School of Life Sciences
U14003
Study Skills for Foundation Science
2010–11
Module Leader: Dr Sue Robbins
Room: S112
Telephone: 01865 484192
e-Mail: srobbins@brookes.ac.uk
If you have any difficulty in accessing the
information contained in this document, please
contact Dr Sue Robbins (module leader) on
01865 484192 or by e-mail at
srobbins@brookes.ac.uk
Contents
Contents ................................................................................................ 1
1
Introduction to the Module ............................................................ 3
1.1 Introduction to the module ............................................................................... 3
1.2 Staff teaching on the module ........................................................................... 4
2
Module Schedule ........................................................................... 5
2.1 Schedule of classes:......................................................................................... 6
Workshops ................................................................................................................. 6
2.2 Coursework schedule ....................................................................................... 7
2.3 Checklist of assignments ................................................................................. 8
2.4 Study time expectations and assessment weightings .................................. 9
2.5 Coursework learning outcomes and assessment criteria ........................... 10
3
General information, guidance and policies .............................. 11
3.1 Module Description: ........................................................................................ 11
Module Number and Title:....................................................................................... 11
Description for modular programme handbook ................................................... 11
Level and value: Foundation single module ........................................................ 11
Field Status: ............................................................................................................. 11
Pre- and Co-requisite notes, relationship to other modules ............................... 11
Timetable information: Semester 1; years running - every year ........................ 11
Content ..................................................................................................................... 11
Learning outcomes - disciplinary and professional ............................................. 11
Learning outcomes - transferable skills ................................................................ 11
Transferable skills summary .................................................................................. 12
Student experience ................................................................................................. 12
Contact hours .......................................................................................................... 13
Coursework examination assessment balance .................................................... 13
Details of coursework assessments ...................................................................... 13
3.2 Brookes Virtual (BV) ....................................................................................... 13
The provision of handouts...................................................................................... 13
Assessment ............................................................................................................. 13
1
The preparation and submission of coursework .................................................. 13
4
Programme of Workshops .......................................................... 13
5
Coursework Feedback Pro-formas ............................................. 13
2
1
Introduction to the Module
1.1 Introduction to the module
Welcome to the academic skills module U14003, ‘Study Skills for Foundation
Science’ on the Extended Sciences programme.
This is a compulsory module – which means you must pass it to progress onto
the degree course. It will be unlike the other modules you will be taking this year,
because the focus is on you acquiring the academic skills you need for success
in this module and in your future studies.
What is the module about?
‘Go to the library and find out about ...’
‘Read the book and make notes on ...’
‘Write up your work on ...’
You have done all these things before. At university level, however, the volume
of work you have to do will be very much greater than before. You will also need
to move from a ‘demonstration’ of known scientific facts, to a more open-ended
exploration of science, which includes primary work you carry out yourself:
 asking questions: what happens if ….? How will it change if…? How do we
know that …? And developing a methodology to find answers to your
questions;
 appreciating that science is about what actually happens, and organising
your observation and recording to ensure you have a faithful and full
record, which you can then analyse and think about, and draw
conclusions;
 being critical about what you have done: to explain your results, how your
methods may have affected the outcomes, how you could improve your
methods another time around.
And then, looking beyond what you have done yourself, to connect up with
questions other scientists have asked, what they did, and how they did it, and
