production
Skip to Content

BI1009: FRONTIERS IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (2020-2021)

Last modified: 05 Aug 2021 13:04


Course Overview

Five themes, critical to understanding biology and life, will be explored – Developmental Biology, Microbiology and Disease, Evolution and Behaviour, Immune Systems and Environmental Physiology. Each theme is structured to provide you with core knowledge, insight into how science is practiced, an introduction to current research topics and skills that are useful for investigating, recording and analysing information.
The course will be delivered using a blended learning approach and can be taken by students who will be on campus in first semester, or those who may choose to stay at home

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 1
Session First Sub Session Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study Yes
Co-ordinators
  • Dr j baird

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Either Programme Level 1 or Programme Level 2
  • Any Undergraduate Programme

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

Course Aims
• To engage and enthuse level one students with the study of biology.
• To support students in the transition into university study by developing their ownership and independence over learning.
• To promote the development of essential study skills and basic experimental and laboratory skills.
Main Learning Outcomes
• Be able to recognise, describe and evaluate the evidence for the mechanisms of life processes, and the interactions, structure and function of organisms.
• Recognise that our current understanding of biology is contested and provisional, set within a history of scientific exploration and experimentation, and a dynamic continuation of scientific advances.
• Demonstrate competence in investigating, understanding, recording and analysing information.
Course Content
Five themes, which are critical to our understanding of biology – Developmental Biology, Microbiology and Disease, Evolution and Behaviour, Immune Systems and Environmental Physiology – will be explored. Each theme is structured to provide you with core knowledge, insight into how science is practiced, an introduction to current research topics, and skills that are useful for investigating, recording and analysing information.
The course will be delivered using a blended learning approach and can be taken by students who will be on campus in first semester, or those who may choose to stay at home.
Themes will consist of asynchronous lessons that, once they’ve been released, can be accessed by students at any time. These may be short presentations or lectures, interviews, discussions, activities and podcasts. Reading material related to the themes will be made available to students – these will mainly be chapters from books, which may be from textbooks, or highly-regarded popular science publications.
Each theme will also have synchronous ‘live’ sessions, which will relate to material covered in the asynchronous lessons. These will include practical sessions, during which students will develop valuable laboratory or analytical skills. There will also be Q and A sessions during which live discussions will take place.
Formative quizzes that do not carry marks, will allow students to test their knowledge and understanding - these will run throughout the course.
At the end of each two week theme, students will be required to take an online assessment, which will contribute towards their final mark.
Much of the work students undertake will be individual, but students will also work throughout the course on a group project, related to career opportunities in the life sciences. The completed project will be posted online, and if circumstances allow, there will be a live session in the Zoology building.

Associated Costs

DescriptionValue
Course practicals require the use of a lab coat which can be purchased locally. GBP 15.00

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 31 August 2023 for 1st half-session courses and 22 December 2023 for 2nd half-session courses.

Summative Assessments

5 Summative tests (17% each)

 

Group Project 15%

 

Alternative Resit Arrangements for students taking course in Academic Year 2020/21
Students will repeat whichever elements of the assessment were failed or not completed at first sitting; the marks for elements already passed will be carried forwards

Alternative Resit Arrangements for students who took the course in Academic Year 2019/20 and C8 students
Students will repeat whichever elements of the assessment were failed or not completed at first sitting ie exam and/or individual practicals (online versions); the marks for elements already passed will be carried forwards. 

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
FactualRememberILO’s for this course are available in the course guide.

Compatibility Mode

We have detected that you are have compatibility mode enabled or are using an old version of Internet Explorer. You either need to switch off compatibility mode for this site or upgrade your browser.