Introduction to Bioscience

Hi all,

Over the next week and a half, you should spend some time exploring the Blackboard shell for the Bioscience course, and completing the Introduction to Bioscience unit.

Weekly tasks

1. Explore Blackboard
   
   • Save this page to your favourites/bookmarks so that it's easy to come back here when you need to.
   • Log in using your student ID username and the password that's associated with it. If you can't remember what it is, ring helpdesk & they'll reset it.
   • The buttons on the left hand side (Course Info, Course Documents) allow you to move between different sections within the shell
   • See if you can find the Bioscience 1 timetable & save this somewhere or print it.
     
     
2. Work your way through the Introduction to Bioscience unit.
   
   Although this introductory section is not formally assessed it has some concepts that are fundamental to the study of both Bioscience and Anatomy. After completing it you should have an idea about the different levels of organisation, the names of the main body systems and the basic processes common to all living organisms. You will also be introduced to the important concept of homeostasis and how feedback systems help maintain it. Homeostasis is essential for the cells and body systems to function efficiently. In fact, if homeostasis is disturbed disease results. If the disturbance is severe, the organism (you) will die.
   
   In this section you are also introduced to the directional terms used to describe the relationships of parts of the body to each other. Make yourself familiar with these and what they mean as your teachers will be using them from now on to describe the position of body organs and structures.
   
   Notice how there are several different versions of the content in this section - an interactive version, a printable version and a workbook. Have a look at these. It's not essential to make use of all of these, but it is highly recommended.
   
   
   
   
3. If you have time, it's a good idea to make a start on the first assessed unit - Chemicals in the body.

I will be coordinating this course at least in the first few weeks, so feel free to contact me with any queries via phone or email.

Kind regards,
David McQuillan

June 23rd

Hi everyone, You should now have studied all the units and be revising for the test on Friday. Remember it is from 10am to 12 and it will be in H415 as usual.

The lymphatic quiz does not officially close until next Monday but it could be helpful to have had at least had one attempt before the test.

The next job on my list is sorting the answers to the 2008 final test that I have put on Blackboard so keep your eyes skined for that so you can check that you are on the right track.

I'm sure you will all do really well,

Best wishes, Ruth

June 15th 2009

Hi Everyone, This week you should all be well into the final Unit of this Bioscience 1 course, the lymphatic system.

The second test is at 9am on Friday morning in H415 so I hope you are all preparing for that. It is on Units 3, 4 and 5. I have now added the answers to the 2008 test on Blackboard but note the cardiovascular system, Unit 5 was not included in that test as the timetable was somewhat different last year.

Good luck and see you on Friday, cheers Ruth

Hi everyone, This week you should be finishing off the cardiovascular system and moving on to the last unit on the lymphatic system. Compared to some of the other units this one is quite small you will be glad to know. There will be another week to do the cardiovascular system Blackboard test but with the final exam fast approaching I would urge you to catch up so you have enough time for the final unit and for revision.

I have had a few queries about the next Bioscience test so to summarise here: it will be on Friday June 19th at 9am in H415 and will be on Unit 3, the integumental system, Unit 4, the musculo-skeletal system and Unit 5, the cardiovascular system. It will be marked out of 60 with 20 marks for each of the 3 units. I have put up last year's version on Blackboard although I haven't yet sorted the answers-mainly because I am down to half speed with some lurgy at the moment! After the test I will do a revision session with you in preparation for the final test on June 26th.

Keep well and have a good week,

Cheers Ruth

Have a good week

June 2nd 2009

Hi Everyone, I did enjoy doing the heart and blood practical with you on Friday. You are all so enthusiastic and interested. Having done this practical should mean that you find the cardiovascular unit that you should be in the middle of studying now (?), much easier to understand and remember.

Today is the last day for the musculo-skeletal quiz so you procrastinators need to get a move on and get it done by 11pm tonight.

Test 2 will be on Friday June 19th at 9am followed by a tutorial to help you prepare for theFinal Exam which has moved to Friday June 26th from 10-12am. Note the change in your diaries please. I will post last year's versions of Test 2 and the Final Exam on Blackboard to give you an idea of the sort of questions to expect and to help you revise.

Have a good week,

cheers Ruth

May 25th 2009

Hi Everyone, I hope you haven't been washed away or developed webbed feet. Oh, for some sun or my washing will develop hairy green fuzz soon!

Today you should be thinking about moving on to the next unit on the cardiovascular system so you have at least read the notes in preparation for the practical on Friday where you will be dissecting a deer's heart.

I see most of you have completed the musculo-skeletal system quiz and got 100%. It will still be open for another week so if you want to brush up your mark or still haven't had a go yet (no names mentioned!) there is still time.

Looking forward to seeing you on Friday at 10am.

Cheers Ruth

May 18th 2009

Hopefully everyone has now had their marked Bioscience test 1 back. Get in touch if yours has not reached you yet. I was pleased with the general standard. Remember you needed to get above 40% to be able to do a resit. Between 40 and 60% you need to do a full resit on a new version of the test. This will take place between 9 and 10am at the next block course on May 29th. If you gained between 60% and 75% you need to do a partial test to get you up to 75% which is what we judge to show competance. We can do this partial resit by phone if you like or you can come in and see me. Get in touch with me about it if you haven't done so yet.

It seems everyone enjoyed the skeleton practical with the fresh cow's joint being the star of the show. It was great to see you really getting into it and not only finding all the structures associated with synovial joints but also finding tendons, blood vessels and the structure of the skin.

This week you should be well under way with the musculo-skeltal system, Unit 4, with a week to go before the quiz is due.
Have a good week, Cheers Ruth

Monday April 27th

Hello Everyone, I hope you managed to get a bit of a break and enjoy the amazing weather we have been having. I am now back at work and if you have sent me an email sorry for being so long replying but I should be up to date now. Email me again if I haven't replied to yours.

