More about Eddie Lunsford’s BIO 168 Class

Morning glory family Convolvulaceae

Health science students usually enroll in this class. Arts and sciences students may use the class as an elective but it does not fulfill the natural sciences requirement. Our school teaches two different sets of anatomy and physiology courses. One class, BIO 163, involves a study of the human body in just one semester. The other series is a two semester treatment of the body. This class, BIO 168, is the first class in the two semester version. I really like this class because it serves as a good introduction to the cell, to how the body is organized and to a few body systems.

I view this class as extremely challenging. The successful student will ordinarily need about 12 hours of outside study time, and about six hours of class time, each week. Successful students are also open to exploring their study habits and trying new things to develop their learning skills. This class is packed full of many interesting things to learn in a short period of time. There is no prerequisite for the class but some students tell me that having a class in general biology and/or medical terminology helps. If you have not had these courses you should not feel uneasy about signing up for this class. I do not assume prior knowledge on the subject of anatomy and physiology.

About half the class time is devoted to lab work. In this class you will learn to use the microscope. You will study microscopic tissue samples and see how these tissues help to build the body organs and systems. There will be an in depth study of the skeleton and the muscles. In lab we also usually dissect a sheep brain and sheep eye, as well as a small segment of an animal spinal cord. We study the basic physiology of special senses and nervous system in lab too. Weekly lab grades are based on lab reports and worksheets.

There are five unit tests and a comprehensive final. Two lab practicals are included. One is on the skeleton and the other has to do with other lab topics. For all unit tests and lab practicals, students are given a set of objectives to guide their study. A skeletal outline is also provided to assist with note taking and organizing the class material.

Students are often surprised by the amount of studying and advanced preparation for class that is required on their part. Examples include regular review of past class material, reading ahead in the textbook and previewing lab instructions before each lab session. Put simply, this is not a class that the average person can do well in by studying a day or two before a test is given. With that in mind, I usually introduce students to the practice of concept mapping early in class. Students are required to regularly draw and submit concept maps for grading throughout the course. Most students tell me that the concept mapping activities end up being a big help toward their class success.