This is a lab course intended to complement the lecture course (ENT3003). It is designed such that students who are concurrently enrolled in ENT3003 can have a better understanding of selected topics covered in the lecture course. Students cannot take the lab course without concurrently taking the lecture course. Students who had completed an equivalent ecology lecture course in a previous semester may take this course, but it is not recommended to do so because the lecture (ENT3003) and the lab (ENT3020) are not designed independently.


Attendance
Students are required to attend every lab. The following penalties will be applied:
Absence: −10 points
Late for < 15 min: −5 points
Late for >= 15 min: −8 points

No cellphones or mobile computers are to be used in class unless otherwise instructed by the instructor. Poor attendance in terms of participation (e.g., using a cellphone, sleeping, not participating in lab activities, etc.) will greatly reduce attendance points (e.g., equivalent to missing a lab or worse).

A student who missed a lab with a legitimate reason may be allowed to have a make-up assignment.

Assignments
Everything students are asked to submit in the course is an assignment (e.g., lab materials, data, quiz, report, homework). Submit an assignment on time. No late assignments are accepted. Lab activities are also counted as assignments. A missed assignment results in at least 6 points deduction (up to 10 points). Therefore, a missed lab will results in a deduction of more than 16 points (e.g., 10 points from attendance plus 6 points from assignments).

Students who missed a lab are not allowed to submit any assigned work associated with the lab. Therefore, a missed lab can affect both attendance and assignment points at the same time. In other words, missing a lab will have at least 16 points deduction (10 points attendance and 6 points assignment). It is better for a student to come late and complete lab work.


Exam
There will be one exam in this course, and it is held at the end of the semester. The exam will ask the details of lab activities, including the interpretations of experimental methods and results. Engaging in each lab activity is the best way to prepare for the exam.


Grading
Attendance and Assignments 55%
Exam 45%

Each point described in the above sections (i.e., Attendance and Assignments) is 1% of the final grade, not 1 % of 'Attendance and Assignments'. When 'Attendance and Assignments' of a student is less than 0 points, the student will receive 0 points out of the maximum of 55%. For example, a student who never attended a lab and obtained 100% on the exam will get an F (45%: less than 60% is F) in the course.

There are no bonus points offered in this course.

The schedule (described in the content section of this website) is subject to change throughout the semester.