Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2010-2011 (archived)

Module FOUN0437: CORE FOUNDATION BIOLOGY 1

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

FOUN0437: CORE FOUNDATION BIOLOGY 1

Type	Open	Level	0	Credits	10	Availability	Available in 2010/11	Module Cap	None.	Location	Durham and Queen's Campus Stockton

Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

Core Foundation Biology Combined.

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.
To develop confidence in a laboratory situation.
To introduce a range of equipment.
To develop observational and interpretative skills.
To introduce scientific report-writing, data handling and critical evaluation.

Content

Basic characteristics of life.
Organisation.
Variety of organisms, general characteristics and details of structure, nutrition and relevance to man.
Microscopy.
Evolution.
Interactions between organisms.
Basic photosynthesis and respiration
Energy flow in ecosystems.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

By the end of this module the student will have acquired the knowledge to be able to:
list the different levels of biological organisation.
define how the process of evolution has lead to the variety of organisms.
describe at a basic level the way in which energy is captured by photosynthesis and used in respiration.

Subject-specific Skills:

By the end of this module the student will have acquired the skills to 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.
solve genetics problems.

Key Skills:

By the end of the module students will be able to:
be able to 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.
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 concepts will be assessed a written assignment.
Knowledge and ability to use and apply concepts will be tested by an end of module test.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total/Hours
Lectures	6	Fortnightly	2 hours	12	■
Seminars	11	Weekly	1 hour	11	■
Practicals	5	Fortnightly	2 hours	10	■
Preparation and Reading				77
Total				100

Summative Assessment

Component: Written Assignment		Component Weighting: 40%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Written Assignment		100%	Resubmission
Component: Test		Component Weighting: 30%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
In Class Test	1 Hour	100%	Resit
Component: Test		Component Weighting: 30%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
In Class Test	1 Hour	100%	Resit

Formative Assessment:

Students will be given self testing units on a weekly basis. Students will be given some formative research exercises.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University