Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Laura Hurley
Contact via BIOL260@mq.edu.au
Kate Barry
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
(12cp at 100 level or above) or admission to GCertBiotech
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
Topics related to sex pervade our culture, media, politics, relationships and everyday life. Despite this, many of us have never had the opportunity to learn why sex evolved. What are the real differences between males and females? What is the chemistry that makes partners attractive? Why are the sexual strategies and behaviours of different species so diverse? What hormones control our maturation, reproductive cycles and pregnancy? This unit takes a broad approach, using examples (some quite bizarre) from the animal and plant worlds. At the same time, we cover in depth the sexual biology and behaviour of our own intriguing species.
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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:
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Science Skills Quiz (Quiz 1) | 0% | No | week 4 |
Textbook questions | 20% | No | fortnightly |
Poster assessment | 25% | No | week 10 |
Peer Review | 5% | No | week 12 |
Weekly Quizzes | 50% | No | Every Week |
Due: week 4
Weighting: 0%
Workshop and Online Quizzes.
Workshop: provides information necessary for all assessments in this unit. Everyone should complete this and the quiz to demonstrate your grasp of what is needed for the assessments.
Quiz: 10 questions test your general science skills knowledge eg. referencing, plagiarism, basic science communication, library searches. Anyone can complete to test baseline knowledge. Students with no science background are recommended to first read Section One before attempting.
THREE ATTEMPTS TO PASS.
Due: fortnightly
Weighting: 20%
Answers to set questions submitted as a blog.
2% each topic
Due every fortnight:
Topics 2-3: end of week 4 (4%)
Topics 4-5: end of week 6 (4%)
Topics 6-7: end of week 8 (4%)
Topics 8-9: end of week 10 (4%)
Topics 10-11: end of week 12 (4%)
Due: week 10
Weighting: 25%
Based on a real data set (provided in iLearn), the idea is to take on the role of the researcher and present the research findings as if they are your own.
20% mark comes from convener
5% comes from your peers
Due: week 12
Weighting: 5%
Marking your peer's posters!
You will be randomly allocated five peer posters and will be required to them online in iLearn.
Your ability to mark appropriately (compared to other students and the convener) will be graded.
Due: Every Week
Weighting: 50%
10 Quizzes for topics 2-11 (5% each) all are open from the beginning of semester.
Quizzes are due weekly, with a week’s quiz due by the end of the following week i.e. Week 2 Quiz is due before end of Week 3.
Quizzes test your knowledge of the content from the corresponding lectures.
You have only one attempt at each quiz!
Quizzes are timed with ~20 Questions to be completed in 25 min. A variety of question types are included, for example multiple choice, true/false, short answer matching.
Three lectures per week, are delivered in person, all available online on iLearn Echo360 ~1hr after recorded.
2018 S2 times and location
Lecture 1 Thursday 12-1pm 29WW Theatre 1
Lecture 2 Thursday 1-2pm 29WW Theatre 1
Lecture 3 Friday 12-1pm 14SCO Mason Theatre
Textbook:
This textbook was designed specifically for BIOL260, and you can purchase an ebook of the 4thedition from the publisher ($60) https://www.mheducation.com.au/9781308874012-aus-cust-ebook-the-science-of-sex-4e. Much of the lecture material corresponds with chapters in the text, and the associated readings and questions are taken directly from this book. There are also many hardcopies copies held in the reserve section of the library. Hardcopy were not ordered by Coop Bookshop this year, however the used second, third and fourth hardcopy editions are suitable for this unit, but the first edition is not.
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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 shown in iLearn, 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.
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
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:
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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:
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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:
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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:
In 2018 S2 there will be no practical tutorials run. Therefore, information presented in those practicals will be put online powerpoint tutorials and Echo 360 recordings. Due to this change poster assignments will be done individually vs. in pairs formed in tutorial groups.
Quizes will be due weekly on information presented form week 2-11. They will be due the week following, i.e week 2 quiz will be due at the end of week 3.
Textbook questions will be due fortnightly on previous 2 weeks information, i.e. week 2 and 3 questions are due at the end of week 4.
Date | Description |
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25/07/2018 | I have clarified wording under "workshop and science quiz". I have also provided more detail into "quizzes" section. Further I provided more detail under Delivery and resources to provide information on when the lecture is held and when recordings will be available. (also doing this for the OUA after sending this) |
18/07/2018 | I have changed when online quizzes are due to better test student learning across the semester. Further, I have made minor updates to lecture schedule to remove a lecture that was added to past years content. |
11/07/2018 | The link for the ebook has changed and has now been updated. |