Course Syllabus

Course Code: Science & Lab Science
(2022 Spring Quarter )

Syllabus Navigation

Instructor Contact Information

Instructor: Jessica Strickland

BigBend email: jessicas@bigbend.edu

Office Location:  WEC 237G

Office Hours Days Time  
In-person WEC 237G & Zoom M, W 2:00-3:00 pm  
Zoom only Th 6:00-7:00 pm  

Virtually via Zoom -  https://bigbend.zoom.us/j/9468487606 

Students may just drop-in during office hours to get help from the instructor. 

Instructor Office Phone: (509) 793-2317

BEdA Office Phone:  (509) 793-2304

Instructor Mission Statement

It is my mission to create a class environment centered on trust and respect; a positive place that provides for effective language learning. In our classroom, all cultures and languages are respected—please feel free and safe to share your experiences with the class. It is my personal goal to help you succeed. I will do everything I can to help you achieve your learning goals, but I expect your complete involvement and participation. Please talk to me if you have any questions or concerns; I’m always available for my students.

Class Information: 

  • Days: M-Th
  • Time: 11:00-11:50 AM
  • Location: 1511

Students are encouraged to attend in-person to receive help with assignments and hear daily lectures from the instructor; however, class will also be presented live on Zoom and recorded so students may watch it later at their convenience. Attendance is mandatory, so students will be required to either come to class physically or virtually as often as possible, or watch the recorded lectures.

This is a hybrid course. This means that assignments will be on-line via Canvas. Students are expected to spent at least 5 hours per week completing assignments in Canvas. Classes will meet in-person daily M-Th (see above description).

Communication Policy

The main form of communication is via the Big Bend email. If you would like to contact your Instructor, please refer to the interaction plan that is currently posted throughout the Canvas course on the About Your Instructor page. To contact your Educational Planner or Program Coordinator, call the BEdA main line at (509) 793-2304.

Instructor Sick Policy

If you are sick in any way, minor or major, or you have recently been in contact with a sick person, STAY HOME! DO NOT COME TO CLASS OR IN-PERSON OFFICE HOURS! This is very important, please. If you come to class sick, you will be sent home immediately, so don’t waste the drive. Just stay home and watch the lecture via Zoom. You can Zoom with me during my office hours, as well. Thank you for respecting this campus policy.

COVID 19 Policy INFORMATION

To inhibit the spread of COVID-19, classrooms are public spaces that are cleaned each evening after classes are completed for the day but not between classes.  Students should practice frequent hand washing or using hand sanitizer as they enter and or leave a classroom.​ Anyone visiting campus must complete the DAILY HEALTH CHECK found in Canvas courses or at https://www.bigbend.edu/about-us/covid-19/ before coming on campus to help us track outbreaks.

Beginning on April 4, the first day of the spring quarter, masks will be optional for vaccinated students. Masking will still be mandatory for students with approved accommodations under Big Bend vaccinated campus guidelines.

This announcement is sure to please many members of our campus community while others may feel some anxiety. If you feel more comfortable on campus while wearing a mask, we encourage you to do so. Big Bend is a place where everyone should feel safe and welcome. As we move through the phases of the pandemic, we should remember that COVID-19 has not gone away and that some students, faculty, and staff may feel that continuing to wear a mask is the right choice for their personal safety — and we should respect that.

Big Bend continues to encourage all its students to get vaccinated and boosted. The vaccine is free and you can find a convenient location to receive it by entering your zip code HERE. Big Bend also wants to remind students that if you have faced financial hardship due to COVID-19, to please fill out a request for financial assistance. This money has been provided to help you with educational and living expenses caused by the pandemic. These funds ARE NOT a loan and do not have to be repaid. If you have already received funding, it does not mean you won’t receive additional funding by applying again. To apply CLICK HERE

Finally, one thing that will remain the same, if you are sick, showing symptoms of COVID-19, and/or have tested positive for COVID-19, please DO NOT come to campus. Your instructors and fellow students will appreciate your consideration of their health and safety by staying home. Also, many instructors are prepared to guide you through your course assignments in the event you need to quarantine.  

