Tuesday, January 5, 2010

'Lifeless' prions capable of evolutionary change and adaptation

'Lifeless' prions capable of evolutionary change and adaptation


This is an interesting article- new research from just the other day about prions mutating. If you remember reading- prions are proteins without DNA and now they have found that they mutate. Interesting findings and article. Enjoy reading.

Regards,

Dr. Kathy

Unit 7 and Unit 8

Hi All,

Unit 7 is not due until Friday  1/8/10.

Unit 8 is on Mitosis and Meiosis. I will be posting some links to animations that will help you with this.

Here is a great animation that compares the 2 side by side!
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/baby/divi_flash.html

Friday, January 1, 2010

Thursday, December 17, 2009

List of items to make sure you do before submitting a project

I have been grading and here are some common problems-

1. Please name your file with your last name in it: Cercone_unit4.doc for example

2. Seminars require 400 of YOUR words- not the directions too.

3. References and APA are required for all documents submitted. I need to see you did some research on the topic.

4. I think it is good some of you can relate personally, but that is not learning. If you are writing about personal experience, you are not looking at the biology. Using the biology is the best way to learn it.

5. You MUST try to use APA. It is a school requirement. I have a link that helps write the reference at http://citationmachine.net/index2.php?reqstyleid=2

6. Make sure you read the directions carefully- to make sure you have everything, make a list before you even start the project. Go through the project after to make sure you answered everything.



I hope this helps a little as you do the project over the next few weeks!!!!

Fondly,

Dr. Kathy

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Animations - Kaplan Biology

Animations - Kaplan Biology

Immune System and cardiovascular system animations. I highly recommend these to help you understand the immune system. The immune system is very complex and it will help you. We will be looking at AIDS in Seminar with will help a little.
~KC

Unit 6 flash cards | Quizlet

Unit 6 flash cards | Quizlet

Here are the new unit 6 cards. You can click on the title of on the text in the document- both will take you right there.
Hope this helps.

Regards,

Dr. Kathy

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Unit 5 post seminar

Hello all!!!

Here is the link to the other website I have put together with videos and animations for you. It is located at: http://housatonic.wetpaint.com/

When you go there you can become a member of the site. You do not need to though as I have everything set up. When you get to the home page, on the left side, if you expand the navigation, I have them by units so make sure you get to all the pages that are in the unit. I do not have all the videos and links on one page frequently.

I will be putting the powerpoint up and I will be looking for a way to get stuff to help you study.

Fondly,

Dr. Kathy

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Unit 5 Flashcards are made and ready

Here are unit 5 Flash Cards


Unit 5

Password is "happy"

We also are in a group BioSC235

Hope this helps.

Fondly,

Dr. Kathy

Monday, December 7, 2009

What about bacteria and how they work???

It is important to understand this for this unit so I am adding a great article for you to review as we get to the end of the discussion.

http://health.howstuffworks.com/question561.htm

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Dr. Kathy

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Flash card- new link to your group that I made for us

Try this link to get into our group for the flashcard. I made a group for us with me as the admin.
There are 4 sets of quizzes for each unit.

http://quizlet.com/user/drcercone/

YOU HAVE TO LOG IN AND REGISTER TO USE THIS SITE. IT IS SAFE. YOU CAN IGNORE IF YOU WANT BUT IT WILL HELP YOU. I DO NOT HAVE TIME TO MAKE MY OWN FOR YOU. THIS IS THE BEST I CAN DO.

Try this to see if it works.

Regards,

Dr. Kathy

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Update on 12/1 (Please read!)

Hi all!!!

Some students are confused about the blog.

This blog is for ME to communicate TO YOU!!!!!

I have links that are important- as I post to the blog, the most recent is at the TOP of the page- like this one. The older ones are down. I explain a lot of things earlier- so start at the bottom and work up.

Here are 2 very IMPORTANT links:
http://housatonic.wetpaint.com/    This is actually a wiki- you can log on, register, add things if you find some that would help. I use it to put links and videos to help you with the material. It is an important website to visit.



http://quizlet.com/   This is a website where I put together quizzes and flashcards with terminology from your lectures. The terms are specific to your course and you can do many things to help yourself study for the test in unit 4.

There is a way for you to subscribe to the blog and have emails sent to you that send you the latest post. It is called subscribing to the RSS feed.  If you go to my blog site:
http://0905biology.blogspot.com/

On the upper right side, there are 2 graphics : comments and posts - select the posts and you can save them all to one of the RSS readers such as google (probably the best and easiest).

I also had a survey link that I guess was not working: http://www.doodle.com/6idb4sz3cqef4uef
So, I will try again!!! I all ready have planned to do a review for seminar 4 and have done the Powerpoint for it.

I would like to have some mock quizzes but since this is the first time I am teaching this, I have not had time to develop them. But, I have put some good stuff on the wiki and the flash cards and if you use them, I am sure it will help you.

I hope this helps!!! My goal is to provide you information as timely as I can. I also know students lose or do not see emails, so this is another method to help that.

I plan to do a survey at the end of the term about the blog and get feedback as to how I can help students using it.

If you have suggestions now, I am open to them- my goal is to help you succeed- so if I am missing something that can help, let me know.

Fondly,
Dr. Kathy

Friday, November 27, 2009

Email from 11/27/09 RECAP



1. You MUST review the blog- I have all sorts of things on it and links to a few sites that will help you study for the coming test next week.

