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This course focuses on developing core skills for medical scientists and will be required for all students with degree intentions in the School of Medical Sciences. The course consists of a PRS lecture starting at 9.00am in G9 and G11 in the Zoology Building followed by a 2 hour workshop on Wednesday mornings in weeks 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20. There will be opportunities for any students requiring extra help to receive it at the end of each Workshop. Once the Workshops are finished, computer-based homework questions will be made available via MyAberdeen to be practised during self-study each week.
In weeks 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21, students will be given a specific one hour time slot between 9am and 1pm when they will be required to undertake an individual assignment lasting for a maximum of 50 minutes and based on the practice questions. Students must attend at the time specified.
In week 22 you will have a final assessment that will involve a practical project.
Material in the Workshops, Practice questions and Assignments have been contextualised to the major disciplines in the School of Medical Sciences.
Course Co-ordinators: Dr Derryck Shewan ((43)7381) d.shewan@abdn.ac.uk
Dr Gordon McEwan ((43)7403) g.t.a.mcewan@abdn.ac.uk
Course Administrator Nigel Graham, G10 Zoology Building, (ext.2856) n.graham@abdn.ac.uk
1.To increase confidence and competence in numerical manipulations.
2.To practise numerical and practical skills.
3.To understand and interpret the different ways of presenting scientific data.
4.To understand simple statistical analysis and how to use it.
5.To understand the basis of scientific investigation and the importance of hypothesis driven enquiry.
6.To understand the importance of using correct scientific English.
7.To design and carry out a practical project.
8.To develop transferable skills related to teamwork, time management, communication and information technology skills.
Personal Response System (PRS) and Workshop Synopses
Those of you who studied first-year courses will be familiar with the PRS element of lectures. You will be given instructions in the advising week about the use of the equipment and where to go for the workshops. Each workshop is preceded by a PRS lecture to set the scene. In the workshops, you will work in groups of three doing paper-based exercises. You will work through a set of related exercises and complete an answer sheet from your group, which will be collected for marking. Marks will subsequently be shown in your personal MyAberdeen account.
1. Introduction and Numerical Skills (University Week 12, Course Week 1)
The use of numerical analysis to solve relevant problems in the wide range of disciplines that embrace the medical sciences. Importance of units and their conversion, understanding volumes, concentrations, spatial measurements, appreciation of scientific notation.
2. Data Interpretation (Week 14)
Demonstrates the range of graphs that can be used to display data, specifically scatter plots, bar charts, histograms, line charts, pie charts, box plots etc. Illustrates how trends can be identified within data by describing correlation and the use of correlation coefficients. Highlights the utility of logged axes when data contain outliers or is curvilinear. Introduces the concept of variation within datasets and how this can be illustrated in graphs using error bars.
3. Data Collection and Statistical Analysis (Week 16)
An introductory guide to statistics and how to analyse scientific data. In this module, analysis of scientific data will be explained using introductory-level statistics. Building on an explanation of sampling and populations, the module will cover concepts such as how to express the centre point of a spread of data (measures of location; mean, median), how to express the spread of your data (standard deviation), how to calculate the confidence limits of a population, and how to carry out Student t-tests to compare two means from independent samples.
The module will provide you with the ability to implement five useful statistical calculations and tests that you can employ to analyse a range of different biological data types, and with the ability to interpret numerical and graphical statistical data.
4. Experimental Design (Week 18)
This workshop will consider the design of experimental protocols to test scientific
hypotheses. It will also address the necessity of appropriate control samples in experimental design to allow for confounding and nuisance variables and of appropriate replicates in experimental design, as well as an appreciation of correct sampling effort. This workshop will cover experimental bias and how to reduce this by randomisation of treatments and pairing/matching subjects, and examine the relationship between experimental design and correct statistical analysis.
5. Reporting Scientific Data and Problem Solving (Week 20)
At the heart of science is problem solving. This workshop will involve interpreting complex data sets and working out what conclusions may be drawn from the information as it is presented. You will also be asked to write different types of reports appropriate to different situations.
