BI1S200 - Skills and Professional Development 1 01 Jul 2022 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 2

Associated Module Information

Module Code: BI1S200
Module Title: Skills and Professional Development 1
Faculty: Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science
Faculty Group: Applied Sciences
Faculty Sub Group: Biological Sciences
Module Leader: Rhian Newman
Module Team: Emma Higgins, Anthony Caravaggi, Aled Bryant, Tracie McKinney, Sky Redhead, Aaron Wall, Cerith Jones, Cerith Jones, Josephine Bradley
First Intended Intake: SEP 2027 Final Year of Intake: 2027
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 75
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100406 - statistics 100962 - research skills 101030 - applied statistics
HECOS Code Weighting: 25 50 25

Document Version Information

Version 2
Valid From 01 Jul 2022
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

This module provides students with experience of the academic skills required in the Medical and Biological science fields, equipping students to do well in their course and onwards in their final career. On successful completion of this module, students will demonstrate academic skills in reading, summarising, writing, and referencing are covered, as well as an introduction into the critical analysis of published work. The module provides an introduction into statistical principles needed to ascertain the reliability of published data. It provides experience for students in communicating scientific principles in writing and orally. The module also includes a group work immersive week element and associated assessment in the Autumn term, for which 10 h of lectures are allocated.

In engaging with the module appropriately, students will fully achieve the following level-appropriate Behaviour domains of the USW graduate attributes:

Communication: Behaviour 1,2,3

Innovation and Enterprise: Behaviour 1, 2

Project Management: Behaviour 1

Digital Literacy: Behaviour 1,2

Leadership: Behaviour 1,2,3

The Capabilities associated with these behaviours are found in the Graduate Attributes table at the end of the descriptor

Content Summary

Topics covering scientific literacy and numeracy including, but not limited to:

  • Finding, reading, and citing scientific literature. Scientific integrity and ethics.
  • Communication: communicating scientific principles in a range of ways to diverse audiences.
  • Discipline specific calculations.
  • Data entry, analysis, and presentation in Excel. Theory of basic statistical analysis and application using Excel.
  • Interacting with R for statistical analysis. Interacting with GIS for wildlife or epidemiological applications.
  • Personal reflection on practice and self-development.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 10
Practical classes and workshops 38
Independent Study 76
Directed Study 76
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 To interpret, understand and communicate scientific information. Find, summarise, interpret, critically evaluate and cite reliable sources of written scientific information. Summarise, describe and analyse numerical data using appropriate online tools and software packages, and to correctly perform and interpret appropriate statistical analyses.
LO2 Demonstrate the ability to work individually and as part of a team to communicate scientific information using appropriate communication style and language.? Engage in constructive self-reflection to enhance personal academic and professional development.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Essay 1 A scientific essay on a topic of student choice, accompanied by a self-reflection of skills development and record of tutorial engagement. 0 1600 50 No 40
Synchronous Onsite Assessment Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Onsite) 1 A blackboard numeracy statistics test administered within the timetabled session with record of tutorial engagement. 60 N/A 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Essay 1
Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Onsite) 1

Reading List

Freeman, S., Quillin, K. and Allison, L.A. (2014). Biological Science. Harlow, UK: Pearson Education Ltd.

Dytham, C. (2011). Choosing and Using Statistics: A Biologist's Guide. 3rd ed. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

Clymo, R.S. (2014). Reporting Research: A Biologist’s Guide to Articles, Talks and Posters. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Barnard, C., Gilbert, F. and McGregor, P. (2011). Asking Questions in Biology: A Guide to Hypothesis Testing, Experimental Design and Presentation in Practical Work and Research Projects. 4th ed. Harlow, UK: Pearson Education Ltd.

General Interest Popular Science Books:

Bad Science, Ben Goldacre.

Naked Statistics, Charles Wheelan.