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Online Environmental Biology
Biology 2406.V60, Summer III 2017, Tentative Calendar (as taught by Dr. Nilsson)
Class Starts: June 05, 2016. Class Ends: August 10, 2016.
Biology 2406.V60, Summer III 2017, Tentative Calendar (as taught by Dr. Nilsson)
Class Starts: June 05, 2016. Class Ends: August 10, 2016.
Suggested approach to this Semester Calendar by the instructor: Read the INTRODUCTION the first "familiarization week" of the semester. Unless you need a "refresher" the rest of the semester you can bypass the introduction segment -- by clicking on the link provided, and throughout the semester pay close attention to the CALENDAR part. During the first week of the semester go over the calendar using a desktop/wall calendar or a printed copy of the Grade Recorder (link on the class hub), or both. Throughout the semester you need to study the weekly information at least the WEEK BEFORE, to make sure you don't miss deadlines. If you have time finish most assignments EARLY, long BEFORE the due date. All assignments in this class are available over a long period of time. If you miss a due date there are NO MAKE-UPS (see statement in the STC Section Outline [the "Syllabus"]).
Move your mouse over this note (the blue text below) to read the instructors 'humble' opinion. Not sure it works on electronic devices -- if you cannot open it, the opinion is non-essential for your success in class...
Comment about electronic device.
Page Contents:
INTRODUCTION
-- Intro
-- Flagged Notes
-- Course Setup
-- Additional Blackboard Course shell
-- Course Outline
-- Primare and Secondary Deadlines Information
-- Other Pertinent Documents to Help You Understant the Course
CALENDAR Scroll down or click here to find the calendar.
-- Calendar Overview (with a few highlights)
-- Detailed Calendar
This Semester Calendar is composed by the instructor to help you understand in what order things will be done in class. However, even though assignments are listed and their are deadlines marked in the calendar, if you wish to know WHAT assignments you must do, and how you will be graded, navigate to the Grading Criteria (the link to the Grading Criteria can be found on the Class Hub).
READ THIS PAGE CAREFULLY! Have a cup of coffee while you read it...Carefully means that you read it MORE than one or two times, and that you keep reading it throughout the semester (do NOT rely on a printed copy). The page, including the "introduction" part, is intended to be read from top to bottom. Later, when you come back to the "calendar" part, you can skip the "introduction" part.
The main part of the calendar -- after this INTRODUCTION section -- starts below the large image of a Mayan Calendar (similar to the little thumbnail to the left).
This (rather long) "introduction" is located above the "calendar" itself, because when initially on a separate page students tended to "skip" it. At least now students must scroll over and knowingly "skip" a part they really should read (at least once) the first week of the semester...
Even though you need to start working as soon as possible, as you can see when you look at the calendar, there are no assignment due dates immediately. THIS IS DONE ON PURPOSE TO GIVE YOU TIME TO FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE COURSE -- -- by reading ALL instructions (posted for students to READ CAREFULLY during the first two weeks), and by navigating around the class pages to become familiar with the cyber classroom layout. Many assignments are not due until near the end of the semester, however, you MUST submit the Student Contract, the Introduction Post, and the Start Quiz as soon as possible. The Student Contract and the Start Quiz are CRITICAL, you cannot continue in the class until you have submitted these two assignments -- and you may at some point be removed from the class roster. Most students submit the Student Contract the first or second DAY of the semester -- and that is the way is SHOULD be... Another early assignment is the Class Discussion Key Quiz.
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This semester calendar is dynamic -- you should study the online calendar on a weekly basis -- do not rely on a printed copy in case there MAY be a few minor updates during the semester. The student is responsible for updated information. |
 All Blackboard assignment deadlines are in the evening at 10:59PM, and are flagged in the calendar with a blue and yellow arrow. 
