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SUBJECT OUTLINE 60001 Principles of Scientific Practice Course area

UTS: Science

Delivery

Autumn 2019; City

Credit points 6cp Result type

Grade and marks

Attendance: 2hpw x 10wks (workshop), 3hpw x 6wks (practical)

Subject coordinator Name : Ms Kia Angus Phone: 9514 8217 Room: CB07.07.032 Email: [email protected]

Teaching staff Workshop facilitator and practical demonstrator contact information will be provided during week 1. General enquiries, missed workshops/practical classes please contact [email protected]

Subject description This subject introduces students to the major themes of contemporary science and inquiry-oriented experimentation, and has been designed to be applicable to all science disciplines. Students learn how science formulates and address problems, and are introduced to the critical scientific tools of empirical data and its handling, experimental design, and the scientific argument. This material is presented within the broad context of critical professional skills required for a successful career in any research-oriented field of science. Students are encouraged to be self-motivated, work in a timely fashion and understand the importance of professional behaviour.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs) Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to: 1. Understand and apply the scientific method 2. Reflect on the importance of autonomy, ethics, professional identity, creativity and innovation as essential attributes for employability 3. Demonstrate organisational and planning skills for effective collaboration 4. Apply quantitative analysis methods to data sets and present findings using a range of visual tools and techniques. 5. Develop written, visual and oral communication skills to convey scientific information to diverse audiences 6. Retrieve and analyse the primary scientific literature specific to their discipline 7. Demonstrate curiosity, personal reflection and engagement with feedback, including self and peer assessment as a path to ongoing learning in professional life

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs) This subject also contributes specifically to the development of following course intended learning outcomes: Encompasses problem-solving, critical thinking and analysis attributes and an understanding of the scientific method of knowledge acquisition. (2.0) The ability to acquire, develop, employ and integrate a range of technical, practical and professional skills, in appropriate and ethical ways within a professional context, autonomously and collaboratively and across a range of disciplinary and professional areas, e.g. time management skills, personal organisation skills, teamwork skills, computing skills, laboratory skills, data handling, quantitative and graphical literacy skills. (3.0)

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The capacity to engage in reflection and learning beyond formal educational contexts that is based on the ability to make effective judgments about one's own work. The capacity to learn in and from new disciplines to enhance the application of scientific knowledge and skills in professional contexts. (4.0) An awareness of the role of science within a global culture and willingness to contribute actively to the shaping of community views on complex issues where the methods and findings of science are relevant. (5.0) An understanding of the different forms of communication - writing, reading, speaking, listening - including visual and graphical, within science and beyond and the ability to apply these appropriately and effectively for different audiences. (6.0)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes The subject provides the students with the knowledge and skills to prepare them to practice as a professional scientist by developing the following graduate attributes: 2. An Inquiry Oriented Approach In this subject you will design a laboratory experiment in groups using an inquiry oriented approach that is intended to develop your curiosity and creativity. 3. Professional skills and their appropriate application Throughout this subject you will develop, employ and integrate a range of skills within a professional context, autonomously and collaboratively. You will also develop generic skills such time management, personal organisation, teamwork and negotiation. An awareness of the ethical space in which you will operate is also developed. 4. Ability and motivation for continued intellectual development Numerous opportunities to engage in reflection and develop the ability to make effective judgments about one’s own work and the work of others will be available to you. You will be encouraged to undertake self directed, curiosity motivated learning beyond the formal classroom environment. 5. Engagement with the needs of society The subject will develop your understanding of how science underpins society and its application in the professional context. Critical discussions during workshops around complex, topical issues in science will be explored and assessed, with opportunities to research, identify and engage with current and future challenges affecting you as scientists. 6. Communication skills Extensive development of written and oral communication is presented through a series of scaffolded and structured activities. You will be provided with formative feedback on written communication skills early in the semester. Your oral communication skills will be developed during the workshops and the Skills Interview task which emphasises the importance of employability. You will also gain experience in presented a formal scientific presentation when presenting the results of your inquiry oriented task.

