ENV BIOL 3560 - Evolution of Australian Biota III
North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2020
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code ENV BIOL 3560 Course Evolution of Australian Biota III Coordinating Unit School of Biological Sciences Term Semester 2 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 12 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N Prerequisites ENV BIOL 2501 Incompatible ENV BIOL 3230 or ENV BIOL 3122, ENV BIOL 3123, ENV BIOL 3550 Assumed Knowledge ENV BIOL 2500 and ENV BIOL 2503, ENV BIOL 3535 Assessment Mid-term and final in-term tests and essays Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Dr John Conran
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course students should be able to:
1 Analyse, synthesise and critically evaluate theories of cutting-edge solutions to problems in evolutionary biology and demonstrate an understanding of the importance of evolutionary studies as a foundation of comparative biology 2 Understand the importance of the fossil record in evolutionary studies from a theoretical perspective and the role of phylogenetic studies in the wider context of biodiversity and conservation 3 Present information relating to the evolution of the Australian biota in a written form that aligns with conventions for scientific reports University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Deep discipline knowledge
- informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
- acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
- accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
1-3 Critical thinking and problem solving
- steeped in research methods and rigor
- based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
- demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
1-3 Teamwork and communication skills
- developed from, with, and via the SGDE
- honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
- encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
2-3 Career and leadership readiness
- technology savvy
- professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
- forward thinking and well informed
- tested and validated by work based experiences
1-3 Intercultural and ethical competency
- adept at operating in other cultures
- comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
- able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
- demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
3 Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
- a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
- open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
- able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
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Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
This course demonstrates theory through the direct exposure of logic, experimental design and experience of the natural environment from 3 x 1-hour lectures per week 8 x 1-hour specialist workshops on cutting edge current research topics and an in-depth literature-based assignment derived from workshop-related topics. Each component of the course is approached systematically so that by the end, all components have been brought together through individual reports and presentations.
Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
A student enrolled in a 3 unit course should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).Learning Activities Summary
Lecture topics will include:
1. Palaeontology, past climates and ecosystems and their impacts on the present-day biota, particularly focusing on, but not
limited to the Cenozoic (10 lectures);
2. Evolution of the Australian Flora covering molecular and morphological approaches to the study of major angiosperm groups
as well as aspects of their evolutionary biology, focusing on pollination co-evolution and exaptation (11 lectures).
3. Evolution of the Australian fauna, focusing on radiations, adaptations and specialisations throughout the changing Australian
environment over time, using morphological and molecular approaches to the study of phylogeny and phylogeography (14 lectures).
Students will learn to apply scientific techniques and approaches in tutorials which will expose students to cutting edge problem solving skills needed to advance knowledge and are presented by specialist academic staff on topics directly related to their own research. The aim is to give students an insight into the approaches and challenges of current evolutionary research and to encourage critical thinking on key issues via discussion with an academic expert in a research environment. -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment Task Type of assessment Percentage of total assessment for grading purposes Hurdle
Yes/NoLearning Outcome Due Mid-term Test Formative & Summative 2 x 20% No 1-3 Weeks 4 & 7 Literature
reportFormative & Summative 2 x 15% No 1-3 Weeks 8 & 12 Final Exam Summative 30% No 3 Week 12 Assessment Detail
For 2020, all assessment components will be assessed and marked remotely
Progressive Tests: (40% of total course grade, 2 x 1 hours).
Test 1: (20%, 1 hour) Comprises a combination of short answer and/or essay questions and will cover lectures 1–10 (week 4).
Test 2: (20%, 1 hour) Comprises a combination of multiple choice and short answer questions to be assessed online and will cover lectures 11–21 (week 7)
Final In-term Test: (30% of total course grade, 1.5 hours). It covers mainly lecture material from weeks 8–12, but to ensure summative knowledge of the course may also integrate concepts and theories from the entire course. It is mainly short answer and essay questions (week 12).
Literature report: (30% of course grade). This will require in-depth literature-based explorations of two of the workshop topics (chosen by the student) and will comprise 2 x 15% essays of about 2000 words for each topic (due by weeks 8 and 12 respectively).
Submission
If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the
assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
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- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Elder Conservatorium of Music Noise Management Plan
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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