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Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment

SLE115 Essential Skills in Bioscience


Deakin University Unit Guide
Trimester 1, 2015

CONTENTS
WELCOME ........................................................................................................................................................ 2
CONTACT DETAILS .........................................................................................................................................
Unit chair ..................................................................................................................................................
Unit chair details ......................................................................................................................................
Other staff .................................................................................................................................................
YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS A STUDENT IN THIS UNIT ..............................................

2
2
2
2
2

IMPROVEMENTS IN RESPONSE TO STUDENT FEEDBACK .................................................................... 3


PART 1: UNIT OVERVIEW ..............................................................................................................................
Unit code ...................................................................................................................................................
Unit title ....................................................................................................................................................
Contact hours ...........................................................................................................................................
Study commitment ....................................................................................................................................
Unit prerequisite(s) ..................................................................................................................................
Unit corequisite(s) ....................................................................................................................................
Unit incompatible(s) .................................................................................................................................
DESCRIPTION OF UNIT .................................................................................................................................

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ACADEMIC CALENDAR .................................................................................................................................. 4


UNIT TIMELINES ............................................................................................................................................ 4
UNIT LEARNING OUTCOMES ....................................................................................................................... 5
UNIT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................................ 5
UNIT ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................................................................
Overview ...................................................................................................................................................
Summative assessment .............................................................................................................................
- Summative assessment task 1 ................................................................................................................
- Summative assessment task 2 ................................................................................................................
- Summative assessment task 3 ................................................................................................................
- Summative assessment task 4 ................................................................................................................
- Summative assessment task 5 ................................................................................................................
Note ..........................................................................................................................................................
Assignment submission .............................................................................................................................
UNIT LEARNING RESOURCES ......................................................................................................................
Essential learning resources .....................................................................................................................
Recommended learning resources ...........................................................................................................
PART 2: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LEARNING AT DEAKIN .................................................

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ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................................................................... 9
STUDY SUPPORT ........................................................................................................................................... 11
RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................................... 11
OTHER INFORMATION ................................................................................................................................ 12

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Deakin University, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment


SLE115 Essential Skills in Bioscience - Trimester 1, 2015
WELCOME
Welcome to SLE115 - Essential Skills in Bioscience!
This unit is the beginning of the Professional Practice pathway offered by Deakin University. The professional
practice sequence in the School of Life and Environmental Science comprises:
- SLE115 Essential Skills for Bioscience
- SLE251 Research Methods & Data Analysis (elective)
- SLE390 Professional Practice in Bioscience
SLE115 aims to give you an awareness of the disciplines and career paths within the field of Biological
Sciences and Biomedical Science; give you some grounding in the analysis of scientific data, learn how to read,
understand and evaluate scientific literature and develop your skills in problem solving and oral and written
presentations.

CONTACT DETAILS
Unit chair
Chris Lim

Unit chair details


Name: Dr Chris Lim
School: Life and Environmental Sciences
Faculty: Science, Engineering and Built Environment
Building T Room T2.13.04
Melbourne Burwood Campus:
Campus:
221 Burwood Highway
BURWOOD VIC 3125
Email: chris.lim@deakin.edu.au
Phone: +61 03 9251 7468

Other staff
Name: Dr Jim Rookes
Role: Campus coordinator and Lecturer
Campus: Waurn Ponds
Room: ka5.156
Email: james.rookes@deakin.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 5227 1394

You will be notified of any other teaching staff and his/her contact details at the start of the teaching period.

YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS A STUDENT IN THIS UNIT


As a student of Deakin University, you have rights in relation to your study in this unit for example, to be
respected, stimulated, challenged and valued as an individual; to be taught by competent, motivating and

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Deakin University, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment


SLE115 Essential Skills in Bioscience - Trimester 1, 2015
accessible teachers who provide timely and thoughtful feedback to you on your work; and to have access to
review and appeal processes should they be required.
Importantly, you also have responsibilities as a member of the University community for example, to accept
and act on advice and feedback on your academic performance; to participate constructively in learning in
class and online; and to treat staff and other students with respect and courtesy.
For more information about your rights and obligations to other students and staff while studying this unit, go
to http://www.deakin.edu.au/students/enrolment-fees-money/rights-and-responsibilities.

IMPROVEMENTS IN RESPONSE TO STUDENT FEEDBACK


If you have any concerns about the unit during the trimester that cannot be dealt with through the
CloudDeakin discussion boards, you are encouraged to email the Unit Chair.
Please take the time to participate in the unit evaluation for this unit.
Constructive feedback (both positive and negative) will allow us to improve the unit.

