Effective: Fall, 2000 If adding a Graduate component to an existing course, check here
Course Number: * 630-110 Cross Listed Number:
Course Title: BOB:Biology of the Brain
15 Character Abbreviation: BOB:Biol Brain
25 Character Abbreviation: BOB:Biology of the Brain
Sponsor: Mike Woller E-mail Address: wollerm
Department: Biological Sciences
College: Letters and Sciences
* You MUST verify course numbers with Registrar's Office prior to submitting (x1211)
Other Programs Affected:
Check if course is to meet any of the following requirements:
None Writing Computer Diversity X General Ed and Area GM
Credit/Contact Hours: (per semester)
Total lab hours: 0 Total lecture hours: 48
Number of credits 3 Total contact hours: 48
Check if course is repeatable: X No Yes (if yes, answer the following questions)
Major Title(s)
Minor Title(s)
Emphasis Title(s)
Course justification:
There is an emerging need for undergraduate freshman level science courses to present basic concepts of scientific method, experimental design, interpretation of data. Further, with the change in the required status of the Science and Technology in Society course pending, a course such as Biology of the Brain, which would cover many of the basic scientific ideas outlined in STS but would use a neuroscience basis for their presentation is timely. Further, our campus has three neuroscientists, all of whom have an interest in this topic. This interdisciplinary course should prove to be an excellent mechanism for communication and cooperation between these faculty that will benefit our students. The 1990’s were the decade of the brain, and this is an exciting and dynamic topic in science at this moment in history. This course will provide 3 credit, non-laboratory options for students who chose not to enroll in STS.
Relationship to program assessment objectives:
This course is presented in the interest of providing more flexibility and options to UWW students, providing freshmen a meaningful and exciting course option.
Excerpts from the Strategic Plan:
PRIORITY 1
UW-Whitewater will keep student learning as the paramount focus of its programs and services.
GOAL 1.4
Graduates who are broadly-educated, life-long learners.
a. Integrate
critical thinking, problem solving, collaborative learning, and creativity
skills throughout the academic and non-academic programs.
PRIORITY 2
UW-Whitewater will deliver state of the art programs and services.
GOAL 2.1
Academic programs that are intellectually challenging, current, and dynamic.
a. Provide
an array of academic programs that reflect best practice within the
disciplines.
c. Conduct periodic
reviews of the curriculum to ensure efficacy and efficiency in
achieving program goals
and objectives.
We have assessed our offerings (as a department) and determined we need to improve our offerings to non-biology major students. We are in the process of transition in the College of Letters and Sciences in terms of our offerings to our non-science students, and this course will provide a viable option to those students.
g. Reduce the average
number of credits that students attempt while earning a
baccalaureate degree to 135.
By offering more flexibility to incoming freshmen, this course should help alleviate the bottleneck that occurs their first semester in terms of trying to enroll in courses that will actually help them reach graduation.
i. Offer courses that
focus on integration and application of coursework and on
career
information and employment strategies.
This course should provide critical thinking opportunities early in the students career at UW-W.
GOAL 2.3
A current technological and physical infrastructure that effectively supports academic
programs, support services, and outreach activities.
k. Extend the use of information technology and pursue its innovative application in
meeting institutional advancement goals.
This course will utilize Web-based resources, muntimedia presentation of lecture materials, and the prospect of including a Web-Only version is in early planning stages.
Mission of the Department of Biological Sciences:
Improve science literacy for student citizens, consistent with the philosophy of liberal studies, and the needs of the College of Letters and Sciences and the UW-W strategic plan.
Budgetary impact:
Our best estimate will be that this will be approximately revenue neutral in terms of replacing sections of STS with sections of BOB. This will be a lecture only course, and while the intent is to utilize existing computer facilities on campus, it should not create any dramatic change in equipment use, classroom scheduling, personnel, etc. Our intent is to provide a team-taught course eventually, with the likely participants being Woller (Biological Sciences), Waraczynski (Psychology), and Prior (Biological Sciences). All have expertise in areas of neurobiology, and each has expressed interest in participating in the course. Initially, Woller will be coordinating the course and probably covering most of the lectures. The time for this will come from a departmental shift away from covering expansive sections of STS, as discussed between Lance Urven (chair, Biological Sciences), Dean Ross (L&S), and Associate Dean Larry Schuetz (L&S).
Course description: BOB: Biology of the Brain, is a freshman-level introductory course that will cover broad topics of Scientific Method, Scientific Thinking, and initiate critical thinking skills using the field of neuroscience as the backdrop for investigation. Basic understanding of nerve biology, nerve cell function, communication between nerve cells will follow. The course will climax with a survey of the final product of nerve activity: behaviour. Not applicable to Biology Emphases or Biology Minors. Three hours of lecture per week. Offered every semester.