I recommend that you print the GRADE RECORDER (link below and on the Class Hub) and WRITE DOWN THE CALENDAR DUE DATES on the provided blank lines... |
 All assignments must be done in a timely manner, paying attention to posted due dates. There are NO make-ups. Don't wait to the last minute in case something goes wrong...!When an assignment closes IT WILL REMAIN CLOSED... |
 There are no valid excuses if you miss a deadline, because all assignments can be submitted over a convenient long period of time -- for some assignment the whole semester. |
 Some assignments must be completed in a determined order, e.g, the Reading Quizzes must be taken in numerical order -- 1, 2, 3... etc. You will not be able to access Quiz 2 until you have finished Quiz 1, Quiz 3 until you have finished Quiz 2, and so on... Also note that Reading Quiz 5 is a prerequisite for several other assignments (not just Reading Quiz 6)... |
 Pay attention to due dates flagged as CRITICAL DEADLINES. These deadlines are "progress deadlines" to assure some kind of MINIMAL "normal" participation in class. Student missing such deadline will be considered non-participating and will be removed from the class roster. |
 Many assignments are due near the end of the semester. Some students finish many assignments by the mid-semester point, but this is not a speed race -- as long as you are finished by the due dates you are doing fine. However, since many assignments must be submitted in a determined order, despite the end of the semester deadline you must plan your work and start at the beginning of the semester. |
 You work at a speed convenient for you, as long as you make sure you don't miss any deadlines. Plan your work and don't wait until the last minute. Even though many assignments are not due until near the end of the semester, you must pay attention to "early" and "critical" deadline exceptions. |
 THIS CLASS HAS NO CLASSROOM MEETINGS! All assignments, activities, and communications are online! A face-to-face meeting -- by appointment -- with the instructor can be arranged if necessary.However, only after first READING INSTRUCTIONS POSTED ONLINE, after trying to solve problems via online communication with the instructor, and spending the time expected for college class work... |
 These flagged notes will make more sense if you come back and read them AGAIN, after you have studied the calendar below... |
Course Setup
The course is completely online, in Dr. Nilsson's CyberClassroom. The class uses web pages located on (1) the instructor's HostGator web site, often referred to as the Class Hub -- where you can find much class information, and (2) the STC Blackboard server, the most important location there called Blackboard Plaza (you must log in to access it) -- where you find additional information and will submit assignments. 
Click on the article thumbnail to read it...
Additional Blackboard course shell
The course has an additional course shell. This is a shell in addition to the regular Blackboard course shell, and it is called the "Town Hall". The Town Hall course shell involves a class discussion assignment and is explained in the Grading Criteria of the class. The Town Hall course shell will not be available at the beginning of the semester -- not until the Blackboard people have set it up after a few week of the semester. All biology classes taught by this instructor (not just students in this class) will participate in the Town Hall.
When the Town Hall will be available you will see it on the My Institution page, as one of the classes in your course list. The figure above was the instructor's My Institution page during a previous school year. Your page may look different, since you have your own set of courses and you can personalize the page... (In the picture notice the Town Hall course shell at the bottom of the list of classes.)