6. Design and carry out a practical project applying the skills that you have been practising (Week 22)
Students are required to attend all lectures and workshops, practise the homework questions each week and complete all in-course assessments by stated deadlines.
Assessment is derived from individual assignments (70%), group exercises undertaken during the workshops (group mark 25%) and peer assessment by group members in Week 22 (5%).
The overall performance of the student is expressed as a grade awarded on the common assessment scale.
You must pass all workshops and assessments and so you will be given the opportunity to repeat any that you have failed. Any such repeat assessments will only be awarded a CAS mark of 9, although you will be given feedback on the mark that you would have obtained, had it been your first attempt.
Dr John Barrow
Dr Gordon McEwan
Dr Derryck Shewan
Prof Ian Stansfield
Dr Steven Tucker
Mr Nigel Graham
To find out which lab you are to use, or which time slot you are assigned for the assessments, or other organisational matters, consult Nigel Graham (n.graham@abdn.ac.uk).
If students have difficulties with any part of the course that they cannot cope with alone they should notify someone immediately. If the problem relates to the subject matter you may be best advised to contact the member of staff who is teaching that part of the course.
Students with registered disabilities should contact Miss Lyndsay McEwan l.mcewan@abdn.ac.uk to ensure that the appropriate facilities have been made available.
Otherwise, you are strongly encouraged to contact any of the following as you see appropriate:
• Course student representatives
• Course co-ordinators: Dr Derryck Shewan (d.shewan@abdn.ac.uk)
Dr Gordon McEwan (g.t.a.mcewan@abdn.ac.uk)
• Your Adviser of studies
• The School Disabilities Co-ordinator:Dr Derryck Shewan (d.shewan@abdn.ac.uk)
Other staff contacts
School of Medical Sciences: i.stansfield@abdn.ac.uk, s.j.tucker@abdn.ac.uk, j.barrow@abdn.ac.uk
Technical: n.graham@abdn.ac.uk
We value students’ opinions in regard to enhancing the quality of teaching and its delivery. Therefore in conjunction with the Students’ Association we support the operation of a Class Representative system.
The students within each course, year, or programme elect representatives by the end of the fourth week of teaching within each half-session. In this School we operate a system of Class Representatives. Any student registered within a course that wishes to represent a given group of students can stand for election as a Class Representative. You will be informed when the elections for class representative will take place.
What will it involve?
It will involve speaking to your fellow students about the course you represent. This can include any comments that they may have. You will attend a Staff-Student Liaison Committee and you should represent the views and concerns of the students within this meeting. As a Representative you will also be able to contribute to the agenda. You will then feedback to the students after this meeting with any actions that are being taken.
Training
Training for Class Representatives will be run by the Students Association. Training will take place in the fourth or fifth week of teaching each half-session. For more information about the Class Representative system visit www.ausa.org.uk or email the VP Education & Employability vped@abdn.ac.uk. Class Representatives are also eligible to undertake the STAR (Students Taking Active Roles) Award. Further information about the co-curricular award is available at: www.abdn.ac.uk/careers.
The University operates a system for monitoring students' progress to identify students who may be experiencing difficulties in a particular course and who may be at risk of losing their class certificate.
Because of the nature of this course, attendance is required at all Wednesday sessions. Failure to attend or complete an individual assessment will result in an interview with the Course Co-ordinator, if it occurs within the first 3 weeks of the course.
If you are absent from a class and think that you have “good cause”, you must e-mail the Course Co-ordinator stating clearly the reasons for the absence within 3 working days of any missed class.
After the fourth week of the course, if the Course Co-ordinator has concerns about your attendance and/or performance the Registry will be informed. The Registry will then write to you (by e-mail in term-time) to ask you to contact their office in the first instance. Depending on your reason for absence, the Registry will either deal directly with your case or will refer you to your Adviser of Studies or a relevant Support Service. This system is operated to provide support for students who may be experiencing difficulties with their studies. Students are required to attend such meetings with their Adviser of Studies in accordance with General Regulation 8.
Criteria for student monitoring: You will be asked to meet your Adviser if you fail to attend any of the lectures or workshops for this course or fail to sit one of the individual assessments, other than for medical reasons or other good cause. (You must inform the Course Organisers of the reasons for any such absences).
