QCF158 Science 1

Unit Outline: College 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

Inquiry into the nature of the universe is at the core of all science disciplines. Studying Biology and Chemistry will help you become better informed about the world around you and about how these disciplines impact society. In QCF158 Science 1 you will learn skills required for scientific investigation and develop critical skills to evaluate and make evidence-based decisions about current scientific issues. This unit will develop your ability to work scientifically and understand the processes required to gather, scrutinise and use evidence.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Investigate and explain phenomena and determine outcomes, behaviours and implications (CLO1)
2. Identify trends and patterns in data (CLO6)
3. Draw evidence-based conclusions from experimental and research-based activities (CLO2, CLO5)
4. Communicate using scientific representations and language to present information (CLO3, CLO4)
5. Analyse problems and propose solutions (CLO2)

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit uses a framework of asking a question and then you work collaboratively to find an answer. Practical sessions will focus on investigating ideas, solving problems, reasoning, drawing conclusions and developing evidence-based arguments. All these inquiry skills are transferrable to your other units. You will develop science inquiry skills by engaging in practical activities.
This inquiry approach to teaching and learning involves:

• Forming and describing the activity
• Finding valid and reliable evidence for the activity
• Analysing and interpreting the evidence selected
• Evaluating the conclusions, processes and claims

Reflection is an important part in each of these steps. Opportunities will be provided to ensure you engage with reflective practices.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:
• Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
• Formal: in writing, such as checklists, rubrics, written commentary
• Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
• Indirect: to the whole class

Assessment

Overview

In QCF158 Science 1, you will do four summative assessments: an experimental investigation, one examination, a work portfolio and a poster presentation. Formative assessment will support your learning by giving you an opportunity to practice the assignment or task and learn from feedback before completing it for marking purposes. Formative assessment will also be applied to classroom tasks to check for completion, understanding and learning progression.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Laboratory/Practical

This assessment is an introduction to scientific experimental investigations and communicating the results in scientific writing. You will research a question through collection, analysis and synthesis of primary data. Your findings will be communicated in a scientific report that includes: introduction, results, analysis, conclusion, references. This assessment occurs over an extended period of time.

Assessment: Quizzes

You will complete four quizzes to assess your understanding and knowledge of theoretical chemistry concepts. This will help you to better analyse experimental data (assessment item 1) and apply knowledge to your poster presentation (assessment item 3).

Assessment: Poster Presentation

For this project, you will work with a partner to research a biological condition or chemical phenomenon and produce a poster incorporating all of the important information about the topic.

You and your partner will work, design and create a poster to share your findings. You will record yourselves presenting your poster to a digital audience. Your poster should be eye-catching and creative. It should include a description, historical information and the impact on society, plus ethical and future considerations. It should include references and be written in scientific language.

You will present your poster using a style of communication commonly used in conferences - poster presentations. There are certain guidelines to follow when making a poster for a scientific audience. These will be discussed in class with examples of effective posters.

Assessment: Final Examination

You will do a timed open book examination that assesses your understanding and application of theoretical Biology concepts of the unit. This will allow you to show your knowledge of concepts and procedures, your skills, critical thinking and problem-solving.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

Some classes may be conducted in a laboratory. You are required to wear covered in shoes with long hair tied back when working in the laboratory to do experiments. You are also responsible for handling materials and equipment carefully and following the teacher's instructions.

Course Learning Outcomes

QC08 Standard Foundation Program

1. Demonstrate and apply theoretical, conceptual and/or technical knowledge based on the discipline of study
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical, Quizzes, Final Examination
2. Apply critical, creative and analytical thinking and effective problem solving in a range of contexts
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical, Final Examination
3. Use academic language to suit the intended purpose and audience in written, oral and multimodal genres
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical, Poster Presentation
4. Demonstrate interpersonal communication skills and cultural awareness appropriate to collaborative and classroom contexts
   Relates to: Poster Presentation
5. Apply academic, information and digital literacy skills appropriate to undergraduate study
   Relates to: Poster Presentation

QC18 University Preparation Program

1. Demonstrate and apply theoretical, conceptual and/or technical knowledge based on the discipline of study
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical, Quizzes, Final Examination
2. Apply critical, creative and analytical thinking and effective problem solving in a range of contexts
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical, Final Examination
3. Use academic language to suit the intended purpose and audience in written, oral and multimodal genres
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical, Poster Presentation
4. Demonstrate interpersonal communication skills and cultural awareness appropriate to collaborative and classroom contexts
   Relates to: Poster Presentation
5. Apply academic, information and digital literacy skills appropriate to undergraduate study
   Relates to: Poster Presentation