Don’t forget you can also order at-home COVID-19 testing kits for free HERE

BBCC is serious about the health and wellbeing of students and is committed to following the guidance of medical experts and governor’s directives on matters related to COVID-19.  Students who test positive for COVID-19, exhibit symptoms of COVID-19, or come in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, should stay home and not come to campus for any in-person activities.  Students should contact their instructors to discuss any concerns they have about how situations resulting from COVID-19 may impact their progress in classes.  BBCC staff and faculty are instructed to report to BBCC Administration the name of any student they know about who has tested positive for COVID-19, exhibits symptoms of COVID-19, or has been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19.  The college will follow up directly with the impacted student to ensure the student has the information and support needed to succeed in their classes.  The college will also submit the student’s name and contact information to the Grant County Health Department.

All faculty, staff, and students are required to be fully vaccinated and boosted to be on campus beginning January 1, 2022. If you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and haven’t submitted your required COVID vaccination attestation do so via the Vaccination Attestation tile on your ctcLink Student Homepage by December 24th to keep your spot in in-person classes.

Required Materials (bring to class everyday)

Open Educational Resources or materials as determined by the instructor. You will need internet access to successfully complete this course. 

Course Description

Science is the pursuit and application of knowledge and understanding of the natural and social world following a systematic methodology based on evidence. This course will provide an overview of Physical thinking, Life, Earth, the Environmental sciences. You will be asked how the world that we live in is composed and created, and how things work? Lastly, you will tasked with conducting labs to prove how things work, using the scientific method.

In this course, students have the opportunity to earn one-half (.5) credit of Physical Science or Chemistry, one-half (.5) credit of Life Science or Biology, up to one (1) credit of Lab science, one-half (.5) credits of Earth & Space Science, and one-half (.5) Elective Science or Environmental Science. Of course, this is not automatic and depends on the level of commitment and quality of work submitted by the student.  

Fine Arts is an exploration of visual art forms and their cultural connections for students with little experience in the visual arts. It includes a brief study of art history with in-depth studies of the elements, media, and methods used in creative processes. In this course, students will learn how to develop a five-step system for understanding visual art in all forms based on:

  1. Description: Explaining a work of art from an objective point of view, its physical attributes, and formal construction.
  2. Analysis: A detailed look at a work of art that combines physical attributes with subjective statements based on the viewer’s reaction to the work.
  3. Context: Any historical, religious, or environmental information that surrounds a particular work of art and which helps to understand the work’s meaning.
  4. Meaning: A statement of the work’s content. A message or narrative expressed by the subject matter.
  5. Judgment: A critical point of view about a work of art concerning its aesthetic or cultural value.

After completing this Fine Arts course, students will be able to interpret works of art based on this five-step system of analysis; explain the processes involved in artistic production, themes, and the political, social, cultural, and aesthetic issues that artists examine in their work; and explain the role and effect of the visual arts in societies, history, and other world cultures.

Each module that is completed with a 70% or higher earns students specific credits. It is recommended that you only complete the modules of the credits you are deficient. Remember, if you need elective credits, you can do other modules to earn those credits, too. 

Breakdown of Credits:

Fine Arts Module 1: 0.5 credit of Fine Arts and 0.25 elective credit

Fine Arts Module 2: 0.5 credit of Fine Arts and 0.25 elective credit

Fine Arts Module 3: 0.5 credit of Fine Arts and 0.25 elective credit

Fine Arts Module 4: 0.5 credit of Fine Arts and 0.25 elective credit

Please verify with your Educational Planner or HS+ Faculty Advisor to verify how many credits you need to earn your diploma.