Towards the end of the teaching period you may be emailed a link to the unit evaluation survey (
http://www.deakin.edu.au/evaluate/). I encourage you to participate, as constructive feedback from students
will assist us to make improvements to this unit where necessary.

PART 1: UNIT OVERVIEW


Unit code
SLE115

Unit title
Essential Skills in Bioscience

Contact hours
1 x 2 hour class per week, 8 x 1 hour seminar per trimester.

Study commitment
As well as the face-to-face contact hours (1 x 2 hour class per week and 8 x 1 hour seminars per trimester),
students should commit 5-7 hours extra per week on online problem-based exercises and on their learning and
assessment activities for this unit. These extended activities could include reading the prescribed and
recommended texts and working through the questions at the end of the chapters.

Unit prerequisite(s)
Nil

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Deakin University, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment


SLE115 Essential Skills in Bioscience - Trimester 1, 2015
Unit corequisite(s)
Nil

Unit incompatible(s)
SLE113, SLE141

DESCRIPTION OF UNIT
This unit is the first of a sequence of professional practice units designed specifically for students in the first
year of biosciences. The unit will focus on development of generic skills and will draw upon and extend the
scientific content of other core first year units and utilise this context for skill-building exercises. These
exercises will include data analysis and presentation, library research methods, scientific writing and
referencing, mathematics and statistics.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR
Trimester 1 teaching period begins
Intra-trimester break
Teaching period ends
Study period
Examinations begin
Examinations end
Inter-trimester break
Results released

Monday 9 March 2015


Friday 3 April to Sunday 12 April 2015
Friday 29 May 2015
Monday 1 to Friday 5 June 2015
Monday 8 June 2015
Friday 19 June 2015
Monday 22 June to Friday 10 July 2015
Thursday 9 July 2015

UNIT TIMELINES
Week
Week
Topic
number commencing

Related assessment

9 March

Introduction to unit

16 March

Referencing and Plagiarism;


Discussion of Assignment 1

23 March

Data Handling

30 March

Maths and Stats Revision

13 April

TBD

20 April

Maths and Stats Test

7*

28 April

Careers in Bioscience;
Discussion of Assignment 2

Assignment 2 due
Friday 22 May 2015

4 May

Group Presentations

Group Presentations

11 May

Making Sense of Research


Papers

10

18 May

Basic Pharmacological
Concepts

11

25 May

Revision

17 February 2015

Assignment 1 due
Thursday 2 April 2015

Maths and Stats Test

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Deakin University, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment


SLE115 Essential Skills in Bioscience - Trimester 1, 2015
*ANZAC Holiday - Monday, 27 April

UNIT LEARNING OUTCOMES


The Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) listed below describe what you are expected to have achieved on
completion of this unit. Each ULO relates to one or more of the Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs),
which describe the knowledge and capabilities you should acquire and be able to apply and demonstrate at the
completion of your course (see below). Not all of the GLOs are developed and assessed in every unit.

ULO: At the successful completion of this unit students can:

ULO1

Demonstrate an awareness of the disciplines and career paths within the field
of Biological Sciences and Biomedical Sciences

The ULO relates to


the following
GLO/s:
GLO1

ULO2 Demonstrate a basic understanding of scientific research and publications

GLO1
GLO2
GLO4
GLO5

ULO3 Analyse scientific data using simple statistical tests

GLO1
GLO3
GLO4
GLO5

ULO4 Understand and work with simple pharmacological data

GLO1
GLO4
GLO5

ULO5 Interpret, critically evaluate, summarise and reference scientific information

GLO1
GLO2
GLO4
GLO5

ULO6 Work effectively as part of a team

GLO2
GLO7

GLO1 Discipline-specific knowledge and


capabilities: appropriate to the level of study
related to a discipline or profession

GLO5 Problem solving: creating solutions to


authentic (real world and ill-defined) problems

GLO2 Communication: using oral, written and


interpersonal communication to inform,
motivate and effect change

GLO6 Self-management: working and learning


independently, and taking responsibility for
personal actions

GLO3 Digital literacy: using technologies to find,


use and disseminate information

GLO7 Teamwork: working and learning with others


from different disciplines and backgrounds

GLO4 Critical thinking: evaluating information


using critical and analytical thinking and
judgment

GLO8 Global citizenship: engaging ethically and


productively in the professional context and
with diverse communities and cultures in a
global context

UNIT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

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Deakin University, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment


SLE115 Essential Skills in Bioscience - Trimester 1, 2015
This unit comprises 5 modules and each will be assessed in varying ways. The modules and associated
assessments will require you to broaden your learning environment through both located and cloud learning,
teamwork and independent learning, and assignments and examinations.
1. Maths & Statistics (online quizzes, computer tutorials, test)
2. Reading, writing and critical evaluation in Biology and Biomedical Science.This module will include the
following topics: plagiarism, effective reading and critical evaluation of scientific writing, literature
searching and writing about a scientific issue (assignment and exam)
3. Group Tasks (oral presentation)
4. Understanding simple pharmacological concepts(exam)
5. Careers in the Biological/Biomedical Sciences (seminars and assignment)
A study guide is available for you on the CloudDeakin site as a pdf. Please refer to this guide for extra
information about the modules you will be covering in SLE115.

