Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Tutorial | 6 x 1 Hour Tutorials |
| Lecture | 1 x 1 Hour Lecture |
| Practical | 4 x 4 Hour Practicals |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Practical report | 85% |
| Semester Assessment | Group poster | 15% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Practical Report. Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module. | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Follow an experimental protocol
2. Record, interpret and report experimental data appropriately
3. Present data/concepts through a variety of media
Brief description
A largely practical module. Students will undertake a series of linked experiments that will develop basic practical skills required for research across biology. Group working skills will be developed through tutorials, which will also provide guidance in presentation/interpretation of experimental data.
Aims
Students studying biochemistry, microbiology and genetics need early introduction to a set of basic molecular laboratory skills. This module will use a series of integrated experiments to introduce students to these fundamental techniques. Group working skills will be developed through tutorials, which will also provide guidance presentation/interpretation of experimental data.
Content
Bi-weekly tutorials will provide subject specific skills development, and provide a venue for academic and personal development, group work, and the development and presentation of group work, based on the module's lab work. In week 1, students will attend a series of linked lab classes every afternoon.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Collection and scrutiny of data in terms of quality and quantity. Data interpretation. |
| Communication | Students will develop effective written communication skills in coursework preparation. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Outside the formal contact hours, students will be expected to research materials, manage time and meet deadlines. The directed study elements will provide opportunity for students to explore their own learning styles and preferences and identify their needs and barriers to learning. Students will be able to review and monitor their progress and plan for improvement of personal performance. |
| Information Technology | Accessing the web for information sources and using databases to find primary literature. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | |
| Problem solving | Practical classes will allow students to gain experience in designing, executing and interpreting data. |
| Research skills | Practical classes will allow the development of key biological research skills at an early stage of their academic careers. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Subject specific concepts relating to biochemistry, genetics and microbiology will be developed. Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of laboratory experimentation, and utilise common lab methods appropriately. |
| Team work | Students will work in pairs/small groups during practical sessions. They will need to discuss their experimental design and work effectively as a small team in practical classes. Group will be undertaken by tutorial groups to produce a poster. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4