BIO PC 2 June 2014
Minutes of the meeting of Biology Programme Committee
held on Monday 2 June 2014 at 9.30 in Biology Williamson Rooms
Present: Colin Beale, Leo Caves, Kanchon Dasmahapatra, Calvin Dytham, Julia Ferrari,
Dan Franks, Adrian Harrison, Mike Haydon, Thorunn Helgason, Jane Hill, Angela Hodge,
Phil Ineson, Harv Isaacs, Louise Jones, James Moir, Betsy Pownall, Emma Rand,
Katie Smith, Reidun Twarock, Marjan van der Woude, Richard Waites, Carol Wales,
Jenny White, Peter Young
Apologies: Ian Bancroft, Christoph Baumann, Neil Bruce, Sangeeta Chawla,
Jon Pitchford, Dani Ungar, Pegine Walrad, Jamie Wood
14/08
Minutes of the previous meeting
The minutes of the meeting of Biology Programme Committee held on 18 March
2014 were approved with the following alterations:
a)
b)
14/09
Minute 14/02g 22I Species-environment interaction
ACTION: After discussion on assessment of Stage 2 modules as a whole, it
was agreed the BIO PC would feed comments to the Exams Committee
working group.
Minute 14/02i 32I Scientific skills autumn
Information concerning careers and employability provided by Dani Ungar
(Careers and employability officer) will appear on the VLE site and be
included in the module information.
Matters arising from the minutes
a)
Change of name/timing for field module (arising from 14/02f)
The Committee agreed to a change of name for this module to 21I Marine
and coastal biology field course, from 2015/16. It would not be possible to
change the timing of the field course.
ACTION: Jenny White to change paperwork.
b)
22I species-environment interactions (arising from 14/22I)
The Committee noted that the format of assessment needed to be clarified
in the synopsis, and students properly prepared with eg formative
assessment/workshops.
ACTION: Module organiser Angela Hodge to review the synopsis.
c)
Assessed group work (arising from 14/02i)
The Committee noted that a Departmental meeting had been held on 18
March 2014 concerning good practice in assessing group work.
d)
15H Global change ecology (arising from 14/02k)
The Committee noted that discussions on staffing are continuing.
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BIO PC 2 June 2014
ACTION: Module organiser, when known, to ensure synopsis gives detail of
assessment.
14/10
e)
Timetabling of 06C Transferable skills in Stage 1(arising from 14/04a)
The Committee noted that arrangements had been made to accommodate
an intake of up to 260 students, minimizing the number of repeated
sessions on the timetable. Most practicals would run three times or fewer.
f)
36I Organisms in their environment (arising from 14/04f)
The Committee noted that with 26 students taking the module, 15 planned
to take the Tanzania option and they had been informed. Students needed
to arrive in Tanzania on the agreed date having paid for flights, visa and
inoculations (total cost estimated to be around £800). The remaining
students will take a British field trip.
g)
05I Environmental ecology (arising from 14/04i)
The Committee noted that Kelly Redeker would be module organiser, with
other staff to be confirmed.
James Moir reported that discussions with Environment Department
revealed they wished this module and also 20I Behavioural ecology, to be
offered to their students as options, rather than taken as electives. The
consequence of this to Biology would be (a) modules could not be
amended/dropped without reference to Environment, and (b) timetables
must be prepared to ensure student availability, which is a problem where
Environment students take field studies in a block of term. It was noted that
Environment students generally achieved lower marks in assessment
because of their different background; if the module were to be an elective,
students could be advised on an individual basis as the suitability of the
module.
ACTION: To clarify Biology views at Teaching Committee prior to a decision
by the Board of Studies.
Annual reports on modules taught across academic year 2013/14 and
Spring/Summer 2014
a)
01C Ecology: Thorunn Helgason reported that student confusion over
practicals and assessment would be resolved in the new module
(combining 01C and 03C).
b)
03C Physiology and adaptation: Richard Waites commented that student
comments on the flow of material had been addressed in the design of the
new module.
c)
06C Transferable skills: Adrian Harrison reported that the module has been
redesigned so that Biology, Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences
students can be co-taught. Discussions continue on statistics teaching. It
is likely that R will replace SPSS from 2015/16, which may require more
computer work.
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BIO PC 2 June 2014
d)
09C Genetics II: Peter Young reported that the module had been less well
received than previously, and with a change of name next academic year,
the module aims should be clearer. There was discussion on the fly
practical which would stay in the autumn term; computer practicals might
move to the spring term.
ACTION: Peter Young/Richard Waites to review practical teaching for
2014/15 as changes to rooms/timetable would have a knock-on effect on
Stage 2 teaching.
e)
11C Cell and developmental biology: Harv Isaacs reported no issues from
student feedback. Discussions continued on staffing, since Gareth Evans
was dropping 3 lectures and a practical.
ACTION: Harv Isaacs/Jane Hill to finalise staffing and revise synopsis.
f)
23I Animal and plant ecology: The Committee agreed to defer discussion
on this module, but NOTED that it is not continuing in 2014/15.
