Programmes and Modules - Course Details

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Module Title	LH Animal Behaviour: From theory to application
School	School of Bioscience
Department	School of Biosciences
Module Code	03 36076
Module Lead	Jackie Chappell and Julia Myatt
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites	LI Animal Biology: Principles and Mechanisms - (03 28822)
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-11 hours Seminar-13 hours Tutorial-6 hours Guided independent study-170 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	This challenging module will enable students to study a number of cutting-edge topics in Animal Behaviour, following each from its underlying theoretical concepts right through to the practical application. In particular, the module will focus on the way that recent tools, techniques, methods and technologies have revolutionised our understanding of animal behaviour, resulted in practical applications or had cross-disciplinary impacts in other fields. The module is assessed entirely by in-course assessment and is structured around student enquiry-led or problem-based learning in four different topic areas. This means that there are relatively few lectures: these introduce each topic and enable students to get their bearings in the literature. Lecturers then guide students in developing their own learning (individually and in groups), culminating in discussion sessions with peers and lecturers. The assessments include both individual and group assessments. This will also improve student transferable skills necessary for critical analysis and successful science communication
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Demonstrate an awareness of the research literature underpinning advances in animal behaviour, largely through independent study. Demonstrate an ability to reflect on your own knowledge, identify gaps and undertake appropriate measures to improve that understanding. Find, interpret and critically analyse information from the primary literature at an advanced level. Discuss subjects intelligently and argue a point of view logically, critically and coherently in the face of conflicting theories or divergent methodologies. Understand and be able to explain the role of new tools and technologies in elucidating mechanisms in animal behaviour, and evaluate areas of theory in which there continue to be significant shortfalls in knowledge. Explain science to a public audience by independently writing a piece for the news on a recent peer-reviewed study, highlight the key points, discuss where it slots into previous research and identify future research areas.
Assessment	36076-01 : Online News Piece : Coursework (50%) 36076-02 : Group Report : Group Assessment - Coursework (50%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	100% in-course assessment • Online news piece 50%, max. 600 words (individual assessment) • Scientific commentary report on one of the problem-based learning topics, max. 2000 words (Group mark) (50%) Reassessment of the module (100%) will be via a 2000 word scientific commentary report on one of the problem-based learning topics. The assessment criteria will be the same as for this assessment method when assessed as a standard part of the module, but: It will be an individual assessment, not a group assessment. A new paper will be provided on which to base the commentary report.
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