Skip to main content

Module

BIO3198 : Biological Information Project (Inactive)

  • Inactive for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Tahar Taybi
  • Lecturer: Dr Ethan Hack, Dr Martin Edwards
  • Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 40
ECTS Credits: 20.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

To produce resource materials targeted at a specified audience (e.g. general public, school or university students, or a professional audience) to promote understanding or awareness of an appropriate biological topic. To write a review of the underlying scientific literature. To develop communication skills by producing a poster for a lay audience.

Outline Of Syllabus

The project is largely completed through independent study with regular supervisory meetings. Training is provided via a series of lectures and workshops.

The literature review should be related to the project topic.

The project materials may take a variety of forms (e.g. slide presentations, booklets, posters, websites, CDs, DVDs) to suit the aims of the project and the background knowledge of the specified audience.

The poster will explain the project to a lay audience.

Lectures and workshops will provide guidance on the following topics:

Project safety
Literature search skills
Using Endnote
Writing a Literature Review
Writing originally
Writing the Information Project Report
How to write a good questionnaire
Producing and using figures and tables
Marking criteria
Ethics

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion121:0021:00Poster preparation
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture61:006:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion130:0030:00Literature Review
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture14:004:00Poster presentation
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion1100:00100:00Project materials and project report
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion15:005:00Completion of ethical approval form
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical11:001:00Computer practical on managing large documents in Word
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading1100:00100:00Initially directed reading but by pursuit of references this will become self-directed.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops41:306:00Training for key skills
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery11:001:00drop in clinics on posters
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study116:0016:00Testing of project materials
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study16:006:00Preparation of project plan and progress report
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study130:0030:00Collation of the project materials (media etc.)
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study61:006:00Lecture follow up
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study41:306:00Preparation and follow up for workshops
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study150:0050:00Investigation of target audience and project medium
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDissertation/project related supervision121:0012:00Supervisor meetings
Total400:00
Jointly Taught With
Code Title
BIO3197Biological Literature Review
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Online lectures and workshops are designed to provide training in the skills and techniques required to complete the literature review, report and poster. Regular supervisory meetings enable the extent and quality of progress to be monitored, whilst allowing for detailed technical discussions on the project progress.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written exercise1M15Short Review (3000 words)
Prof skill assessmnt1M10Professional Performance Assessment
Dissertation1M65Project Report (4000-6000 words) and Materials
Poster1M10Poster for lay audience
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Written exercise1MProject Plan
Written exercise1MProgress Report
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The project materials are assessed against their aims in relation to the target audience. The project report is an account of the origins of the project, how the target audience was selected, how the project materials were produced and tested, and how feedback was analysed and then used to improve their quality.

The poster assesses the student's ability to explain their project to a lay audience.

The formative Project Plan (submitted early in Semester 1) helps students to recognise the key questions relating to their project and formulate an appropriate plan of work to meet the objectives. The formative Progress Report (submitted early in Semester 2) re-visits the Project Plan and asks students to record any changes to the project and update the plan of work.

Technical proficiency, academic engagement and industry will be assessed by the supervisor who will have been in regular contact with the student throughout the project.

All students complete an Ethical Approval Form as projects involve collecting feedback from volunteers on the materials created.

Reading Lists

Timetable