Unit Profile Correction added on 28-04-20
The Internal Practical Classes and Residential School for this unit have been postponed and you will need to complete some of the practical work at a later date. Further details about the postponed practical classes and residential school will be made available on Moodle in due course.
Unit Profile Correction added on 28-04-20
A component of assessment 3, the Pass/Fail activity associated with Practical One (Correctly set up a microscope, prepare a wet mount slide of a protist and draw the specimen on the microscope slide) will need to occur at a later date. Details will be made available on Moodle in due course.
Unit Profile Correction added on 28-04-20
The end of term examination has
now been changed to an alternate form of assessment. Please see your Moodle
site for details of the assessment.
Overview
Understanding the evolution, anatomy and identification of plants and animals is critical in tackling the scientific study or management of organisms, ecosystems and animal or plant production. In Life Science Laboratory, you will study evolution and phylogeny, and the anatomy of the most common vertebrate and invertebrate animals, plants, algae and fungi, to support the development of your practical skills, which include specimen collection, preparation and curation; microscopic and macroscopic identification; and animal and plant dissection. This unit includes field work where you will use the knowledge and skills developed to study organisms in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. On conclusion of this unit, you will understand the important role that biology plays in research and innovation in the fields of science, environmental science and agriculture.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Anti-requisite BIOL11099 Living Systems
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 1 - 2020
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 Moodle Student Evaluation
Students found the practicals and field trip improved their understanding of the unit material
The practicals and field trip will be continue to be run.
Feedback from Moodle Student Evaluation
Some students said they would prefer it if the content was taught from the simplest to most advanced organisms rather than starting with the most advanced
The order of the material will be reviewed.
Feedback from Moodle Student Evaluation
The unit evaluation score for assessment feedback indicated that students would like improved feedback on their first assessment.
The feedback given to students on the written assessment will be reviewed to see if it can be made more informative
Feedback from Self reflection
It was difficult to provide a graded assessment of the students' performance in laboratory based skills at the same time as teaching the skills and conducting the other laboratory activities.
Change the in-class assessment items to a pass/fail activity rather than a graded assessment and have the extra marks assigned to the online practical quizzes.
- Distinguish between major taxa of plants and animals using morphological features
- Discuss evolution and the Hierarchy of Classification in relation to the diversity of living organisms
- Safely perform laboratory activities, including the use of microscopes and aseptic techniques, and the dissection of plants and animals
- Collect and curate plant specimens
- Use dichotomous keys to identify flowering plants and insects.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
1 - Written Assessment - 20% | |||||
2 - Practical Assessment - 30% | |||||
3 - Laboratory/Practical - 0% | |||||
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 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||||||
2 - Practical Assessment - 30% | ||||||||||
3 - Laboratory/Practical - 0% | ||||||||||
4 - Examination - 50% |
Textbooks
Campbell Biology: Australian and New Zealand Version
11th Edition (2018)
Authors: Urry, LA, Meyers, N, Cain, ML, Wasserman, SA, Minorsky, PV, Reece, JB
Pearson Australia
Melbourne Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
ISBN: 9781488613715
Binding: Hardcover
Additional Textbook Information
The eBook is available at https://www.pearson.com.au/9781488619878 as an alternative to the hard copy edition.
Paper copies can be purchased at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
a.carton@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Understanding biological diversity
Evolution by natural selection
Hierarchy of classification
Chapter
Study Guide Module 1
Study Guide Module 2
Study Guide Module 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Taxonomy
Cell theory
Prokaryotes
Chapter
Study Guide Module 3
Study Guide Module 4
Study Guide Module 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Endosymbiosis
Protists
Algae
Chapter
Study Guide Module 6
Study Guide Module 7
Study Guide Module 7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Bryophytes
Monilophytes and Lycophytes
Gymnosperms
Chapter
Study Guide Module 8
Study Guide Module 9
Study Guide Module 10
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Angiosperms (flowering plants)
Review of plant morphology
Chapter
Study Guide Module 11
Study Guide Module 12
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Fungi
Porifera
Cnidarians
Chapter
Study Guide Module 13
Study Guide Module 14
Study Guide Module 15
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Platyhelminths
Annelids
Chapter
Study Guide Module 16
Study Guide Module 17
Events and Submissions/Topic
Block practicals for Bundaberg Students 28th April - 1st May in Bundaberg
Module/Topic
Molluscs
Nematodes
Chapter
Study Guide Module 18
Study Guide Module 19
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Arthropods
Focus on insects
Chapter
Study Guide Module 20
Study Guide Module 20
Events and Submissions/Topic
Residential school including field trip for Distance Students 11th - 15th May in Rockhampton
Module/Topic
No lectures
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Residential school including field trip for Distance Students 20th - 24th May in Rockhampton
Field trip for Rockhampton and Bundaberg Students 21st May
Module/Topic
Echinoderms
Chordates
Humans and other vertebrates
Chapter
Study Guide Module 21
Study Guide Module 22
Study Guide Module 22
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Review of animal morphology
Origin of life
Unit review
Chapter
Study Guide Module 23
Study Guide Module 24
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Rockhampton students will attend internal practicals during the term and a field trip to North Keppel Island on 21st May.
