BMS 100 FAQs

STUDY the outlines provided for each chapter on the test and STUDY your notes from the lectures on those chapters. Biomedical Sciences courses are fairly information-intensive, so be sure that you are thoroughly familiar with the material.
The publisher of your textbook maintains an excellent On-Line Learning Center (OLC) (link available in BMS100 navigation bars) that includes a "Chapter Quiz" on each chapter. You should, at a minimum, do all of the assigned questions listed on the chapter outlines. You can easily link to the specific Chapter Quizzes from the on-line version of each outline. Be aware that these questions may be included, unaltered or slightly modified, on tests, and you can get the correct answers by clicking "Submit Answers" at the end of each quiz.
Try the multiple choice questions that were asked in previous semesters by going to the Past Test Questions pages of the BMS100 web site.
Visit the BMS100 Animations page and see if there are any relevant animations available.
Study every day. After each class, re-write your notes so they are organized, clear, and complete, which will cause you to mentally "rehearse" the material and provide you with a useful aide when test time comes. Make sure you can answer all of the questions asked on the outlines as well as the assigned Study Questions. Study every day - do NOT wait until the evening before a test. There will probably be too much to effectively deal with!

Are the tests "hard" or "easy"? This depends mainly on how well-prepared you are. The instructor NEVER intentionally makes a test easy or hard; he DOES try to design tests that measure the extent to which each student has familiarized himself or herself with the information that has been covered. In this course, all test questions are objective, and you can focus your energy on the material that is officially outlined, therefore, your test scores will be a reflection of how serious you are about mastering the material. Regular attendance will assist you in understanding what is to be emphasized.

I am disappointed in my last test score. What should I do?

While the material and the test are both fresh in your mind, view the test answer key at the Progress Page. Now that you have seen the questions with the correct answers, consult the instructor (office - EBS 307) so we can discuss how you might prepare and perform more effectively in the future.
Review the Tests section of the FAQs to make sure you know what is expected and how to prepare.
Speak with the tutor, who has very successfully completed BMS100 and other BMS courses. He or she may be able to provide you with helpful tips and perspectives.
Be sure to attend all lectures and labs if you are not doing so already. Attendance raises your cumulative percentage through ICRs and Lab Quizzes and by generally giving you a more solid start on the material being covered. Don't let these points "slip through your fingers."
Get started on the next Plus Hours assignment. It is worth ten points and by getting it done sooner, you can concentrate on preparation for the next test when the time comes.
Be aware that each test constitutes a relatively small percentage of your final grade. One test cannot by itself "make or break" your grade, but a disappointing test score early in the course should prompt you to identify strategies that will help you do better in the future.
Progress Pages are updated as frequently as possible so as to include points earned from ICRs, Lab Quizzes, and Plus Hours. These can make a big difference!

What are the "Student Learning Outcomes" that were mentioned in connection with the Final Exam?

Student Learning Outcomes ("SLOs") are written statements that describe the knowledge and skills that a student can expect to have upon successful completion of a course. All SBCC courses are required to have SLOs and assess student fulfillment of them.

The Final Examination will include a 25 point "Comprehensive Portion" that focuses on the BMS100 SLOs. This portion of the exam will involve a broad overview of the general concepts covered throughout the course. The SLOs are "built in" to various BMS100 activities, therefore, students who have applied themselves consistently throughout the course will have achieved the SLOs and will be prepared to easily deal with the "Comprehensive Portion" of the final exam.

Grades

What if I am having difficulty locating my records on the Student Progress Check?

First try looking at the grade sheets for the CRN (section) in which you are officially enrolled.
Make sure you have provided the instructor with a four digit code (all numbers; no letters). If you have not done so, you (and perhaps other students) are listed as "0000." You may provide your code in person or by e mail to the instructor. If using e mail, include your real name (e mail names/addresses are sometimes ambiguous).
If you initially wrote "none" as your code, your record is not posted.
A student may request that his or her code number and posting options be changed at any time during the course. Any such changes take effect on subsequent postings of the records (pages that have already been posted are not removed and reposted except under unusual circumstances).
Any student is welcome to see the instructor in his office any time during the course to discuss his or her grade record to date.

