Michelson Biology Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

•  What can I do to get into your lecture (or lab) section?
•  What will be on the exam? (i.e. what chapters will it cover)
•  What will be on the quiz?
• I have an older edition of the textbook. Can I use that instead of buying the new one?
•  Do you have a "study guide"?
•  I can't access my grades. What should I do?
•  When will we get the results of the exam/quiz?
•  Can I makeup the exam/quiz?
•  I can't access the lecture notes, can you help me?
•  I can't access the study area because it asks for a password. What should I use?
•  Can you tell me how to study for your class?
•  Can you tell me what I need to get on this exam to get a ______ grade?
•  Can you please offer extra credit? Pretty please?

•  What can I do to get into your lecture (or lab) section?
    Unfortunately the only thing you can do is to wait for someone else to drop and then quickly add yourself to the section. I absolutely cannot add students to a full section. Return to Index
•  What will be on the exam? (i.e. what chapters will it cover)
    All exams cover the material from where we left off at the last exam up to how ever far we get during the lecture day before the next exam. Since I cannot gauge exactly how fast the course will move, the only way to know for sure is to come to class the day before the exam. (Of course, if you value your grade you should come every class!) Return to Index
•  What will be on the quiz?
    Pretty much the same question as the one above. The material covered on any quiz will be from where we left off at the last exam up to where we are at the end of the last lecture before the quiz. Coming to class the day before is really the only satisfactory way to find out, since I won't know until then either. Return to Index
• I have an older edition of the textbook. Can I use that instead of buying the new one?
  You definitely "can", but it isn't recommended for a couple important reasons.
  1. While I do not create the exams from the textbook, if there are discrepancies in information from an old textbook you will still be responsible for the current information.
  2. The old textbooks do not allow you to access the publisher's website that comes with loads of sample quizzes, exams, vocabulary, movies, etc. Return to Index
•  Do you have a "study guide"?
   No.
  Here's why. In my experience a "study guide" attempts to take all the information and shrink it down to the minimum amount of material needed to study for an exam. If I could shrink the material down by a significant amount and still feel like you are learning all the important information in the curriculum I would. I feel that everything we cover in class is important or I wouldn't cover it. Return to Index
•  I can't access my grades. What should I do?
    99% of the time the problem is that you are not putting your information in properly. It is important to notice that the form for Student Name and Student ID Code are case-sensitive and everything must match this capital format:
  
  Student Name: MICHELSON, RHETT
  Student ID Code: C000123456
  
  Notice everything is capitalized, and there is a comma and space between the names. Do not use your middle initial. The "C" in the Student ID Code is also capitalized. Your information must be exactly like this or you will receive an error.
  
  If you are still having difficulty it may be that your name is misspelled in my gradebook. Contact me for help. Return to Index
•  When will we get the results of the exam/quiz?
    I do all my grading on Fridays, so you will usually be able to see your grade updated by Friday afternoon. Saturday at the latest, on the rare occasion that I have a long meeting on Friday. Return to Index
•  Can I makeup the exam/quiz?
    As outlined in the syllabus, you are allowed to drop an exam and a quiz. That is your makeup. If for some extremely unfortunate reason you have to miss TWO exams or quizzes I will make arrangements for you to take a makeup (usually all-essay). If you know you will be missing an exam/quiz for an important reason (e.g. military service, funeral, job interview, etc.) and you let me know at least a few days before the date I will make arrangements for you to take the exam/quiz early. Return to Index
•  I can't access the lecture notes, can you help me?
    Maybe. If you are having any type of difficulty with your computer at home, office, friend's computer, etc. my first suggestion will be to use the computers at the college. There are two reasons for this:
  1) I troubleshoot this site using the computers there. I know documents on this site work on the PCs and Macs on campus
  2) There are staff available at the computer centers that are paid to help you.
  If you are still having trouble, then please email me and I will do my best to help you get it straightened out. Return to Index
•  I can't access the study area because it asks for a password. What should I use?
    The password was given during class. Send me an email or ask after lecture. Return to Index
•  Can you tell me how to study for your class?
    On the first day of class I gave you the best advice I know of, but if you come by my office I will certainly try to help you. In the meantime make sure you check out the download on biology study habits, found here . Return to Index
•  Can you tell me what I need to get on this exam to get a ______ grade?
    I am sorry, but I do not have time to figure out your potential future grades for you. I spend a lot of time figuring out your current grades. Return to Index
•  Can you please offer extra credit? Pretty please?
    No. It is departmental policy that we cannot offer extra credit under any circumstances. Return to Index