what they found out. This is research from secondary sources. To do this you
will need to
 become competent at finding current research in non textbook sources:
journals, newspapers, electronic sources;
 understand that different researchers do come up with different results
(often because they asked different questions and developed different
methods as a consequence), be able to identify these and discuss them,
orally and in writing;
 learn to use evidence as a basis for statements you make.
Module U14003 is designed to enable you develop these core academic
skills.
How are these skills taught?
Once you understand why it matters that you gain a skill, you learn by doing! The
module is a practical one: each classroom session will have a direct input from
3
staff, and practical or ‘workshop’ activities. In these activities you will work in pairs
and small groups ... plan .. discuss ... present .... DO. For this reason
attendance at classes is essential, you can’t do this module on your own.
It is a requirement of the Foundation Year that you achieve an 80% attendance
rate and penalties follow from attendance below this. Late arrival at a class (more
then 15 minutes late) counts as an absence.
1.2 Staff teaching on the module
Staff name
Dr Sue Robbins (SR)
Dr Bruce Riddoch (BR)
Mr Richard Persaud (RP)
Mr Don Marshall (DM)
Teaching
responsibilities on
the module
Module
Leader;
Teacher
Teacher
Science Librarian
Science Librarian
Room
e-Mail
(@brookes.ac.uk)
Phone
(01865
48+)
S112
srobbins
4192
S108
L308K
L308J
briddoch
rapersaud
dmarshall
3267
3137
3136
Each member of Life Sciences academic staff holds office hours for student
enquiries that are advertised on their office door and PIP page.
Contacting staff
DO contact staff if you have a problem! If you can see a problem looming unavoidable absence, personal problems, family crises and pressures affecting
your work - do let staff know in advance whenever possible. If other subject
lecturers also need to know, see your Academic Advisor or Field Chair. Use
Brookes email in the first instance, and if we need to meet, we can then arrange
a time. Do check your Brookes’ email at least 3 times a week during semesters.
If you're confused about some aspect of the course, it's best to see your tutor at
the end of a session - don't let it fester.
Reading List:
Robbins, S. K. (2009). Science Study Skills.. Pocket Study Skills Series.
Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan. ISBN: 9780230577633 Price: £5.99
This book is only on sale in Blackwell’s shops.
4
2
Module Schedule
An overview of the module
The module is designed as an introduction to the styles of learning and skills
expected of you in higher education, and to the particular academic culture of
Oxford Brookes University.
There are four assessed components:
Task
1 Ethical dilemmas in the
biosciences
2 Course management
3 The bread experiment
4 Research skills portfolio
Involving
Group work:
research,
presentation
Individual work: report
Evidence of time and
task management:
Timeline
Course review
Observation and
recording changes
over a period of time.
Lab diary
Lab report
A range of research
activities
Deadline
Week 7
Assessment
30%
Report 20%
Portfolio 10%
Week 12
10%
Week 12
30%
Lab diary 15%
Lab report
15%
Week 12
30%
A checklist of these tasks is provided and details will be given in the weekly
course outlines.
About portfolios ……
Portfolios are a way of giving credit for the work that underpins any assignment.
In other words they show the process by which you set about and achieve a
task. At its most obvious, in the bread experiment the lab diary is where the data
you use in the lab report comes from – the process has to be clear and
transparent. In the ethical dilemmas in the biosciences, the portfolio contains all
the records of your planning, from notes of your research and sources, records
of your group meetings, notes for your presentation etc. The research skills
portfolio is a little different – it is a set of activities that evidence the research
skills you are developing.
So you can see that this module is assessed as much on the process as on the
product – which is only ever the tip of the iceberg of the work and effort that
goes into producing an assignment. This reflects the importance Brookes
attaches to how you learn, how you think, how you research, how you use your
findings .... in short, how you take the first steps towards becoming a confident
(and competent!) student in the academic context in which you now find yourself.
5
2.1 Schedule of classes:
Workshops
Mondays, 13.00 – 16.00; Rooms: G515 (and G514 as informed)
Week
2 (4 Oct)
Activity
Module introduction; How do I
learn? Library Introduction
Researching a debate; Time
management
Item
Set library
quiz
Hand in
library quiz
3 (11 Oct)
Preparing group presentations
4 (18 Oct)
Group debates
SR, BR
Oral
presentations SR, BR
5 (25 Oct)
Writing essays
SR, BR
6 (1 Nov)
9 (22 Nov)
Tutorials
Observing and recording in
science
Research skills: website
evaluation
Research skills: Harvard
referencing
10 (29 Nov)
Writing a report in science
11 (6 Dec)
Report review
12 (13 Dec)
Course review
1 (27 Sep)
7 (8 Nov)
8 (15 Nov)
Draft essay
Hand in
essay
Staff
SR, BR, RP,
DM
SR, BR
SR, BR
SR, BR
SR, BR, RP
SR, BR
SR, BR
Draft report
All
coursework
in
6
SR, BR
SR, BR
2.2 Coursework schedule
See Section 2.3 for assessment weightings.
Coursework
Assessment
Ethical
dilemmas
Course
management
Bread