UNIT ASSESSMENT
Overview
Mid-trimester test 20%, three assignments (3 x 10%) 30%, examination 50%.

Summative assessment
Assessment primarily used to measure the level of a student's success in achieving learning outcomes, which
contributes to a student's final grade and/or mark for a unit of study.
All unit learning outcomes are assessed via summative assessment.

- Summative assessment task 1


Mid-trimester test
Brief description of assessment task

50 minute multiple choice test

Detail of student output

Students to answer multiple choice questions relating to the


maths and statistics module

Weight
(% total mark for unit)

20%

Unit Learning Outcome(s) assessed:

ULO5: demonstrate ability to solve mathematical and


statistical problems
ULO6: show ability to independently work through online
quizzes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcome(s)


(GLO) assessed:

GLO5: increase student numeracy and problem solving


ability
GLO6: develop self management skills to complete online
quizzes

What early feedback will student get, how


and when?

Results will be provided to students within a week of the test

Due date and form of submission

The week commencing 20 April 2015

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SLE115 Essential Skills in Bioscience - Trimester 1, 2015
- Summative assessment task 2
Assignment 1
Brief description of assessment task

Carry out a literature search on a topic and write out a detailed


essay plan (not a full essay) with citations and list of references.

Detail of student output

This is an individual task comprising of three components:


1. A literature search based on library tutorial
2. An essay plan - using a choice of given topics
3. Referencing - using an accepted method

Weight
(% total mark for unit)

10%

Unit Learning Outcome(s) assessed:

ULO2: develop scientific reading and writing skills


ULO3: find scientific articles using online databases
ULO4: select relevant literature from available material
ULO6: show ability to work independently

GLO2: develop interpretation skills of scientific literature.


Deakin Graduate Learning Outcome(s)
GLO4: critically evaluate literature to determine relevance to
(GLO) assessed:
topic.
What early feedback will student get,
how and when?

Assignments will be corrected and returned with feedback


within two weeks of submission.

Due date and form of submission

Online submission via CloudDeakin by 5pm Thursday 2 April


2015.

- Summative assessment task 3


Assignment 2
Brief description of assessment
task

Careers in Biology. Prepare a brief report on a possible future


profession for you. Tools to help develop a CV to match this profession.

Detail of student output

The assignment comprises two parts, both getting the student


thinking about and actively seeking potential career choices and jobs.
Part A asks the student to describe the career of choice after their
degree completion, including influences to that choice (1 page).
Part B is a brief report (2 pages) describing what their job of choice
involves in a day-to-day sense, identifying potential employers, any
specialist training required, and/or education necessary to reach this
position, and the challenges and essential criteria of the role.

Weight
(% total mark for unit)

10%

Unit Learning Outcome(s)


assessed:

ULO1: illustrate how this course prepares for a chosen career.

Deakin Graduate Learning


Outcome(s) (GLO) assessed:

GLO1: understand what a future career may entail.

What early feedback will student


get, how and when?

Assignments will be corrected and returned with feedback within two


weeks of submission.

Due date and form of submission

Online submission via CloudDeakin by 5pm Friday 22 May 2015.

- Summative assessment task 4

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SLE115 Essential Skills in Bioscience - Trimester 1, 2015
Assignment 3
Brief description of assessment
task

Group Presentations (5 minutes) on Topic from Assignment 1

Detail of student output

Students will work as a team to prepare a brief (5min) power-point


presentation on a topic from Assignment 1. Emphasis will be on
presentation skills and teamwork during preparation.

Weight
(% total mark for unit)

10%

Unit Learning Outcome(s)


assessed:

ULO2: develop clear and informative oral presentations


ULO7: collate group knowledge to develop a clear and concise
presentation

Deakin Graduate Learning


Outcome(s) (GLO) assessed:

GLO2: Develop oral presentation skills


GLO3: Prepare clear and informative power point presentations
GLO7: Work effectively in a team to generate presentation

What early feedback will student


get, how and when?