If you fail to respond within the prescribed timescale (as set out in the e-mail or letter), you will be deemed to have withdrawn from the course concerned and will accordingly be ineligible to take the end-of-course assessment or to enter for the resit. The Registry will write to you (by e-mail in term-time) to inform you of this decision. If you wish consideration to be given to reinstating you in the course you will require to meet with the Convener of the Students’ Progress Committee.
Students who attend and complete the work required for a course are considered to have been awarded a ‘Class Certificate’. Being in possession of a valid Class Certificate for a course entitles a student to sit degree examinations for that course. Class certificates will be valid for two years and permit a total of three attempts at the required assessment within that two year period i.e. the first attempt plus up to two resits.
You will receive a University e-mail account when you register with the University Computing Centre. The University will normally use e-mail to communicate with you during term-time. These e-mails will be sent to your University e-mail account. It is your responsibility to check your e-mail on a regular (at least daily) basis and to tidy the contents of your e-mail inbox to ensure that it does not go over quota (see http://www.abdn.ac.uk/diss/email/mailquota.hti for guidance on managing your e-mail quota). It is recommended that you use your University e-mail account to read and respond to University communications. If you already have a non-University e-mail account that you use for personal correspondence, it is possible to set up automatic forwarding of messages from your University e-mail account to your personal e-mail address (see http://www.abdn.ac.uk/local/mail.forward/) but, should you do so, it is your responsibility to ensure that this is done correctly. The University takes no responsibility for delivery of e-mails to non-University accounts.
You should note that failure to check your e-mail or failure to receive e-mail due to being over quota or due to non-delivery of an e-mail forwarded to a non-University e-mail account would not be accepted as grounds for appeal (for further information on appeals procedures, please refer to http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/appendix5x17.hti).
TurnitinUK
TurnitinUK is an online service that compares student assignments with online sources including web pages, databases of reference material, and content previously submitted by other users across the UK. The software makes no decision as to whether plagiarism has occurred; it is simply a tool that highlights sections of text that have been found in other sources, thereby helping academic staff decide whether plagiarism has occurred.
TurnitinUK is accessed directly through MyAberdeen. Advice about avoiding plagiarism, the University’s Definition of Plagiarism, a Checklist for Students, Referencing and Citing guidance, and instructions for TurnitinUK, can be found in the following area of the Student Learning Service website www.abdn.ac.uk/sls/plagiarism/.
Absence from Classes on Medical Grounds
Candidates who wish to establish that their academic performance has been adversely affected by their health are required to secure medical certificates relating to the relevant periods of ill health (see General Regulation 17.3).
The University’s policy on requiring certification for absence on medical grounds or other good cause can be accessed at:
www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/appendix7x5.pdf
You are strongly advised to make yourself fully aware of your responsibilities if you are absent due to illness or other good cause. In particular, you are asked to note that self-certification of absence for periods of absence up to and including eleven weekdays is permissible. However, where absence has prevented attendance at an examination or where it may have affected your performance in an element of assessment or where you have been unable to attend a specified teaching session, you are strongly advised to provide medical certification (see section 3 of the Policy on Certification of Absence for Medical Reasons or Other Good Cause).
Feedback Framework
Feedback on assessment:
The University recognises that the provision of timely and appropriate feedback on assessment plays a key part in students learning and teaching. The guiding principles for the provision of feedback within the University are detailed in the Institutional Framework for the Provision of Feedback on Assessment available at:
www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/appendix7x8.pdf
Personal Development Planning (PDP)
Level 1 and 2 students are encouraged to develop a Personal Development Plan (PDP) to help them learn more effectively, make the most of their University time and plan for their future. Further details on PDP can be accessed from the School of Medical Sciences website at www.abdn.ac.uk/sms - click on “Undergraduate Teaching”.
Appeals and Complaints
The University’s appeals and complaints procedures provide students with a framework through which to formalise their concerns about aspects of their academic experience or to complain when they feel that standards of non-academic service have fallen short of that which they expected.
