| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Andrew Allen
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
BIOL2610, BIOX2610
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
Biological organisms are inherently variable, which means that practicing biologists need a solid grasp of how to design and implement experiments, perform statistical analyses on the resulting data, and correctly interpret the results of statistical tests. This unit provides a foundation in the principles of experimental design and data analysis for biology. The unit is taught by biology staff and draws on research carried out in the School of Natural Sciences. Students also learn the overall process of asking and answering questions in biology. Students learn a range of common data analysis techniques, and how to interpret the outcomes of these analyses. There is a strong emphasis on critically evaluating biological studies and identifying sound conclusions and not-so-sound conclusions. This unit is strongly recommended for students planning a career in biology or environmental science. Learning in this unit enhances student understanding of global challenges identified by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure |
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:
Requirements to Pass this Unit
To pass this unit you need to achieve a total mark equal to or greater than 50%
Participation
There is no mandatory attendance of in person sessions for this unit. We strongly encourage all students to actively participate in all learning activities. Regular engagement is crucial for your success in this unit, as these activities provide opportunities to deepen your understanding of the material, collaborate with peers, and receive valuable feedback from instructors, to assist in completing the unit assessments. Your active participation not only enhances your own learning experience but also contributes to a vibrant and dynamic learning environment for everyone.
Late Submission Policy
5% penalty per day: If you submit your assessment late, 5% of the total possible marks will be deducted for each day (including weekends), up to 7 days.
Example 1 (out of 100): If you score 85/100 but submit 20 hours late, you will lose 5 marks and receive 80/100.
Example 2 (out of 30): If you score 27/30 but submit 1 day late, you will lose 1.5 marks and receive 25.5/30.
After 7 days: Submissions more than 7 days late will receive a mark of 0.
Extensions:
Automatic short extension: Some assessments are eligible for automatic short extension. You can only apply for an automatic short extension before the due date.
Special Consideration: If you need more time due to serious issues and for any assessments that are not eligible for Short Extension, you must apply for Special Consideration.
Need help? Review the Special Consideration page HERE
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due | Groupwork/Individual | Short Extension | AI Approach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experiment Report | 30% | No | 31/05/2026 | Individual | Yes | Open |
| Practical Portfolio | 20% | No | 31/05/2026 | Individual | Yes | Open |
| Final Exam | 50% | No | Exam Period | Individual | No | Observed |
Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 31/05/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open
You will design and conduct an experiment of your own. You will need to pick a question, design and carry out an experiment addressing that question, then write up the results in the form of a scientific paper.
Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 13 hours
Due: 31/05/2026
Weighting: 20%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open
You will prepare a document that summarises your findings in 8 of the 13 practicals, including statistics and, where appropriate, accompanying tables and/or figures.
Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 2 hours
Due: Exam Period
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed
You will be tested on your knowledge of the course content. The exam will cover information from lectures and practicals up to and including week 13. The final exam will be held during the final exam period.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.
3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.
Lectures
There are two live one-hour lectures per week that are conducted online. You are encouraged to attend these live online sessions to ask questions, but recordings will also be made available on iLearn. All students are expected to listen to the lectures prior to the practical for that week.
Practicals
Practicals last 2 hours each and are conducted on campus and online. You are strongly encouraged to attend.
iLearn
The primary means of communication for this unit is via iLearn, which can be accessed by most web browsers from inside or outside the University. You are expected to use iLearn for:
Logging in to iLearn
Missed Practicals
If you know you will miss a practical, or if you have already missed one, please email the convenor at biol2610@mq.edu.au. There may be alternative practical slots, including the internal sessions, available for you to catch up.
Overall grades
The University grading is: fail (F <50%), pass (P 50%-64%), credit (CR 65%-74%), distinction (D 75%-84%) and high distinction (HD 85%-100%).
Exam Special Consideration
If you apply for Special Consideration for your final examination, you must make yourself available for the alternative examination period. If you are not available at that time, there is no guarantee an additional examination time will be offered. Specific examination dates and times will be determined at a later date.
Assignment submission, Turnitin and Plagiarism
This is a paperless unit, so no paper submission will be required for your written report, which will be submitted through iLearn via a Turnitin link. Your written assignment will be checked for plagiarism using Turnitin. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Do not under any circumstances lend your work to another student. If that student plagiarises your work, you too may be liable. The penalties imposed by the University for plagiarism are serious and may include expulsion from the University. A full outline of the Universities policy on plagiarism is found at http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/doc s/academic_honesty/policy.html.
RESOURCES and SUPPORT
How to find the answers
1. Please read the unit outline.
2. Consult iLearn - often your question has already been asked and answered by another student.
3. If the answer to a question will benefit others, please post it on iLearn.
4. Ask a question by emailing biol2610@mq.edu.au.
4. Unexpected adjustments made during the unit will announced via announcements, so make sure you check iLearn regularly.
EMAIL PROTOCOL
1. Always submit questions to biol2610@mq.edu.au.
2. Please be courteous and patient - we will endeavour to reply to your email within 24 hours, excluding weekends. Responses will be delayed during weekends.
Text Book
There are no required textbooks for the unit, but there are two recommended textbooks: "Statistics Explained : An Introductory Guide for Life Scientists" and "The Analysis of Biological Data".
OTHER HELP
The Numeracy Centre offers drop-in sessions to students with statistical questions. It is located at 14 Sir Christopher Ondaatje Avenue, Room 188. For questions and scheduling, please visit the iLearn page.
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:
Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.
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.
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 24/03/2026 | Date format updated |
Unit information based on version 2026.02 of the Handbook