Teaching and learning strategies You will attend a series of workshops and practicals in this subject, complemented by a series of interactive online 'engaged learning' activities to introduce you to the key theoretical knowledge needed to actively participate in workshop discussions and group activities. You will be required to complete the ‘engaged learning’ activities, available through UTSOnline, prior to attending workshops. At the conclusion of the workshops, a post workshop exercise is completed to consolidate your workshop learning experience. Feedback on your progress is available while completing the engaged learning activities and during practicals and workshop activities. During the practical sessions you will work collaboratively on an inquiry oriented practical exercise. This will require a multidisciplinary approach. The practical sessions will allow you to develop important skills in managing a laboratory experiment, including maintaining a record of your experimental procedure. You will also engage with resources such as REVIEW (software packages for receiving feedback) and SPARKPlus (software package for report benchmarking and peer assessment). An aim of this subject is to help you develop academic and professional language and communication skills to succeed at university and in the workplace. To determine your current academic language proficiency, you will complete an 21/02/2019 (Autumn 2019)

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online language screening task, OPELA (information available at https://www.uts.edu.au/research-and-teaching/learning-and-teaching/enhancing/language-and-learning/about-opela-stud The OPELA will be used to help us identify students who need extra help with English language. If you receive a Basic grade for OPELA, you will attend additional Language Development Tutorials (LDTs). These tutorials are designed to provide personalised support and enhance students’ English language skills. They focus on developing your communication skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening) and your independent learning skills, which will help you to prepare for the subject assessment tasks and for professional workplace communication tasks.

Content (topics) Specific topics to be presented throughout the semester will include: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Introduction to PSP and Modern Science Reading and Evaluating Scientific Literature Experimental Design Interview skills and career development Presentation and Analysis of Scientific Data Communication in Science Scientific Writing and Literacy Skills Ethics in Science

Program Week/Session

Dates

Description

1

11/03/2019

Workshop - What is Science? Practical Class - Introduction to the Superlab, OPELA task Notes: Engaged learning activity needs to be completed before coming to your allocated workshop class.

2

18/03/2019

Workshop - Reading and Evaluating Scientific Literature Practical Class - Laboratory Skills and Data Analysis Notes: Engaged learning activity needs to be completed before coming to your allocated workshop class.

3

25/03/2019

Workshop - Designing an Experiment Practical Class - Inquiry Oriented Experimental Design Notes: Engaged learning activity needs to be completed before coming to your allocated workshop class.

4

01/04/2019

Workshop - Interview Skills Practical Class - No Practical Class Notes: Engaged learning activity needs to be completed before coming to your allocated workshop class. Students must prepare responses for the in-class mock interviews before coming to their allocated workshop.After the mock interviews

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you will be further briefed on the interview assessment task. Students will also need to submit thier Lab Notebooks via the link on UTSOnline or during the workshop.

5

08/04/2019

Workshop - Data Analysis and Presentation Practical Class - No Practical Class

6

15/04/2019

NO SCHEDULED CLASSES DUE TO PUBLIC HOLIDAY

22/04/2019

STUVAC - NO SCHEDULED CLASSES

29/04/2019

Workshop - Interview Skills Assessment Practical - Inquiry Oriented Exercise Session 1

7

Notes: Engaged learning activity needs to be completed before coming to your allocated workshop class.

8

06/05/2019

Workshop - Communication in Science Practical - Inquiry Oriented Exercise Session 2 Notes: Engaged learning activity needs to be completed before coming to your allocated workshop class. Students will need to submit their Lab Notebook for IOE Session 1 via the link on UTSOnline.

9

13/05/2019

Workshop - Reporting Results in a Scientific Report Practical - Inquiry Oriented Exercise Session 3 Notes: Engaged learning activity needs to be completed before coming to your allocated workshop class

10

20/05/2019

Workshop - Inquiry Oriented Exercise Presentations Practical - No practical classes Notes: Engaged learning activity needs to be completed before coming to your allocated workshop class Students should submit their group presentation slides on UTSOnline by 11:59PM 19/05/2019. Students will need to submit their Lab Notebook for IOE Session 3 via the link on UTSOnline.

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11

27/05/2019

Workshop - Report Writing Practical - No Practical Classes Notes: Engaged learning activity needs to be completed before coming to your allocated workshop class

12

03/06/2019

Workshop - Ethics in Science Practical - No Practical Classes Notes: Engaged learning activity needs to be completed before coming to your allocated workshop class

Assessment Assessment task 1: Workshop Component Intent:

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 3. professional skills and their appropriate application 4. ability and motivation for continued intellectual development 5. engagement with the needs of Society 6. communication skills

Objective(s): This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 2, 5 and 7 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0 Type:

Exercises

Groupwork: Group, individually assessed Weight:

30%

Task:

Each workshop will have the following activities that will contribute to your learning: Engaged Learning Activity - These are short online tutorials which will provide you with some background information for the workshop you will be undertaking. There will be a series of questions for you to test your understanding of the material. Workshop Activities: The activities will be different each week depending on the topic. In most classes you will be working collaboratively through a series of exercises that will develop your skills in the specific area the workshop focuses on. You are encouraged to be an active participant in the classes. Post-Workshop Activities - These are activities that further develop your skills from the workshop classes. These can either be material you produced during the workshop, or a reflection of your work.

