Classes 

Lectures will be held on:    

Lectures begin on the 1^st August 2016. Lectures graphics will be available in iLearn on the day before each lecture.

Microbiology Web Site: https://learn.mq.edu.au/

Laboratory classes

Students will need to register for one of the classes only. 

Practicals start the first week of the semester (1^st August 2016.). Please note that practical classes are a compulsory component for this course with medical certificates being required should a student be absent due to illness.  These should be submitted online together with a disruption to studies request, which can be found at:http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html.

Required and Recommended Texts and/or Materials 

Prescribed text:

Brock Biology of Microorganisms Global Edition + Mastering Microbiology 14th edition. Madigan,  Martenko, Stahl, Clark, Buckley. Publisher: Pearson education Inc, San Francisco. ISBN:9781486025442

Please purchase and set up your personal account with Pearson Mastering Microbiology. This software comes packaged with your textbook if you purchase it from the Co-op bookshop or can be purchased independently (Instructions for independent purchase and set up will be provided on the CBMS215 iLearn page).  This resource will be used to set weekly interactive activities and quizzes for you to complete each week.

CBMS215 Microbiology Practical Manual - each laboratory session will be available on iLearn for download one week before the laboratory session, you must bring a copy with you to your laboratory class and are expected to have read through all of the planned activities.  Please note you must also bring a lab coat, closed shoes and lab notebook to each practical, beginning in Week 1.

Technology Used and Required 

You are expected to access the unit web site on a frequent basis and download PDF files provided.  Please note information may also be sent by email to your student email account so please look at your email account on a frequent basis.

Unit Web Page

The URL of the CBMS215 Microbiology ilearn site is:  http://learn.mq.edu.au/

You will be asked for a username and password.  Your username is your student MQID.  Your MQID and password have been mailed to you by the University.  If you have lost them go to the student portal:  http://my.mq.edu.au.

You are expected to access the unit web site very frequently.  This site contains important information including notes on ALL the topics to be covered.

Teaching and Learning Strategy

CBMS215 is a 3-credit point, half year unit and will require an average of 9 hours of work per week (contact hours plus self study time).

The unit expectation is that you will:

• Read the recommended material and prepare for the laboratory classes.
• Actively engage in the practical component of the course.
• Complete the assignment, weekly quizzes and final exam.

If you prepare and attend all components of the unit and work consistently and continuously throughout the semester, you should be able to develop a strong understanding of the subject, develop key microbiology practical skills and perform satisfactorily in this unit.

Laboratory classes are designed to develop basic laboratory skills, general safety practices and critical and analytical thought- this will be very useful if you continue with microbiology, but are also fundamental to modern molecular biology and many other areas of science.  In-lab and post-lab work are designed to allow you to appropriately record your experimental observations in a detailed and accurate manner and assess your understanding of the theory behind the experiments conducted and to use this understanding to solve related problems. 

CBMS215 practical sessions will be led by Dr Anwar Sunna in 2016

We will be actively seeking feedback throughout the semester.  We are most open to suggestions for improving the content and delivery of the unit and practical. Please provide any feedback to Dr. Sasha Tetu, Dr. Anwar Sunna, Mrs Elsa Mardones or your practical demonstrators. We will also endeavor to provide opportunities for anonymous feedback/suggestions/comments during semester in both lecture and practical time slots.

The University is committed to equity and fairness in all aspects of its learning and teaching.  In stating this commitment, the University recognises that there may be circumstances where a student is prevented by unavoidable disruption from performing in accordance with their ability.  The University has a policy on special consideration requests (now disruption to studies) that may be found at http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html.  The University recognises that at times an event or set of circumstances may occur that:

·    could not have reasonably been anticipated, avoided or guarded against by the student     AND

·     was beyond the student’s control AND

·      caused substantial disruption to the student’s capacity for effective study and/or completion of required work AND

·        substantially interfered with the otherwise satisfactory fulfillment of a unit or program requirements AND

·         was of at least three (3) consecutive days duration within a study period and/or prevented completion of a formal examination.

This policy is instituted to support students who experience serious and unavoidable disruption such that they do not reach their usual demonstrated performance level.  If this does occur please access this form and follow directions for submitting a disruption to studies notification as soon as possible to allow due consideration.

Non-Attendance:  Students unable to attend a laboratory session, assessment task or the final exam due to illness or other extenuating circumstances must submit online the relevant documentation together with a disruption to studies request, which can be found at: http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html.

Students MUST contact Dr. Anwar Sunna immediately to make alternative arrangements if a laboratory session or an assessment task has been missed.  Contact can be by email or phone. The intensive nature of laboratory sessions and assessments over a period of weeks means that non-attendance can significantly impact on your progress, can impact on your ability to complete the assignments and also impacts on your laboratory partner/group.

 Extensions and penalties

10% of the mark allocated for the assignment will be deducted per day for any work submitted late.

Only medical certificates and/or other appropriate supporting documents outlining other serious, extenuating circumstances will be considered when submitting an assignment after the due date.  All applications for special consideration or extension must be sought before the due date unless this is absolutely impossible.

All applications for extensions of deadlines must be submitted to the subject convenor.