What can I expect on a regular day in lab?

Your instructor will start with brief announcements and then move right into the quiz (therefore it is important that you come on time). This is followed by a PowerPoint lecture on the day’s activities (be sure to take notes), and then you will move into the hands-on experiments for that day. Once everyone has finished their experiments, everyone will clean up, there will be final announcements, and then you are dismissed for the day.

How is grading broken down?

Attendance and Participation: 5%

Your  lab grade is 30% of the total BIO 230 class grade. The breakdown is as follows:

Average of the Laboratory quizzes: 30%

Microbiology Final Practical: 20%

Lab Notebook: 20%

Team Presentations: 15%

Microscope Practical: 10%

What is the best way to succeed in lab?

• To succeed in lab, attend class regularly and on time, be prepared for every class, keep accurate notes and all experimental data in your notebook, follow directions carefully, and practice safe microbiology. Additionally, protect and properly use the microscope assigned to you, and work collaboratively with your peers.

What is the most heavily weighed thing in lab for my grade?

• Your weekly lab quizzes, be sure to study for your quizzes, they will test on the PREVIOUS weeks material. Lab quizzes will start the second week of lab, therefore as an example your first quiz will be on lab safety and microscopes.

How will my quiz average be calculated?

• The top six quiz grades you have from the semester will be averaged, and the rest will be dropped.

Do we have a quiz every day?

• Yes, there is a quiz every day unless it is a lab practical day, team presentation day, or review day. Quizzes are done first thing in lab so be sure to arrive on time.

Can I make up quizzes?

• No, makeup quizzes are not allowed. If you miss a quiz, you will receive a grade of zero, which will count as one of your lowest quiz grades to be removed.

Can I make up labs?

• Make-ups for lab practical’s are provided with documentation for a legitimate excuse. Documentation must be approved by the microbiology course coordinator. Due to logistical reasons we cannot makeup full labs or team presentations.

Is attendance required?

• Yes, attendance is required. Only one absence is allowed per semester.

What happens if I am late to class?

• Three late arrivals will count as one class absence.

Do I need to buy anything for lab?

• No, all materials will be provided. There is no textbook, manual pages are uploaded.

What are the team presentations?

• Team presentations are done in teams of four students. You will present information on a medically relevant microbe of interest in the form of a shared PowerPoint presentation. This exercise focuses on science communication, organizing scientific material, and team building.

What will be on the final practical?

• The final practical consists of a hands on part and written part.
  • For the hands-on aspect: students must complete the Gram stain, catalase, and oxidase test procedures without any notes (please memorize the steps). You will also interpret results from an MSA plate and EMB plate.
  • For the written part: there will be multiple-choice and short-answer questions reviewing all other experiments completed in the lab this semester. You will not have a calculator (any math will be very simple).

How are lab notebooks graded?

• Lab notebooks are graded on format, content, and organization. They must be bound, handwritten, and include a table of contents, headings, procedures, data/observations, discussion, and conclusions/error analysis. Notebooks will be checked regularly, and the final grade will be an average across the semester.

What if I finish lab before everyone else?

• BIO 230 lab follows a uniform dismissal policy. Therefore, students that finish first must wait for the whole class to finish and clean up before they leave. If everyone finishes ahead of class time, there are weeks everyone will be dismissed early. If you are a student waiting, you are welcome to further practice your technique, study the materials, help other students, or help with cleanup.

I don’t get along with my group. Can I switch seats?

• Due to the team presentations being done by the four people at a table, it is best to stay at the same seats for the majority of the semester. However, if you are having issues with a teammate, please notify your lab instructor, and they can see about moving you to another table.

I think I broke/mishandled one of the tools we use in lab. What should I do?

• Notify your lab instructor. While it is imperative we handle our tools correctly, we understand it is a learning lab. Mistakes are bound to happen. It is always best to inform your lab instructor so that they can help you and prevent further mistakes from happening.

One of my teammates is mishandling their tools. What should I do?

• Please support your teammates if you see someone is confused or mishandling tools. While the lab instructor is there to assist all students, you can still support one another within your teams should the instructor be too far away or occupied. You and your fellow peers are learning new lab habits together. Ask the instructor for help but also monitor your surroundings and encourage your teammates to practice good lab etiquette.

Is there extra credit for labs?

While you may see an extra credit question on a quiz or practical, the lab does not yet have a specific extra credit assignment. The BIO 230 instruction team will work together to potentially create an extra credit assignment for the lab at a later time.