Overview
This unit prepares students for university study in the environmental, biomedical or life sciences. Students will gain an introductory understanding of the main concepts in modern biology, particularly as they relate to humans. This unit covers a range of topics including cell theory, organ systems, genetics, taxonomy, ecology and environmental science.
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 3 - 2024
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).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Non-award 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 Unit Coordinators
Include biological demonstrations relevant to weekly topics to increase engagement.
Source biological equipment/materials to enable demonstrations.
Feedback from Unit Coordinators
Need to increase technology-enhanced learning resources in support of listening and speaking skills.
Use audio tools and H5P software to create additional study tools for students.
- Demonstrate an introductory level understanding of the main concepts in modern biology, particularly as they relate to humans
- Locate relevant research on a topic to then prepare an essay following academic writing conventions for scientific essays
- Write short notes to demonstrate your understanding of the meaning of key terms, concepts and processes in biology
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40% | |||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 40% | |||
| 3 - Online Test - 20% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Self Management | |||
| 2 - Communication | |||
| 3 - Information Literacy | |||
| 4 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 5 - Problem Solving | |||
| 6 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 7 - Cross-Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical Practice | |||
| 9 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Textbooks
Introductory Biology
Edition: 4 (2023)
Authors: School of Access Education, CQUniversity
CQUniversity Publishing Unit
Rockhampton Rockhampton , QLD , Australia
ISBN: Not applicable
The prescribed study guide for Introductory Biology (BIOL40108) is available on the unit Moodle site; however, we strongly advise you to print your own copy. You will need a hard copy to complete activities and take notes. The prescribed study guide cannot be purchased from the CQUniversity Bookshop. Your Access Coordinator will provide you with advice on printing options.
The prescribed study guide for Introductory Biology (BIOL40108) is available on the unit Moodle site; however, we strongly advise you to print your own copy. You will need a hard copy to complete activities and take notes. The prescribed study guide cannot be purchased from the CQUniversity Bookshop. Your Access Coordinator will provide you with advice on printing options.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Access to a computer is recommended
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
d.b.vaughan@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Module 1
Introduction: Living organisms & levels of organisation
Chapter
1
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 2
Biological molecules
Chapter
2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 3
The cell: The building block of life
Chapter
3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 4
Homeostasis
Your essay on human body temperature regulation
Chapter
4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz 1 Closes Monday, Week 4 (25/11/2024) 11:45pm AEST
Module/Topic
Module 5
Cell membranes
Chapter
5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 6
Genetics: DNA structure & function
Chapter
6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 7
The Cell Cycle - Cell division: Mitosis & meiosis
Heredity
Chapter
7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz 2 Closes Monday, Week 7 (16/12/2024) 11:45pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 8
Cell differentiation & tissues
Chapter
8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2 Academic essay due: Monday, Week 8 (06/01/2025) 11:45pm AEST
Module/Topic
Module 9
Organ systems & the skeletal system
Chapter
9
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 10
Taxonomy, evolution, & diversity
Chapter
10
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz 3 Closes Monday, Week 10 (20/01/2025) 11:45pm AEST
Module/Topic
Module 11
Ecology
Chapter
11
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 12
Environmental science & sustainability
Chapter
12
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz 4 Closes Monday, Week 12 (03/02/2025) 11:45pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 3 Online Test Closes Monday, Review/Exam Week (10/02/2025) 11:45pm AEST
The Unit Coordinator for this term is:
Dr David B. Vaughan; telephone: (07) 4930 9680; email: d.b.vaughan@cqu.edu.au; Building 32, Room G29, Rockhampton North campus.
If you have Apple iBooks, I recommend you download the free eBook E. O. Wilson's Life on Earth.
1 Online Quiz(zes)
There are four (4) online quizzes in Moodle. These quizzes contain multiple choice, matching and short answer questions that cover content from the weekly modules/topics. Each quiz has a 1-hour time limit, and once commenced cannot be paused, so it is important to ensure that you can complete each quiz uninterrupted. Quizzes become unavailable after the due date unless an extension has been granted.
