Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2012

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Regardless of which area of biology you decide to specialise in, you need to understand the complex interactions between cells, tissues, organs and organ systems that comprise multi-cellular organisms. Although many living processes can be explained at the levels of biochemistry, biophysics and cell biology, a true understanding of complex, multicellular organisms requires integration of knowledge drawn from all of these areas, combined with the more complex physiological and structural levels you will learn about in this unit. The knowledge you gain in this and other first level units provides you with the conceptual framework necessary to understand processes occurring from the cellular to the whole organism level and to higher levels of organisation. The basis of your progression to higher-level units and future professional work will rely on the understandings of complex, multicellular organisms that you develop here.

Aims

This unit is intended to provide you with an understanding of the key structural and physiological features of plant and animal tissues, organs and organ systems.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:

1. Discuss the significant structural, functional and physiological integration of cells, tissues, organs and organ systems in a comparative framework.
2. Understand the interconnections and functional interactions between tissues, organs and organ systems that confer particular survival advantages or limit the distribution of particular organisms.
3. Develop a contextual framework for your continuing ecological/biological/environmental or health science studies and professional work.
4. Develop your critical thinking, laboratory and information literacy skills, and to apply knowledge obtained in this and other units pertaining to the specific functioning of plants and animals.

Content

The unit comprises two modules designed to enable you to accumulate knowledge and understanding of structure and physiology of plants and animals.

1. Plants:
Cells, tissue and organs; photosynthesis and productivity; transport and mineral nutrition; reproduction; growth, development and morphogenesis; plant hormones and responses to stimuli, respiration/gas exchange; circulation/solute transport; energy pools and fluxes; whole-organism regulation (metabolism, temperature, pH).

2. Animals:
Principles of animal physiology, body organization, tissues; endocrine systems, nervous systems, musculoskeletal systems, cardiovascular systems, respiratory systems, digestive systems; excretion and salt and water balance; reproductive systems and reproductive strategies.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Our approaches to teaching and learning combine 3 hours of lectures per week with a 3-hour practical in alternating weeks. Practicals serve to illustrate fundamental concepts of animal and plant structure and function. Wherever possible, staff teaching this unit will model problem solving and critical thinking in class, practical work and in group discussions. In all cases, assessment items will form part of your learning process. You will achieve this outcome via feedback from staff and class discussions. Additionally, this unit has several of the generic attributes that QUT identifies as desirable in its graduates embedded into its curriculum, including:

• Effective written communication.


• The ability to retrieve, evaluate and use relevant information.


• The development of critically reflective and creative thinking.


• Gaining confidence in ability to learn independently and inter-dependently.


• The ability to fill the roles of a co-operative, productive team member or leader.

We will develop and assess these attributes through a series of practical class exercises and through both written and verbal feedback.

Assessment

We will use the following assessment items that will measure your learning and understanding of the techniques, concepts and ideas presented in this unit. In addition, the practical work and discussions will support, clarify and develop the concepts and themes developed in the lectures.

Assessment submission:
Late penalties will be strictly imposed if assessment items are not submitted by the due date. Students MUST submit their exercises ON OR BEFORE the due date. Students submitting exercises after the due date will be penalised 10% of the overall weight of the item of assessment per day, including Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. Exercises submitted after all of the available marks have expired will be returned to the student unmarked.

Where extenuating circumstances prevent you from submitting your work on time, the unit coordinator shall consider granting you an extension following negotiation and submission of appropriate paperwork. Details on how to apply for special consideration and/or deferred assessment will be available in the Week One Document.Feedback will be provided as a combination of written and verbal comments. Where appropriate, written comments will be provided on the unit website and discussions will take place with teaching staff and lecturers during practicals and lectures.

Assessment name: Laboratory/Practical
Description: Practical exercise (formative and summative). You will complete pre-practical exercises on-line, and practical exercises based on observation and experiments conducted during the practical. You will be required to integrate lecture content with the practicals. Exercise will be submitted at the end of each practical for assessment and feedback.
Relates to objectives: 3, 4
Weight: 25%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Ongoing

Assessment name: Examination
Description: Final theory examination (summative). Material covered will be drawn from the entire semester; learning will be assessed through the use of short answer and problem-solving essay questions.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Examination Period

Assessment name: Quiz/Test
Description: Progress exams (formative and summative). Material covered will be drawn from lecture content (and may be included in other assessments). We will assess your learning through the use of regularly spaced on-line assessment items available on the Mastering Biology website (such as multiple choice quizzes).
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 25%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Ongoing

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Texts:
1. Campbell et al (2006) Biology, Australian Version 9th edition, Benjamin Cummings
2. Unit Practical and Resource Manual (available from QUT bookstore-GP)
3. Mastering Biology website

References:
1. Hill RW & Wyse GA (2004) Animal Physiology, New York: Harper and Rowe
2. Raven PH, Evert RF & Curtis H (2005) Biology of Plants, 7th edition, New York: WH Freeman and Co

The Course Materials Database (CMD) for this unit may also contain references and recommended readings drawn from many primary sources, including books and journal articles.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit, consequently this unit raises no significant health and safety issues.

The unit consists of classroom-based lectures, discussions and practicals, all of which are extremely low risk activities.You will complete laboratory and field safety training prior to the start of any activity. In addition, we provide you with a health and safety manual detailing health, safety and emergency procedures which you will read and put into practice. We therefore requireyou to understand and obey all safety guidelines.
Safety considerations associated with field trips, if relevent will be discussed in pre-trip briefings with printed notes related to safety issues being distributed at the briefing. Risk assessments for field trips identify several low impact risks, including: travel, slips and trips; animal bites, and; animal and plant stings.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 16-May-2012