Syllabus: this is being updated and will be posted shortly

Schedule of Graded Assignments: this material is being updated and will be posted shortly

Instructor: Craig Sargent, Office: 115-116, MDR#3.

Contact Information:
Telephone: 859-257-8742, 
e-mail: csargent@email.uky.edu, 
www: http://darwin.uky.edu/~sargent/

TAs:  To be announced

Textbook: Evolution: Making Sense of Life, by Carl Zimmer and Douglas J. Emlen. This book is available in 3 forms: 1. as a hard copy (either hardbound or paperback) that's available at the UK Bookstore, Kennedy's, or various online outlets; 2. as an interactive iPad App that's available through the iTunes here; or, 3. as an ebook that's available through CourseSmart. You may choose to use any of these 3 options. 

We will also be doing several online, virtual laboratory exercises from Simbio's EvoBeaker, and which ones will be announced before this class begins. 

World Wide Web: This course will be launched in the University of Kentucky's Blackboard (Bb) platform, and a link to the course website will be published shortly before the course begins. Exams and discussions will occur in Bb. Most of the other content posted in Bb will also be posted here.

Computer Requirements:  If you have a relatively new PC or Mac, you should have no problem accessing and processing the content for this course. Here is a link to the minimum software and hardware requirements that you will need (note that most video content works best with the recommended 4Gb of RAM, rather than the  minimum of 1Gb, and with a fast browser like Chrome). In addition, you will need to download and install some free applications that we will use in the recitation portion of this class, to be announced later.

Course Description: This course will introduce you to the breadth of modern evolutionary biology, from theory to empirical evidence, from the basics of natural selection and population genetics to new insights gained from molecular biology and development (aka EvoDevo). Both the curriculum and your textbook emphasize an inquiry-based, active-learning approach. The course consists of both a lecture portion, and a recitation portion. You can expect to spend at least 4-5 hours per day on this course.

Lectures: Most of the content for this course is contained in your textbook and you will be responsible for reading it. The book's content will be supplemented by online PowerPoint presentations, other online resources (supplemental readings, videos, journal articles), and open online discussion with your instructor and your classmates. 

Recitations/Labs: Recitations will consist of interactive lab exercises, usually based on simulations. Some of these come from Simbio's EvoBeaker, and some will be created by the instructor. These will include written assignments that are graded. These are done on your own time, and emailed to your instructor at the appropriate deadline. Here is a rough draft of the lab schedule, and details about how to access the exercises. 

Discussions: There will be daily opportunity to participate in an open, online discussion of the course materials with your instructor and fellow students. The format for these discussions will a "chat room," possibly using Adobe Connect. The instructor will be online live, about 2 hours per day, at times to be determined later. Topics for these discussions include lecture and recitation material, and review for exams.

Grading: your grade for the course is 50% exams, 25% online recitations/labs, and 25% participation in the course discussion board. The breakdown of points is…

• Exams 300 points:
• 2 1-hour exams worth 150 points each, given weeks 3 and 6 of the term.
• Each exam is open book
• Each exam is 50 questions (multiple choice and true/false)
• Each exam will be available to you for one hour within a 24 hour block.
• Recitation/Lab: 150 points
• 6 written assignments @ 25 points each
• Participation in online discussions 150 points (5 points per weekday of posting meaningful contributions on the course Discussion Board)

 Your letter grade will be based on the following scale. A: 90-100%; B: 80-89.9%; C; 70-79.9%; D: 60-69.9%; E: 0-59.9%.

Cheating and Plagiarism: Cheating and Plagiarism: Cheating and plagiarism are serious academic offenses, and are taken seriously in this class. Please consult your student code of conduct, or the ombud, for definitions of cheating and plagiarism, and for the penalties they incur.