Undergraduate Course: Critical Thinking in Ecological and Environmental Sciences (ECSC10034)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | Students are required to prepare for each tutorial by completing the assigned reading and any specific tasks they are allocated. These tasks could include
- write a 300 word ¿news-and-views¿ piece to explain the science to a broader audience;
- research and summarise background on a key method or technique;
- prepare questions for discussion;
- write a critical review on a paper in an open online discussion;
- determine the academic impact of the paper;
- outline the societal and economic impact potential of the research;
- Generate a review of an online discussion paper and contribute to scientific peer review process.
Over the course each student would undertake 6 such tasks
and receive feedback. Online tools would allow students to share their task outputs before the meeting. The tutorial would be led by the staff member, who
would moderate discussion involving all students, and
provide feedback on their
preparation and understanding.
The novelty of this approach is that each student is
guaranteed weekly one-to-one and small group interaction on research.
There would be 12 tutorials in total, 8 in semester 1 and 4 in semester 2. |
| Course description |
Individual syllabus are specific to tutor, and linked to peer reviewed literature.
Our goals in this course are:
1. To have students discuss scientific issues, methods, processes and outcomes with an expert in a small group setting, based on analysis of peer reviewed literature.
2. To provide direct feedback to students on their critical thinking, speaking and written abilities in a weekly forum.
|
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | No |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2015/16, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 12,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
86 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
100 %,
Coursework
0 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Coursework: «br /»
Final mark capped at 50% if fewer than 10 tutorials are«br /»
attended at a required standard of participation, and if the«br /»
6 tasks are not addressed adequately.«br /»
«br /»
Open book Exam: 100%«br /»
One written piece of work (word-limited) completed in an«br /»
open book exam (non-regulated) during a week-long«br /»
period after dissertation submission. The exam topics would require students to summarise and synthesise material from the literature to address a current research question. Two choices would be provided, generated by the full staff team. |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- To develop broader and deeper knowledge of cutting edge research in ecological and environmental sciences.
- To improve critical capacity in relation to assessing value and originality of research.
- To understand the process of structuring a scientific manuscript, and so support the dissertation process.
|
Reading List
| Specific to tutor, linked to peer reviewed literature. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Presentation and communications, in writing, summarizing, and group working. |
| Study Abroad |
N/A |
| Keywords | Ecological and Environmental Sciences |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Mathew Williams
Tel: (0131 6)50 7776
Email: Mat.Williams@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Christine Lee
Tel: (0131 6)50 5430
Email: Christine.Lee@ed.ac.uk |
|
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