| Unit name | Fundamental Skills for Biochemists |
|---|---|
| Unit code | BIOC10007 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Robson |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
A-level Chemistry or equivalent strongly advised. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
BIOC10006 – Molecules of Life |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Biochemistry |
| Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
Why is this unit important?
This unit gives students on the Biochemistry programmes training in the fundamental skills they need to study biochemistry at a more advanced level in subsequent years. A major focus is training in skills that support the conduct of practical biochemistry in the laboratory. These include experimental design and the collection, analysis and interpretation of experimental data.
The unit seeks to develop a range of investigatory skills including interaction with the scientific literature, presentation of facts and scientific concepts in a variety of ways, and use of specialist programmes and online resources to analyse and present scientific data.
The unit also provides students with the opportunity to develop their employability and job application skills to enhance their employability after graduation.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit addresses the acquisition of skills needed to study biochemistry as a scientific discipline, both the generic study skills needed to succeed in a university education and the discipline-specific skills needed to engage with specialist teaching in the classroom and the laboratory. Activities are designed to complement delivery of subject knowledge in the four other mandatory units that make up the first year of the Biochemistry degrees. Activities are also geared towards enhancing the employability of Biochemistry students both during and after their programme of study.
An overview of content
Topics covered in this unit include:
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
At the end of the unit a successful student will be able to display:
Learning Outcomes
Learning on this unit directly addresses components of the Bristol Skills Profile, including:
What will I learn?
Academic skills
Research skills
Knowledge handling skills
What will I be able to do?
Work well independently
Work well with others
What will I become?
Proactive about my wellbeing
Clear about my direction
Ready for the future
Teaching is normally delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous activities, including lectures, workshops and tutorials.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
The unit is normally supported by formative workshops that build ability and confidence in the analytical, numerical and writing skills required by scientists. The unit is supported by online resources delivered through Blackboard and eBiolabs that include formative tests and other opportunities to test understanding.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
The components that make up the unit assessment are:
To earn credit for this unit you must normally:
“Completion” of a laboratory class requires attendance of the session plus submission of any pre-lab and/or post-lab assessment.
The “Practical Assessments” component of the unit assessment includes marks earned for laboratory classes that form part of the following co-requisite units:
When assessment does not go to plan
Arrangements for reassessment of the “Practical Assessments” component will depend on engagement with practical work during the unit and more widely across the programme.
For all other components, reassessment normally involves a second attempt at the same form of assessment.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. BIOC10007).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
