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Introduction to Biology (Non-Majors)

Junction Biology for Non-Majors is designed to provide students with an overview of essential biological concepts. The goals of the course are to build understanding of core biological principles and to apply this knowledge to real world situations and modern issues. Topics covered include: scientific inquiry; chemistry of life; cell structure and function; genetics; evolution; ecology; human systems; and an overview of the diversity of life.

Engaging Content

Topics are introduced with short, engaging videos. Text readings and practice activities provide detail and enable applied learning.

Meaningful Analytics

You’ll know how much time your students are spending learning, what material they’re working with, and when they lose engagement, so you can keep them on-track.

Easy to Use

All material is loaded and ready-to-go, including video, textbook, discussion boards, in-class presentation, quizzes and practice activities.

Affordable

Junction courses are 80+% less expensive than alternatives. No extras needed. Honest.

Meet the Subject Matter Expert

Suzanne Wakim has been teaching biology since 2000 and has taught at numerous colleges in California, including Butte Community College where she currently teaches. She has developed and designed many courses ranging from botany to microbiology to molecular biology to introductory biology. Suzanne designed the first online biology courses in her district; these courses include human biology, current issues in biology and honors biology. Additionally Suzanne has worked on a variety of textbooks, instructor resources, and student assessments for many different organizations nationwide. In addition to a degree in Plant Biology, Suzanne has multiple online teaching certificates and serves as an evaluator for new online courses and a facilitator for instructional training of new faculty.

Suzanne Wakim, M.S.

Professor of Biology, Butte Community College

Course Details

Suitable for: Introduction to Biology (Non-Majors) Courses. We will customize to fit your class.

Great for: In-person, online or blended learning.

  • Developed by a Professor of Biology and an expert in the field
  • Lessons are built around the way students learn today – video first, reinforced by content and assessment
  • 21 lessons with curated and sequenced activities
  • Each lesson contains introductory video, textbook readings from OpenStax, one discussion-board, one in-class presentation and one quiz
  • Students can take notes and message classmates right in the application
  • Web-based and accessible through our iPad app
  • Professor grade book and student engagement reports
  • Student notifications about upcoming quizzes
  • All-in-one design means no pop-ups, plug-ins, installing components or extra windows
  • Instructor resources are incorporated into the instructors course- no need for CD’s, DVD’s or downloads

 

Junction knows that the way you teach is unique. That’s why we allow you to take what we’ve built and use it as-is, or modified to fit your syllabus. Our simple editing process allows you to rearrange, add or remove content, embed videos, links or change quiz questions to better match your course. Need to collaborate with other instructors? With Junction you can share your content with colleagues. Life just got a lot easier.

Accessible: Available on the web, iPad app or as a direct link from your LMS. No downloads, plug-ins or pop-ups necessary.

Onboarding Support: Training videos and access to actual human beings to get your course launched smoothly.

Easy to Purchase: Students simply register and buy, and we can work with your bookstore as needed.

Lessons

Lesson 1 — Introduction to Biology

Learning Objectives

  • Discuss the characteristics of life
  • Explain the scientific method of inquiry
  • List the level of organization from subatomic particles through the biome
Lesson 2 — Chemistry of Life

Learning Objectives

  • Depict atoms of different elements
  • Describe each of the four biological macromolecule groups
  • Discuss the essential characteristics of water
Lesson 3 — Cell Structure and Function

Learning Objectives

  • Compare and contrast prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells
  • Describe the structure and function of components found in eukaryotic cells
  • Describe the structure and function of the plasma membrane
Lesson 4 — How Cells Obtain Energy

Learning Objectives

  • Compare and contrast cellular respiration and fermentation
  • Describe the cycle of building and using ATP within a cell
  • Outline the inputs and outputs of each step in cellular respiration
Lesson 5 — Photosynthesis

Learning Objectives

  • Compare and contrast photosynthesis and cellular respiration
  • Describe the characteristics of enzymes
  • Outline the process of photosynthesis
Lesson 6 — Cell Cycle

Learning Objectives

  • Compare and contrast sexual and asexual reproduction
  • Describe each stage of mitosis
  • Describe each stage of the cell cycle
  • Describe the stages of meiosis
Lesson 7 — The Cellular Basis of Inheritance

Learning Objectives

  • Compare and contrast sexual and asexual reproduction
  • Describe the stages of meiosis
  • Discuss the outcomes of errors in meiosis
Lesson 8 — Patterns of Inheritance

Learning Objectives

  • Complete inheritance problems involving a single dominant and recessive trait
  • Complete inheritance problems involving multiple genes and epistatic genes
  • Describe the stages of meiosis
  • Discuss the outcome of errors in meiosis
Lesson 9 — Molecular Biology

Learning Objectives

  • Compare and contrast prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells
  • Depict the structure of DNA
  • Describe the process of DNA replication
  • Outline the steps of protein synthesis
Lesson 10 — Biotechnology

Learning Objectives

  • Compare and contrast PCR and DNA replication in the cell
  • Describe how DNA is sequenced in the lab
  • Explain how transgenic organisms are made
Lesson 11 — Evolution and Its Processes

Learning Objectives

  • Describe how the present-day theory of evolution was developed
  • Explain the mechanism responsible for evolution
  • List the evidence that supports the current understanding of evolution
Lesson 12 — Diversity of Life

Learning Objectives

  • Describe how living organisms are grouped in a phylogenetic tree
  • Explain how new species arise
  • List the levels of hierarchy used to identify living organisms
Lesson 13 — Diversity of Microbes, Fungi and Protists

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the characteristics of the Fungus kingdom
  • Describe the characteristics of the kingdoms Bacteria and Archaea
  • Describe the characteristics of the Protista kingdom
  • Outline the Endosymbiotic Theory
Lesson 14 — Diversity of Plants

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the characteristics of angiosperm plants
  • Describe the characteristics of gymnosperm plants
  • Describe the characteristics of seedless vascular plants
  • Diagram the basic plant life cycle
Lesson 15 — Diversity of Animals

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the characteristics of chordates and vertebrates
  • Describe the characteristics of the invertebrate animal phyla
  • Describe the characteristics used to classify animals
Lesson 16 — The Body's Systems

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the function of the digestive system
  • Describe the function of the endocrine system
  • Describe the function of the respiratory system
  • Describe the function of the urinary system
  • Explain the role of body systems and feedback loops in the maintenance of homeostasis
Lesson 17 - The Immune System and Disease

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the function of the immune system
  • Describe the function of the lymphatic system
  • Describe the function of the nervous system
  • Explain how viruses cause disease
Lesson 18 - Animal Reproduction and Development

Learning Objectives:

  • Compare and contrast the male and female reproductive systems
  • Describe the process of embryonic development
  • Outline the hormones involved in the menstrual cycle
Lesson 19 - Population and Community Ecology

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe the hierarchy of levels studied by an ecologist
  • Discuss factors that affect the size of populations
  • Explain interaction types in a community
Lesson 20 - Ecosystems and the Biosphere

Learning Objectives:

  • Diagram a food web
  • Diagram the carbon and nitrogen cycles
  • Identify characteristics of biomes
  • Outline the stages of succession
Lesson 21 - Conservation and Biodiversity

Learning Objectives:

  • Discuss conservation strategies
  • Discuss the causes and consequences of climate change
  • Discuss the importance and measures of biodiversity