CQUniversity Unit Profile
BIOL11100 Functional Biology
Functional Biology
All details in this unit profile for BIOL11100 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

Successful completion of this unit will provide students with an understanding of the operation of living systems at different levels of organisation, together with an appreciation of a number of major themes in current biology, e.g. in relation to culture of living organisms, inheritance and gene technology, physiological functioning of organisms and their interactions with their environment. In the practical component, students will gain hands-on experience of relevant laboratory and practical procedures.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 1
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

There are no requisites for this unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 2 - 2017

Bundaberg
Distance
Rockhampton

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Residential Schools

This unit has a Compulsory Residential School for distance mode students and the details are:
Click here to see your Residential School Timetable.

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 20%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 20%
3. In-class Test(s)
Weighting: 10%
4. Examination
Weighting: 50%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Staff

Feedback

Students who did not take all the quizzes tended to do poorly or not pass the unit.

Recommendation

Each Theory and Practical Quiz will be given minimum pass marks so that students have an incentive to complete ALL quizzes. Practical Quizzes will be left open for 48 hours instead of 24 hours in order to improve completion rates.

Feedback from Student feedback

Feedback

Students who had not taken Living Systems felt that they were "behind" during the unit.

Recommendation

A separate moodle section will be created that contains links to relevant Living Systems lectures.

Feedback from Student Feedback

Feedback

Some students felt the residential school wasted their time.

Recommendation

We will schedule the residential school to better reflect the time being used for actual coursework.

Feedback from Student Feedback

Feedback

Unit "jumps" from plants to animals and that makes it difficult for students to learn.

Recommendation

In the past, the unit has been run with animal and plant form and function presented separately and the students criticised this format as being not engaging. In the end, there is no ideal solution, and we will continue to teach animal and plant form and function together.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Describe the relationships between structure and function of biological systems at various levels of organization, from sub-cellular, through cell, organ, organism to ecosystem, using relevant examples and appropriate terminology.
  2. Explain the basic principles involved in the culture of different types of living organisms, including microbes, plants and animals.
  3. Describe the molecular basis of inheritance and recombinant DNA technology and demonstrate its application across the biological and biomedical sciences.
  4. Explain the adaptation of living organisms to different environments, especially in terms of the relationships between form and function at the physiological level.
  5. Carry out a range of laboratory and practical procedures relating to the functions of living organisms.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20%
2 - Written Assessment - 20%
3 - In-class Test(s) - 10%
4 - Examination - 50%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20%
2 - Written Assessment - 20%
3 - In-class Test(s) - 10%
4 - Examination - 50%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Biology: Australian and New Zealand Version

Edition: 10th (2015)
Authors: Campbell, NA., Reece, JB., Meyers, N., Urry, LA., Cain, ML., Wasserman, SA., Minorsky, PV., Jackson, RB & Cooke, BN.
Pearson Australia
Melbourne Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
ISBN: 9781486007042
Binding: Hardcover

Additional Textbook Information

Students please note that this is the same textbook used for BIOL11099 Living Systems. There is also an eBook available.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • Microsoft Word, or any other word processing software
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Nathan Brooks-English Unit Coordinator
n.english@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 10 Jul 2017

Module/Topic

General Concepts in Functional Biology

Chapter

Study Guide Chapter 1

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 17 Jul 2017

Module/Topic

Genetics and Reproduction

Chapter

Study Guide Chapter 2

Events and Submissions/Topic

Practical Quiz 1 (internal Students Only)

Theory Quiz A

Choose a mythical creature for your Mythical Creature assessment and get email approval from the unit coordinator.

Week 3 Begin Date: 24 Jul 2017

Module/Topic

Development and Dispersal

Chapter

Study Guide Chapter 3

Events and Submissions/Topic

Practical Quiz 2 (internal Students Only)

Zoom Tutorial: Using Microsoft Excel like a pro...

Week 4 Begin Date: 31 Jul 2017

Module/Topic

Energy and Metabolism

Chapter

Study Guide Chapter 4

Events and Submissions/Topic

Practical Quiz 3 (internal Students Only)

Theory Quiz B

Week 5 Begin Date: 07 Aug 2017

Module/Topic

Nutrition and Digestion

Chapter

Study Guide Chapter 5

Events and Submissions/Topic

Practical Quiz 4 (internal Students Only)

Vacation Week Begin Date: 14 Aug 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 21 Aug 2017

Module/Topic

Nutrients, Water and Waste

Chapter

Study Guide Chapter 6

Events and Submissions/Topic

Practical Quiz 5 (BDG students only)

Theory Quiz C

Week 7 Begin Date: 28 Aug 2017

Module/Topic

Circulation and Gas Exchange

Chapter

Study Guide Chapter 7

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 04 Sep 2017

Module/Topic

No lectures this week.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Residential school in Rockhampton for Mixed Mode students (8th - 10th September)

Geraldton WA Mixed Mode students do NOT attend this residential school or attempt the prac quizzes until after their residential school. Check Moodle for details.

