Course Details
Note for Spring 2024
Important note about a possible work stoppage during the spring semester:
The faculty of all 23 CSU campuses will be on a five-day strike from Monday, January 22 to Friday, January 26. Labor strikes are a last resort, and they are disruptions of "business as usual."
As your classes are canceled, Canvas pages are unpublished (I will not do this), and as you might face other inconvenient disruptions to your education this week, know that your faculty are going on strike to demand that the CSU managers—who are raising tuition on you (by 34%!), while underpaying us and failing to provide you with adequate counselors—must reprioritize how they fund the university. Please know that we are going on strike not just for ourselves as workers, but for you and those students who will come after you as well. We demand that the CSU fund instruction and other services that support your education, healing, and futures. I will be back to work on Monday, January 29. If you'd like to see me the first week of the Spring semester (January 22 – January 26), visit me at the picket line – you can sign up here to join the picket line: https://forms.office.com/r/vUEL0Zff7w
A longer strike in Spring is a possibility, if the CSU managers don't change course this term. We, the faculty, are committed to protecting and strengthening Cal State Bakersfield, as the People's University! If you have questions, I will answer them prior to January 22, and then again, after January 26.
To be clear, the week of Jan 22-26, our class will not meet, I will not be answering emails, nor will I be checking Canvas.
Your education is our top priority, and we remain committed to advocating for conditions that allow us to offer you the quality education you deserve. We hope you understand the gravity of the situation and the necessity of our actions.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
Lecture Format
Lectures will be in person! Most lectures will be in the typical format, but some will incorporate in-class activities. These activities are designed to help you understand the papers that we read and hold discussions during this time, following a brief introductory lecture from me. Regardless of the format of the lecture that week, you MUST come to class having already read the papers for the day/week. All of the materials for lecture will be found on Canvas ahead of the scheduled class date.
There are participation points associated with in class lecture assignments (see Tentative Assignments and Course Schedule) so you will need to attend and participate. This will be a new and different way of learning the material for many of you. So, if you miss lecture, you will miss valuable information and experiences with your class mates. The best way to learn this material is to be an active participant in class.
I will record the audio (ONLY) from my lectures. This audio will automatically post to a shared box folder. You can access this folder from the Welcome module on Canvas. Please see Other Classroom Policies to review policies on sharing recordings. In short, don't share my recordings or materials without my permission. These recordings should be used for you to study and/or catch up if you missed lecture.
Lab Format
Lab exercises and assignments will be posted on Canvas with clear due dates. Students will work in groups of about 3-4 throughout the semester. I encourage you to exchange information with one another. I will also set up channels on our Slack page for each group. So, come up with a fun name for your group!!
Lab exercises are designed to give you some experience with some of the simpler techniques in chemical ecology, as well as keeping a good data notebook, data collection, and data analysis. It is important that each member contribute. These labs are really fun, and include working with animals (mostly invertebrates) to gain an understanding of the various ways in which animals communicate with one another.
You will work together as a lab group to conduct a research project and write a research paper. Science is most often conducted as a collaboration between multiple individuals. Each individual participates in some aspect of the research and writing the paper for publication. So, this is good practice!!!
We will also hold discussions as a part of some lab sessions. These discussions will be lead by the different groups throughout the semester. I will provide you with more detailed information on this on Canvas.
Assignments, Exams, and Grading
Late assignments/missed exams:
You will be given ample time to complete assignments. However, I know that life gets in the way sometimes. You have two "free passes" for the semester for any assignment other than exams. Here are the rules:
So, if you don't get something in on time, email me within 24 hours of the original due date for the assignment in question.
Ask to use one free pass for that specific assignment and I will reopen it for you for an additional 48 hours.
There will be no deductions and no questions asked. In other words, you don't have to explain to me why you missed the deadline.
If at the end of the semester, you have not used your free passes, I will add 2.5 points per remaining free pass to your grade.
You may use free passes for Inquizitive assignments as well, but remember that those can be submitted late for a minor deduction, anyway.
Remember that this does not include exams. However, if you absolutely cannot make it to an exam, please notify me immediately.
Introduction Survey/Syllabus Quiz:
This is your first assignment for the semester (see Tentative Course Schedule ). It will consist of questions designed to help me get to know you a little bit better, as well as questions about the syllabus to make sure that you are familiar with it. It's an easy 10 points!
Exams:
Exams will be on Canvas and consist primarily of a mix of multiple choice, short answer, matching, and essay. Your final exam will be all multiple choice and cumulative. You will take the exam IN PERSON in our classroom. As such, you will need to bring your own device (a laptop or tablet, not a cell phone) to take the exam on. If you don't have one or don't have a reliable one, please let me know the first week of classes so that I can help you figure out a solution. I will give you a piece of scratch paper to use as you please during the exam. In some cases, I will print a couple of questions on the scratch paper so that you can work them out on paper first. You must write your name on the scratch paper (whether you use it or not) and turn it in at the end of the exam.
Advance notice of missed exams must be given except in the case of a documented emergency.
Exam Rules:
Come prepared with your device - make sure it is charged, you have a charging cable or whatever you need to make it work.
Exams should be taken independently, and without outside resources.
Questions will be randomized, but you will have access to the entire exam so you may answer questions as you see fit.
If you are caught using a web-browser or any other materials during the exam, you will earn a ZERO for the entire exam.
You must show Dr. Stokes the submission confirmation for your exam and submit your scratch paper prior to leaving the classroom.
Grading:
Your grade will be based on the number of points you earn divided by the total points for the course. Your final grade will be percentage based. Grade appeals can only be made on the basis of miscalculation of your average and must be made to me within at least one week of grades being posted. There will NOT be any extra credit or curving in this course. Whatever grade you receive on exams is the grade that you get for that assignment. Final grades are rounded (79.5%-79.9% rounds to 80%, 79.4% -79.0% rounds to 79%).
Grade Scale:
Grades are based on the following percentage scale:
93-100 = A
90-92 = A-
87-89 = B+
83-86 = B
80-82 = B-
77-79 = C+
73-76 = C
70-72 = C-
67-69 = D+
63-66 = D
60-62 = D-
<60 = F