Exams

Final examination

The final exam will test all of the information presented to you in lectures and practical classes. Additional study from textbooks and other sources is not necessarily required to pass this unit. However such additional study would be a significant advantage in obtaining higher grades. The format of the final exam will be announced later.

Mid‐Semester examination

The mid-semester exam will be held during the week before the mid-semester break (internals) and during the second on‐campus session (externals). The test will be in multiple‐choice format and will examine all work up to Lecture 12 and Practical 4. 

ASSIGNMENTS

Assignments are designed not only to test your mastery of scientific concepts, but also of ancillary skills that you should acquire for higher-level courses and your future careers. The table on page 9 relates the assignments with learning goals and graduate capabilities.  Importantly, you should use the assignments as part of your overall learning in this unit. There will be 4 assignments. The precise topics and formats for those assignments will be described both during lectures and on the iLearn site.  Rubrics and details instructions will be made available on iLearn. For all assignments and assessments, you may lose marks for the following:

1. Not following instructions completely.
2. Not submitting your work on time. Marks (5% per day, to a maximum of 30%) will be deducted for assignments submitted after those dates. You will be provided with feedback on your performance on those assignments.
3. Plagiarism. You will lost marks for minor cases of plagiarism.  You will also lose marks for not submitting assignments to Turnitin (where appropriate). Serious cases of plagiarism will result in the student being referred to the Head of Department and The Faculty of Science Disciplinary Committee.  Severe penalties for plagiarism offenses include expulsion from the University.

Advice on doing well in Biol115

Learning is a human behaviour, and as with most other behaviours, involves the development and accumulation of many useful traits. Active learning has been demonstrated to be one of the best approaches to develop good learning habits. Active learning involves receiving, processing and applying information. You need to test your understanding through problem solving. It goes beyond rote memorisation, requires new information to be processed in such a way that it transforms into knowledge.  Information is one-dimensional, while knowledge is multi-dimensional.  To be knowledgeable means that you will be able to use your prior learning to adapt and respond to new situations (including unexpected exam questions!).  To get a good grade in Biol115, you need to demonstrate mastery of the concepts discussed in this unit.  Those concepts are not stand-alone concepts, but are linked in many ways.  You need to establish those links in your own mind. Active learning in Biol115 may involve using the online tutorials, such as those in Principles of Biology and doing Peerwise.  Forming small study groups (collaborative learning is another powerful way of learning.  By questioning and teaching others (your fellow students), you will gain good skills in learning and teaching. Most importantly, these activities will deepen your understanding of the concepts you will learn in thus unit.  Finally, make an effort to attend every class and completing all of the learning activities in this unit.

Practical class assessment and attendance

You'll be asked to keep a Practical Book in which you record all of your notes, diagrams, thoughts and conclusions from practical classes and tutorials. You practical book will not be assessed, but it will be essential to help you study for the mid‐semester test and the final exam. The assessment of practical classes will be based on short online quizzes. Failure to attend practical classes will be penalized. There are two web‐based computer tutorials in Biol115. There will be no formal practical classes held during the weeks listed for those tutorials in the timetable. That will give you time to study the tutorials and complete the short quizzes associated with each tutorial. Once you have completed each tutorial, submit your answers for assessment in the usual manner

Some advice

The practicals/tutorials will complement the lecture series in Biol115.  You must keep a comprehensive record of the experiments/tutorials/discussions that are conducted during the practical sessions. You'll need to bring along:

• A book in which to record your own observations, data etc (ring binders are good because you can interleave your own observations with the printed notes).
• A USB flash drive to store your data/images.

Safety

Safety is paramount in research laboratories.  Your behaviour in the laboratory is crucial to your safety, as well as to that of the others around you.  While you will be provided with a comprehensive briefing on laboratory safety, it is important that you are appropriately attired for the practical classes.  Lab coats are not necessary, but you must wear closed‐in shoes at all times in the laboratory. Any breaches of the dress-code or the safety rules will result in your expulsion from the laboratory.

Lectures

There are two lectures per week; Monday, 10-11 am (Macquarie Theatre (W2.4A)) and Thursday 12-1 pm Lotus Theatre (W6D)).

Practicals and Tutorials

In Biol115, practicals and tutorials are held concurrently. Practicals include experiments and other laboratory activities that introduce commonly used techniques in cell and molecular biology.  During the tutorials, we will discuss essential concepts that form the core themes of the unit. Attendance at practicals/tutorials is compulsory.

Notes:

 During Revision week, there will not be formal classes.  However, the teaching staff will be available if you need to contact us about questions you have about the course content or the final exams.

On campus sessions for external students

External students must attend the on-campus sessions for the practicals.  There are two blocks (2 days each), and all external students must attend BOTH blocks. The dates are: Block 1 (30-31 Aug) and Block 2 (22-23 Sep)