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1. On-Line Resource Materials for the Biology Core Courses: The On-Line Resources web site is a compilation of information useful for most biology courses including the full description of the PI System, the "How to Write a Paper in Scientific Style and Format" guide, information on statistical analyses, GraphPad Prism computing information, etc. You should become familiar with the resources available through this site and use them regularly. Hardcopy can be obtained by printing from your browser. A variety of writing assistance options are available to you in Bio 270. Work with your lab instructor - many problems can be averted by getting together frequently with your instructor to go over your results and discuss your interpretations. We will have several TWAs working in Bio 270 lab who will perform all the usual TWA functions including holding evening office hours. A schedule of their hours will be announced early in the semester via email. If you need or desire additional help with writing difficulties we encourage you to seek assistance from Seri Rudolph, the Coordinator of Scientific Writing at the Writing Workshop. Seri has broad academic and research experience as an ecologist and is extremely helpful on matters of technical writing. You can make appointments with Seri by calling x6159. 3. Lab Computers and Software: The labs have wireless Dell laptops that are equipped with Windows XP, GraphPad Prism 5.0, Microsoft Office, and SophosAntivirus software. This software is also accessible from the network via your own PC, or at any other networked PC on campus. Prism 5.0 can also be installed directly to your computer under our new site license agreement. Instructions for the use of Prism are provided in the On-Line Resources web site. Data will be distributed via attachment of Excel or Prism files. We encourage the use the Paris virtual drive for your data storage or a USB portable thumb drive for file transfer between lab and dorm. 4. Electronic Communication: The wbio270a Email List A significant portion of the communications in Bio 270 will be transmitted to the class via email. The Registrar maintains an up-to-date list called wbio270a which allows anyone in the course to send a message to all others in the class. The list is a very useful tool for several reasons. First, it allows the course staff to get messages to the whole class at anytime very efficiently; second, in the course of working up the data questions and problems will arise for which the solutions are of general interest to everyone; and third, it provides a forum in which you can post questions and get responses much more quickly than by having to track down a staff member. CAUTION: Messages to the list go to everyone, as do replies to postings on the list. If you wish to address a question to a specific person, use their specific address, not the list, as a means to reach them. Ladd Library has many resources to support your work in this course. We will assume that everyone in Bio 270 has learned fundamental library research skills and is familiar with the on-line SEARCH services. If you need extra help in using the Web-based electronic search engines do not hesitate seek assistance from LaVerne Winn, the science reference librarian, or any of the other reference librarians - that's what they're there for. Some Bio 270 lab materials will be on reserve at the Carnegie front desk or in the library reserve area. You can also obtain books and journal articles via interlibrary loan, but you'll need to plan ahead. For both the pine lab and the intertidal lab each student will submit journal articles relevant to those labs for possible inclusion in the reserve folders. All relevant articles will have their full citations posted on the Reserve Articles page. Due dates for submisson of these articles are listed in the lab schedule. The instructors and TAs will offer several evening help sessions in lab to assist you with data analysis and computing. Dates and times are listed in the lab schedule and will be posted to wbio270a. Both group members should attend if possible. You should also make appointments to get help from your instructors as needed. 8. Field Trips Preparation: Clothing, logistics, etc Clothing/Refreshments: Two of our studies (White Pine Population and Rocky Intertidal Community) require fieldwork under winter conditions. It is vital that you dress properly for outdoor work in conditions that are very cold, windy, and wet. For the pine lab, at a minimum, you should have on: wool socks, insulated waterproof boots (e.g., Sorels), gaiters or nylon shell pants, thermal long underwear, warm sweater(s), parka, warm hat, scarf, and finger-type gloves. The intertidal lab may require similar warm and protective clothing. We have a number of gaiters available for use; these will be distributed first come first served at time of loading. Hot drinks and high energy snack foods will be provided on all field trips.
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