Feedback and marking will be given soon after the presentations.


Students will be expected to assess their colleagues.

Due date and form of submission

Presentations will be held during seminar and class times in Week 8


(commencing 4 May 2015)

- Summative assessment task 5


Examination
Brief description of
assessment task

Analyse a research paper (short answer), basic pharmacological concepts


and calculations (multiple choice questions)

Detail of student output

Students will attempt multiple choice questions based on the


'Understanding simple pharmacological concepts' module (20% of exam
marks). There will also be short answer questions based on the 'Reading,
writing and critical evaluation in Biology and Biomedical Science' module
(80% of exam marks).

Weight
(% total mark for unit)

50%

Unit Learning Outcome(s)


assessed:

ULO4: develop scientific reading and writing skills.


ULO5: demonstrate ability to solve mathematical and statistical problems.

Deakin Graduate Learning


Outcome(s) (GLO) assessed:

GLO2: Develop interpretation skills of scientific literature.


GLO4: Critically evaluate literature to determine relevance to topic.
GLO5: Increase student numeracy and problem solving ability.

What early feedback will


student get, how and when?

The examination contributes 50% of the total unit score. Students will not
be given their exam mark.

Due date and form of


submission

The examination will be during the Trimester 1 exam period commencing


Monday 8 June 2015.
Examination period
It is your responsibility to determine the date, time and location for the
examination from StudentConnect

Note
Full details of assessment tasks will normally be published in CloudDeakin by the week before the beginning of
trimester.

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SLE115 Essential Skills in Bioscience - Trimester 1, 2015
Assignment submission
You must keep a backup copy of every assignment you submit, until the marked assignment has
been returned to you. In the unusual event that one of your assignments is misplaced, you will need to
submit your backup copy.
Any work you submit may be checked by electronic or other means for the purposes of detecting collusion
and/or plagiarism.
When you are required to submit an assignment through CloudDeakin, you should receive an email to your
Deakin email address confirming that it has been submitted. You should check that you can see your
assignment in the Submissions view of the Assignment folder after upload, and check for, and keep, the email
receipt for the submission.

Your assignments should be submitted using the online assignment submission Assignment Folder on
CloudDeakin.

UNIT LEARNING RESOURCES


Essential learning resources
Harris, M., Taylor, G. & Taylor, J. (2013) Catch-up Maths and Stats: for life and medical sciences. 2nd ed.
Scion Publishing Ltd, Bloxham, Oxfordshire.
Textbooks, reference books, general books and software may be ordered from the bookshop:
phone 1800 686 681 (freecall); email to DUSA-Bookshop@deakin.edu.au; or order online from the University
bookshop web site at http://www.dusabookshop.com.au/

Recommended learning resources


Highly recommended textbooks:
Reece, J.B., Meyers, N. et al. (2011) Campbell Biology, 9th Edn. (Australian version), Pearson Education
Australia, Frenchs Forest, NSW., California. Earlier editions will still be suitable for you to use.
Lawrence, E. (ed), 2005, Hendersons Dictionary of Biological Terms, 13th edition, Pearson/ Prentice Hall,
Harlow, England.
Gaspar, M and Shepherd, M 2007, Guide to assignment writing and referencing, 2nd ed, Student Life, Deakin
University, Geelong.

PART 2: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LEARNING AT DEAKIN


ASSESSMENT
Referencing
deakin.edu.au/referencing
Referencing is used to provide acknowledgment of sources of information, to avoid plagiarism, and is usually
important for placing your work within a body of knowledge.
The following Library website provides a virtual tutorial on referencing and has an online quiz:
www.deakin.edu.au/library/tutorials/smartsearcher/
Avoiding plagiarism and collusion