ACTION: Chris Thomas to provide report for Autumn 2014 meeting of PC.
g)
04I Developmental biology: Harv Isaacs reported a change to the order of
lectures.
h)
05I Environmental ecology: Phil Ineson reported no issues (also see 14/09g
above).
i)
17I Evolutionary and population genetics: Julia Ferrari reported generally
low attendance and a low response rate for student feedback. Satisfaction
scores were skewed by two students who have very low scores.
j)
20I Behavioural ecology: Dan Franks reported a reduction in lectures and
increase in practicals.
k)
32I Environmental field skills/Evolutionary trees: Discussion on these 5credit sub-modules was deferred to Autumn 2014.
ACTION: Olivier Missa, Peter Mayhew to provide reports to Autumn 2014
meeting of PC.
l)
32I Bioenterprise: The Committee noted that a replacement was needed for
Adrian Harrison.
ACTION: Kelly Redeker/Jane Hill to finalise staffing and revise synopsis.
m)
32I Communicating science: Adrian Harrison reported that only one student
gave feedback (score of 5.0).
n)
32I Genomics: Emma Rand noted that a new module organiser is needed,
and a full review of this 5-credit module, which contains material that some
staff consider to be core for all students.
o)
32I Molecular imaging: The Committee noted that a shortage of
microscopes would be addressed with new lab facilities.
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BIO PC 2 June 2014
p)
32I Systems biology: Leo Caves reported that an additional workshop was
planned. This module is intended to prepare for a Stage 3 module which
has run only once so far; consideration was being given to moving the
Stage 3 module to Masters/Stage 4 (for Integrated Masters students).
ACTION: Leo Caves and Jamie Wood to assess for the last few years how
many students take 32I Systems biology and 26H Systems and synthetic
biology and how many take both. Then refer to Teaching Committee for
consideration.
q)
27H Skills / 28H Project: Calvin Dytham reported that journal clubs had
been applied somewhat patchily and will therefore appear on Stage 3
student timetables next academic year. Discussion continued on whether
assessment in the Open Essay and Comprehension and criticism papers
examined skills other than those already tested in module assessment and
the final year project write-up. It was noted that the University is currently
evaluating teaching priorities and will develop direction for Departments.
ACTION: To raise at Teaching Committee/Exams Committee/Board of
Studies.
r)
01H Advanced topics in developmental biology: Betsy Pownall reported no
problems.
s)
05H Bioremediation: Adrian Harrison reported that some students giving
feedback appeared not to have attended early lectures. The order and
content of lectures would be revised slightly.
t)
10H Conservation ecology and diversity: Jane Hill reported on changes to
staffing for 2014/15 and 2015/16 and an adjustment in format.
u)
12H Ecological genetics: Kanchon Dasmahapatra reported no problems in
delivery or feedback.
v)
13H Epigenetics in development and disease: Louise Jones reported low
student attendance, possibly resulting from timetabling at 09.00 or
recording of lectures. The Committee noted that this module moves to
BCH PC next year.
w)
22H Nutrient acquisition: Angela Hodge reported a problem accessing IT
support in M023.
x)
26H Systems and synthetic biology: see also discussion above, item
14/10p re Stage 2 module 32I Systems biology.
y)
Student feedback contributing to module reports: The Committee noted that
the very small number of students engaging with online feedback made it
difficult to comment. Since the University no longer supports the online
feedback system, the Department will investigate other ways of obtaining
student feedback. It was proposed that staff reports are made available to
staff and students (online and/or on noticeboards), to make it clear that
action is taken after receiving feedback.
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BIO PC 2 June 2014
ACTION: Refer to Teaching Committee and Quality Group for further
discussion.
14/11 Early consideration of modules for the Annual Plan for academic year 2015/16
a) Skills and statistics teaching
The Committee agreed that students needed more exposure to statistics in
Stage 1 as well as Stage 2 and proposed that module organisers be
encouraged to ensure this was integrated in module synopses. The
Committee noted that the only common material in Stage 2 was delivered in
the autumn term of 32I skills module. It was agreed that 5-credit skills
provision in the Spring term should work to common learning objectives and
explicit core knowledge.
ACTION: Refer to Teaching Committee, module organisers of 32I elements,
and all module organisers in Stages 1 and 2.
b) Possibility of new modules in Stage 3
The Committee agreed that although plant-based modules and projects
attracted few students, there were few options for students to take final year
modules showing Departmental research in this area. Proposals for final year
modules need to be considered alongside the Department’s limit on the
number of options which can be timetabled in Stage 3.
ACTION: b/f for discussion at Autumn term meeting of Biology PC.
14/12
Demonstrators for undergraduate modules
The Committee noted a shortage of PhD students volunteering to demonstrate,
the need to overhaul the training course, and the importance of advertising this
opportunity for personal development, which could be reported on TAP forms.
ACTION: Richard Waites to check training for demonstrators; Graduate Office to
publicise advantages of demonstrating with PIs and students; Betsy Pownall to
give emphasis in talks to students at an early stage and raise inclusion on TAP
forms at BGSB.
14/13
Date of next meeting
The next meeting, to consider the annual plan for 2015/16, will be held in the
Autumn term 2014, date to be confirmed.
CD/jew
11.6.14
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