Introduction
Evaluation
Completion of the objectives and checking your understanding of the anatomy and physiology is accompanied with two forms of evaluation: the written in-class quiz and the oral lab evaluation. These evaluations are meant to provide each individual with an opportunity to express his/her understanding in both written and oral formats. Expression of gathered information allows for integration of ‘the pieces’ both with each other and with models/dissections/charts/experiments found in the lab. This expression is fundamental to the construction of each individual’s framework for understanding relationships and problem solving.
A midterm and final exam are also part of the evaluation system. These ask the student to work with a larger volume of information in a more integrated and problem-solving fashion.
The following is a summary of the evaluation system for Biology 1160 and 1260. An explanation of the mark breakdown follows.
Types of Evaluation
Weekly evaluations
Each week the student is evaluated in class and in the lab. The following table, titled BIOLOGY 1160 WEEKLY EVALUATIONS FOR MODULE I, outlines the specific topics/ objectives covered for each evaluation.
Written In-class Quiz
There is a written in-class quiz each week on the packages assigned the previous week. Refer to the Evaluation Table for Module I. The packages being evaluated are indicated for each class. This is a written quiz and receives a percent mark. The marks from these weekly quizzes are worth 30% of the course mark.
Midterm Exam on Module I
In class (2 hours)
Lab Evaluation
The lab evaluation involves the student’s oral description of assigned topics/ objectives using models, experiments, etc., available in the lab. Refer again to the Evaluation Table for Module I. The lab evaluations assigned for Module I are listed in the table and you will be given a handout at the beginning of each semester with the exact dates for each week.
It is important that ‘written information’ be attached to ‘the real world’. For lab evaluations the student is expected to do experiments and to work with the models PRIOR to the actual evaluation. Students can come in any time that the lab is open to do their lab work, study and ask questions. Students can ONLY do their oral evaluation during their scheduled time (lab section). Once students come to their lab section for their oral evaluation, they have to sign up immediately to be evaluated, as it will be on first come first serve basis. Each student will be given 15 minutes to complete their oral evaluation. During any lab section, each student can only do their oral evaluation ONCE, so no repeats during their scheduled time. The first two questions for the oral lab evaluation will be: ‘Have you worked with the models?’ ‘Have you completed the lab activity and recorded the observations in the spaces provided in the appendix?’ The evaluation is completed orally. It is assigned a ‘pass’ when completed satisfactorily. If a student fails their oral evaluation, they will be given a second chance to do the oral evaluation on Thursday (last day of that week’s lab), but there will be no guarantee that it will get done, because, it will be on first come first serve basis. Students can get a second chance for fails only twice per semester (so maximum of 2 different labs).
Completion of the lab oral evaluations is recorded on the student’s lab record card. Failure to complete any week’s oral evaluation will result in the mark for a related in-class quiz being replaced by a ZERO.
Comprehensive Examinations
The midterm and final exams are written evaluations that cover the objectives in the packages and the material covered in the tutorials. These ask the student to work with a larger volume of information in a more integrated and problem-solving fashion. The midterm exam will include all the material covered for Module I. The final exam will cover both Modules I and II.
If it is to the student’s advantage, the final examination will be counted as 70% of the final grade and the midterm mark will be ignored in the final grade calculation. (This happens when the final exam mark is higher than the midterm mark.)
Late Policy
Lab evaluations
- Each Module has lab evaluations assigned to each week over a six week period. Lab evaluations are to be completed during the student’s scheduled time (lab section) during each lab week (Thursday to Thursday).
- There is one week set for makeup of missed labs for each Module (make up weeks). The dates for makeup weeks will be listed in the handout provided at the beginning of the semester.
- Make up weeks will be for students that could not make it to their lab sections due to emergency situations, like medical reasons. You will need the instructors’ approval.
- Makeup for missed lab evaluations must occur within the make up weeks. The maximum number of make-up lab evaluations during make-up weeks is ONE for each module.
5. REMEMBER: Failure to complete a lab evaluation will result in the associated
in-class quiz mark being replaced by a ZERO.
Make-up for midterm and final exams is not possible unless a written medical explanation is supplied.