Course Outline
The course outline follows the chapters of the required textbook in the order given. |
Unit I: Textbook chapters 1 - 6. Unit II: Textbook chapters 7 - 16 (only 15 in older editions of the textbook). |
The class does not use a lab manual. Labs are online (virtual) or outdoor semester projects. Students work at their own preferred speed at their convenience -- as long as finished by the due date at the end of the semester, before taking the Endterm "Final" Exam. "Tests" (exams, quizzes, drills, or assessments) are online OPEN BOOK assignments using Blackboard quizzes and bulletin boards. To students using older versions of the textbook, note that starting with edition 7, the textbook has 16 chapters (instead of 15). |
1. Environment, Chapter 1 This chapter covers: (i) Understanding our environment, (ii) Problems and opportunities, (iii) Human dimensions of environmental science, (iv) Science helps us understand our environment, (v) Critical thinking, (vi) Where do our ideas about the environment come from. 2. Chemistry and Ecology, Chapter 2 This chapter covers: (i) Systems describing interactions, (ii) Elements of life, Energy, (iii) Energy for life, (iv) From species to ecosystems, (v) Biochemical cycles and life processes. 3. Evolution and Ecology, Chapter 3 This chapter covers: (i) Evolution leads to diversity, (ii) Species interactions shape communities of species (iii) The growth of species populations, (iv) Properties of communities depend on species diversity, (v) Communities are dynamic and change over time. 4. Human Populations, Chapter 4 This chapter covers: (i) Past and current population growth, (ii) Perspectives on population growth, (iii) Factors determining population growth, (iv) Fertility is influenced by culture, (v) Demographic transition, (vi) Family planning, (vii) What kind of future are we creating now? 5. Biomes and Biodiversity, Chapter 5 This chapter covers: (i) Terrestrial biomes, (ii) Marine environments (iii) Freshwater ecosystems, (iv) Biodiversity, (v) Benefits of biodiversity, (vi) What threatens biodiversity? (vii) Endangered species protection. 6. Conservation, Chapter 6 This chapter covers: (i) World forests, (ii) Grasslands, (iii) Parks and preserves. 7. Food and Agriculture, Chapter 7 This chapter covers: (i) Global trends in food and nutrition, (ii) How much food do we need? (iii) What do we eat?, (iv) Living soil, (v) Way we use and abuse soil, (vi) Agricultural inputs, (vii) How have we managed to feed billions? (viii) Sustainable farming strategies, (ix) Consumer help shape farming. 8. Health, Chapter 8 This chapter covers: (i) Environmental health, (ii) Toxicology (iii) Movement, distribution, and fate of toxins, (iv) Mechanisms for minimizing toxic effects, (v) Measuring toxicity, (vi) Risk assessment and acceptance (vii) Establishing public policy. ----- Edition 6 and earlier ----- 9. Climate Change and Air Pollution, Chapter 9 This chapter covers: (i) What is the atmosphere, (ii) Climate changes over time (iii) How do we know that climate is changing faster than usual? (iv) Envisioning solutions, (v) Air pollution, (vi) Interactions between climate and air pollution, (vii) Effects of air pollution (viii) Air pollution control, (ix) Current conditions and future prospects. 10. Water, Chapter 10 This chapter covers: (i) Water resources, (ii) Major water compartments, (iii) Water availability and use, (iv) Freshwater shortages, (v) Water management and conservation, (vi) Water pollution, (vii) Water quality today, (viii) Pollution control, (ix) Water legislation. 11. Geology, Chapter 11 This chapter covers: (i) Earth processes, (ii) Minerals and rocks, (iii) Economic geology and mineralogy, (iv) Environmental effects of resource extraction, (v) Conserving geological resources, (vi) Geologic hazards. 12. Energy, Chapter 12 This chapter covers: (i) Energy resources and uses, (ii) Fossil fuels, (iii) Nuclear power, (iv) Energy conservation, (v) Energy from biomass, (vi) Wind and solar energy, (vii) Water power, (viii) Fuel cells, (ix) What's our energy future. 13. Waste, Chapter 13 This chapter covers: (i) What waste do we produce, (ii) Waste disposal methods, (iii) Shrinking the waste stream, (iv) Hazardous and toxic waste. 14. Urbanization, Chapter 14 This chapter covers: (i) Cities, (ii) Urban planning, (iii) Economics and sustainable development, (iv) Natural resource accounting, (v) Trade, development, and jobs, (vi) Green business and green design. 