The process has been designed to make the appeals and complaints process as accessible and simple as possible and to provide a robust, fair mechanism through which to ensure that all appeals and complaints are considered in the appropriate way at the appropriate level.
A major feature of the process is the emphasis it places on early or informal resolution. All students should note that there is an expectation that they will take responsibility for seeking resolution of their academic or non-academic concerns by raising and discussing them at the earliest possible stage with the relevant individuals in an academic School or administrative Service.
Further details of the processes for making an appeal or complaint, including where to find further help and support in the process, is given at: www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/appeals
Transcripts at Graduation
It is anticipated that students who commenced their studies in, or after, 2009/10, will receive a more detailed transcript of their studies on graduation. The increased details will include a record of all examination results attained. For students graduating in 2012/13 transcripts will show details of all CAS marks awarded, including fail marks. Where a resit has been required as a result of medical circumstances or other good cause (MC/GC) this will not be shown, but all other circumstances (i.e. No Paper ‘NP’) will be included.
MyAberdeen (the University of Aberdeen’s Virtual Learning Environment)
MyAberdeen is the University's virtual learning environment where you will find learning materials and resources associated with the courses you are studying.
MyAberdeen also provides direct access to TurnitinUK, the online originality checking service, through which you may be asked to submit completed assignments.
You can log in to MyAberdeen by going to www.abdn.ac.uk/myaberdeen and entering your University username and password (which you use to access the University network).
Further information on MyAberdeen, including Quick Guides and video tutorials, along with information about TurnitinUK, can be found at: www.abdn.ac.uk/students/myaberdeen.php.
Information about academic writing and how to avoid plagiarism can be found at www.abdn.ac.uk/sls/plagiarism.
Aberdeen Graduate Attributes
Graduate Attributes are a wide-ranging set of qualities that students will develop during their time at Aberdeen in preparation for employment, further study and citizenship.
There are four main areas of Graduate Attributes:
• Academic excellence
• Critical thinking and communication
• Learning and personal development
• Active citizenship
Students have many opportunities to develop and achieve these attributes. These include learning experiences on credit-bearing courses and co-curricular activities such as work placements, study abroad and volunteering. In accordance with the University’s commitment to Equality and Diversity, students can request support with any aspect of the Graduate Attributes framework.
The ACHIEVE website offers resources that enable students to assess and reflect upon their present skills and development needs. The website also contains resources to help students improve their skills and links to a range of University services such as the Careers Service and the Student Learning Service. Students can access ACHIEVE from their MyAberdeen site in the ‘My Organisations’ section. More information about Aberdeen Graduate Attributes and ACHIEVE can be found at www.abdn.ac.uk/graduateattributes.
The Co-curriculum
The co-curriculum enhances a student’s employability and provides opportunities to develop and achieve Aberdeen Graduate Attributes. Co-curricular activities complement a student’s degree programme and include: work placements, study abroad, enterprise and entrepreneurship activities, the BP Student Tutoring Scheme, career mentoring and the STAR (Students Taking Active Roles) Award initiative. Below are examples of credit-bearing co-curricular activities. It is anticipated that these types of activity will be included on an enhanced transcript for students graduating in, or after, 2012/13
ERASMUS is an exchange programme funded by the European Commission that enables students to study or work in another European country as part of their degree programme. Eligible students will receive a grant to help with extra costs while abroad and a number of our partner institutions teach through English. For more information, visit www.abdn.ac.uk/erasmus/. The University also has opportunities for students to study in a non-European country as part of their degree through the International Exchange Programme. International partners include universities and colleges in North America, Hong Kong and Japan (www.abdn.ac.uk/undergraduate/international-exchange.php). The University aims to ensure full academic recognition for study periods abroad, therefore the credits gained from study abroad will count towards the Aberdeen degree programme for students participating in both ERASMUS and the International Exchange Programme.
Work placements can also form an integral part of a degree programme and attract academic credit. Placements are available locally, nationally and internationally, lasting from a few weeks to a full year and are generally paid. Contact Dr Allison Carrington (a.carrington@abdn.ac.uk) for further placement information and to find available work placements.
Further information about the co-curriculum is available at: www.abdn.ac.uk/careers
