Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 11 x 1 Hour Lectures |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Written article on current topic in Physics aimed at a general audience. (6-10 page popular science article on a current scientific topic.) | 50% |
| Semester Assessment | Exercises on planning, presenting and assessing a research project (for students not registered on PHM5760) OR Presentation and oral examination (for students registered on PHM5760). | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | (As determined by the Departmental Examination Board.) | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate independent learning by undertaking a review of a paper on a topical subject in Physics and supporting literature.
2. Communicate the topical subject to a non-specialist audience through the medium of a popular science article.
3. Present the background material of a current science topic in a way that is accessible to a general audience.
4. Make an informed decision on the topic and present a recommendation on the topic.
5
a) Demonstrate the skills underpinning the planning, presentation and assessing of a research project (students not registered on PHM5760); or
b) Demonstrate the ability to present the science underpinning a final year project and address detailed questions on the work in an oral examination (students registered on PHM5760).
Brief description
The module focuses on developing communication and presentation skills within the context of topics in Physics. Two complementary aspects are considered. The first addresses the presentation of a topical subject in Physics in a written article aimed at the general public. The second aspect addresses communication skills considered to be important for successful implementation of a research project. This second aspect is replaced by a presentation and oral examination for the students taking the second semester module PHM5760 Upper Polar Atmosphere module at UNIS.
Content
Planning, presenting and assessing a research project (for students not registered on PHM5760) is addressed in a short residential research skills course. This is normally organised jointly by Physics staff at the Universities of Aberystwyth, Cardiff and Swansea, and held at Gregynog at the end of Semester 1. Students are required to work in groups.
For the presentation and oral examination (students registered on PHM5760) students are required to give a presentation of their Year 4 project to a small panel of assessors and then respond orally to detailed questions on the field of study.
This module will be delivered as a series of weekly seminars of 1 hour each. The course normally held at Gregynog is a 5-day residential course.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Students will be expected to explain magnitudes occurring in their topic to a general audience. |
| Communication | Assessed throughout. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Learning through reading of popular science articles, use of grammar, self-reflection to produce an informed opinion. |
| Information Technology | Use of Word/Latex to produce report. Powerpoint/pdf for 5b. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Assessed in 5a. |
| Research skills | Sourcing the topic paper, and referencing the attendant literature. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Presenting an informed scientific opinion based on a specific research paper. |
| Team work | Assessed in 5a. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 7