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  2. Professional Science Essentials [SCI1125]

Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science

School: Natural Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Professional Science Essentials

  • Unit Code

    SCI1125

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

This unit will introduce students to the skills required of professional scientists, with a special focus on effective communication. These professional skills include techniques of accessing, evaluating and presenting scientific information. Written, visual and oral presentation skills for scientific and general audiences will be developed through the analysis of topical scientific issues. This unit will prepare students to develop careers in the science discipline of choice.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate skills in communication scientific information to a variety of audiences.
  2. Demonstrate skills in the location and evaluation of scientific information and information resources.
  3. Demonstrate skills in the written, visual and oral presentation of scientific information.
  4. Describe the professional standards for scientists relating to intellectual property, ethical conduct, plagiarism, use of data and authorship.

Unit Content

  1. Effective oral presentations for scientific and general audiences.
  2. Effective poster presentations for scientific and general audiences.
  3. Effective writing for scientific and general audiences.
  4. Evaluation of the quality and suitability of scientific information.
  5. Interpersonal communication.
  6. Interpretation of scientific information.
  7. Library, Internet and other online sources of science information.
  8. Note taking and preparation for written and oral communication.
  9. Professional scientific standards related to intellectual property, ethical conduct, plagiarism, use of data and authorship.

Additional Learning Experience Information

workshops, online activities.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

Due to the professional competency skill development associated with this Unit, student attendance/participation within listed in-class activities is compulsory. Students failing to meet participation standards as outlined in the unit plan may be awarded an I Grade (Fail - incomplete). Students who are unable to meet this requirement for medical or other reasons must seek the approval of the unit coordinator.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
PortfolioContinuous Assessment and Reflection20%
AssignmentWritten Literature Review *40%
PresentationPoster and Oral Presentation *40%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
PortfolioContinuous Assessment and Reflection20%
AssignmentWritten Literature Review40%
PresentationBrochure and Oral Presentation *40%

* Assessment item identified for English language proficiency

Text References

  • Clare, J. (2011) Communicating clearly about science and medicine Farnham, UK: Gower
  • Pechenik, J.A. (2010). A short guide to writing about biology (7th ed.). NY: Pearson Education
  • O Dochartaigh, N. (2007). Internet research skills: How to do your literature search and find research information online. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.
  • Altman, R. (2007). Writing to communicate 2: Paragraphs and essays. Pleasanton, CA: Harvest Books.
  • Anderson, P. V. (2007). Technical communication: a reader centered approach (6th ed.). Boston, MA.: Thomson/Wadsworth.
  • Boardman, C. A. (2008). Writing to communicate 2: Paragraphs and essays. White Plains, NY: Pearson/Longman.
  • Hock, R. (2007). The extreme searcher's Internet handbook: A guide for the serious searcher (2nd ed.). Medford, N.J.: CyberAge Books.
  • Day, R.A. & Sakaduski, N. (2011) Scientific english: A guide for scientists and other professionals (3rd ed.). Westport Co.: Greenwood Publishing.
  • Grellier, J. & Goerke, V. (2010) Communication skills toolkit : unlocking the secrets of tertiary success (2nd ed.). South Melbourne, Vic. : Cengage Learning,
  • Knisely, K. (2009). A student handbook for writing in biology (3rd ed.). Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates
  • Lindsay, D.R. (2011) Scientific writing = thinking in words Collingwood, Australia: CSIRO Publishing

Website References

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SCI1125|1|1

Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science

School: Natural Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Professional Science Essentials

  • Unit Code

    SCI1125

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

This unit will introduce students to the skills required of professional scientists, with a special focus on effective communication. These professional skills include techniques of accessing, evaluating and presenting scientific information. Written, visual and oral presentation skills for scientific and general audiences will be developed through the analysis of topical scientific issues. This unit will prepare students to develop careers in the science discipline of choice.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate skills in communication scientific information to a variety of audiences.
  2. Demonstrate skills in the location and evaluation of scientific information and information resources.
  3. Demonstrate skills in the written, visual and oral presentation of scientific information.
  4. Describe the professional standards for scientists relating to intellectual property, ethical conduct, plagiarism, use of data and authorship.

Unit Content

  1. Effective oral presentations for scientific and general audiences.
  2. Effective poster presentations for scientific and general audiences.
  3. Effective writing for scientific and general audiences.
  4. Evaluation of the quality and suitability of scientific information.
  5. Interpersonal communication.
  6. Interpretation of scientific information.
  7. Library, Internet and other online sources of science information.
  8. Note taking and preparation for written and oral communication.
  9. Professional scientific standards related to intellectual property, ethical conduct, plagiarism, use of data and authorship.

Additional Learning Experience Information

workshops, online activities.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

Due to the professional competency skill development associated with this Unit, student attendance/participation within listed in-class activities is compulsory. Students failing to meet participation standards as outlined in the unit plan may be awarded an I Grade (Fail - incomplete). Students who are unable to meet this requirement for medical or other reasons must seek the approval of the unit coordinator.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
PortfolioContinuous Assessment and Reflection20%
AssignmentWritten Literature Review *40%
PresentationPoster and Oral Presentation *40%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
PortfolioContinuous Assessment and Reflection20%
AssignmentWritten Literature Review40%
PresentationBrochure and Oral Presentation *40%

* Assessment item identified for English language proficiency

Text References

  • Clare, J. (2011) Communicating clearly about science and medicine Farnham, UK: Gower
  • Pechenik, J.A. (2010). A short guide to writing about biology (7th ed.). NY: Pearson Education
  • O Dochartaigh, N. (2007). Internet research skills: How to do your literature search and find research information online. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.
  • Altman, R. (2007). Writing to communicate 2: Paragraphs and essays. Pleasanton, CA: Harvest Books.
  • Anderson, P. V. (2007). Technical communication: a reader centered approach (6th ed.). Boston, MA.: Thomson/Wadsworth.
  • Boardman, C. A. (2008). Writing to communicate 2: Paragraphs and essays. White Plains, NY: Pearson/Longman.
  • Hock, R. (2007). The extreme searcher's Internet handbook: A guide for the serious searcher (2nd ed.). Medford, N.J.: CyberAge Books.
  • Day, R.A. & Sakaduski, N. (2011) Scientific english: A guide for scientists and other professionals (3rd ed.). Westport Co.: Greenwood Publishing.
  • Grellier, J. & Goerke, V. (2010) Communication skills toolkit : unlocking the secrets of tertiary success (2nd ed.). South Melbourne, Vic. : Cengage Learning,
  • Knisely, K. (2009). A student handbook for writing in biology (3rd ed.). Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates
  • Lindsay, D.R. (2011) Scientific writing = thinking in words Collingwood, Australia: CSIRO Publishing

Website References

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SCI1125|1|2