experiment
Research
portfolio
Date work
can begin
Submission
deadline
(13:00,
unless
stated)
Submission
method
Mon wk 2
Mon wk 4
+Tues wk 7
Wk 4: In class
Wk 7: Turnitin +
pigeon holes
Mon wk 1
Mon wk 12
In class
Mon wk 7
Tues wk 12
Pigeon holes
Mon wk 1
Mon wk 12
In class
Date for
return of
marked
work
Mon wk 9
Thurs wk 1
Sem 2
Thurs wk 1
Sem 2
Thurs wk 1
Sem 2
IMPORTANT NOTE: Eligibility for assessment of your Ethical Dilemmas
essay is dependent on you submitting it electronically through Turnitin
and in hard copy, plus the submission of your research portfolio or log.
For the Bread Experiment, you must submit your lab diary with your
report.
Failure to show your research process in these pieces of work will lead to
your work not being marked.
7
2.3 Checklist of assignments
1 Ethical Dilemmas
Deadline Week 7
30%
Essay (individual)
20%
Debate portfolio to include
10%
1.1 Planning your research:
Weeks 2-3
 Log of all your sources + photocopy/printout
 Notes on how you use them
1.2 Record of meetings
Weeks 2-4
1.3 Group presentation preparation
Weeks 3-4
1.4 Group presentation review
Week 4
1.5 Your essay – first draft
Weeks 5-6
2 Course management
2.1 Timelines
2.2
Deadline Week 12
10%
Weeks 2 &
8
Weeks 1112
Review of the semester
3 The bread experiment
3.1 Lab diary
3.2
Deadline Week 12
30%
Weeks 715%
10
Weeks 10- 15%
12
Report
4 Research skills portfolio
4.1 Library practical (from Week 1)
4.2 Notes on Packman and Kirk article
4.3 Website evaluation
4.4 Your article and notes
Deadline Week 12
30%
Week 1
Week 7
Week 8
Week 910
Your tutor may ask for particular pieces of work (eg elements of the Research
Skills portfolio) to be handed in as they are completed)
Note: When you hand in your folder in Week 12, please copy this checklist,
section by section, as cover sheets.
8
2.4 Study time expectations and assessment weightings
Expected
Private
Coursework
Study Time
(h)
35 (research &
10 (introduction,
reading;
Ethical
groupwork,
preparation
dilemmas
debate,
of debate;
tutorial)
writing
essay)
5 (time
10 (completing
Course
managemen
time line,
management
t, portfolio
monitoring
items)
progress);
35 (set up
10 (introduction,
expt, collect
progress
data, lab
Bread
review, data
diary; data
experiment
handling,
analysis &
structure for
interpretatio
report)
n; writing
report)
35 (reading to
support
lectures &
10 (introduction
revision;
to module,
Research
equivalent
library
portfolio
to an
training,
average of
various)
5 hours per
week over
12 weeks)
TOTAL
Contact Time
(h, approx.)
9
Total
Study
Time
(h)
Assessment
Weighting
(%)
45
30
15
10
45
30
45
30
150
100
2.5
Coursework learning outcomes and assessment criteria
The overall learning outcomes for the module are given as part of the formal
module description, which is in section 3.1 and may also be viewed at
https://www2.brookes.ac.uk/schools/lifesci/teach_resource/module_descriptions
.html.
General assessment criteria may be viewed on the Brookes Virtual site for the
module.
Coursework
Learning outcomes
assessed
Ethical Dilemma
Communication;
Teamwork
Course
Management
Self management
Bread Experiment
Self management
Research Portfolio
Information technology
Specific assessment
criteria
Use language in articulating
scientific concepts and
interpretations
Organise workload using
time lines to manage all
coursework deadlines
Design an experiment;
present scientific data in
appropriate and effective
ways
Library training sessions,
trained to use the library
databases and internet
sources as research tools
Each coursework assessment is designed to advance your learning. They
address different skills that you will need in preparation for studying science at
degree level. You will also put them into practice next semester when you
undertake your foundation project in module U14004, so it is important that you
learn and practice these skills now. Then you will be well prepared to start your
project and have an enjoyable time researching it.
10
3
General information, guidance and policies
3.1 Module Description:
Module Number and Title:
U14003 Study Skills
Description for modular programme handbook
An introduction to communication and learning skills appropriate for foundation
science degree students.
Level and value: Foundation single module
Field Status:
Compulsory for FSC - Extended Sciences – Foundation, acceptable for FSI International Foundation Sciences
Pre- and Co-requisite notes, relationship to other modules
Pre-requisite for U14004 Foundation Project
Timetable information: Semester 1; years running - every year
Content
Writing and learning skills; collecting and structuring information for different
purposes, making logical connections in writing, achieving a clear style, presenting
information in different and appropriate media, note-taking in lectures and seminars,
note-making from books and journals, methods of presenting data and evaluating
hypotheses, structures of different forms of written presentations.
Oral skills; presentations, organising information, explaining concepts, expressing
ideas, stimulating audiences, using visual aids, giving and receiving feedback.
Interactive skills; listening, questioning, answering questions, leading and
participating in-group work.
Research and bibliography skills; using the library and IT; classification, databases,
on-line searches and abstracts.
Learning outcomes - disciplinary and professional
On successfully completing this module, students will have been taught how to

