In the keeping with a student-centered approach to your learning I wanted to provide an opportunity to learn about science outisde the scope of the textbook. Science is advancing every day and we have the opportunity to access information like never before. I think sharing new or interesting information in the biological sciences is a wonderful way for you to apply your knowledge and expand your horizons. It also makes us a responsible member of the greater community at large.
This year I will provide extra credit for students that maintain a weekly blog. This blog should not be just a collection of links and videos, it should include your own opinion/understanding of the topic at hand. These should be reputable resources: either primary resources from our library database or secondary resources like Scientific American and other such sites. If you find an article from popular media you should provide additional resources that allows the reader to understand the science behind the article. Linking to other blogs without additional resources will not be counted.
Here are some relevant examples form last year that I thought were particularly well done:
- http://emfuthescienceguru.blogspot.com/
- http://79sgiannobile.blogspot.com/2012/03/i-love-gene-cloning.html
- http://braghuraman.blogspot.com/2012/02/ch16-sex-linked.html
- http://epicallyconfusedfun21.blogspot.com/2012/03/splice-splice-splice-it-up-splice-it.html
There are many examples I can provide if you are interested. A common theme throughout is the ability to read the author's own voice in each post. It isn't simply a rehashing of information; it is a narrative from the author's point of view.
Simply sign-up for a blogger.com account and get started. We will provde a place for you to link to your blog to share with your classmates. This assignment will be worth a MAXIMUM of 20 points extra credit. This does not mean, however, that you are guaranteed 20 points. You must have updated the blog every week to be eligible for those points. You also have to demonstrate proficiency and creativity in your posts.
Points
|
Section II. Resources
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| 20 |
The student actively participated, posting each week the entire semester. Each resource is well summarized and the poster is clearly knowledgeable about the posted resource. Main ideas are explained in a clear and concise manner in each summary and the page is well organized. |
| 15 |
The poster is comfortable with each resource. Main ideas are explained adequately in each summary. The materials was adequately organized. The author misssed 1-2 posts. |
| 10 |
The poster is unable to adequately explain the main idea of each resource. The organization of the page makes it difficult to read and makes it difficult and comprehend. The author missed 3-4 posts. |
| 5 |
The author missed 5-7 posts and did not follow direction for most posts. |
It is your responsibility to make your weekly posts. I will not remind you as this is an optional assignment which will only be graded at the END OF THE SEMESTER. Please note that this is the only extra credit provided this semester. If you earn 20 points extra credit and still fall short of your desired grade there will be no other options.
Ok, enough of the procedural stuff. Have fun and learn!!
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