15. Policy, Chapter 15 This chapter covers: (i) Environmental policy and law, (ii) Major environmental laws, (iii) How are policies made? (iv) International policies, (v) What can individuals do? (vi) Working together, (vii) Global development goals. ----- Edition 7 or later ----- 9. Climate, Chapter 9 This chapter covers: (i) What is the atmosphere, (ii) Climate changes over time (iii) How do we know that climate is changing faster than usual? (iv) Envisioning solutions, (v) Air pollution, (vi) Interactions between climate and air pollution, (vii) Effects of air pollution (viii) Air pollution control, (ix) Current conditions and future prospects. 10. Air Pollution, Chapter 10 This chapter covers: (i) Air pollution and health, (ii) Air pollution and the climate, (iii) Health Effects of air pollution (iv) Air pollution control, (v) The ongoing challenge. 11. Water, Chapter 11 This chapter covers: (i) Water resources, (ii) Major water compartments, (iii) Water availability and use, (iv) Freshwater shortages, (v) Water management and conservation, (vi) Water pollution, (vii) Water quality today, (viii) Pollution control, (ix) Water legislation. 12. Geology, Chapter 12 This chapter covers: (i) Earth processes, (ii) Minerals and rocks, (iii) Economic geology and mineralogy, (iv) Environmental effects of resource extraction, (v) Conserving geological resources, (vi) Geologic hazards. 13. Energy, Chapter 13 This chapter covers: (i) Energy resources and uses, (ii) Fossil fuels, (iii) Nuclear power, (iv) Energy conservation, (v) Energy from biomass, (vi) Wind and solar energy, (vii) Water power, (viii) Fuel cells, (ix) What's our energy future. 14. Waste, Chapter 14 This chapter covers: (i) What waste do we produce, (ii) Waste disposal methods, (iii) Shrinking the waste stream, (iv) Hazardous and toxic waste. 15. Urbanization, Chapter 15 This chapter covers: (i) Cities, (ii) Urban planning, (iii) Economics and sustainable development, (iv) Natural resource accounting, (v) Trade, development, and jobs, (vi) Green business and green design. 16. Policy, Chapter 16 This chapter covers: (i) Environmental policy and law, (ii) Major environmental laws, (iii) How are policies made? (iv) International policies, (v) What can individuals do? (vi) Working together, (vii) Global development goals. |
PRIMARY and SECONDARY DEADLINES Information
Most assignments have "primary" and "secondary" deadlines (see Semester Calendar below). The reason for the two deadlines is to avoid "problems" when Blackboard or your computer "crashes" (or similar problems). Sometimes students who have not demonstrated much of any activity in class, send e-mail to the instructor with, "I missed the deadline because Blackboard had problems", or "will the deadline be extended because Blackboard did not allow me to submit the quiz", or "my computer screen froze can you let me take the quiz again" or "I like to request the backup quiz" ... To avoid this the class has PRIMARY and SECONDARY DEADLINES. For the kind of students who don't wait to the last day to start doing assignments -- the two deadlines will NOT make any difference what-so-ever. Assignments submitted on or before the PRIMARY deadline will earn the same grade points as assignments submitted on or before the SECONDARY deadline. However, there is one BIG difference for the students who wait submitting assignments until after the primary deadline. If Blackboard goes down AFTER the PRIMARY deadline, and you therefore miss the assignment deadline -- you have lost the grade points for not submitting the assignment. THERE WILL BE NO COMPENSATION (or make-up) FOR UNEXPECTED BLACKBOARD PROBLEMS AFTER THE PRIMARY DEADLINE. For all practical purposes the Primary Deadline is the 'real' deadline, and the Secondary Deadline is a 'late' deadline. If you don't want to gamble with your grades -- Blackboard can be down, you can get sick, your computer might crash, the dog might eat your homework -- always submit on or before the PRIMARY deadline...
Other pertinent documents to help you understand the course
For a simple list of assignments see the Grade Recorder, which I recommend you print, so that you can fill in the assignment due dates using the Semester Calendar -- link also on the Class Hub.
Have you read the introduction above?Yes? OK, then you are ready for the calendar. Notice that there is first a Calendar Overview, with has two columns -- blue, and white. The blue column has the week number. The white column has a few highlights. Then follows the Detailed Calendar, with three columns -- blue, green and white. The blue column has the week number (and a deadline reminder). The green column has flagged assignments with due dates that week (deadline highlights). The white column has details and further information. Calendar Overview (with highlights -- for more information you must see the Detailed Calendar below).
 Week 01 |
Student Contract due |
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Week 02 |
Introduction Post due, Start Quiz due |
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Week 03 |
Class Discussion "Key" Quiz due, General Class Discussions start |
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Week 04 |
Reading Quiz 05 Recommended Progress (Primary) Deadline |
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Week 05 |
Project Selection due, Case Study 1 due |
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Week 06 |
Endterm (Final) Exam available for students who have submitted the prerequisites |
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Week 07 |
Reading Quiz 05 Progress (Secondary) Drop Deadline, General Class Discussions end, Semester Project submission folder opens, Case Study 2 opens |
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Week 08 |
Last day to withdraw |
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Week 09 |
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Week 10 |
All Regular Assignments still open close, Endterm (Final) Exam due, Learning Self-Assessment due |
Detailed Calendar
Calendar item color code: Most assignments that need to be submitted for a grade on Blackboard are in purple color. Class "discussion" assignments that need to be submitted for a grade are in brown. An assignment's due date is flagged with this animated arrow .
Shortcuts to each calendar week: Week 1 - Week 2 - Week 3 - Week 4 - Week 5 - Week 6 - Week 7 - Week 8 - Week 9 - Week 10 Recommendation: Read the complete calendar the first time you use it to become familiar with the semester -- do NOT use the shortcuts!.
| Week column | Deadline highlights | Detailed information |
 Week 1.
June 04 - 10"Familiarize yourself with the course 1st week"  One (1) deadline this week. |
..... Student Contract Quiz ..... ..... |
 Monday, June 05. First Day of Class. Assignments Open 1st day of the semester (when prerequisite submitted): i. Student Contract ii. a. Introduction bulletin board (prerequisite: Student Contract) ii. b. Start Quiz (prerequisite: Student Contract) iii. a. Class Discussion Key Quiz (prerequisite: Start Quiz, minimum 90) iii. b. Project Selection (prerequisite: Start Quiz, minimum 90) iii. c. Case Study 1 (prerequisite: Start Quiz, minimum 90) iv. Reading Quiz 01 (prerequisite: Start Quiz, minimum 90)  Student Contract Quiz. Primary deadline: Saturday, June 10, 10:59PM. Secondary (late) deadline: Sunday, June 11. 10:59PM. (STC has an attendance policy requiring students to login the first week of the semester. Most students probably did this the first day of the semester.) Link located on the Designated HomePage. (The instructor needs to know who consider themselves students in this class. You cannot start the class until this quiz has been submitted with 100.) This is a critical "progress deadline" to assure that students participate in class in a way conducive to satisfactory academic learning. If you procrastinated and therefore have missed this deadline but still feel that you are a student in this class, contact the instructor IMMEDIATELY via Blackboard e-mail and explain why you have not yet managed to submit the Student Contract.
Suggested Activities: Read online class information. After passing the 'one question' Student Contact quiz with 100, become familiar with the class web pages (Dr. Nilsson's CyberClassroom -- on the Blackboard server, and on Dr. Nilsson's HostGator web site), and read online class information. Read the "Start Here" information message (link on the Blackboard Designated HomePage). Visit "Blackboard Plaza" and the Class Hub Page read the online class information and view/listen to the YouTubes. Pay special attention to the Grading Criteria, the Grade Recorder, and the Semester Calendar (this document). Become familiar with the textbook. Post an Introduction bulletin board posting, link located on the Designated HomePage. Post a message, minimum 50 words (spell checked!), introducing yourself and say hello to the class members. (Scroll down for deadline...) Submit the Start Quiz, on Blackboard Plaza. Required for participation in class. Submit the quiz as soon as possible. (Scroll down for deadline...) Start working with the Class Discussion "Key" Quiz on Blackboard Plaza. Required for participation in the General Class Discussion/Reflection assignment. Navigate to the "class discussion reading assignment page" (click on the link) , and on that page scroll down and read the "Class Discussion Philosophy, Scope, and Instructions". Then take the Class Discussion Key Quiz, based on that reading, and get ready to start participating in the General Class Discussion/Reflection, starting date as per the calendar. (For more information see the Grading Criteria.) PREREQUISITE: Start Quiz. The link to the Class Discussion "Key" Quiz will not be available until you have submitted the Start Quiz with minimum 90. (Scroll down for deadline...) |
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Week 2.