identify a research question from a given topic area, collect information from
appropriate academic sources, and report on their findings in an appropriate
style of writing

present scientific data in appropriate and effective ways

use language in articulating scientific concepts and interpretations
Learning outcomes - transferable skills
On successfully completing this module, students will have been taught transferable
11
skills as follows:

Organisational Skills: Students are taught to organise their workload using
time lines that show the distribution of work deadlines for all modules studied
in the semester. Students note the weeks with heavy commitments and plan
their strategy to meet the deadlines. These plans are reviewed throughout the
module to monitor the development of self-management skills.

Learning Skills: The learning cycle of ‘Plan – Do – Reflect – Form Principles’
is taught and applied to all major tasks throughout this module. Students are
taught how to recognise their own preferred methods of learning, and to
monitor their own progress. Individual and peer reviews are used to identify
processes that worked well and should be repeated, and those that did not
work well and should be changed for the future.

Communication: During this module students are taught to communicate
using different writing styles including essay, report, literature review and to
present data effectively. They are taught how to make oral presentations, and
take part in a group presentation and give an individual presentation of their
work.

Group work: This module runs as workshop sessions that require active
participation by the students. Particularly they are taught: how to interact on a
professional basis when giving and receiving critical feedback; how to
organise group tasks, delegate, be accountable, listen; how to formulate a
joint research task and carry it through, presenting their work orally to an
audience of peers.

IT: Students take part in library training sessions where they are trained to use
the library databases and internet sources as research tools. They are shown
how to evaluate the quality of internet material for academic use and how to
identify peer reviewed journal articles.
Transferable skills summary

Self management transferable skills: taught and practised

Learning transferable skills: major focus

Communication transferable skills: major focus

Teamwork transferable skills: taught and practised

Information technology transferable skills: taught and practised
Student experience
In completing this module, students will have been given the opportunity to:

Attend classes on developing written and oral communication skills

Lead and participate in group discussions and group work

Undertake literature and database searches.
12
Contact hours
Seminars and Tutorials: 35 hours.
Total contact 35 hours
Coursework examination assessment balance
100% coursework
Details of coursework assessments

Extended Essay and portfolio 30%

Research Portfolio 30%

Lab Diary and Report 30%

Course management 10%
3.2 Brookes Virtual (BV)
Information, guidance and policies that relate to all modules may be found on
the Brookes Virtual site for the module, and include the following:
The provision of handouts

The School policy
Assessment

The School’s response to the University’s Assessment Compact
The preparation and submission of coursework







4
Academic good practice
The University’s Cheating statement
Keeping evidence of coursework authenticity
The submission and return of coursework
The policy on late submission of coursework
What to do if you are ill or otherwise incapacitated (mitigating circumstances)
General assessment criteria
Programme of Workshops
Copies of handouts from weekly workshops will be put on BV following the
class that week.
5
Coursework Feedback Pro-formas
Pro-formas for submission of essays and reports will be available in class and
electronically on BV.
13