Course requisites: Corequisite = Math 760-140 or Math 760-141 or waiver thereof.
If dual listed, list graduate level requirements:NA
This course is designed to meet the general education goals 1,4,6,8
listed in the UW-W bulletin. Specifically, we intend this to be an entry
level (freshman/sophomore), non-majors introduction to many of the broad
aspects of science through the specific field of neuroscience. The study
of the brain is a natural backdrop for the presentation of critical thinking
skills and the introduction to complex problem solving skills. We also
intend to present the concept of Scientific Method, again using experiments
and hypothesis development specific to neuroscience. Further, this course
will provide topical information on a number of topics relating to human
health that are important to our students, such as addiction, genetic inheritance
of disease, normal aging processes of the nervous system, and other neural
pathologies.
Course objectives and tentative course syllabus:
BOB:Biology of the Brain
Instructor: Dr. Mike Woller
Office: 316 Upham Hall Phone: 472-5137
Text: Bear, Connors, Paradiso; Neuroscience (Textbook Rental)
Policy Statement:
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is dedicated to a safe, supportive
and non-discriminatory learning environment. It is the responsibility of
all undergraduate and graduate students to familiarize themselves with
University policies regarding Special Accommodations, Misconduct, Religious
Beliefs Accommodation, Discrimination and Absense for University Sponsored
Events. (For details please refer to the Undergraduate and Graduate Timetables;
the ‘Rights and responsibilities"section of the Undergraduate Bulletin;
the Academic Requirements and Policies and the Facilities and Services
sections of the Graduate Bulletin; and the "Student Academic Disciplinary
Procedures" [UWS Chapter 14}; and the "Student Nonacademic Disciplinary
Procedures" [UWS Chapter 17]).
Grading: 2 lecture exams, 100 pts each = 200 pts. A=90 %+ =360-400 pts
5 Quizes, 10 pts each = 50 pts B=80 - 89 % =320-359 pts
1 Final Exam = 150 pts. C=70 - 79 % =280-319 pts
D=60 - 69 % =240-279 pts
F=<60 % =239 or less pts
This grading policy will not be adjusted (i.e. no curves, etc).
Tentative Lecture Schedule
Date Week # Lecture Topic: Required Reading:
1 Introduction/Cells/Biomolecules Chapt 1,2
2 Cell Membranes; Electricity Chapt 3
3 Action Potential, Conducting Signals Chapt 4
4 Synapse: Cells talking to each other! Chapt 5,6
5 Exam I (chapt 1-6) ; Brain Anatomy Chapt 7
EXAM I
Senses I:Taste and Smell Chapt 8
7 Senses II:Vision Chapt 9,10
8 Senses III: Hearing Chapt 11
9 Senses IV: Pain, Touch, Coordination Chapt 12
10 Exam II (chapt 7-12) ; Motor Pathways Chapt 13
EXAM II
11 Brain Control of Movement Chapt 14
12 Brain Hormones Chapt 15
13 Perception of Emotion Chapt 16
14 Rhythms of the Brain; Behaviour Chapt 17
15 Behaviour
Exam III (1/2 cumulative; 1/2 chapt 13-17)
Bibliography
* Author: Zemlin, Willard R.
Title: Speech and hearing science : anatomy and physiology / Willard
R. Zemlin.
Edition: 4th ed.
Published: Boston : Allyn and Bacon, c1998.
*Title: Development of the prefrontal cortex : evolution, neurobiology,
and behavior / edited by Norman A. Krasnegor,
G. Reid Lyon, and Patricia S. Goldman-Rakic.
Published: Baltimore : P.H. Brookes Pub. Co., c1997.
*Title: Gray's anatomy : the anatomical basis of medicine and surgery.
Edition: 38th ed. / chairman of the editorial board, Peter L. Williams;
editorial board, Lawrence H. Bannister ... <et al.>.
Published: New York : Churchill Livingstone, 1995.
*Title: The human body : an illustrated guide to its structure, function,
and disorders / editor-in-chief, Charles B. Clayman.
Edition: 1st American ed.
Published: London ; New York : Dorling Kindersley Pub., 1995.
*Author: Nolte, John.
Title: The human brain : an introduction to its functional anatomy
/ John Nolte.
Edition: 3rd ed.
Published: St. Louis : Mosby, c1993
*Author: Gardner, Martha.
Title: Basic anatomy of the head and neck / Martha Gardner.
Published: Philadelphia : Lea & Febiger, 1992.
*Author: Brodal, Per.
Title: The central nervous system : structure and function / Per Brodal.
Published: New York : Oxford University Press, 1992.
Notes: