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 | This course is based around intensive interactions between students and staff in weekly small group tutorials over S1 and the first part of S2.
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| Course description |
The goals of this course are:
- To discuss scientific issues, methods, processes and outcomes with an expert in a small group setting, based on analysis of peer-reviewed literature;
- For staff to provide direct feedback to students on their critical thinking, speaking and writing skills in a weekly forum;
- To introduce students to the research process in ecological and environmental sciences and to better prepare them for the dissertation process.
Students are required to prepare for each tutorial by completing the assigned reading and any specific tasks they are allocated. The first four tutorials are led by staff. The fifth session is a feedback session. The remaining tutorials are student-led.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Students must be enrolled on Ecological and Environmental Sciences |
| Additional Costs | No |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2018/19, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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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 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
(i) Identification of a theme and set of ideas to warrant a written perspective [20%]
(ii) Selection of quality literature evidence in support and synthesis of ideas [20%]
(iii) An original figure, diagram or table to convey the synthesis of theme and/or evidence [20%]
(iv) Clarity of summary and a specific conclusion [20%]
(v) Structure, balance and quality of written communication within 1000 words [20%]
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| Feedback |
At the fourth tutorial each student will submit a piece (maximum 1000 words) on the following topic:
Which is more valuable for advancing ecological and environmental sciences: observations, experiments or models?
Each student will be expected to take a position and argue for one of the three options.
The piece will be provided with a mark for guidance, and personal feedback will be provided in the fifth session on its structure and content. Feedback will also be provided at this stage on the student's contribution in class sessions up to that point
Further feedback will be provided by staff after each student-led tutorial.
Examples of feedback can be found here: http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/geosciences/teaching-organisation/staff/feedback-and-marking
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| 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
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Reading List
| Reading lists for first four tutorials to be found on course page on Learn. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Presentation and communications, in writing, summarizing, and group working. |
| Study Abroad |
N/A |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
First Meeting: Tuesday, week 1, Semester 1
Further meetings to be arranged between students and staff. We expect 8 meetings in S1 and 4 in S2, with some flexibility.
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| Keywords | Ecological and Environmental Sciences |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Saran Sohi
Tel: (0131 6)51 4471
Email: saran.sohi@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Eilein Fraser
Tel: (0131 6)50 5430
Email: Eilein.Fraser@ed.ac.uk |
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