Modules

Module title: Marine Biology
SCQF level: 09:
SCQF credit value: 20.00
ECTS credit value: 10
Module code: ENV09104
Module leader: Linda Gilpin
School School of Applied Sciences
Subject area group: Animal and Plant Science
Prerequisites

There are no pre-requisites for this module to be added
2019/0, Trimester 2, FACE-TO-FACE,
Occurrence: 001
Primary mode of delivery: FACE-TO-FACE
Location of delivery: SIGHTHILL
Partner:
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: Linda Gilpin
Module Organiser:


Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA) Approach:
A series of interactive lectures introduce the diversity of marine organisms and a variety of ecosystems (LOs 1-4). Students will prepare an audio-visual presentation on the biology of a specific organism or their habitat (LO5) in a format attractive to a broader audience, which could be screened on a loop in a visitor centre/museum setting. A series of tutorials will support this exercise with classes reflecting on presentation skills/formats, public outreach and assessment criteria.

Formative Assessment:
Students will prepare a plan for their audio-visual presentation, including chosen topic, most important points of information to be presented and the format/medium of presentation. The students will receive feedback on their plan to inform the following summative assessment. The students will be provided with example exam questions of past papers that will be discussed and formative feedback will be provided in a group session. This will assist the students with the final summative assessment.

Summative Assessment:
An audio-visual presentation (e.g. video blog post, narrated or subtitled PowerPoint presentation) will be submitted covering topics from specific organisms to habitats.
There will also be a final exam on topics covered in the module.
Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)
Face To Face Lecture 32
Face To Face Tutorial 2
Face To Face External visits 14
Face To Face Practical classes and workshops 4
Face To Face Centrally Time Tabled Examination 2
Independent Learning Guided independent study 146
Total Study Hours200
Expected Total Study Hours for Module200


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words
Oral Presentation 40 5 10 HOURS= 4mins
Centrally Time Tabled Examination 60 1,2,3 & 4 14/15 HOURS= 2, WORDS= 0
Component 1 subtotal: 40
Component 2 subtotal: 60
Module subtotal: 100

Description of module content:

This module will introduce you to the diversity of marine organisms in a range of key marine ecosystems from plankton in the ocean’s surface waters to coral reefs and mangroves in shallow tropical seas, as well as fish and mammals in the deep ocean. The module will provide detailed knowledge on these marine habitats, followed by a more focused view on the biology of the organisms, their interactions with each other and with the environment.
There will also be a focus on approaches to public engagement with topics in marine biology. To support this we will visit some information centres in and around Edinburgh to explore different methods of engagement.
Learning Outcomes for module:

Upon completion of this module you will
LO1: be able to critically reflect on the diversity of marine habitats and the organisms found in these environments
LO2: be able to interpret the biology of named organisms in relation to their environment
LO3: compare and contrast marine ecosystems: the diversity of organisms, their life cycles and their adaptations to different environmental variables
LO4: be able to construct examples of marine food webs
LO5: be able to apply gained knowledge to produce information on a specific marine organism or their coastal/marine habitat in an audio-visual format, attractive to a broad audience.
Indicative References and Reading List - URL:

Recommended - CASTRO, P. & HUBER, M.E. (2010) MARINE BIOLOGY: NEW YORK: MCGRAW HILL, 8th ed. - ISBN: 9780071113021
Recommended - NYBAKKEN, J. W. & BERTNESS, M. D. (2005) MARINE BIOLOGY: AN ECOLOGICAL APPROACH: SAN FRANCISCO: BENJAMIN CUMMING, 6th ed. - ISBN: 0321306694
Click here to view the LibrarySearch.
 

Related information