Student Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course the student will: 

Physical Science/Chemistry

  • Describe the composition of an atom
  • Identify differences between molecules and compounds
  • Create a Bohr model to represent an atom

Life Science/Biology

  • State the cell theory and list the discoveries that led to it.
  • Identify the parts that all cells have in common.
  • Outline the form and function of cell organelles.
  • Explain Gregor Mendel's principles of inheritance and apply these to problems of inheritance.
  • Determine genotypes and phenotypes of offspring using a Punnett square.
  • Use and interpret probabilities and statistics in gathering, prediction, and analysis of genetic data.

Earth and Space Science

  • Explain ecology and the importance of studying ecology.
  • Create water cycle, nitrogen cycle, and carbon cycle diagrams.
  • Analyze human impact on biogeochemical cycles.

Science Elective

  • Describe and evaluate the relationships between ecosystems, biomes, and biosphere.
  • Identify the flow of energy through terrestrial and aquatic biomes.
  • Evaluate and critique human involvement in ecosystems.
  • Explain what information the Human Footprint data layer and map legend show

Lab Science

  • Describe the goal of science.
  • Evaluate and create a scientific hypothesis.
  • Practice the scientific method Use scientific method, inquiry and record keeping practices.
  • Safely perform and report results on 6 labs.

Fine Arts

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Analyze how art reflects changing times, traditions, resources, and cultural uses 
  2. Recognize and identify various types of art 
  3. Evaluate design, shape, color composition, and medium
  4. Publish or exhibit to the public a piece of personally created art OR create a class presentation centered around a piece of art 

College & Career Readiness Standards

The College and Career Readiness Standards (CCR) for Adult Education report presents a set of college and career readiness standards that reflect the content most relevant to preparing adult students for success in colleges, technical training programs, work and citizenship—in the areas of English language arts/literacy and mathematics. Students may see this reflected in the assignment listed as, for example,  (RI.4.3). Students do not need to know what the CCRs are; this is for informational purposes only. However, successfully completing assignments with the embedded CCRs is essential because this is how English credit is awarded.

  • CCRs Reading Anchor(s):  Level D All
  • CCRs Writing Anchor (s): Level D All
  • CCRs Language Anchor (s): Level D All
  • CCRs Speaking and Listening Anchor (s): Level D All

Course Expectations

  • Students are expected to be respectful of other students, staff, instructors, BBCC personnel, and guests within the building, on-campus, and online through Canvas or email.  Students will also abide by the instructions provided by any BBCC personnel. All discrimination, intimidation, harassment, physical and verbal abuse, and threats are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Violators will be referred to the Director of BEdA and the Dean of Student Services for due process.
  • Please adhere to all BBCC policies located in the student handbook. 
  • Be in frequent communication with your instructor via your student email or Canvas Inbox.
  • Students are allowed to resubmit assignments as many times as needed to pass an assignment until the last day of the quarter.
  • Assignments are due on the second day of finals week by 11:59 PM.
  • Show respect to your instructor and peers.
  • Be prepared to think critically and listen actively.
  • Disrespectful and/or disruptive students will not be tolerated and will be sent to administration. By staying in the class, you agree to show respect to everyone and not be disruptive to the learning environment in any way.
  • When logging in to Zoom, please make sure your camera is on and your microphone is muted.
  • If you arrive late to class, please do not be disruptive as you enter.
  • The instructor has the right to change this syllabus at any time or make changes to it, without notifying you. Please be aware of this.

Prior Learning

Students may be able to earn credit for prior learning. For example, a student who has a First Aid card can earn Health credit towards their high school diploma. Please talk to Jessica Strickland (jessicas@bigbend.edu) about possibly earning credit for your life experiences.

Grading Policy

All Open Doors and High School+ courses are hybrid using the Canvas LMS. Our department is a competency-based program, meaning that students earn credit based upon their ability to show competency in a subject. In competency-based learning, students are expected to master competencies aligned to college and career ready standards with clear, transferable learning objectives. In this model, grades reflect the degree of mastery of competencies. If students do not earn course credit, records indicate competencies that need to be re-learned instead of the entire course.

