) developed by Butte College. This  resource is free of charge to students and is accessed through Canvas.

The CCSF Bio9 Lab Manual, Labster, and supplemental materials will be accessible free of charge via Canvas.

If you would like a hard copy of the Bio9 Lab Manual, this should be available for purchase at the CCSF bookstore. If you do not purchase a hard copy of the lab manual, you will be responsible for printing the lab manual instructions and worksheets for the labs done in class.

Other Requirements

You will need a Computer, Printer and reliable Internet access.  Please don't rely only on a smart phone.  Students can apply through myRAM for the CCSF Chromebook Loan Program. The College continues to explore additional options for safely providing Wi-Fi access to students at certain targeted locations on and near Ocean Campus. 

Important Dates

• Day Class Begins: Tuesday 16 January 2024

• Day Class Ends: Wednesday 22 May 2024

• Last Day to Add : Friday 2 February 2024

• Last Day to Drop with refund: Monday 29 January 2024

• Last Day to Drop without a 'W' symbol: Friday 2 February 2024

• Last Day to Drop with a W or apply for leave of absence: Thursday 18 April 2024

• Final Exam Date: Thursday 16 May 2024 15:30–17:30  (3:30–5:30 pm)

Course Syllabus