2. The test is hard

3. I do not make the class material. I do not make the tests. I saw the course 2 days before you did.

4. I am trying to help you do well on the test as the 2 tests are 25% of your final grade.

5. Please go to the poll I put in place about seminar next week. Go to the blog. Read the email I sent.

6. Please post on 2-3 different days when you do your discussion post. Do not tell the person they did a good job. Pretend you are talking to them and continuing the discussion you are talking about.

7. Watch the movies I have put up

8. Do the flash cards I have developed

9. Watch your project. Take pictures.

I HOPE THIS RECAPS WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED!!!

~Dr. Kathy

Unit 4 Flashcards!!!!!!!!!!

Unit 4 flashcards ready!!! These will help you study for unit 4 test.

Unit 4


Dr. Kathy

PLEASE ANSWER THIS SURVEY BY TUESDAY 12/2

Please go here and take a survey - it is about seminar 4. I need your input!!!!

http://www.doodle.com/6idb4sz3cqef4uef

~KC

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

How to use Tracking feature in Word 2007



This site has a tutorial for you.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Dr. Kathy

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Movie on orbitals and clouds - Kaplan Biology

Movie on orbitals and clouds - Kaplan Biology

Another link on the Wetpaint website. Subscribe to the site and you can add things if you find them. This video is a powerpoint that I thought would help you understand orbitals and clouds in the electron. It is introduced in unit 2.

To visit my blog to get all of these link, click the red link at the top of the page.

Citation and Reference links - Kaplan Biology

Citation and Reference links - Kaplan Biology

Monday, November 16, 2009

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Biology Place - Kaplan Biology

Biology Place - Kaplan Biology

BOOKMARK AND USE THIS ALL TERM!!!!
Open my blog by linking to the very TOP red link and you will see all links on the right side of the blog in the right column.

I hope this helps you!!!!

~Dr. Kathy

Eutrophication animation-- fantastic and will help you!! Unit 2

I have found a great animation on Eutrophication which you will be learning about in unit 2. I think it will help you understand it.


I also have the file and will post it in the website I have been using to hold animations and links.

You can use either for this.
~kathy

Unit 2 preparation

Here is the link to unit 2 flashcards. This has games, etc to help you study the terms you need to know in this unit. There are a lot of them so this may help you start to recognize them.

The password is happy. I also put this on my facebook page.

http://quizlet.com/_tzil

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Website with animations and tutorials for you

I have developed the beginnings of a web site to help us with extra links and material such as videos that I may find and want to show you. I can not put these videos in the course so I need a place to house them for you.

Also, you can add videos if you happen to find a good one about the material we are studying.

This can be used along with the blog. I am the one doing the posting but you can add if you want. It is not expected of you!


I hope this helps with your studying and learning the material!!!
Fondly,

Dr. Kathy

How to Post a Discussion Board Response

1. Read the question you are responding to.
  • a. Make sure you are answering all PARTS of the question

2. Do not use lower case i for I; spell correctly, no IM shortcuts. This is a post that is educational and shows that you are using academic, college level writing skills.

3. Advancing the discussion, like in a class they need to post something that allows other students to add to the discussion.

4. Use the following questions and guide to help you develop a post
  • Expand on the other post
  • Ask for more information
  • Act as devils advocate
  • No less than 50 words- guideline not to count each word
  • Add websites
  • Asking questions for critical thinking
  • Add spice to discussion board- correctly- just as a devils advocate
  • Move the topic along
  • Not moving the discussion forward rather than time factor

5. Use the following questions to help you think of a new response to a peer.
  • Is your message factually accurate?
  • Is your message original? If you copy or paraphrase another source, you must cite it.
  • Is your message relevant to the issue being discussed?
  • Have you taught us anything new? [This is very important!]
  • Does your message engage others to want to participate in additional discussion?
  • Is your message written in academically appropriate fashion? [With no "chat" lingo, no spelling errors, no grammatical errors.]
Hope this helps during the term. Come back and read it to ensure you are doing the best you can!!!

Fondly,

Dr. Kathy

Track Changes in Word-- How I put comments and grade

Every paper you submit will have comments on it. These comments are done using the “Track Changes”

This page will have tools to help students in using technology in the course. 

 

1. How to use Word 2007 (windows version) of Track Changes which is used in your course




1. To turn it on: View Changes and Make Changes
To view changes do the following:
  • Open Word
  • Go to "Tools" and then click on "Track Changes" (to make sure the feature is turned on)
  • Make sure to have all of the following checked under "Show": (on the Reviewing Toolbar)
  1. Comments
  2. Insertions
  3. Deletions
  4. Formatting
2. Then you will be able to see all tracked changes.
3. Your comments will be visible as well as your grade.

Other comments and where they are

Make sure that you review any comments I make in the Dropbox return. If you have a 0 you may have left out material that I need to have included. Read the comments in the Grade area and you will see once you click on the grade, the comments I have made. This will also have other comments too.

Fondly,


Dr. Kathy

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Unit study help!!! You need to read this!!!! Important

I have found this really great website that will allow you to log on and study as a group or on your own. It is attached to my Facebook site but you need a password to get on. The password is "happy".
This website allows you to study at your own pace all the terms that you need to know for the test.
The test is hard and it is really important that you study and memorize. I have found this site and taken the terms you need so that you can study them.
Please use it!!! I will have every unit put in there by the end of the term.
Here is the link to unit 1.


Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Welcome


This is my first post after setting up the blog. I am working on integrating a website and blog so that the two have a lot of information for you.
My goal is to get you able to succeed in this course.
Fondly,
Dr. Kathy