AD2ASP: Animal Science in Practice 2

Module code: AD2ASP

Module provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Caroline Rymer, email: c.rymer@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Kirsty Kliem, email: k.e.kliem@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): This module is only available to Part 2 BSc Animal Science students. (Open)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Working as part of a team, you will plan and undertake an animal science research project. You will learn new experimental techniques and analyse the data from the project before reporting your findings in various forms. You will also gain skills ready for securing jobs, placements and work experience (such as how to write a great CV), and by reflecting on your skills and interests you will develop a curiosity for the career options available to you.

The aim of the problem-based learning part of this module is to provide students with the opportunity to develop research skills and apply knowledge and skills developed in their programme by taking part in a team research project relating to animal science. (15 credits).

The module also includes career planning sessions designed to encourage students to think about, and plan more systematically for, their future careers. This module component aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop self-awareness in the context of career decision making, reflect on the range of career opportunities that are available to them, and develop the skills needed to make effective applications (5 credits). 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Plan and undertake a research project
2. Analyse, interpret and report data
3. Identify, assess, articulate and reflect on skills, interests, values and personality traits in the context of career decision making, and write an effective CV and covering letter informed by a curiosity towards career options and an understanding of recruitment processes.

Module content

Problem based learning project: Students will be placed in small teams and assigned a research project to plan and carry out (in the field or lab). Teams will receive guidance from an appointed supervisor prior to starting and will be in regular contact during all phases of the project. Students will gain experience formulating and testing a research hypothesis, analysing data, communicating results and writing scientific reports.

Career planning and ‘recruitability’: career opportunity awareness, career decision making frameworks, application strategies including CVs, cover letters, networking and LinkedIn, preparing for interviews, conducting informational interviews to gain insight into organisations and job roles. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Problem based learning project: Through interactive seminars, the main elements in effective career planning will be introduced and discussed, and career learning supported by self-directed tasks, networking and workshops.

Career planning and recruitability skills workshops will be delivered by a Careers Consultant, with Animal Science led tutorials to support students with their assessed portfolio.

Study hours

At least 44 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

A group presentation of the research plan will be prepared for week 8 in semester 1 and feedback on this will be provided. There will be supervisory support throughout the research project to assist in the design and conduct of the research, and in the statistical analysis of the data obtained. Feedback on draft versions of the poster will also be available.

For the career planning and ‘recruitability’ work, informal feedback on progress will be provided via tutorials.

Reassessment

Additional costs