Module FOUD01Y8: Concepts, Methods and Theories in Science

Department: Foundation Year (Durham)

FOUD01Y8: Concepts, Methods and Theories in Science

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• CMT Arts & Humanities CMT Business CMT Social Sciences

Aims

• To introduce, extend and develop a range of concepts, methods and theories relevant to a range of science degree progression routes
• To introduce, extend and develop examination and use of primary and secondary source materials alongside relevant critical work, which locates these sources in their discipline contexts, as well as within the wider body of academic scholarship
• To extend and develop critical thinking by describing, analysing and evaluating relevant primary and secondary source materials
• To develop academic communication of concepts, methods and theories
• To extend and develop the ability to communicate these concepts, methods and theories successfully
• To encourage interdisciplinary and collaborative studentship
• To prepare students for the teaching and learning environment at Durham
• Skills and other attributes
• This module also supports the overall programme aims to enable students to have:
• acquired the ability to work confidently with a range of academic materials and sources (as appropriate to progression subject area);
• acquired the ability to work confidently with numerical data and basic statistics (as appropriate to progression subject area);
• gained various skills for undergraduate study, including the ability to extract and summarise meaning from text, to read rapidly and accurately, to write and present clear and precise arguments using appropriate evidence;
• acquired a level of self-efficacy in relation to workload management, basic academic autonomy and a learner identity as an effective university student;
• gained skills in using libraries, online databases and other reference resources;
• acquired the ability to engage confidently and with clarity in academic oral argument and respond appropriately to contributions made by fellow students.

Content

• An introduction to science and how individual disciplines intersect
• How individual scientific disciplines influence each other
• Concepts, methods and theories from science including the scientific method
• Using primary and secondary sources, a variety of topics will be explored across the sciences
• An opportunity to engage with, and evaluate, research methods in science

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the programme students will have:
• 1. Knowledge of a range of foundational subject concepts
• 2. Knowledge of a range of relevant research methods
• 3. Knowledge of a range of relevant vocabulary

• By the end of the programme students will be able to:
• 1. Demonstrate the appropriate use of a range of foundational subject concepts
• 2. Demonstrate the appropriate use of relevant research methods
• 3. Demonstrate the appropriate use of a range of relevant vocabulary

• By the end of the programme students will be able to:
• 1. Demonstrate critical thinking
• 2. Demonstrate effective communication using appropriate academic styles
• 3. Demonstrate appropriate use of number
• 4. Demonstrate the use of appropriate sources of evidence

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

• This module will be delivered using a combination of lectures and seminars/tutorials on a weekly basis. Students will be taught concepts and then challenged to apply them in a variety of contextual tasks that are designed to lead to achieving the module outcomes. The summative assessment comprises a Portfolio made up of three separate elements which will allow students to demonstrate their acquisition of subject-specific knowledge and skills as well as key skills. A range of formative tasks are provided to support students prior to the summative assessments.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

A range of formative tasks are used on a weekly basis to enable students to demonstrate they are working towards module outcomes and building competency towards each respective summative assessment method.

■ 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