A&P I Lecture Notes — syllabus

Course Overview and Structure

• The video and PowerPoint cover only the lecture portion of the course; lab guidelines and materials require consultation with your lab instructor.

• Lecture meetings: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM in the Science Auditorium.

• Physical location details: Science Auditorium is a circular building in the north part of campus, between the Science Building, the Hayes Biology Building, and Art and Music Buildings.

• Textbooks for the course:

  • Lecture textbook (required): Martini and Bartholomew Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology, 8th edition (yellow cover).

  • Lab textbook (required): Top Hat interactive textbook (upper right-hand display in the video).

• Textbook logistics:

  • The lab textbook is essential for completing lab assignments.

  • Order the Top Hat textbook; you can access/purchase it through Blackboard via the lab section by linking to Top Hat and paying there.

  • It is possible to sign into Blackboard through your lab section to access Top Hat and pay for the textbook.

• Instructor information: Dr. Matthew Pine, Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Lamar University.

  • Background: PhD in Ecology from Colorado State University; aquatic ecologist.

  • Office: 101 B, Mayes Building.

  • Email: mpyne@Lamar.edu (best way to contact).

  • Phone number and office hours are provided in the course materials; you can arrange meetings by email if needed.

• Quick course orientation: This is the first of two anatomy and physiology courses.

  • Goals: Introduce the basic structure and function of the human body, starting at the most basic chemical level and building upward.

  • Progression: Biochemistry (chemistry of carbohydrates and proteins) → cell biology (cell structure) → tissues (four basic tissue types) → organs (various types) → specialized neurons and sensory structures (sound, vision, smell, etc.).

  • The second A&P course will continue from the organ level established here.

• Grade structure (overall 100%): Lecture portion contributes 75% of the final grade; lab contributes 25%.

• Lecture component total: 500 points.

  • Four lecture exams: total 300 points (100 points each); one exam is dropped, per policy explained later.

  • Comprehensive final exam: 100 points (cannot be dropped).

  • Online video quizzes: up to 50 points (5 points each; there are about 12–13 quizzes; you may take up to 50 points total).

  • In-class activities: 50 points (12–13 activities; each worth 5 points).

• Lab component: 25% of the final grade. Specific breakdown is determined by your lab instructor.

• Total possible lecture points = 500; total possible course points = 750 (lecture 500 + lab 250).

• Self-check: If you know your lecture average and lab average, you can estimate your total percentage using the weighted formula below (see example).

• Important notes about grading and policy:

  • A strict policy on no extra credit in A&P; dropping the lowest-scored exam is used instead of extra credit across the course.

  • A potential final-course curve may be applied, but the curve is not determined until final grades are calculated.

  • The curve, if used, applies at the end of the semester and is not decided beforehand.

  • The presence of a lab grade means the overall grade is a combination of both components; the heavier weight is on the lecture (75%).

Detailed grading computations

• Final grade formula (overall percentage):
  $ext{Total percent} = 0.75 imes ext{LecturePercent} + 0.25 imes ext{LabPercent}$

• Example calculation from the instructor:

  • Lecture average: 78%

  • Lab average: 90%

  • Lecture contribution: $0.75 imes 78 = 58.5$

  • Lab contribution: $0.25 imes 90 = 22.5$

  • Total percentage: $58.5 + 22.5 = 81 ext{.0}<br>z$

• Explanation of weighting:

  • A higher lecture score has a stronger impact on the final grade since 75% of the grade comes from lecture.

  • Even a very high lab score (e.g., 90%) only shifts your final grade modestly due to the smaller 25% weight.

• Grading scale (typical):

  • A: $90\% \le \text{Grade} \le 100\%$

  • B: $80\% \le \text{Grade} \le 89\%$

  • C: $70\% \le \text{Grade} \le 79\%$

  • D: $60\% \le \text{Grade} \le 69\%$

  • F: \text{Grade} < 60\%

• Note on final grading and curve:

  • The curve is not determined until final grades are calculated.

  • The policy about curves may vary by semester; it is not guaranteed.

• No extra credit policy:

  • There is no extra credit across Anatomy and Physiology courses as a standard policy.

• Attendance and conduct implications:

  • Lab attendance is required; missing lab results in lost points and potentially missed assignments.

  • For lecture, there is no roll call, but attendance is incentivized via in-class activities and note-taking requirements.

  • The class is designed to be challenging and requires substantial study time (A/B students report ~15–20 hours of study per exam, sometimes more).

  • Disruptive behavior will be addressed and can result in removal from class.

  • Computer and phone use is allowed if silenced and non-disruptive.

Lecture component details

• In-class structure:

  • 15 in-class activities planned to incentivize attendance and engagement (not all announced in advance).

  • Activities include group quizzes, worksheets, and Q&A sessions; each activity is worth 5 points.

  • There are approximately 12–13 activities; to reach the full 50 points, you should aim to participate in 10 of them.

• Lecture materials and note-taking:

  • A PDF of lecture slides is posted at least the day before the lecture but contains missing text intentionally.

  • Students must attend to copy down the missing text and take notes during class discussions.

  • Images on slides are included in the PDF; key textual content is presented during lecture.

• Study aids and preparation:

  • A pretest study guide is posted on Blackboard; it lists major points from the lecture to guide study.

  • The syllabus includes a lecture schedule with dates for lectures, topics, and exam dates to help planning.

• Textbook switching and rationale:

  • The course switched to Martini and Bartholomew’s Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology, 8th edition, with the aim of improving student outcomes as evidenced by better test performance when students refer to textbooks during study.

• Blackboard and online resources:

  • The video quizzes are posted on Blackboard and require you to watch the video, answer on-screen questions, and review results.

