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  2. Natural Sciences Project [SCI3120]

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

    Natural Sciences Project

  • Unit Code

    SCI3120

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

This unit takes the form of independent study in one of three possible modes. Firstly students may elect to complete a professional practice project involving work-based learning with a company or agency in the natural science area. Secondly, students can undertake a project in a natural sciences discipline under the direct supervision of an academic staff member. Thirdly students may participate in a structured field expedition. Not all modes will be available each semester.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Complete a project in some area of the natural sciences within designated time limits.
  2. Effectively summarise the main findings of the project to an audience.
  3. Prepare a plan for a project which clearly describes the objectives, proposed methodology, budget, risk assessment and timetable for the project.
  4. Prepare a written report which details the work undertaken in the project.

Unit Content

  1. Conduct of the project: data collection.
  2. Identification and clarification of the objective(s) of the project.
  3. Identification of information relating to the investigation.
  4. Preparation of a written report.
  5. Preparation of project proposal addressing background, rationale, significance, methods and resources, logistics, budgets, timeframes and risk assessment including health and safety considerations.
  6. Processing of data and analysis of the results.
  7. Verbal presentation of the project results and conclusions.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Regular meetings with supervisor(s), introductory lecture(s), seminars, workshops and field work.

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.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentProject Proposal10%
WorkshopSeminar20%
ReportWritten Report70%

Text References

  • Dytham, C. (2003). Choosing and using statistics: a biologist's guide (2nd ed.). London, UK: Blackwell Publishers Note: Students will be also be directed by their supervisors to significant references in their particular areas of interest .
  • Fowler, J., Cohen, L. & Jarvis, P. (1998). