BI2QP3: Quantitative and Professional Skills

Module code: BI2QP3

Module provider: School of Biological Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Becks Spake, email: r.spake@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Andrew Bladon, email: a.j.bladon@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

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: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

We are living in the Information Age making it essential to have the ability to handle, analyse, visualise, and interpret data. In this module you will learn to manage diverse types of data, apply relevant quantitative (statistical) approaches, and present results using various visualization tools from graphs to maps based on GIS data. This module will build on the skills that you have gathered in your first year and use a combination of lectures, practical sessions/workshops, academic tutor led sessions and group activities to help you to develop and refine these skills. You will also enhance your ability to critically evaluate/appraise scientific literature and effectively communicate ideas. This will not only prepare you for your immediate coursework, but the final year Research Project and your future career.  

The employment landscape is rapidly changing, subject knowledge alone is no longer enough to succeed in a highly competitive job market. With that in mind, this module will also help you to develop additional professional skills (also known as transferable skills), ranging from time/project management and teamwork to enhancing your creativity, enterprise and commercial awareness.  

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Recognize and apply appropriate statistical approaches and visualisation methods for the analysis and interpretation of biological data.  
2. Identify and be able to access and handle various sources of biological data.  
3. Demonstrate the ability to communicate in various styles, such as essays, whilst citing and referencing work in an appropriate manner thereby ensuring academic integrity. 
4. Develop and reflect on the skills for independent lifelong learning, including working independently, time management, enterprise and knowledge transfer skills through the production of a portfolio  

Module content

The module will be made up of a series of lectures and practicals/workshops on quantitative methods, critical scientific reading/writing and careers (including how to construct an effective CV and cover letter). There will also be lectures on the role and impact of intellectual property (IP) within a research environment, knowledge transfer and commercialisation, project management and proposal writing. Students will become familiar with various sources of biological data (e.g. curated datasets from scientific studies, citizen science efforts like GBIF, remote-sensed GIS data) and how to obtain, handle, analyse and present information to address research questions both to scientific and public audiences. Students will be given the opportunity to explore the various sectors in Biology in ‘Meet the Professionals’ (led by invited, external speakers) and construct a reflective, skills portfolio. Activities will be supplemented with academic tutor led sessions, thus providing the students with further guidance and support.  

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The learning outcomes will be met through a combination of lectures, workshops, self-directed learning and directed independent study. Appropriate supplementary information and reading lists will be provided on Blackboard. There will also be structured, academic tutor led activities to complement the lecture material and encourage teamwork, reflection and forward planning. Support and guidance (especially for the portfolio) will also be available in the form of several drop-in sessions. 

Study hours

At least 52 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.

Reassessment

Additional costs