We will be using a new approach to teaching physiology for non-majors that should provide you with opportunities to learn and appreciate the central concepts and methods of science and develop skills and self-confidence to use those concepts and methods. Instead of learning science passively by listening and taking notes in lectures only, you will participate in more "active" ways of learning.  You will take part in activities that allow you to think, write, and speak about the concepts and principles that you are learning.  Because much of physiology is conceptual and abstract, you must develop effective ways of learning the material.  We will explore some of the methods for becoming an active learner and strategies to help you organize information so you can learn more efficiently and effectively.

prerequisite: Bio 101 or equivalent.  Students who did not earn a grade of A or B in biology should review those basic biology concepts thoroughly.  While college chemistry is NOT a prerequisite, basic biology and a high school background in chemical reactions and pH concepts are used for some of the chemical concepts in physiology. Algebra skills will provide insight into various physiology concepts: "The purpose of computing is insight, not numbers" (R. W. Hamming).

textbook: Dee Silverthorn, Human Physiology, Prentice Hall, 1998, ISBN 0-13-262528-8.

class hour: Tuesday and Thursday, 1:00 – 2:15 PM in MH 468. Thursday sessions will often use the computer lab, MH 587.

professor: Dr. Nancy Pelaez, 278-7260, MH207H, npelaez@fullerton.edu

office hours: after class, or by arrangement.

website: http://fdcnt.fullerton.edu:8080/

responsibilities: Active learning requires that students be involved and responsible for much of their learning. You are expected to study the assigned reading and review questions before coming to class and you should not miss class except for dire emergencies.  The lectures and in-class activities are intended to complement assignments, not substitute for them. If the lectures depart from the timetable given,  adjust your readings accordingly. Supplemental learning resources will be available via the course web site as well as by e-mail, http://access.fullerton.edu/, and and one page written assignments will be submitted and evaluated using Calibrated Peer Review at UCLA http://server2.nslc.ucla.edu:8800/cpr/cpr/login2.asp. A USERNAME and PASSWORD will be provided for each of these services. Students needing help learning to use computers or the library should use the campus support resources: For computer assistance, call 274-7777, and for library assistance, go to http://guides.library.fullerton.edu/Introduction/

exams: There will be two, one-hour exams plus a final. The nature of Physiology is such that later concepts build on earlier ones. The final exam will integrate content at the organism level. Students must supply SCANTRON FORM No. 822-ES for exams and quizzes.  Exams will be half multiple choice, and half essay questions. Questions will involve very little memorization, but will emphasize understanding, often by asking you to apply principles learned in the lectures and assignments in an unfamiliar context. Multiple choice questions will be patterned after concept check questions within each reading assignment and review questions assigned at the end of each chapter. Essay questions will be patterned after assignments used for on-line Calibrated Peer Review (CPR).

missed exams: will count as a zero. No one will be excused from taking the exam at the scheduled time except for clearly documented reasons. The only excuse that will be accepted after the exam is missed is a note signed by a doctor stating that the student was unable to attend the exam for a valid medical reason. Make-up exams will be essay only, not multiple choice exams.

cheating: Although you will be conducting some group projects, when assignments are clearly to be completed individually, the work must be your own.  When you use information from sources external to yourself, you need to reference the source appropriately (literature citation, URL for web-derived material).  Just because you referenced a source does not give you the right to insert segments, verbatim, into papers you write.  Cheating in examinations and quizzes will not be tolerated.  The consequences to you academically and to your future careers are not worth it!  Depending on the circumstance, you may receive a zero for an assignment where cheating is suspected, an F* for the entire course, or dismissal from the University.  An F* in your transcript will be denoted as failure due to dishonesty and will be in your transcript forever.

withdrawal: CSUF has a policy (UPS 300.016) regarding withdrawal from classes after the first 4 weeks of the semester.  After the first census date, students may be granted withdrawal ONLY by presentation of documentation outlining a physical, medical or emotional condition that prevents completion of the course.  POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IS NOT EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS REASON FOR WITHDRAWAL.  Students unable to produce official documentation will be required to take the grade they have earned in the class.

grading: Each exam and the final count for 200 points each. Six CPR assignments and six multiple choice pop quizzes will count 25 points each. Students must supply a pencil and SCANTRON FORM No. 822-ES for the exams and quizzes. Each student starts with an additional 100 points for participation, but 25 points will be deducted each time a student fails to complete a CPR assignment or another in-class activity. The class will vote on whether or not to include a seventh CPR assignment as extra credit.  Final grade depends on the total score for the course (1000 points max) as follows:

Kidney structure, function, and the countercurrent system

Vision as an example of brain and sensory function.

Exercise physiology and control of energy, ventilation, and perfusion.

Sympathetic, parasympathetic, and local regulation of blood flow.