GSci 165 How Life Works

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GSci 165How Life Works

• Claire Clemens
• Jeff Kushner

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Catalog Description

• GSCI 165. The Way Life Works. 1 credit.
• Patterns, energy, information, lifes machinery,
  feedback, community and evolution. These are
  major themes in how life works. This course will
  use these themes as a backdrop for looking at the
  way life works.

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Course Goals

• Explore How Life Works from an assemblage of
  atoms into molecules, into macromolecules (CHO,
  lipids, proteins, nucleic acids) to cells,
  tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms, and
  populations via mutations and evolution.
• Conduct investigations to be able to diagram and
  identify cell structures and organelles, and
  describe similarities and differences between
  plants and animals.

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Course Objectives

• Students will be able to diagram patterns of
  cellular organization, including cells, tissues,
  organs, and systems and functions and processes
  of cells, tissues, organs, and systems
  (respiration, removal of wastes, growth,
  reproduction, digestion, and cellular transport).
• Students will investigate and describe the basic
  physical and chemical processes of energy
  transformations in living systems including
  photosynthesis, fermentation, respiration and
  energy and matter flow through ecosystems.
• Students will investigate and understand that
  organisms reproduce and transmit genetic
  information to new generations, including the
  role of DNA characteristics that can and cannot
  be inherited genetic engineering and its
  applications and historical contributions and
  significance of discoveries related to genetics.
• Students will be able to provide examples of how
  organisms change over time. Key concepts include
  the relationships of mutation, adaptation,
  natural selection, and extinction evidence of
  evolution of different species in the fossil
  record and how environmental influences, as well
  as genetic variation, can lead to diversity of
  organisms.

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Information Literacy Competency Standards for
Higher Education

• An information literate individual is able to
• Determine the extent of information needed
• Access the needed information effectively and
  efficiently
• Evaluate information and its sources critically
• Incorporate selected information into ones
  knowledge base
• Use information effectively to accomplish a
  specific purpose
• Understand the economic, legal, and social issues
  surrounding the use of information, and access
  and use information ethically and legally

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Information Literacy Competency for GSci 165

• Use information effectively to Complete Homework
  Assignments
• Determine what information is needed
• Access that information effectively and
  efficiently
• Incorporate selected information into ones
  knowledge base

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Learner-Centered IL Learning Objectives for GSci
165

• Use a variety of information resources to answer
  homework questions.
• Demonstrate the ability to find information from
  readings.
• Summarize, organize, and synthesize the
  information found.
• Demonstrate knowledge of a range of biology/life
  sciences information resources for answering
  homework questions

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HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

• Assignment 1 Cells Membranes
• Assignment 2 Mitosis Meiosis
• Assignment 3 Genetics, I, II, III
• Assignment 4 DNA and Protein Synthesis
• Assignment 5 Cancer, Biotechnology

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Additions to Homework

• Find the answers to all questions in each subject
  area. Use at least two sources from each
  information resource type (and cite using APA
  style) to complete each homework assignment. A
  given category may be used only once.

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INFORMATION RESOURCE TYPES
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Part 2

• After answering all of the homework questions,
  identify one lesson plan which a teacher could
  use to communicate any one of the concepts
  contained in each of the 5 homework assignments.
• The intended audience for the lesson should be
  students in an upper elementary or middle school
  class (your choice of Grades 4-8).
• You are strongly encouraged to use the
  recommended sources, although you may consult
  additional resources, that you have evaluated to
  be professional, reliable and stable sources.

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Rubric