Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

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

Rationale

Curiosity is the foundation for a successful scientist. To foster your spirit of inquiry, this unit will focus on collaboration with other students, tutors and lecturers to explore a major global challenge or topical scientific problem from multiple disciplinary perspectives. These experiences will enable you to make informed decisions on your course of study and expose you to the many challenges of science as a profession.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to engage you, as future scientists, in the problems and challenges of modern scientific inquiry from a range of multidisciplinary perspectives and through student-led inquiry.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, you will provide evidence that you can:

1. Retrieve and evaluate information based on source and perspective, and form judgements of their scientific merit.
2. Present written arguments which draw on multiple scientific perspectives and applies the written conventions of science.
3. Produce effective written and visual communications of scientific concepts for a non-scientific audience demonstrating collaboration within a team, and creativity.

Content

Wicked problems require sophisticated responses. Increasingly, the work of a scientist relies on the ability to understand and work within interdisciplinary teams to respond to or manage challenges as broad and complex as the Fukushima disaster, management of the Murray Darling system, development of a Coal Seam Gas industry, or conservation of the Great Barrier Reef. In the first half of this unit you will choose from a range of topical scientific challenges, problems or phenomenon and will work collaboratively with peers and teaching staff to unpack the underlying science from multiple disciplinary perspectives. Drawing on your understanding of social, economic and political perspectives of science developed through the companion unit Science in Context, in the second half of the semester you will research strategies for the management and/or resolution of these challenges through your own study of emergent technologies such as nanotechnology, biotechnology, and renewable energy and will be asked to form a scientific argument for how such technologies might be brought to bare in relation to your chosen problem. You will be challenged to adopt a solutions focussed approach to real world problems.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Lectorial: Periodic discipline based lectorials
Workshops: Weekly workshops (collaborative learning spaces)
Panel Discussions: Panel discussions periodically throughout the semester
Collaborative Learning Environment: Depending on availability, collaborative learning spaces will be made available for the use of students outside of scheduled classes

This unit will use an inquiry-based learning approach where you will engage in collaborative activity with peers, tutors and lecturers. Throughout the semester, workshop activities will give direction to your inquiry with a collection of electronic resources and a recorded lecturette series available for your use. Periodically throughout your inquiry, lectorials will cover key concepts and will direct you to supporting resources. A series of topical panel discussions will occur throughout the semester where you can discuss your ideas with real world experts and researchers.

Assessment

The assessment in this unit has been designed so that you may develop and practice valuable skills in collaboration, information retrieval and evaluation and employing the standards of academic writing. You will also develop an understanding of the need for creativity in responding to complex problems and the value of effective communication within and across disciplines and with the public more broadly.

In the first half of semester you will be asked to work collaboratively to develop a poster representing multiple disciplinary perspectives on the complex scientific problem or challenge that you have chosen. You will be asked to provide a summary of the issue with consideration of multiple disciplinary perspectives and to include brief consideration of the social, economic and/or political context of the challenge.

In the development of a solutions focus, in the first half of the semester you will also be asked to collate and record your readings on your chosen topic in the form of an annotated bibliography. This formative assessment is designed to provide early feedback on your approach to the final assessment, the research paper.

Poster presentations will be on display in the QUT First Year Science conference with a selection of research papers published as part of the conference papers.Assessment is designed progressively across the semester to provide multiple opportunities for feedback and improvement. This includes a mix of oral and written feedback from peers and teachers on portfolio reports and reflections as well as oral and written feedback on key stages of poster preparation with industry and academic feedback on final group projects.

Assessment name: Annotated Bibliography
Description: In the annotated bibliography you will record and augment you reading around your chosen challenge/problem. This formative assessment provides the opportunity to seek formal feedback on your approach to your research paper.
Relates to objectives: 1,2 and 3
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid Semester

Assessment name: Poster Presentation
Description: In the poster or multi-media presentation you will work collaboratively to provide a summary of multiple disciplinary perspectives, as well as a summary of the social, economic and/or political context, for your chosen problem/challenge.
Relates to objectives: 1 and 3
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group with Individual Component
Due date: Mid Semester

Assessment name: Research Paper
Description: In the research paper you will present an argument for the management and/or resolution of your chosen scientific problem/challenge through your own study of emergent technologies such as nanotechnology, biotechnology, and renewable energy.
Relates to objectives: 1 and 2
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Late Semester

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

Library and web-based information

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit. You will be made aware of evacuation procedures and assembly areas in the first few lectures. In the event of a fire alarm sounding, or on a lecturer's instruction, you should leave the room and assemble in the designated area which will be indicated to you. You should be conscious of your health and safety at all times whilst on campus or in the field.

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: 17-Sep-2012