The BIOL40108 unit Moodle site contains all of the material required to complete these quizzes. You are encouraged to refer to the unit Moodle site and your lecture notes while completing these quizzes. Sourcing answers from external sources such as other people or Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is not permitted. Not only could external sources be unreliable or fail to meet the answer format required, detected breaches of academic integrity could result in a loss of marks or a fail grade for the assessment or the unit.
4
Other
Quiz 1 by Week 4 (Monday, 25 November, 2024, 11:45pm AEST); Quiz 2 by Week 7 (Monday, 16 December 2024, 11:45pm AEST); Quiz 3 by Week 10 (Monday, 20 January, 2025, 11:45pm AEST); Quiz 4 by Week 12 (Monday, 03 February, 2025, 11:45pm AEST).
Interim results of quizzes are provided immediately after submission and checked manually within 2 weeks of the due date.
Marks are given for correct answers.
- Demonstrate an introductory level understanding of the main concepts in modern biology, particularly as they relate to humans
- Write short notes to demonstrate your understanding of the meaning of key terms, concepts and processes in biology
2 Written Assessment
Write an academic essay of 1500-2000 words to explain the biological concept of homeostasis, using the example of human body temperature homeostasis. For details, read the Essay Writing Handbook for BIOL40108 and see the additional resources available in Moodle.
Requirements for the essay:
- You must use at least six (6) of the ten (10) prescribed literature resources for this essay from the BIOL40108 Moodle site. You may not use other resources.
- Write in your own words, i.e. paraphrase/summarise the information from the sources rather than relying excessively on quotes. The purpose of this assessment is for you to demonstrate your own knowledge and understanding of the topic. You are not permitted to use GenAI to generate text or ideas for this assessment.
- Use Times New Roman font in size 11 or 12, with 1.5 line spacing.
- Include a title page containing your name, student number, unit name and code, lecturer name, due date and your word count (excluding the title page and reference list).
- Avoid using headings, dot points, numbered lists or images.
- Write in complete sentences, using structured paragraphs and clear, concise and correct English.
Week 8, Monday (06 January 2025), 11:45 pm AEST.
This assessment is returned three weeks after the due date or three weeks after the submission date, whichever is later.
The academic essay is assessed on your presentation of an appropriate introduction, body, conclusion (appropriate to the specific research topic), referencing, use of language, explanation of the specific research topic in detail and critical thinking. Full details of the assessment criteria and weighting are available in the marking matrix sheet (marking criteria) from the unit Moodle site.
- Demonstrate an introductory level understanding of the main concepts in modern biology, particularly as they relate to humans
- Locate relevant research on a topic to then prepare an essay following academic writing conventions for scientific essays
3 Online Test
This online assessment covers concepts from all modules of the unit and will be made available in Week 12. Once you begin the test, you will be given a twenty-four hour (24h) window in which to complete the assessment online. Questions will be a combination of types, and may include those such as multiple-choice, diagram labelling, short answer, and matching terms. This is an open-book test.
The BIOL40108 unit Moodle site contains all of the material required to complete this test. You are encouraged to refer to the unit Moodle site and your lecture notes while completing this test. Sourcing answers from external sources such as other people or Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is not permitted. Not only could external sources be unreliable or fail to meet the answer format required, detected breaches of academic integrity could result in a loss of marks or a fail grade for the assessment or the unit.
Exam week, Monday (10 February 2025), 11:45 pm AEST.
Interim results are provided online after the due date and checked manually within 2 weeks.
Marks are given for correct answers.
- Demonstrate an introductory level understanding of the main concepts in modern biology, particularly as they relate to humans
- Write short notes to demonstrate your understanding of the meaning of key terms, concepts and processes in biology
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?
