Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Fleur Ponton
Technical Officer
Negin Farzadian
E8A 174
Kate Barry
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit is a skills-based unit that aims to ensure students have the required laboratory, safety, field and practical skills that are essential for studying biology. These skills are the basis for all units offered in the Department of Biological Sciences. The unit consists of a mixture of lectorials, tutorials and practicals. Students will acquire hands-on skills for working in the field and the laboratory, including the use of microscopes, data collection, analysis and graphing, aseptic techniques, skills for microbiological and molecular work, and accessing, interpreting and citing scientific literature. This unit is designed to accompany another 100 level biology unit and the choice of unit will depend on the student's program.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
TUTORIALS COMMENCE IN WEEK 1
AN ON-LINE PRACTICAL MUST BE COMPLETED IN WEEK 1
LAB-BASED PRACTICALS COMMENCE IN WEEK 2
THIS IS A PASS/ FAIL UNIT, NO GRADES (P, CR, D, HD) ARE GIVEN
UNIT COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS
To pass BIOL116 the above requirements need to be fulfilled and an overall mark of 50/100 (50%) needs to be achieved. Failure to fulfil these requirements will lead to a Fail grade for this unit.
A "Skills Achieved" portfolio certificate will be provided through iLearn as students achieve skills during the mid-semester and final exams. A student's skills portfolio certificate can be used in support of CV building in 3rd year Capstone Units.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Participation in pracs&tutes | 0% | Yes | Weekly |
Academic Integrity Module Quiz | 0% | Yes | 10th March 2019 (Week 2) |
Australian Scientist Summary | 5% | No | 17th March 2019 (Week 3) |
Lab/Tute Prep Activities | 10% | No | Weeks 1 to 11 |
Mid-term Exam | 30% | No | 8-12th April 2019 (Week 7) |
Scientific Report | 20% | No | 26th May 2019 (Week 11) |
Final Exam | 35% | No | Week 13 pracs |
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 0%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
You must attend and participate in ALL weekly practical and tutorial classes to pass this unit. Please contact the first year teaching coordinator as soon as possible if you have difficulty attending and participating in any classes. There may be alternatives available to make up the work. If there are circumstances that mean you miss a class, you can apply for special consideration.
Due: 10th March 2019 (Week 2)
Weighting: 0%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
The Macquarie University Academic Integrity Module has been developed for students to understand their responsibilities and expectations surrounding the proper citation of materials/resources in their work when completing assessments. Several videos must be viewed to enable the completion of the on-line quiz questions that must be undertaken during the first few weeks of Semester 1. This is a compulsory hurdle task - students are required to participate in order to pass BIOL116.
Due: 17th March 2019 (Week 3)
Weighting: 5%
Using information from the Australian Academy of Science's Interviews with Australian Scientists, students must summarise in their own words the contribution that their chosen scientist has made to Australian or International science, and why this is inspiring to the student. Word limit - 300 words. Students must submit their paragraph to Turnitin (for plagiarism assessment) in order to pass BIOL116.
Due: Weeks 1 to 11
Weighting: 10%
Pre-class activities will be set prior to specific practicals and tutorials. Students must complete the activity prior to attending the practical or tutorial session for a grade to be awarded. Each activity will be assigned between 1% and 3% of your final grade. Most pre-class activities will require reading (e.g. articles, risk assessments, prac notes), accessing material (e.g. videos and other media) and answering questions on-line, or the advance preparation of text for a tutorial.
Due: 8-12th April 2019 (Week 7)
Weighting: 30%
Students will be examined on the skills they have experienced during the first half of the semester. Skills tested during the exam will include activities taken from material covered in practicals and tutorial sessions. The exam will occur during a student's normal practical class in Week 7.
Due: 26th May 2019 (Week 11)
Weighting: 20%
Students must use a standard scientific report structure (outlined in class and detailed on iLearn) to convey the experimental method and results of their field work survey undertaken on campus during practical sessions. Maximum limitation 1500 words. Students must submit their report to Turnitin (for plagiarism assessment). Students are required to submit this assessment in order to pass BIOL116.
Due: Week 13 pracs
Weighting: 35%
Students will be examined on the skills they have experienced during the full semester. Skills tested during the exam will include activities taken from material covered in practicals and tutorial sessions. The exam will occur during week 13.
A 1.5 hour tutorial class is presented each week. Tutorials are formulated around both independent and team activities that focus on problem solving and development of resource inquiry and writing skills. Students are encouraged to bring their computer or alternative mobile internet platform (e.g. surface, iPad, mobile) to tutorials to assist with search activities or the use of spreadsheet software (e.g. Excel (TM)). There are pre-tutorial activities where students must come prepared to their class. Tutorial classes are fixed and cannot be changed once selected. Tutorial attendance and participation is compulsory and attendance will be taken during each class (this is a hurdle requirement).
A 2.5 hour practical is presented each week and in the majority of cases there is a short pre-prac activity to complete prior to entering the class. As the unit is focused on a student's handling of basic equipment in the lab/field, and development of technical and analytical skills, students will be expected to maintain an ePracbook.
Students that have a medically-assessed allergy to gloves (latex, plastics, nitrile), pollen or crustaceans, or have a disability should make staff aware in advance so that alternative equipment and activities for certain practicals can be prepared to ensure completion of the unit. Contact: biol116@mq.edu.au and in the subject line use the flag: Confidential Prac Allergy Notification.
Due to University policy on Workplace Health and Safety, access to all laboratory classes will be closed 10 minutes after the start time. Late entries will not be permitted under any circumstances.
BIOL116 has two practical exams (Week 7 and Week 13). Practical exams will be held in the regular practical laboratories and will cover the following:
If you require an assignment extension or miss an exam due to illness/misadventure, please submit a request for special consideration via ask.mq.edu.au. If you miss a prac for any reason, please do not submit a formal request via ask.mq, but instead email the first year teaching co-ordinator via biol116@mq.edu.au to discuss your options.
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
To ask a question specific to BIOL116 please use the dedicated e-mail address: biol116@mq.edu.au. Your e-mail will be answered by our 100-level teaching co-ordinator Dr Kate Barry or directed to the appropriate BIOL116 tutor or the convenor Dr Kerstin Bilgmann.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
This graduate capability is supported by:
As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Date | Description |
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27/02/2019 | Kate's email address removed |
12/02/2019 | Final prac exam details changed from week 14 to week 13 |