Course Syllabus

496 ACP / Honors Anatomy & Physiology Syllabus                                                 

Instructor: Dr. Robin                                                              Contact: robinj@wellesleyps.org

Office Hours: Monday 2:30 to 3:05 or by appointment

 

Course Description: (taken verbatim from the Program of Studies)

This course examines the eleven organ systems of the human body: nervous, urinary, respiratory, skeletal, reproductive, integumentary, muscular, endocrine, immune/lymphatic, cardiovascular and digestive.  Anatomy will be studied from a microscopic to a gross anatomical level. Dissections of mammalian organs appropriate to each system being learned will take place during laboratory time. Laboratory time will also consist of experimenting with models of physiological systems and will culminate with the complete dissection of a fetal pig. In addition, medical disease correlations will be examined. This course is a terrific opportunity for any students interested in pursuing a career in the health care field or the life sciences; or simply any student interested in learning about how the human body works.

 

Course Website:  On Canvas.  All assignments and due dates will be posted on the Canvas calendar.

 

Required Course Materials:

 

Textbook:  If you so choose, you may sign out, at any time of the school year, the textbook Human Anatomy and Physiology. At the end of the year, or if you drop the course, you are responsible for turning the textbook back in.  If lost, you must hand in a check for $120 made payable to “Wellesley Public Schools” in order to receive your grade for this course, or to avoid any other negative repercussions regarding graduation.

 

Colored Pencils: Purchase a box of 24 colored pencils.  Worksheets will often require color coding for identifying specific anatomical regions in images.

 

Cell Phones: Phones can often become a distraction to a successful learning environment and are strictly off-limits during class time, unless otherwise indicated by the teacher.

 

Each term grade will be assessed as follows:

 

ACP Grading: We are using a total point system.  Grades will be given each quarter.

Quizzes_________________________________________ (roughly 40-60 pts each)

There will be frequent quizzes so that I can be sure that you are learning the material.  There will not be any tests nor cumulative assessments.  Students enrolled in ACP will receive an automatic scale equivalent to ten percent of the total quiz point value. (Example: If the quiz is worth 50 pts, 5 pts will automatically be added to the student’s score.  Additionally, when enrolled in ACP, all students are allowed to retake a quiz for a maximum score of 83% (prior to the 10% scale).

Worksheets_____________________________________ (1 pt per page, 2 pts per page if coloring)

Worksheets will be completed either as classwork, if time permits, or for homework.  However, homework is always optional and can be completed to only help your grade, but never hurt it.  To receive credit for completed homework, it must be submitted through Canvas by a specific date and be thoroughly and thoughtfully completed / colored!

STOP and CHECKs_________________________________ (2 pts each)

Provided to accompany each presentation is a Stop and Check assignment to be completed during class time and uploaded at the conclusion of the class period.  Additionally, points will only be awarded if the student was actively engaged in the lesson and contributed positively to the classroom atmosphere.

Honors Grading: (read ACP Grading above for basic category descriptions)

 

Quizzes (as above plus more…)__________________________________

For a more immersive and true “Honors level” experience, this section of the class will have additional Honors level independent units to be learned outside of class time (two Honors Units per quarter!).  Students will be provided with narrated (by me, of course) presentations for this material on Canvas. When enrolled in Honors, all students are allowed to retake a quiz for a maximum score of 73%. There is no scale when enrolled in Honors.  Additionally, retakes are not permitted for Honors Units.

 

Worksheets (as above) and Canvas discussions ____________________

Again, for a more immersive experience, participation in discussions on Canvas will be assigned for some homework assignments.  These discussions may range from current events related to current material or a lab / dissection that we performed in class.

 

STOP and CHECKs (as in the above description) ____________________

 

You are responsible for checking your grade often, for any discrepancies, on PowerSchool.

 

Tardiness:

If you arrive to class after the bell rings, you will receive an unexcused tardy.  Being unexcused tardy three times will lead to a class cut.  However, if you are more than 10 minutes late to class, you will receive an unexcused tardy, which, according to school policy, will automatically count as a class cut. 

 

Missing Class:

If you miss class for any reason, it is your responsibility to check for what you missed! Check Canvas!

 

Office Hours / Extra Help:

My office hours will be after school on Mondays from 2:30 to 3:05 PM in Room 438 (our classroom).

Additionally, I am always willing to meet whenever we are both mutually available, whether after or during the school day.  Please come speak with me, or e-mail me, to set up a time.  Outside of class, I can usually be found in Room 438 or in the Science Office, Room 358, by the library. 

 

Contacting Me:

 

I check my e-mail robinj@wellesleyps.org several times throughout the school day.  This is always the best way to reach me!