O'Tousa Teaching, Fall Semester 2011
I am teaching BIOS10161, Biological Sciences I and BIOS20201, General Biology A in Fall semester 2011. Dr. Malcolm Fraser also lectures in these classes. Profs. Kristin Lewis, Jennifer Robichaud and T. Mark Olsen run the laboratory sessions associated with these classes. Below is some information on textbook and materials required or the course. The syllabus and other information will be provided at a web site specific for your class.
There are two items required for BIOS10161 and BIOS20201:
1. Textbook: Life, the Science of Biology authored by Sadava and others, 9th edition. Any version (hardbound, looseleaf, paperback, or the electronic BioPortal) is OK.
2 .An iClicker class response unit.
Answers to frequently asked questions (scroll to see):
1. What is the ISBN # of the textbook? The ISBN for the standalone hardbound Sadava textbook is 978-1-4292-1962-4. With respect to textbook, on the cover it has picture of a bat hovering at a flower. It is same as we used last year in class. Prior to that, we used the older 8th edition with a mandrill (monkey with colorful face). Please don't buy the 8th edition new but if you already have a copy you might be able to manage.
2. Can I purchase the textbook and iClicker together? The hard and looseleaf versions are available at the ND bookstore bundled with the iClicker, a device to allow students to answer questions in class ("ask the audience..."). In the bookstore, this bundle also includes a one-year access to BioPortal, so you will be able to access the textbook and some study materials electronically as well. Similar options are available at the publisher’s on line store (see question #4).
3. Can I purchase the textbook and iClicker separately? While buying the bundled packages should provide a cost savings, both the textbook and iClicker are available separately at the Notre Dame bookstore and elsewhere. So you have lots of choices to get materials.
4. Besides the Notre Dame bookstore, where else can I purchase the class materials? The textbook and iClicker are widely available as web stores such as Amazon.com. In fact, WHFreeman (textbook publisher) has created custom website storefront for the class so you could buy directly from the publisher. Prices here should be little less (and you will also get an extra 12 month license for BioPortal), but you may lose some convenience and the return policies and such of the ND bookstore. Packages 2 and 3 are most appropriate unless you already have an iClicker:
Package #1: Sadava, Life 9e (loose-leaf) + BioPortal (24-month access). Package#2: Sadava, Life 9e (loose-leaf) + BioPortal (24-month access) + i>clicker.
Package#3: Sadava, Life 9e (hardcover) + BioPortal (24-month access) + i>clicker.
Package #4: link to BioPortal website (12-month access). This is the link to the pubisher’s website: http://www.whfreeman.com/catalog/static/whf/customstore/UND/BiologicalSciences/
5. Do I need to purchase a hard bound copy of the textbook? No there are other choices. One alternative is a looseleaf version of the textbook. It less expensive and has some advantages as the book will be used both semesters in course, and with this you won’t need to carry the entire book around throughout the year. A second alternative is to not purchase the hard copy version of textbook at all, rather just purchase access to an electronic version called BioPortal. On a computer or iPad type device you would have access to all textbook content as well as some study materials. But you will not have a hard copy of the textbook, and you will have access for one or two years (depending on how package was purchased). And a third alternative would be to purchase paperback versions of textbook as, for example listed at Amazon.com. Please realize these are divided into three volumes. The three ISDN13 #s are 978-1429246453, 978-1429246446 and 978-1429246477. You will need all three to complete both semesters of the Notre Dame introductory biology classes.
6. What is Bioportal? Bioportal is a website designed for students taking Biology courses using the Sadava textbook. Importantly it includes all the material in the textbook in an ebook form. You can preview Bioportal from the webpage: http://courses.bfwpub.com/life9e.php.
7. Is Bioportal required? No Bioportal is not required for the class. The publisher bundles Bioportal with the textbook at no additional charge so it is included when you buy the textbook new. You may find that it is a convenient way to access course materials, but no coursework requires Bioportal.
8. What other course materials are needed. Many required documents for both the lecture and laboratory will be posted online during the semester. Typically these are pdf documents that you will print out and assemble into notebooks. You will be able to get these printed at specific locations on the Notre Dame campus, or of course you could use your own printer.
