Module FOUN0057: VARIETY OF ORGANISMS

Department: Foundation Year [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

FOUN0057: VARIETY OF ORGANISMS

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To encourage students to develop confidence in their own abilities in a science subject.
• to develop students' learning skills.
• to introduce a basic bank of knowledge on which students can build either by the process of self study or in further courses of directed study.

Content

• Basic characteristics of life.
• organisation.
• reproduction.
• variety of organisms, general characteristics and details of structure, reproduction, nutrition and relevance to man.
• microscopy.
• growing microorganisms.
• biotechnology old (e.g. brewing and baking) and new (e.g. insulin production, mycoprotein).
• genetic engineering, ethical considerations.
• practical techniques; preparing slides, staining specimens.
• research and presentation skills.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module students will be able to:
• list the different levels of organisation within an organism.
• define the term biotechnology, with examples.
• discuss the ethics of genetic engineering, with examples.

• By the end of the module students will be able to:
• carry out basic microbiology laboratory procedures safely.
• use a light microscope.
• use keys and their acquired knowledge to differentiate between types of organisms.

• By the end of the module the students will:
• be able to communicate effectively in writing
• be able to apply number both in the tackling of numerical problems and in the collecting, recording, interpreting and presenting of data
• have improved their own learning and performance
• be able to demonstrate problem solving skills

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Theory, initial concepts and techniques will be introduced during seminars and laboratory practicals.
• Much of the learning, understanding and consolidation will take place through the use of structured practicals during sessions and independent research during students' own time.
• Knowledge and understanding of theory will be assessed by a research exercise and a formative presentation.
• Knowledge and ability to use and apply concepts will be tested by a practical lab report, a practical experiment and a written report.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Exercises and library research