Due:

Weekly

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Criteria:

Students will be assessed on: Quality of personal reflective practice Written communication skills Ability to engage with autonomous learning

Further Each workshop will be comprised of an Pre-workshop engaged learning activity that you will need to information: complete before coming to your allocated workshop. During the workshop you will be assessed on your participation and engagement with the workshop materials. Each workshop will also have a postworkshop activity to complete. Each workshop will be marked out of 10, all these will contribute to your final overall workshop mark. Assessment task 2: Employability Skills Interview Intent:

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 3. professional skills and their appropriate application 6. communication skills

Objective(s): This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 2 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 3.0 and 6.0 Type:

Presentation

Groupwork: Individual Weight:

15%

Task:

Students will be required to answer a series of employability skills questions. During the interview skills workshop, students will practice being both the interviewer and the interviewee and receive feedback from thier peers, which they can use to improve their assignment. During this workshop students will also be guided in how to answer interview questions. Questions will require you to reflect upon your strengths, areas to develop and motivation for studying science. Following this workshop, the Interview Skills Assessment Workshop held in week commencing 29th April is where students will be require to be interviewed by their workshop facilitators. The assessment rubric and set of potential questions will be provided on UTSOnline.

Due:

Interview will be held in the workshops commencing 29th April

Criteria:

Students will be assessed on: Quality of oral communication skills Ability to reflect on importance of employability skills

Assessment task 3: Inquiry Oriented Exercise

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Intent:

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 2. an inquiry-oriented approach 3. professional skills and their appropriate application 4. ability and motivation for continued intellectual development 6. communication skills

Objective(s): This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 6.0 Type:

Project

Groupwork: Group, group and individually assessed Weight:

55%

Task:

This task is divided into four portions: Group Presentation (10%): Students will be presenting in their practical groups on their inquiry oriented exercise. A science communication workshop will focus on developing students communication skills and preparing them for this task, they will also receive feedback on their draft presentation during the workshop. Students will be assessed on both the content of their presentation as well as their ability to present the information in the clear and scientific manner. Lab Notebook (10%): During each practical class, students are required to write down in their lab notebook their experimental plans, hypothesis, methods, observations and a brief discussion of their experiment. Students will need to submit their lab notebooks online in week 4,8 and 10 (one week after each experimental week).These submissions will be marked and returned with feedback. Individual Report (30%): Students will need to use their experimental results from ONE of the 3 inquiry oriented exerise laboratory sessions to produce an individual scientific report. Students will develop and receive feedback on their scientific writing skills during the two writing workshops. This assessment will be assessed for English language proficiency. You may be guided to further language support after the completion of this subject if your results in this milestone task indicate you need more help with your language skills. Self and Peer Assessment Task (SPARK) (5%): Students will evaluate their own performance as well as their peers in regards to their contribution to the group presentation and report.

Due:

See Further information.

Criteria:

Students will be assessed on: written report (criteria – application of the scientific method, communication skills, data analysis skills, ability to retrieve and incorporate scientific literature) - 30 marks peer and self assessment of group performance (demonstrated ability to undertake a collaborative activity) – 5 marks individual lab note book (communication skills) -10 marks group presentation on project outcomes - 10 marks

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Further Group Presentation - Slides Due 11.59pm 19th May 2019 (presentations in workshop class during information: the week of 20th May 2019) Written Report - Due 11.59pm 15th June 2019 Peer and Self Assessment - Due 11.59pm 15th June 2019 Individual Lab Note Book - Submitted online in week 4 (01/04/19), 8 (06/05/19) and 10 (20/05/19)

Use of plagiarism detection software Turnitin is used for the Practical Report

Assessment feedback Extensive feedback will be available to students. This is be available for both formative assessment (no marks involved) and summative assessment (contributing to grades).

Minimum requirements You are expected to attend all workshops and practicals. Attendance is critical to achieve the subject learning outcomes for this subject. Any assessment task worth 40% or more requires the student to gain at least 40% of the mark for that task. If 40% is not reached, an X grade fail may be awarded for the subject, irrespective of an overall mark greater than 50. You must obtain an overall mark of 50 or greater to pass the subject. It is a requirement of this subject that all students complete OPELA. Students who receive a Basic grade in the OPELA task are required to attend the Language De...