COMM06058 2013 LEARNING THROUGH SCIENTIFIC ENQUIRY
Full Title
LEARNING THROUGH SCIENTIFIC ENQUIRY
Transcript Title
LEARNING TO LEARN
Code
COMM06058
Attendance
N/A %
Subject Area
COMM - Communication
Department
LIFE - Life Sciences
Level
06 - NFQ Level 6
Credit
05 - 05 Credits
Duration
Semester
Fee
€
Start Term
2013 - Full Academic Year 2013-14
End Term
2019 - Full Academic Year 2019-20
Author(s)
Victoria Stevens
Description
This module is designed to:-
- Reinforce and develop key academic skills, which the learner will require in their academic life and subsequently in their career.
- Prepare and motivate him/her for a lifetime of independent and reflective learning.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module the learner will/should be able to;
1.
Plan and execute a project that investigates the nature of work and skills in the field of study.
2.
Acquire, process, interpret and present information through a variety of methods.
3.
Produce a fully referenced short technical report.
4.
Deliver an effective oral presentation to a variety of audiences.
5.
Demonstrate effective collaboration in team work.
6.
Identify gaps in personal knowledge and complete a personal development plan.
Module Assessment Strategies
This module will be completely examined through a series of continuous assessments, including some of the following:-
1. Personal Learning and Development Plan
Skills development is core to this module and as such, students will track and reflect on their development from feedback from peers and lecturer; reading around the topic; participation in team work; and participation in workshop activities. This document will be formatively and summatively assessed and the criteria will be set out in the course overview.
In small group sizes, the tutor may also be in a position to observe that students are demonstrating particular skills (e.g. collaboratively working on a team project) and provide formative feedback.
Also, short tests may be a feature of the personal development process.
2. Short Report
Individual mark: criteria may include writing style, critical thinking and referencing skills.
Group mark: criteria may include structure of report, proof reading, explaining skills, ease of communication, data presentation and use of visuals.
3. Group Presentation
Individual mark: Delivery skills (e.g. eye contact, voice projection..)
Group mark: criteria may include: Evidence of team work, structure of slides, creative use of visual aids, confidence of team.
Module Dependencies
Prerequisites
None
Co-requisites
None
Incompatibles
None
Indicative Syllabus
1. Learning to Learn:
1.1 Personal and Professional Development Planning,self directed learning, career path planning, (Link between study and chosen career), CV Development;
1.2 Critical Thinking Skills
2. Project Management:
2.1 Enquiry Based Learning Methods.
2.2 Basic Project Planning & Control Tools.
3. Communications Skills:
3.1 Team working (facilitating discussions at meetings; Conflict Management skills to include:-Communications process, Strategies to manage low level interpersonal team issues; Empathetic listening, assertiveness)
3.2 Scientific Report Writing (Data Presentation; Paraphrasing, Summarising, Quoting, Referencing; Explaining & Discussing concepts in plain English)
3.2 Professional Presentations Skills
Coursework & Assessment Breakdown
Coursework & Continuous Assessment
100 %
Coursework Assessment
| Title | Type | Form | Percent | Week | Learning Outcomes Assessed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Individual Project Prepare Individual Discussion for Group Report | Continuous Assessment | UNKNOWN | 10 % | Week 7 | 2,3,5 |
| 2 | Group Project Produce fully referenced short technical report | Continuous Assessment | UNKNOWN | 15 % | Week 9 | 2,3 |
| 3 | Presentation Content and Delivery Skills elements | Continuous Assessment | UNKNOWN | 25 % | Week 12 | 2,4 |
| 4 | Continuous Assessment Complete Personal Development Plan | Continuous Assessment | UNKNOWN | 50 % | Week 13 | 1,2,4,5,6 |
Full Time Mode Workload
| Type | Location | Description | Hours | Frequency | Avg Workload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Problem Based Learning | Problem Based Learning Room | Group Work and Learning | 2 | Weekly | 2.00 |
| Independent Learning | UNKNOWN | Self Study & Group Work | 5 | Weekly | 5.00 |
Total Full Time Average Weekly Learner Contact Time 2.00 Hours
Module Resources
Non ISBN Literary Resources
Essential Reading
Glasman-Deal, H. (2010), Science Research Writing – For Non-Native Speakers of English, Imperial College Press, London
Lobban C.S & Schefter M (2002), Successful Lab Reports- A Manual for Science Students, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Lindenfield, G. (2001) Assert yourself : a self-help assertiveness programme for men and women, Thorsons, London
McMillan K & Weyers J (2006) Smarter Study Skills Companion, Pearson, Essex
Supplementary Reading
Belbin, M 1993, Team Roles at Work, Butterworth Heinemann Oxford
Daire & Coffey (2010) Emotional intelligence (EQ) : a leadership imperative, Management Briefs, Dublin
De Bono, Edward 1992, Serious Creativity: using the power of lateral thinking to create new ideas, Harper Collins London
Moran, A 2000, Managing Your Own Learning at University: A Practical Guide, University College Dublin Dublin
Nelson-Jones, R. (2004), Effective thinking skills : preventing and managing personal problems, Sage Publications, London
Stanton, N 2003, Mastering Communication, Fourth Ed., Palgrave Masters Series
Summers, J. (2004) Communication skills handbook : how to succeed in written and oral communication, Wiley & Sons, Australia
Other Resources
Resources presented on Moodle.
Additional Information
This module will be delivered in small group sizes of a maximum of 16 students.