June 11 - 17 "Familiarize yourself with the course 2nd week" Two (2) deadlines this week. |
..... Introduction Posting Start Quiz ..... ..... |
Tuesday -- Census Day -- 7th class day. Introduction Posting minimum 50 words due in the Introduction bulletin board on Blackboard. Primary deadline: Monday, June 12, 10:59PM. Secondary (late) deadline: Tuesday, June 13. 10:59PM. Last chance to place a SPELL-CHECKED "introduction" message and say hello to the class. It doesn't really make any sense to say hello to the classmates after more than 2 weeks have passed -- does it? Actually, you COULD have submitted this posting ALREADY THE FIRST WEEK. We all do spelling mistakes, so a "slip" MAY be overlooked, but a message that CLEARLY has not been spell-checked will NOT earn grade points. 
Start Quiz attempted and submitted with minimum grade 90. Primary deadline: Thursday, June 15, 10:59PM. Secondary (late) deadline: Friday, June 16. 10:59PM. . Link located on Blackboard Plaza. You cannot access most class assignments -- all quizzes and some other non-quiz assignments -- until the Start Quiz has been submitted with minimum 90. The Start Quiz will no longer be available after this date -- consequently any student who has not passed the Start Quiz with the required grade CANNOT participate on Blackboard.This is a critical "progress deadline" to assure that students participate in class in a way conducive to satisfactory academic learning. The Start Quiz has been open since the first day of the semester. Student who has not submitted the Start Quiz with a minimum 90 by this date will be considered a non-participating student and may be removed from the class roster. If you procrastinated and therefore have missed this deadline but still feel that you are a student in this class, contact the instructor IMMEDIATELY via Blackboard e-mail with an explanation.
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Week 3. June 18 - 24 One (1) deadline this week. |
Class Discussion "Key" Quiz |
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 Class Discussion "Key" Quiz . Primary deadline: Monday, June 19, 10:59PM. Secondary (late) deadline: Tuesday, June 20. 10:59PM. (Link to the quiz is located on Blackboard Plaza, Regular course shell.) Student who has not submitted the quiz with a minimum 100 by the due date CANNOT participate in the first session of the General Class Discussions/Reflections. (If you missed the Class Discussion Key Quiz deadline, there will be a 1-DAY SECOND WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY to submit the Class Discussion Key Quiz late, to join the second session of the discussion/reflection -- for the date scroll down.)  FIRST DAY OF GENERAL CLASS DISCUSSIONS / REFLECTION Wednesday, June 21. Four bulletin boards open (11:00AM): (1) Animal Treatment (Readings: Animal Mistreatment), (2) Climate Change (Readings: Emergent Diseases, Global Warming, and Tropical Rainforest), (3) Human Population (Readings: Astrobiology, Human Population Growth, and Space), and (4) Evolution (Readings: Evolution. "Class discussion reading assignment page"(click on the link.) Also note the anti-cramming rule below. Anti-cramming rule for General Class Discussions: Students are expected to participate during most of the 8 discussion period. See the Grading Criteria for posing minimums.Pay attention to the Anti-cramming rule. Don't want to worry about the rule -- post every or every other day...
The discussion bulletin boards will not be available until the discussion starts (see below). The READINGS required for the quiz and the discussions have been open since the beginning of the semester... "Class discussion reading assignment page" (click on the link for the reading assignments). Even though there is no Town Hall Meeting during the 10 week summer session, also navigate to the Town Hall information Hub (click on the link), where you will find direct links to the evolution reading assignments "Preface" and "The Serve". And don't forget to brew some coffee...