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SLE115 Essential Skills in Bioscience - Trimester 1, 2015
Plagiarism is the use of other people's words, ideas, research findings or information without
acknowledgement, that is, without indicating the source. These sources may include other students, internet
sites, textbooks or journals. Plagiarism is a very serious offence and Deakin University has procedures and
penalties to deal with instances of plagiarism and with collusion (acting with another person with the intention
to deceive, for example submitting someone elses work). This link provides further information on how to
avoid plagiarism and collusion: http://www.deakin.edu.au/students/study-support/referencing/plagiarism
Penalties for plagiarism are detailed in Schedule A to the Student Academic Misconduct procedure. Further
information can be found in Regulation 04.1(2) - Academic Misconduct
Submission of Assignments
Due date interpretation
Campus units
The published due date is the last day on which an assessment task must reach the designated University
submission point.
Cloud (online) units
Where assignments are submitted via the postal or courier system, the post mark or courier receipt date is
regarded as the date the assignment is submitted by the student.
Please refer to the Assignment Submission section in your Unit Guide for specific details on assignment
submission.
Extensions
All applications for extensions must be made directly to the Unit Chair 3 days prior to the due date. Please
complete the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment Assignment Extension Request form,
available via http://www.deakin.edu.au/sebe/students.
Further information regarding extensions and rescheduling of assessment tasks is available via
http://www.deakin.edu.au/students/assessments/special-consideration
Penalties for late submission
Students who do not submit by the due date will have their mark reduced. The Faculty standard for this states:
Work submitted late without documented approval of the Unit Chair or Lecturer will be penalised.
Assignments that are submitted after the submission date will be subject to a mark penalty equal to 10% of the
marks per day of the marks available for the piece of work, up to and including three days after the published
due date. Assignments submitted more than three days after the published submission date will not be marked.
Therefore, for a project worth 15 marks, one day late will reduce your mark by 1.5/15. Two days late, you lose
3/15. Three days late and you lose 4.5/15. After that the project will not be marked.
Results common questions
If you have any questions or concerns about your assessment, or about the mark you are awarded for an
individual assessment task, it is best to speak to your Unit Chair or Unit Coordinator in the first instance.
There is also a formal process to apply for a review of your overall unit result, including assessment in any part
of the unit, through the relevant Faculty Committee. Applications must be submitted within five working days
of the release of results.
For Faculty Committee contacts and the answers to some common questions about results, go to:
www.deakin.edu.au/students/assessments/common-results-questions
Special consideration
Where circumstances outside your control prevent you from undertaking or completing an assessment task or
end-of-unit examination at the scheduled time, you may apply for special consideration. If granted, special
consideration will provide the opportunity for you to take additional time to complete the assessment task, or

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SLE115 Essential Skills in Bioscience - Trimester 1, 2015
to complete the task at another time. Applications may only be made on one or more of the following grounds:
an acute medical condition; compassionate reasons; or hardship/trauma. See
www.deakin.edu.au/students/assessments/special-consideration
Academic progress
Academic progress refers to a student's progress towards successful completion of the academic requirements
of the Course in which they are enrolled. Information on academic progress processes, and what to expect if
your progress is unsatisfactory, can be found here:
www.deakin.edu.au/students/assessments/academic-progress
Other information about assignments, exams, assessment and results
www.deakin.edu.au/students/assessments

STUDY SUPPORT
Deakin University provides a range of support services to help you be successful in your studies.
Workshops and seminars
During the trimester, Language and Learning Advisers offer a comprehensive range of workshops and
seminars that provide you with an opportunity to enhance your academic skills.
www.deakin.edu.au/students/study-support/ask-us/study-skills-workshops
Peer learning
Deakin has a number of free peer support programs to assist you with your studies.
www.deakin.edu.au/students/study-support/peer-learning
Academic skills resources
www.deakin.edu.au/students/study-support/academic-resources
Disability Resource Centre
The Disability Resource Centre provides access to services and supports that assist students with disabilities
or health conditions short- or long-term to make the most of their study.
www.deakin.edu.au/disability
Health, safety and wellbeing
Deakin offers a range of services to help students and staff stay health and safe physically, mentally and
spiritually.
www.deakin.edu.au/campus-life/services-and-facilities/health-and-wellbeing

RESOURCES
Deakin University Library
www.deakin.edu.au/library/
Library Resource Guides (subject-based guides to academic journals, databases, e-reading and websites)
www.deakin.edu.au/library/help/library-resource-guides.php
Library help services
www.deakin.edu.au/library/help/

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SLE115 Essential Skills in Bioscience - Trimester 1, 2015
University Bookshop (to buy prescribed texts)
Phone: 1800 686 681 (freecall)
Email: DUSA-Bookshop@deakin.edu.au; or order online: dusabookshop.com.au
CloudDeakin and IT support and information
www.deakin.edu.au/its/servicedesk/
Software library (including Endnote bibliographic software)
deakin.edu.au/software

OTHER INFORMATION
2015 Handbook
The Handbook provides general information about studying at Deakin, key dates and a search facility for
courses and units
www.deakin.edu.au/students/university-handbook/2015
StudentConnect
Your personal gateway to your student record, including information about enrolment, fees, timetables, results
studentconnect.deakin.edu.au
Policies and procedures
theguide.deakin.edu.au
Customer service
enquire@deakin.edu.au or go to Deakin Central
Student complaints
www.deakin.edu.au/current-students/services/complaints/index.php
Unit Guides
deakin.edu.au/current-students/unitguides/

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