Calendar Tutorials ToolBox webMIC419Home
Welcome to Immunology! WebMIC 419 is an introductory course for students interested in how the body protects itself from infectious disease. Over the next 4.5 weeks, you will learn how the immune system is organized, how it functions to keep us healthy, and how it can cause allergic and autoimmune disease. We'll also explore the ways in which immunology is used for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious disease and cancer.
When you finish this course, you should be able to:
WebMIC419 is designed to cover the same material as the regular lecture version of MIC 419. It is also designed to be completed electronically. All assignments and exams are open-book; the course stresses understanding and problem-solving, not memorization of facts. I will be available for face-to-face meetings, but they are not required. The course is organized as
To do well in this course, you must
Why do we give grades (called assessment in educational jargon)?
Acquiring FACTS is just the beginning of learning. Some of the facts you learn in immunology this year will not be facts next year or the year after. More importantly, knowing facts without being able to apply them is "inert knowledge", good for Immunology Trivial Pursuit but not much else. Educational skills I want to you acquire include the abilities to apply, analyze, comprehend, synthesize, and evaluate information in immunology. The longer I teach, the more convinced I am that the amount of active participation by the student determines how much effective learning takes place.
Grades in the course will be based on several assessments with the relative weighting shown below:
|
ACTIVITY
|
POINTS
|
TOTAL
|
| On-line
Discussions Cases 8@ 40 Discussion participation 8 @ 10 |
320 80 |
400
|
|
Exams
Case-based open-book essay 4@ 100 |
400
|
400
|
| Critique |
100
|
100
|
| Course Total |
900
|
Case Assignments and On-line Discussions Cases have been written to emphasize key material from the reading (as outlined in the Learning Goals) and to help you prepare for exams. Cases (except for Case 1) will be available 2 days before they are due. Analyses must be submitted electronically as email attachments no later than the beginning of the on-line discussions. Late cases will lose 10% if they are turned in by noon on the day of discussion and 20% if they are turned in later than noon. Discussions will focus on the Cases, although new problems may be posed for on-line discussion and questions about the material will be answered as time allows. For more detailed information and due dates, see the Calendar.
Critique Three current research papers will be assigned, you will read them and write a scientific critique (analysis) due the final Wednesday of classes. For more details, see the Calendar.
Exams and make-up policies Four open book case-based exams will be given in the course; dates are listed in the Calendar. Material emphasized in each exam will come from the readings and class activities for the dates listed in the class schedule; however, because of the nature of the material, exams will be cumulative. The first three exams will be available on Thursday at noon and due the following Monday at noon. The final exam will be available on Thursday at noon and is due the following Thursday at noon. Because of the pace of the course, exam make-ups cannot be given.
Grading scale The course is graded on how well you meet the objectives listed above, not on a curve. Grades are maintained to two decimal points and semester totals with decimals equal to or greater than 0.50 are rounded to the next highest integer and used to compute a letter grade. The grading scale is 90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, 70-79 = C, 60-69 = D, and less than 60 = E. I carefully examine scores within 1-2 percentage points of the next highest letter grade, and MAY award a higher grade in individual cases where I see a clear trend towards performance at the higher level. I cannot change your grade or allow you to do extra work once the class is over!!!
See the University schedule for withdrawal dates.
Do NOT assume that if you just stop attending class you will be administratively dropped! Failure to follow these procedures will result in an "E" on your transcript. An incomplete will be given only when all of the work in the course has been completed except the final exam. An incomplete agreed upon by you and me will be accompanied by an written agreement signed by both of us listing a final due date.
Academic Integrity Students are encouraged to share intellectual views and discuss freely the principles and applications of the course work. However, examinations and individual assignments must be written independently . This course operates under the UA Code of Academic Integrity http://w3.arizona.edu/~studpubs/policies/cacaint. All forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited, including (but not limited to): cheating, fabrication, academic dishonesty, plagiarism, modifying any academic work to obtain additional credit without approval of instructor, or attempting to carry out any of the above. Committing any of the above will result in sanctions being imposed on the student's scores or grade up to and including the assignment of an "E".
YOU, the Student: Learning is not a Spectator Sport! How do you learn most effectively? Reading? Listening to lecture? Flash cards? Taking notes? Discussing the material with a study group? Writing a paper? In general, people learn most effectively when they do something. In this class, you will be doing a variety of things (because different activities work better for different learners) to help you learn immunology (and also enjoy doing so).
What I expect of you:
Texts and Electronic Resources I have asked the bookstore to order The Immune System by P. Parham, Garland Publishing, 2000. Other readings may be assigned during the semester; they will be available on line. See Reading and Writing About Immunology for tips on how to find immunology sources in the library.
All class materials, including Calendar, Syllabus, Tutorials with practice quizzes and problems, and ToolBox descriptions of techniques and materials are available electronically at http://microvet.arizona.edu/Courses/MIC419/webmic419index.html. Computers are available for course use in the Student Resource Center, VetSci/Micro Building 202, from 8 AM until 4 PM weekdays. For the location of other campus computing facilities, how to access the campus network from off campus locations with a modem and phone line, and for instruction in using e-mail and the Internet, see Computing on Campus, available from CCIT and the Resource Center.
Instructor
Janet M. Decker, PhD, Senior Lecturer
Dept. of Veterinary Science and Microbiology
235 VetSci/Micro (Building #90)
Office Phone: 621-8942
Campus Mailbox: Room 204 VetSci/Micro
E-mail: jdecker@u.arizona.edu (best
way to get a quick answer)
Office Hours: MWF 9-10 AM for face-to-face meetings; on-line Fridays 10-11 AM.
I post my weekly schedule on
my office door and electronically (Instructor),
and enjoy seeing students in my office.
What you can expect of me:
Special resources Students needing special accommodations or special services should contact the S.A.L.T. Center at 1010 N. Highland, 621-1242 and/or the Disability Resource Center, 11224 E. Lowell, 621-3268. The needs for special services must be documented and verified by these UA units. I will do everything I can to accommodate documented special needs.
Calendar Tutorials ToolBox MIC419Home
http://microvet.arizona.edu/Courses/MIC419/mic419syllabus.html
Written by Janet M. Decker, PhD jdecker@u.arizona.edu
Last modified
June 2, 2004