Within each Canvas course, students can find the Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) that determine competency. These SLO’s have been embedded within assignments in each module. In the Course Information section, a student can clearly see which modules meet which SLOs. To earn full credit, a student must successfully complete each module within the course.

What does “successfully complete each module” mean?

To demonstrate competency, a student must pass each module by completing each item within a module. The instructor will mark an assignment as either “Complete” (C) or “Incomplete” (IC). If an assignment is marked IC, the student must return to the assignment and correct the errors and then resubmit. The instructor will then regrade the submission, and if the student met all of the required competencies based upon the rubric, the instructor will change the grade to a Complete. To earn all of the available credits within the course, the student must successfully earn a Complete for every assignment within each module. The final overall percentage for each module must be a 70% or higher to be considered passing. 

What happens if a student completes the course early?

If a student successfully completes a Canvas course before the end of quarter, they can be enrolled into another online class. The instructor must verify that the student passed the course and update their Wabers before a student can enroll in another course.

What happens if a student doesn’t complete the course by the end of the quarter?

If a student does not successfully finish the course by the end of the quarter, they can still be awarded the credit that they did earn (if any). The student should then be re-enrolled in the same course the following quarter to give them the opportunity to complete the course. The student would only be responsible for completing the modules that were awarded an IC and/or not completed at all. Instructors at the end of each quarter will need to save the student’s grade report in their individual file on OneDrive. This allows future instructors to access a student’s prior learning in the course and advise them as to which modules they still need to complete in the course to earn the necessary credit.

Attendance

Attendance will count by completing course modules and attending our daily class time (if needed). Class time will either be face-to-face or virtual via Zoom. All students are expected to attend class daily. Class attendance is known as Synchronous Attendance. Students can also earn up to 1 hour of attendance per assignment submitted; this is known as Asynchronous Attendance.

 Students should check their school email and canvas inbox daily. Please make the course a priority. Plan on spending at least 8 hours in this course a week.

Format Standard for Assignments

Students are expected to submit assignments in MLA Format for all assignments, use proper grammar, punctuation, and spellings throughout this course. All assignments are submitted on Canvas.

Technology And Materials

Students will be required to use technology during classroom hours and outside classroom hours. Keep in mind that your instructor is the facilitator of this course and is here to answer your course-related questions and offer you support, but they are not IT and cannot answer most tech questions.

If you have Canvas issues, contact Mattias Olshausen, Director of eLearning, at mattiaso@bigbend.edu. If you have technology issues, contact BBT support at 509-793-2206. Please note that tech support may take more time than usual because of the astronomical number of people seeking help right now. Please be patient with BBCC support staff.

Late Work Policy

All work for this course should be completed by the second day of finals week. The instructor is responsible for informing the students when that will be. Students may submit assignments (and resubmit assignments) in their Canvas courses until 11:59 PM until the second day of finals week. All courses will lock after this date and time and students will not have access to the Canvas course after this time.

Academic Integrity

Cheating will not be tolerated. If I suspect you cheated on an assignment you will be given a zero for the assignment. I will be in communication with you prior to you receiving the zero.

Netiquette |net·i·ket|

Netiquette is considered to be the “manners” or etiquette governing online interactions. All student-to-student, student-to-instructor, and instructor-to-student communications (including emails and discussion postings) should be phrased in positive, inclusive, non-confrontational, and non-offensive language. Please keep all interactions cordial, business-like, and professional.

