More about Eddie Lunsford’s BIO 111 Class

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Students from an array of programs take this class. In Arts & Sciences, it may be used to partially fulfill the natural sciences requirement or used as an elective. This is one of my favorite courses to teach. It provides an introduction to biology and I usually get to work with students from a variety of backgrounds. There is no prerequisite for the class. In other words, I do not assume previous knowledge about biology. I find that this class also challenges some students’ notions about science in general. A very similar but less detailed class is BIO 110. A student may not use both BIO 110 and BIO 111 to fulfill requirements for the Arts & Sciences degree or core requirements.

By way of lecture and discussion, films, group work, projects and lab activities we study and experience how scientists do their work, we learn about cells, cell division, energy, food, classification of organisms, evolutionary theory, genetics and chemistry as it pertains to biology. There are four unit tests and a comprehensive final. Students are given a set of objectives to guide their study and preparation for tests. Other grades include weekly lab reports and worksheets. There are also two major projects. One is a written summary of the classification and descriptions of 20 assigned organisms. It is a very challenging project and usually spans about 20 pages in length. Students need good library and/or internet research skills to do well with this project. While challenging, it is filled with opportunities to learn more about living things. The other major project is a formal scientific research paper based on an experimental inquiry completed in class. The lab work for this project is most often done in small groups. Students may decide if they would like to write their papers alone or with one or more partners.

To be successful in this class, the average student will complete about 12 hours of outside study and preparation in addition to the six hours of weekly class meetings. Reading ahead in the textbook and reviewing previous class material is critical to most students. There are a number of extended projects. Some span only two class meetings but others are longer. For example, students may spend 10 to 14 weeks on the taxonomy project. It is not unusual for students to be involved in multiple activities during any given week. For this reason, good time management skills and organizational skills are essential. This is not a class that usually allows one to put forth minimal effort and do well. Having the ability to work well with other students in a cooperative setting is also a plus for success. Regular attendance is probably a bit more critical than for the average college class due to extended group work in lab. If you are a person who procrastinates or one who has problems working without constant supervision, you may have a very hard time in this course. I am always willing to help but I see myself in the role of a facilitator, rather than a supervisor, in this class.