Module FOUN0771: Biology of the Environment

Department: Foundation Year

FOUN0771: Biology of the Environment

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

• Evolution.
• cell cycle.
• genetic code.
• inheritance.
• population genetics.
• interactions between organisms.
• biomes.
• energy flow in ecosystems.
• human influence on the environment.
• Human populations
• Human genetic disease

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module students will be able to:
• explain the processes by which organisms become adapted to their environments.
• describe the environments to which organisms have adapted.
• discuss the problems of human effects on the environment.
• describe the factors affecting human population size

• By the end of the module students will have acquired the skills to be able to:
• solve genetics problems

• 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
• 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 research techniques will be introduced during lectures and demonstrations.
• Much of the learning, understanding and consolidation will take place through the use of structured exercises, group work, discussions and library assignments during tutorials and 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

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Students will be given self testing units on a weekly basis. Students will be given some formative research exercises. Weekly online DUO tests for students to assess their own understanding. Regular exam- style questions interspersed with the relevant sections in the notes given to students. Worksheets done either in class or to be taken home for students to consolidate their learning.