Requirements for Learner Interaction

  • Please read all aspects of each assignment. This is an accelerated course, so every assignment is specifically designed to earn credit. 
  • Throughout this course please use proper grammar and use complete sentences. 
  • Participants are expected to engage with the course content, with their classmates, and with the instructor.
  • Participants are expected to submit assignments in a timely manner.
  • Participants are expected to post course related questions to the Ask a Question discussion.  For questions of a more personal nature, please contact me through the Canvas Inbox.
  • Participants are expected to carefully read all assignment directions, look at all assignment examples, and review the assignment rubric before submitting their work. Each assignment has a rubric, which gives exact parameters on what is need to meet standards.
  • Participants are expected to attempt every assignment and to resubmit revised work as requested.
  • Participants are expected to read the assignment feedback left by the facilitator, and students can resubmit an assignment as many times as needed to earn a passing grade for an assignment.
  • This course contains a fair amount of reading and videos.

High School+ Graduation Information

HS+ Exit Advising Information

  •     After earning all credits for a high school diploma, the student schedules a Zoom meeting with Instructor Strickland by emailing her at jessicas@bigbend.edu

During meeting:

  •     Student and Instructor complete the BBCC graduation application
  •     Instructor emails it to BBCC Admissions, student, and BEdA director
  •     Instructor emails the student the Graduation Certification and offers a more formal letter option.
  •     Student and Instructor discuss what the student wants to do in the future and the instructor connects the student with helpful resources

 Helpful Resources for Students

Support Resources

Disabled Student Services

BBCC complies with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. BBCC is free from discrimination in the recruitment, administration, and treatment of students. Reasonable accommodation and modification in academic programs are provided to ensure maximum participation by all students with disabilities. Disability Services personnel will help each student obtain physical access to the buildings and classes at BBCC. Students, faculty, and visitors who have Washington State Handicapped Parking Permits may use designated parking spaces in BBCC parking lots. Students and faculty who have temporary mobility impairments may request a campus handicapped-parking permit through the Disability Services Office. The Disability Services Office is located in the Counseling Center, Building 1400, the Student Center and Administration Building (handicapped access available). The telephone number for the Coordinator of Disability Services is 509.793.2027.

Non-Discrimination Policy: Big Bend Community College District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, disability, sexual orientation, veterans, age or religion in its programs and activities. Please refer to the BBCC Student Handbook for additional information, if needed:

https://www.bigbend.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Student-Handbook-2019-2020.pdf

Privacy Policy: Big Bend Community College thinks your privacy is very important. Accordingly, we have developed this Policy in order for you to understand how we collect, use, communicate and disclose and make use of personal information. The following link outlines our privacy policy.

Religious Accommodation Statement Policy (this is not vaccine related)

Reasonable Accommodations for Religion/Conscience: Students who will be absent from course activities due to reasons of faith or conscience may seek reasonable accommodations so that grades are not impacted.  Students seeking accommodation must submit written notice to the instructor(s) within the first two weeks of the quarter and should follow the procedures listed in the Religious Accommodations section of the Student Handbook.

Title IX Policy 

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects individuals from discrimination based on sex in any educational program or activity operated by recipients of federal financial assistance. Sexual harassment, which includes acts of sexual violence, is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX. Big Bend Community College does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the employment, education programs, or activities it operates. Big Bend is committed to providing an environment free from discrimination based on sex and provides a number of resources and services to assist students, faculty, and staff in addressing issues involving sex discrimination, including sexual violence. Sexual violence, sexual harassment, stalking, and relationships (dating/domestic) violence have a profound impact on a victim’s friends and families, other students, co-workers, and members of the campus community. Victims of sexual violence, sexual harassment, stalking, and relationship violence are encouraged to seek support and report the incident. Big Bend Community College has appointed a Title IX Coordinator to oversee the college’s response to Title IX complaints, develop training and education programs/materials for faculty, staff, and students, as well as monitor trends and effectiveness of Title IX education efforts. Inquiries concerning the application of Title IX may be referred to the college’s Title IX Coordinator. 

Kimberly A. Garza, SHRM-SCP, SPHR VP of HR & Labor 

Title IX Coordinator/Equal Employment (EO) Officer 

Big Bend Campus Building 1400, 2nd floor, Office 1451 

kimg@bigbend.edu 

509.793.2010