Are there any "extra credit" assignments in this course? By unofficial departmental policy, there are very few or no extra credit available in BMS courses at SBCC. It is our belief that it is best and most fair for all students to concentrate on the activities that have been officially assigned to all students. In BMS100, extra credit is most likely to become available in the form of additional "ICRs" (see above) that supplement student point totals. Additional ICRs, if offered, are available only to students in attendance.

At the end of the course, is each student's percentage rounded off to the nearest whole number? The BMS100 Syllabus states the "cut-off," or percentage required for, each grade. In this system, in order to receive a given final grade, the student's final cumulative percentage must meet or exceed the "cut-off" for that grade, i.e., the percentage is not "rounded off."

Are the cutoff scores for final grades ever changed between the beginning and end of the semester? The cut-offs will not, under any circumstances, be raised. The instructor may, under certain circumstances, lower the cut-off for a given grade. If any cut-off is lowered, the change will be in effect for all students in the class.

Textbook and Reading

What should I do if I cannot afford the textbook at this time? Check the SBCC Library, where copies of the textbook may be available at the "Reserve" desk.

Am I responsible for all of the material in all of the chapters? The textbook contains more information than can be reasonably covered in a one semester course. Though you are encouraged to do "extra" reading, for test purposes, you may wish to concentrate on those parts of the chapters that correlate to the lectures and outlines.

Computers and Software

What and where is the "Biology Department Computer Lab?" The SBCC Biology Department maintains a well-equipped and staffed Department Computer Lab, EBS 215, the hours of operation of which are stated on the BMS100 Schedule.

What web sites and software are presently in use in this course? The following web sites and software are presently in use in this course:

BMS100 Web Site, which is maintained by the instructor and available on the Internet. The BMS100 web site includes chapter outlines and lists of assigned study questions that are posted at the OLC (below).
On-Line Learning Center (OLC), which is maintained by McGraw-Hill Higher Education. The OLC contains many interesting and important pages, including a Chapter Quiz for each chapter of the book.
BMS100 Intranet, which is maintained by the instructor and generally available at any node (computer) on the department network, including those in the laboratory and the Department Computer Lab.
PhysioEx, a physiology simulations program that is used in some of the Plus Hours Assignments and available at no cost to students in the Department Computer Lab.

Must I submit the results of all the assigned study questions? The assigned study questions are generally intended for test preparation purposes and you are not required to submit their results to the instructor. An exception to this occurs with Chapter 5, the Chapter Quiz for which constitutes one of the Plus Hours Assignments.

What can I try if some pages do not seem to be working properly on my computer? Please try one or more of the following:

Consider using Internet Explorer (IE) or Mozilla Firefox. Other browsers may or may not support all functions used in the BMS 100 pages.
Put your browser in "Tile" mode (not maximized), so that you can find all of the pages you have opened.
Clear your machine of previously-visited pages. On IE, this can be done as follows: Tools > Internet Options > Delete Files and Tools > Internet Options > Clear History. If you have not done this recently, it may take some time for IE to "clean up" your system. After doing this, Refresh the page you are viewing.
Use a computer in the Department Computer Lab, EBS 215.

About Biomedical Science 107 and 108

What is "BMS 107" and how does it compare to BMS 100? Biomedical Science 107 at SBCC is "Human Anatomy." Compared to BMS 100, BMS 107 is a more detailed, thorough examination of human body structures. BMS 107 is required for most clinically-oriented majors and programs, including the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program and Physician Assistant programs. BMS 100 is sufficient for the SBCC Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) program, however, a person is not eligible to become a Registered Nurse (RN) with the LVN degree alone.

What is "BMS 108" and how does it compare to BMS 100? Biomedical Science 108 at SBCC is "Human Physiology." BMS 108 covers the functions of the human body at greater depth than is done in BMS 100. Like BMS 107, BMS 108 is generally required by most programs leading to specialized college degrees and professional programs in the field.

My educational goal requires that I take BMS 107 and/or BMS 108. Should I take BMS 100? BMS 107 and 108 are generally considered fairly challenging courses and students who are adequately prepared and highly motivated have a greater chance of success than those who are not. BMS100 is available as a precursor to the higher level courses for those students whose backgrounds in the sciences did not include ample attention to the intricate structures and functions of human cells, tissues, and organs. All students are advised that some institutions (including the University of California) limit academic credit to a maximum of two (2) courses in the BMS 100/107/108/146 group.

Fall 2008