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Week 4. June 25 - July 01 . One deadline this week. |
Reading Quiz 05 Recommended Progress Deadline .. |
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Recommended Progress (primary) DEADLINE: Reading Quiz 5 (with a minimum 90). (This also means that you must have submitted quiz 1, 2, 3, and 4...) Primary deadline: Friday, June 30, 10.59PM. Secondary deadline is later in the semester (scroll down). Reading Quiz 05 is a prerequisite for several other assignments. This is a "progress deadline" to assure that students participate in class in a way conducive to satisfactory academic learning. |
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Week 5. July 02 - 08 "Independence Day week" Two (2) deadlines this week. |
Case Study 1 Semester Project Selection |
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 Tuesday, Independence Day Celebration, College Closed Case Study 1 due. Primary deadline: Friday, July 07, 10.59PM. Secondary (late) deadline: Saturday, July 08, 10.59PM. . Case Study 1 has been open since the beginning of the semester -- it has now closed. Case Study 2 will open later as indicated in the Semester Calendar. Semester Project Selection, due. Primary deadline: Friday, July 07, 10.59PM. Secondary (late) deadline: Saturday, July 08, 10.59PM. Some of you have probably already done the Semester Project, or at least read the instructions and know which project you are going to do, and posted in the Project Selection bulletin board. Excellent! This is the last day to do so... For those of you who yet don't know which project to do, this is the PROJECT SELECTION WEEK. You MUST post which project you intend to do. That also means that you should have read the instructions, so you don't select the wrong project. The semester Project submission folders open later as per the semester calendar.NOTE 1: After the Project Selection due date, if you change project you will lose the Project Selection point. Choose carefully! Students who do not submit a Project selection may still submit the Final Product, but will (obviously) miss the grade points for the selection. Students who do not submit the Final Product will miss the grade points for the Project Selection... NOTE 2: Reading Quiz 05 is a prerequisite for the Semester Project. Without this quiz submitted with the required minimum grade, the submission bulletin boards for the "final product" of the project will not be available, due to settings determined before the semester started. |
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Week 6. July 9 - 15 ... |
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Endterm (Final) Exam opens, Saturday, July 15, 11:00AM, for students who have submitted the prerequisites. (The exam is not due until near the end of the semester -- but it is now available if you are a fast quiz-taking student, have submitted the prerequisites, and wish to take the exam early. This doesn't end the class work, however, so keep an eye on the Grading Criteria and the Semester Calendar... Note: The exam will open near the end of the semester for students who have not submitted the prerequisites. |
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Week 7. July 16 - 22 Two (2) deadlines this week. |
General Class Discussions Critical Deadline Reading Quiz 05 |
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 LAST DAY OF GENERAL CLASS DISCUSSION/REFLECTION. Deadline: Wednesday, July 19. There is no secondary deadline, you have had plenty of time to post the minimum messages required, the bulletin boards close at 10:59PM. CRITICAL Progress (Secondary) Deadline (Drop Deadline): Reading Quiz 5 due with a minimum 90: Wednesday, July 20. 10:59PM. (This also means that you must have submitted quiz 1, 2, 3, and 4...) The primary deadline was earlier during the semester. This is a "progress deadline" to assure that students participate in class in a way conducive to satisfactory academic learning. Student who has not submitted this quiz with a minimum 90 by this deadline will be considered a non-participating student (not doing what can be expected by a college student) and WILL be removed from the class roster, and WILL NO MORE have access to Blackboard assignments -- NO EXCEPTIONS (not even in an emergency, because emergencies do not last seven weeks (that is the time all students have had available to progress to reading quiz 05). A critical deadline is "progress deadline" to assure that students participate in class in a way conducive to learning.  