Aims

To enable students to learn the skills and disciplines required for them to work independently to find information, read critically, analyse and interpret data logically, and make spoken and written presentations on technical information.

To introduce students to literature and other sources of information dealing with important issues in biology including contemporary global challenges and ethical issues, by attending staff and visitor seminars.
To make students aware of some possible future employment avenues, by attending visiting speaker presentations.

To introduce students to their personal tutors (through tutorials) and other School staff and their research interests (seminars).

Outline Of Syllabus

The main skills to be obtained are:

Library: searching catalogues and databases;
Scientific literature: quality, types, referencing and attribution;
Quantitative data: spreadsheets, data manipulation and calculation, graphical and tabular presentation and interpretation;
Presentations: planning, speaking and illustrating talks and posters.

Topical areas of biology to be used as vehicles for developing these skills using lectures, group work, cluster sessions and tutorials.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Key skills are introduced in lectures and discussed further in tutorials. Work from different research areas is presented in the seminars. Small group activities and relay of feedback occur in tutorials. Computer practicals deal with the use of software for display and analysis of data, and for use of Endnote.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Assessments have been set to assess the extent of knowledge and skills acquisition whilst practicing writing. Essay tasks test ability to integrate knowledge and use all skills acquired through the module, while poster and presentation sessions test teamwork capacity and communication ability.