  • Quizzes can be taken within a one-week window after opening; you may retake multiple times within that window; the highest score is recorded.

  • There is also a PDF lecture slide deck posted on Blackboard to accompany lectures.

Video quizzes details

• Points and eligibility:

  • 50 points total from video quizzes (12–13 quizzes; each worth 5 points).

  • You must take at least 10 quizzes to reach the maximum 50 points; you can reach it by taking more than 10 if you wish.

• Quiz mechanics:

  • Each video contains a multiple-choice question that appears during the video; you answer and continue.

  • At the end of the video, you see how many questions you answered correctly.

• Accessibility and retakes:

  • Quizzes are posted on Blackboard and accessible for the rest of the semester after the allowed window.

  • You have one week from opening to complete the quiz; within that week you can take the quiz as many times as you want, and the highest score is used.

In-class activities in detail

• Points and rules:

  • 50 points total from in-class activities (12–13 activities; each worth 5 points).

  • To maximize credit, you need to be present for at least 10 activities.

  • If you miss some activities (due to appointments or illness), you may still meet the 50-point target by attending others.

• Scheduling and announcements:

  • There is no pre-announced schedule for in-class activities; you must attend class to discover whether an activity will occur.

  • The instructor will not disclose in advance which days will have activities.

Lecture slide access and study planning

• Pre-lecture resources:

  • A pretest study guide is posted on Blackboard to highlight major points from the upcoming lecture.

• Schedule visibility:

  • The lecture schedule in the syllabus shows lecture dates, topics, and exam dates, helping you manage your study timeline.

Lab and Top Hat integration

• Lab textbook and platform:

  • The lab uses a Top Hat interactive textbook; access requires purchasing through the Top Hat platform linked from Blackboard.

  • It is essential for completing lab assignments.

• Access process:

  • Sign into Blackboard, navigate to the lab course, and use the link to Top Hat to pay and access the lab textbook.

• Practical implications:

  • Without Top Hat access, you cannot complete lab assignments.

Attendance, conduct, and class culture

• Attendance expectations:

  • Lab attendance is compulsory due to point allocation and assignment completion.

  • Lecture attendance is encouraged through in-class activities and note-taking requirements; there is no formal attendance roll for lectures.

• Classroom conduct:

  • No allowed disruptions; disruptive students may be asked to leave.

  • Quieting devices and respectful engagement are expected to maintain a conducive learning environment.

Exam specifics and policies

• Exam format and timing:

  • In-person exams conducted during class time.

  • Four exams in the semester; one is dropped; a comprehensive final exam is mandatory.

  • Each exam consists of 50 multiple-choice questions covering material discussed since the previous exam.

  • You may use an exam answer sheet (Scantron) and two #2 pencils; other items (including electronics) should be placed at the front of the classroom.

• What to bring:

  • Scantron form 882-E and two #2 pencils; no other materials are needed during the exam.

  • Scantron forms are typically available in the bookstore.

• Makeup and lateness policy:

  • There are no makeup exams.

  • If you arrive after the first exam has been handed in, you cannot take that exam.

• Exam drop policy:

  • The lowest-scoring regular exam will be dropped at the end of the semester; the final exam cannot be dropped.

Textbook and cost notes

• Lab textbook cost:

  • The cost per Top Hat form was not explicitly stated in the material; the key point is to use Blackboard to access and pay for the Top Hat textbook through the lab section.

• Bookstore note:

  • The Top Hat material is linked through your lab Blackboard page, not solely through the bookstore; availability and process may vary by semester.

Foundational ideas and real-world relevance

• Course design philosophy:

  • Building from chemical biology to cellular biology to tissues and organs mirrors the hierarchical organization of the human body and reinforces foundational biology concepts.

  • The emphasis on active attendance, note-taking, and in-class activities aligns with evidence that engagement improves retention and performance.

• Practical implications:

  • Students should plan significant study time (often 15–20 hours per exam as reported by successful students).

  • The course structure supports a scaffolded learning approach, facilitating integration of concepts across chemical to organ levels.

• Ethical and policy considerations:

  • No extra credit across A&P courses is a standard policy.

  • Grading fairness is maintained by the drop of the lowest exam and a fixed final exam policy.

  • The instructor emphasizes a transparent policy on curves, final grade determination, and the necessity of attending lectures to obtain full benefit from the course resources.

Quick reference: key formulas and numbers

• Lecture weight: $0.75$ of final grade.

• Lab weight: $0.25$ of final grade.

• Final grade calculation: $ext{Total percent} = 0.75 imes ext{LecturePercent} + 0.25 imes ext{LabPercent}$

• Example: $ext{LecturePercent} = 78\%\quad \text{LabPercent} = 90\%$

  • $0.75 \times 78 = 58.5$

  • $0.25 \times 90 = 22.5$

  • $58.5 + 22.5 = 81.0\%$

• Grade cutoffs:

  • A: $90\% \le \text{Final} \le 100\%$

  • B: $80\% \le \text{Final} \le 89\%$

  • C: $70\% \le \text{Final} \le 79\%$

  • D: $60\% \le \text{Final} \le 69\%$

  • F: \text{Final} < 60\%

• Timeline and exam dates:

  • The syllabus lists dates for lectures and exams; consult it to plan for the semester.

Note: The content above mirrors the transcript closely and captures both the major policies and the finer points discussed, including examples, policies, and study expectations. For rapid revision, focus on the grading weights, exam rules (no makeup, dropped exam), the role of in-class activities and video quizzes, the Top Hat lab textbook access, and the progressive structure from biochemistry to organ-level organization.