Note: Reading Quiz 05 is a prerequisite for other assignments. At this late point in the semester it doesn't matter if you feel that you have an acceptable excuse for not having submitted the Reading Quiz 05 by this date -- there is no acceptable excuse because this quiz should following normal "college studying" progress have been submitted A LONG TIME AGO. Student who have not submitted Reading Quiz 5 with a minimum 90 as per the due date noted above, cannot complete the course with a passing grade and should DROP the class... Last day to drop is next week. A student remaining on the STC official roster at the end of the semester, who has not submitted Reading Quiz 5 with minimum 90 by the deadline, will have an F recorded as the letter grade. The instructor MAY drop the student before the last day to withdraw, but as per STC policy it is the student's responsibility to drop the class if not dropped by the instructor. Case Study 2 opens. Saturday, July 22. 11:00AM. Prerequisite Reading Quiz 05. Case Study 1 had been open since the beginning of the semester, and closed earlier during the semester. Case Study 2 closes when "All still open semester assignments" close (see Semester Calendar entry for that week) Semester Project submission folders open, Saturday, July 22, 11:00AM, on Blackboard Plaza. Prerequisite: Reading Quiz 05. Semester Project submission folders close when "All still open semester assignments" close (see Semester Calendar entry for that week) |
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Week 8. July 23 - 29 ... |
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Last day to withdraw, Wednesday, July 26, 2016 |
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Week 9. July 30 - Aug 05 ... |
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Week 10. Aug 06 - 12  MANY deadlines this week.  |
ALL still open "regular" semester assignments Endterm (Final) Exam Learning Self-Assessment |
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All still open semester assignments close. Primary Deadline, Sunday, Aug 06, 10.59pm. Secondary deadline, Monday, Aug 07, 10.59pm. (Reading Quizzes, Geo Drills, Case Study 2, Semester Project final submission disappear [the assignments and the submission folders will no longer be visible], and can no longer be submitted or used to study for the final exam, or fulfill the prerequisites for the Learning Self-Assessment.) Some assignments, listed earlier in the calendar, have already closed. Endterm (Final) Exam opens for all students (also those who have not submitted the prerequisites), Tuesday, Aug 08, 11:00AM. (The exam has been open since the mid-semester point for students who have passed the prerequisites...) Learning Self-Assessment opens, Tuesday, Aug 08, 11:00AM. Student who has not submitted the prerequisites (see the Grading Criteria) will NOT be able to submit a Learning Self-Assessment! (The assignment MUST be submitted in the Learning Self-Assessment bulletin board for a grade. It cannot be accessed by students who have not submitted ALL prerequisites.)
Endterm (Final) Exam closes, Thursday, Aug 10, 10:59PM. THERE IS NO SECONDARY DEADLINE -- THIS IS THE LAST OFFICIAL STC DAY OF THE SEMESTER (the final exam day)... (The final exam has been open since the mid-semester point for students who have submitted the prerequisites...) Learning Self-Assessment closes, Thursday, Aug 10, 10:59PM. THERE IS NO SECONDARY DEADLINE -- THIS IS THE LAST OFFICIAL STC DAY OF THE SEMESTER (the final exam day)... Student who has not submitted the prerequisites (see below) will NOT be able to submit a Learning Self-Assessment! (The assignment MUST be submitted in the Learning Self-Assessment bulletin board for a grade. It cannot be accessed by students who have not submitted ALL prerequisites.)
Prerequisites: See the Grading Criteria. Student who has not submitted the prerequisites have NOT attempted the course with sufficient number of assignments to submit a quality self-assessment.  The Learning Self-Assessment was the last class assignment. We have reached the end of the semester! Grades are due by STC on Monday next week. You will get your grades from STC, not posted on Blackboard and not from the instructor.  |
Comment: The calendar may be changed due to unforeseen circumstances to meet the needs of a particular class. The instructor therefore reserves the right to alter (add, delete, or revise) any items of the above, online or via verbal instructions in class. The student is responsible for taking note of any such changes and acting accordingly.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Let's have an interesting semester!
 For persons who don't like animated icons (e.g., dancing tomatoes, smiling apples, and moving arrows), or other artistic interpretations by the instructor), set your browser preferences so that it will NOT display icons and graphics when navigating the class pages. If you want the feeling of reading a book, specify white background and black text (you must still scroll to move down the page).  |