Bundaberg students will attend a block practical session in Bundaberg from 28th April to 1st May and travel to Rockhampton to attend a field trip to North Keppel Island on 21st May
Mixed mode students will attend a five day residential school (including a field trip) in Rockhampton either from 11th to 15th May OR 18th to 22nd May
1 Written Assessment
This assessment requires you to research an organism that has been discovered in Australia (including surrounding waters) within the last ten years and write a 500 word article for a popular science magazine. Your article should include a description of the scientific classification (kingdom, phylum etc) and the characteristics associated with organisms in that group (approximately 200 words). In the remaining words (approximately 300), you should describe what is interesting about the organism, what makes it different from other similar organisms, the significance of the discovery, or other relevant information that will attract and keep the audience's attention. At the end of the article, you must provide a list of the references you have used, but do not use any in-text referencing except to refer to the scientific paper that describes the species that has been discovered. As well as uploading your assignment as a Word document, you must upload a pdf of the original paper where the species is described.
Week 5 Monday (6 Apr 2020) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 7 Monday (27 Apr 2020)
The complete assessment rubric will be available on the Moodle site and the criteria will include:
- Accuracy of the information about the newly discovered species and its classification
- Relevance of the material
- Accuracy of referencing
- Correct English grammar, clarity of expression and ability to engage an audience.
- Distinguish between major taxa of plants and animals using morphological features
- Discuss evolution and the Hierarchy of Classification in relation to the diversity of living organisms
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
2 Practical Assessment
You will complete three (3) short tests (10% each) based on practical material covered during your practical sessions. The timing of these will vary according to your enrolment mode (On-campus or Mixed mode). You must complete the relevant practical work before attempting the tests. A full schedule of practical work and associated tests will be available on the Moodle site for each enrolment mode and all practical tests will close at the end of week 12.
These on-line tests will be based on the material covered in:
1. Field trip (untimed; short answer),
2. Practicals 1 - 4 (30 minutes; multiple choice questions; one attempt only),
3. Practicals 5 - 8 (30 minutes; multiple choice questions; one attempt only).
Week 12 Friday (5 June 2020) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week Monday (15 June 2020)
Answers to on-line tests will be assessed on the correctness, comprehensiveness and relevance of your answers.
- Safely perform laboratory activities, including the use of microscopes and aseptic techniques, and the dissection of plants and animals
- Collect and curate plant specimens
- Use dichotomous keys to identify flowering plants and insects.
- Problem Solving
- Team Work
3 Laboratory/Practical
Three tests will be conducted during practical classes. These tests will be based on a combination of practical skills and relevant theoretical knowledge in:
1. Practical 1 (Bacteria and protists). Correctly set up a microscope, prepare a wet mount of a protist and draw the specimen on the microscope slide.
2. Practical 3 (Flowering plants), Collect a plant specimen, complete an appropriate plant label and identify the specimen to Family.
3. Practical 6 (Identifying insects). Identify an insect to Order and draw the specimen, labelling the morphological features used in the identification.
Students will be assessed during the relevant practical session.
Students will be assessed as Pass/Fail during the practical session.
Ability to perform the laboratory exercises to the required standard.
- Safely perform laboratory activities, including the use of microscopes and aseptic techniques, and the dissection of plants and animals
- Collect and curate plant specimens
- Use dichotomous keys to identify flowering plants and insects.
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
Examination
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.