You should be finishing off the Unit 2 on the cell this week as the quiz is due in today (although it will not close until next Monday). The next Unit, due to start today, is on the Integument otherwise known as the skin. As intending massage therapists this is obviously an important system!

I have put up Test 1 from last year on Blackboard with its answers so make sure you have a look at that as it will give you a good idea of the sort of questions I will be asking in this year's version. Sarah and Chris pointed out that the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi Body in the cell diagram of that test looked similar so I would have marked either answer as correct.

Just note that test 2 is on June 19th not April 19th as indicated in Blackboard.

Looking forward to seeing you all on Friday May 8th at 9am in H602 for the first test and then a practical in H412 on the skin and skeleton. I will have a real joint for you to look at and dissect which is always interesting.

Have a good week,

cheers Ruth

April 20th 2009

Hi everyone, I hope you all had a good Easter. The weather was amazing wasn't it? I went to stay with a friend in Oamaru and explored Whitestone country-- Kakanui, Elephant rocks and even walked a labryrinth.

However, it is sort of back to work this week and I need to remind you that you should be thinking about finishing off the unit on cells as the next unit on the integument is due to start next Monday April 27th. The Cells quiz is due then, although if you want to leave it till the bitter end it does not actually close until the 4th May.

Remember the first test is on Friday May 8th. It will cover the introductory material plus chemicals (Unit 1) and cells (Unit 2). I will put up a copy of last year's first test on Blackboard under Assignments/2008 tests so you can see the kind of questions I will be asking and the level at which they are pitched.

Have a good week, Cheers Ruth

April 6th 2009

Hi everyone, we had a good practical cum tutorial this morning and it was great to meet you all again and get to know you better. For those that missed it I have posted a copy of the practical handout and the worksheet at the bottom of Course Documents on Blackboard. I have also put up the Powerpoint presentation of the microscope, cells and tissues I showed as well as two more powerpoints I thought you might find useful. One is on the Cell showing the cell organelles and their function and the other is called Cell Transport and is on Diffusion and Osmosis as well as active transport. This one also contains some web addresses to simple animations that are really helpful for understanding these processes. All these slide presentations are under Course Documents, Unit 2. The Cell.

This week you should be finishing off the chemicals quiz as it will close at the beginning of next week. You should now be getting started on Unit 3 on the cell. For those that have done almost no biology you will find there are lots of new words for the organelles (small organs) in the cell to get your head around---things like mitochondrion, Golgi body and endoplasmic reticulum. Sorry!

The timetable gives you 3 weeks to study this Unit, so hopefully this will allow you a bit of time off to enjoy Easter.

Dont eat too much chocolate!

Best wishes, Ruth

March 31st 2009

Hi everyone, This week you should be finishing off Unit 1 Chemicals in the Body and moving on to Unit 2 on the Cell and Cell Processes. The Introductory quiz will stay up indefinately but the quiz for the Chemicals unit will disappear on April 13th, so make sure you get it done before then as I see only a few of you have attempted it as yet.

It would be good if you have at least read the Unit 2 course notes by Monday as you will be using this information in the tutorial/practical (10-12 in H412). This will be quite a full session as you will have the chance to look at your own cells using the microscope, identify different tissues and also anticipate Unit 3 on the Integumentary system by looking at sections of skin. (I will be teaching you to use the microscope too!). If you have had any probelems or questions regarding the workbooks bring them along too so we can talk about them.

Incidently I have added the answers to the Introduction to Bioscience Workbook. Thanks for reminding me that they had been left off the site.

Looking forward to meeting you all on Monday.

All the best, Ruth

March 25th 2009

Hello Bioscience 1 massage therapy students. I hope by now everyone has managed to access Blackboard and has had a look around the site. I haven't had any complaints so I assume you are all managing OK! (You need to email me if you are having problems). You should by now have read the Introduction to Bioscience and have had a go at the quiz. In fact I can see that some of you have completed this practice quiz and done well on it.

Although this introductory section is not formally assessed it still has some concepts that are fundamental to the study of both Bioscionce and Anatomy. You should now have an idea about the different levels of organisation, the names of the main body systems and the basic processes common to all living organisms. You will also have been introduced to the important concept of homeostasis and how feedback systems help maintain it. Homeostasis is essential for the cells and body systems to function efficiently. In fact, if homeostasis is disturbed disease results. If the disturbance is severe, the organism (you) will die.

In this section you are also introduced to the directional terms used to describe the relationships of parts of the body to each other. Make yourself familiar with these and what they mean as both Irene and I will be using them from now on to describe the position of body organs and structures.

This week should also see you moving on to the first assessed unit on Chemicals in the body. You will have two weeks on this unit before moving on to the next. So work through the workbook and then have a look at the multichoice quiz. Dont worry how many attempts you need to get that magic 15/15 (as only I will see !) and remember the quiz will vanish from view on the 13th April.

Good luck,
Ruth

Welcome, Massage 1st Year Therapy students 2009

Hello, year 1 massage therapy students. It was great to meet you all yesterday and find out a little about you.

Sorry that you have not been enrolled on Blackboard yet. I have sent an urgent email to David and it should happen as soon as possible.

When you can get on to it see if you can find your way around and read the documents I showed you yesterday on studying the course, assessments and of course the recommended timetable. You could then read the notes Introducing Bioscience, do the worksheet and then have a go at the multichoice quiz. Remember this does not count towards your final assessment but is well worth doing as it gives you a taste of the other online assessments.

Remember if at any time you have any comments, queries or worries about the course just email me on RLawson@tekotago.ac.nz

Looking forward to a great year working with you.

Ruth Lawson