Postgraduate Course: Developmental Neurobiology (NEBM11015)
Course Outline
| School | Deanery of Biomedical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This is an elective course for the MSc by Research in Integrative Neuroscience. Students learn about key areas of Developmental Neurobiology and current research.
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| Course description |
The course is designed for students with a background in developmental neurobiology and for newcomers to the field. Introductory lectures are designed to give students a foundation in the principles of Developmental Neurobiology. These are whole class sessions each based around a chapter from 'Building Brains 2' to be read by students in preparation for the class. Lecturers may also post additional preparation material on Learn in advance of sessions as the basis for discussion.
The next whole class sessions are research lectures giving insight into each lecturer's own research area. Lecturers may post additional material on Learn to be read by students in preparation for the class.
The final sessions aim to help students prepare the assessed 'paper review' essay in which each student writes an illustrated essay reviewing a recent primary research paper. Each student chooses a research paper as the subject for their essay and prepares a presentation on the research paper to be delivered to the class. They then work on an advanced draft of their paper review essay and receive feedback before submitting their final paper review essay for assessment.
Students are given two pieces of formative feedback on their essay as it progresses before the final essay is marked.
1. A short powerpoint presentation is prepared by each student summarising the background and motivation for the study, key results, and next steps followed by a class discussion of the presentation and oral feedback.
2. Each student will be given written and oral feedback on an advanced draft of their essay.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 33,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 6,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 8,
Formative Assessment Hours 4,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
145 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
In-course assessment : 100%
The elective is assessed by a 'paper review' essay in which students write a short illustrated 2000-word review article about a current developmental neurobiology primary research paper.
The essay should be aimed at a reader who is a developmental neurobiologist but has not read the primary research paper and is not familiar with the specific research area in detail. The essay should include original illustrations. The essay should place the research paper in the context of the work within the wider literature and clearly introduce the background and motivation for the study. The key research questions/hypotheses addressed in the paper should be summarised and the experimental design, results and interpretation critically evaluated, before ending by identifying open questions directly arising from the paper and suggestions for how the research could be (or was) developed.
An important aspect of the review is to critically evaluate the research paper, that is to provide a balanced discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the motivation, hypotheses, experimental design, and interpretation of results.
(Learning outcomes 1-4)
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| Feedback |
Formative feedback:
1 - oral feedback on oral presentation of paper chosen for review essay
2 - written and oral feedback on draft review essay
Summative feedback on final illustrated paper review essay
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key aspects of Developmental Neurobiology.
- Demonstrate awareness of the current state of research in the field.
- Demonstrate ability to critically evaluate primary research.
- Demonstrate ability to communicate information effectively using different methods (e.g. oral, written, illustration).
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Reading List
| Recommended reading or other learning resources will be discussed with the Supervisor/Elective Organiser at the time of establishing the project. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students will develop a critical understanding of the principal theories and concepts in their chosen elective field of interest. They will learn to apply critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis to forefront issues in their elective field of interest. They will learn to critically evaluate primary research papers. Students will learn to communicate with peers, more senior colleagues and specialists.
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| Special Arrangements |
Course is restricted to MSc Integrative Neuroscience students only |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Thomas Pratt
Tel: (0131 6)51 1707
Email: t.pratt@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Jenn Liedtke
Tel: (0131 6)50 3160
Email: Jennifer.Liedtke@ed.ac.uk |
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