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
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
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.
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
Assessment Overview
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.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
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
Students who did not take all the quizzes tended to do poorly or not pass the unit.
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
Students who had not taken Living Systems felt that they were "behind" during the unit.
A separate moodle section will be created that contains links to relevant Living Systems lectures.
Feedback from Student Feedback
Some students felt the residential school wasted their time.
We will schedule the residential school to better reflect the time being used for actual coursework.
Feedback from Student Feedback
Unit "jumps" from plants to animals and that makes it difficult for students to learn.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Explain the adaptation of living organisms to different environments, especially in terms of the relationships between form and function at the physiological level.
- Carry out a range of laboratory and practical procedures relating to the functions of living organisms.
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
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
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Microsoft Word, or any other word processing software
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
n.english@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
General Concepts in Functional Biology
Chapter
Study Guide Chapter 1
Events and Submissions/Topic
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.
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...
Module/Topic
Energy and Metabolism
Chapter
Study Guide Chapter 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Practical Quiz 3 (internal Students Only)
Theory Quiz B
Module/Topic
Nutrition and Digestion
Chapter
Study Guide Chapter 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Practical Quiz 4 (internal Students Only)
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Nutrients, Water and Waste
Chapter
Study Guide Chapter 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Practical Quiz 5 (BDG students only)
Theory Quiz C
Module/Topic
Circulation and Gas Exchange
Chapter
Study Guide Chapter 7
Events and Submissions/Topic
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)
Module/Topic
Defence and Protection
Chapter
Study Guide Chapter 8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Theory Quiz D
Module/Topic
Locomotion
Chapter
Study Guide Chapter 9
Events and Submissions/Topic
Practical Quiz 6 (internal Students Only)
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
Module/Topic
Ecophysiology, a review
Chapter
Review all chapters
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Online Quiz(zes)
These fortnightly quizzes will test your knowledge from the prior two weeks' lectures and readings.
5
Fortnightly
Once per fortnight from week two (see the schedule of topics in this unit profile).
Once per fortnight on completion of quiz
Correctness of final answers.
- 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.
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
2 Written Assessment
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).
Week 11 Friday (29 Sept 2017) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Wednesday (11 Oct 2017)
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).
- Explain the adaptation of living organisms to different environments, especially in terms of the relationships between form and function at the physiological level.
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
3 In-class Test(s)
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.
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.
On Moodle gradebook.
Correctness of answers to quiz questions.
- 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.
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
Examination
Dictionary - non-electronic, concise, direct translation only (dictionary must not contain any notes or comments).
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.