Aims

To contribute to the preparation of future professional in the field of Biology providing fundamental skills related to microbiology and allowing students evaluate its importance in the natural world as well as its biotechnological potential.

Outline Of Syllabus

Lectures and practicals will cover the following topics:

•       Plant-Microbe interactions
•       Anaerobic bacteria
•       Gut microbiome

The practical classes will encourage the application of theory into practise by providing the opportunity to practise previous training regarding growth, counting and observation of microorganisms and to study and manage beneficial plant-microbes interactions.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Considering the Bloom’s taxonomy, eleven intended learning outcomes distributed between intended knowledge outcomes and intended skills outcomes have been raised. Significant intended learning outcomes firstly drive into the acquisition of knowledge, comprehension and application in the field of Microbiology (low levels of thinking) to later move up into the higher order of thinking as established for graduates.
Apart from those related to cognitive domain, others involve the development of the psychomotor domain which is considered fundamental in areas such as Microbiology, non-subject specific skills, and others concerning the affective domain which are equally important in a Higher Education context and could constitute important transferable skills applicable to other subjects in the degree and the future student career are also considered.

In order to get an effective science-learning environment, learning outcomes, assessment methods and teaching activities have been alignment. Mapping of learning outcomes to assessment methods and teaching activities was used to validate the proposed assessment and teaching plan regarding learning outcomes.

The learning activities are primary focused on lectures and practical sessions but other student-led activities such as self-study and ReCaps revisions are also considered. Intended knowledge and skills will be mainly acquired in lectures and practical sessions but also working on pre-lecture tasks and by independent study.
Lectures will alternate factual information with active teaching activities such as interactives demonstrations, virtual labs, short quiz, class discussions, role games, problems, case studies, etc. in order to promote the students’ engagement but also to stimulate their thinking as biologists/researchers. Their format will vary depending on the lecture content and the lecturer.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Intended learning outcomes related to the acquisition and integration of knowledge will be mainly assessed by a written examinations including a written essay but also formatively by the use of Audience Response Systems (ARS) during lectures and pre-lecture tasks.
Other learning outcomes related to higher level of thinking such as “assessing social and ethical problems originated by microbiological application” or “developing of critical and self-critical thinking” will be fundamentally assessed by the lab reports, although it is also expected by the written essay and formatively by the use of ARS and pre-lecture tasks.
Outcomes concerning psychomotor and affective domain as well as non-subject specific skills will be assessed during practical sessions by formative peer assessment.