2024 Greece Field Course Syllabus

ORganization and policies

Classroom

The two courses in this program meet either virtually (BIOL 399) or physically (BIOL 499) a various time a week to go over core concepts, engage students in dialogue and/or experiential learning activities, or participation in interactive presentations given by invited speakers or instructors. Class activities are outlined in the below schedule.

Know that you will not be memorizing; but instead, you will be questioning, reasoning, and critically thinking about the assigned material.

We expect that you come to class prepared, work-hard, and actively participate in class. You are required to read all required readings and to complete online activities ahead of class, and to engage in all homework activities to your fullest potential. Be ready for class! Class time will be more engaging and productive if you participate in class discussions.

FIELD WORK

Please check planned activities and reading assignments carefully before attending scheduled field activities

PBL Project

You will work in a group setting to carrying out a PBL project which includes three Milestone Assignments and one final presentation. The latter will be presented at the end of the semester in a public and professional setting wherein all groups will showcase and communicate their work. All aspects of these assignments will be mentored such that students are guided through the process of inquiry, knowledge acquisition, success in the acquisition of skills, and personal fulfillment.

Journaling

Journal writing assignments can benefit students by enhancing reflection, facilitating critical thought, expressing feelings, and writing focused arguments. Your journal entries will be short (250 word minimum to 350 maximum) responses to prompts intended to facilitate personal and professional reflection. These entries will be submitted to your instructors for grading and must be original in content.

Required Reading

REQUIRED Book for BIOL 399 and BIOL 499:

Wilson, E.O. (2002). The Future of Life. New York, USA, Knopf (Random House).

HARD or Soft COPY BOOK

BIO 399 - Evaluation and Grading

Knowledge of class material will be evaluated by class discussions, one “mock news broadcast from Geneva,” and two journal assignments.

Class grades will be determined by a percentage scale based upon the total number of points available (400).

Classroom Engagement & Participation = 100 points

Journal Prompts = 100 points (50 points each)

Mock News Broadcast from Geneva = 200 points

Total = 400 points

BIO 499 - Evaluation and Grading

Knowledge of class material will be evaluated by three group-based PBL milestone assignments, four individual journal prompts, a “mock news broadcast from Geneva,” a group-based PBL final presentation, student engagement and class participation, and one post-trip assignments. Evaluation will also include classroom and field-based participation.

Class grades will be determined by a percentage scale based upon the total number of points available (1,200).

PBL Milestone Assignment #1 = 100 points

PBL Milestone Assignment #2 = 100 points

PBL Milestone Assignment #3 = 100 points

Journal Prompts = 100 points (25 points each)

Mock News Broadcast from Geneva = 200 points

Student Engagement/Class Participation = 100 points

Post-field Assignment = 100 points

Final Group PBL Presentation = 400 points

Total = 1,200 points

Evaluation Methods

Scoring Rubric

Scoring Rubric for News Broadcast and PBL Project (PDF)

Scoring Rubric for Journal Prompts (PDF)

Penn State University letter grade equivalents:

Course Policies

Academic integrity Statement

Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner. Academic integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at The Pennsylvania State University, and all members of the University community are expected to act in accordance with this principle. Consistent with this expectation, the University’s Code of Conduct states that all students should act with personal integrity, respect other students’ dignity, rights and property, and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their efforts.

According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity, an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.   

Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.

Penn State University Academic Policy 49-20

For further guidance on matching punishment with infractions, see "Sanctioning Guidelines for Academic Integrity Violations".

Disability Access Statement

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to ensuring equal access to information, programs, and activities through its information technologies, web pages, web-based applications, operating system-based applications, online instructional content, services, and resources (“electronic information technology” or “EIT”) for all its constituencies.  The Pennsylvania State University's Policy AD69 establishes standards for the accessibility of EIT considered necessary to meet this goal and ensure compliance with applicable local, state and federal regulations and laws.

Note to students with disabilities: Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. If you have a disability-related need for reasonable academic adjustments in this course, contact Disability Services located at 211 Saucon at 610-285-5124. For Penn State Lehigh Valley's Disability Services, please visit their website at https://lehighvalley.psu.edu/student-life/student-support-services/disability-services. For further information regarding the Office of Disability Services, please visit their website at  http://equity.psu.edu/ods. Instructors should be notified as early in the semester as possible regarding the need for reasonable academic adjustments.

Affirmative Action

Pennsylvania State University is committed to a policy that all persons shall have equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by Commonwealth or Federal authorities. Penn State does not discriminate against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Direct all inquiries to the Affirmative Action Office.

Penn State Values

At the core of the University are the Penn State Values. The Values are our shared ideals about how people should act toward one another, the standards to which we hold ourselves, and those beliefs we find important. While aspirational in nature, the Penn State Values articulate our ethical principles and should guide our actions and decisions as members of the Penn State community, including in this course. Please visit https://universityethics.psu.edu/penn-state-values for more information on university ethics.