Practical Quiz 1-6 (Mixed Mode students only, excluding )

Practical Quiz 5 (ROK students only)

Week 9 Begin Date: 11 Sep 2017

Module/Topic

Defence and Protection

Chapter

Study Guide Chapter 8

Events and Submissions/Topic

Theory Quiz D

Week 10 Begin Date: 18 Sep 2017

Module/Topic

Locomotion

Chapter

Study Guide Chapter 9

Events and Submissions/Topic

Practical Quiz 6 (internal Students Only)

Week 11 Begin Date: 25 Sep 2017

Module/Topic

Signalling and Coordination

Chapter

Study Guide Chapter 10

Events and Submissions/Topic

Theory Quiz E (opens Sept 30, closes Oct 7) Note, this quiz is only open for one week.


Written Assessment (Mythical Creature) Due: Week 11 Friday (29 Sept 2017) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 12 Begin Date: 02 Oct 2017

Module/Topic

Ecophysiology, a review

Chapter

Review all chapters

Events and Submissions/Topic

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 09 Oct 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 16 Oct 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online Theory Quizzes

Task Description

These fortnightly quizzes will test your knowledge from the prior two weeks' lectures and readings.


Number of Quizzes

5


Frequency of Quizzes

Fortnightly


Assessment Due Date

Once per fortnight from week two (see the schedule of topics in this unit profile).


Return Date to Students

Once per fortnight on completion of quiz


Weighting
20%

Minimum mark or grade
40% of available marks averaged over all quizzes.

Assessment Criteria

Correctness of final answers.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Working on their own, students must complete a quiz each fortnight. Students may do the quiz a second time if they wish. If taken, the second attempt will be graded.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Describe the relationships between structure and function of biological systems at various levels of organization, from sub-cellular, through cell, organ, organism to ecosystem, using relevant examples and appropriate terminology.


Graduate Attributes
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Written Assessment (Mythical Creature)

Task Description

You will be asked to select and describe the biology of a mythical creature. Your task is to write an essay of approximately 1000 to 1500 words about the creature, using all of the unit content from weeks one to ten. Specifically, we would like you to tell us how the mythical creature could exist on Earth and perform the functions that it does, based on your knowledge of the biological content of this unit.

You are expected to consult the textbook and other resources such as journal articles, credible online web sources and books when preparing your assignment.

Please describe your creature in an email to the unit coordinator in Week 2. The coordinator will confirm your choice of creature by return email. You may not use a creature that is a hybrid of two or more real-life creatures (e.g. centaur, griffin) or a creature too similar to existing or extinct taxa (e.g. Yeti, dinosaur).


Assessment Due Date

Week 11 Friday (29 Sept 2017) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Review/Exam Week Wednesday (11 Oct 2017)


Weighting
20%

Minimum mark or grade
40% of available marks

Assessment Criteria

A comprehensive assessment criteria sheet is available on Moodle.

Students will be assessed on:

1. Information literacy (finding and using resources and references appropriate to the subject matter)

2. Problem solving (your ability to come up with creative and feasible ideas about how the mythical creature functions)

3. Critical thinking (your ability to successfully apply your knowledge of Functional Biology in a new and unfamiliar context).

4. Communication (your ability to write using grammatically correct, clear and concise Australian English and to demonstrate your ability to adhere to discipline-specific academic conventions such as biological nomenclature and referencing of sources).


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Upload your MS Word (.doc or .docx) or RTF document with embedded images to the Moodle page.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Explain the adaptation of living organisms to different environments, especially in terms of the relationships between form and function at the physiological level.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence

3 In-class Test(s)

Assessment Title
Practical quizzes

Task Description

You must undertake seven, three-hour practical (laboratory) sessions either throughout the term (internal students) or at the residential school (distance/FLEX/Geraldton students). After practicals 1-6, you will be required to undertake a ten-minute, multiple choice quiz on Moodle. Each quiz is worth 1.6% of your final grade, making a total of ten percent of the final grade. Material from all seven practicals may be present on the final exam.


Assessment Due Date

Practical quizzes are administered on Moodle after practical/residential school sessions. Students must attend practical classes or residential school to be eligible to take the quizzes. No second attempts on practical quizzes are allowed.


Return Date to Students

On Moodle gradebook.


Weighting
10%

Minimum mark or grade
40% of available marks averaged over all quizzes.

Assessment Criteria

Correctness of answers to quiz questions.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Quizzes will be taken online after Practical/Residential School sessions. No second attempts on practical quizzes are allowed.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Explain the basic principles involved in the culture of different types of living organisms, including microbes, plants and animals.
  • Describe the molecular basis of inheritance and recombinant DNA technology and demonstrate its application across the biological and biomedical sciences.
  • Carry out a range of laboratory and practical procedures relating to the functions of living organisms.


Graduate Attributes
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking

Examination

Outline
Complete an invigilated examination

Date
During the examination period at a CQUniversity examination centre

Weighting
50%

Length
180 minutes

Minimum mark or grade
30%

Exam Conditions
Closed Book

Materials
No calculators permitted
Dictionary - non-electronic, concise, direct translation only (dictionary must not contain any notes or comments).
Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?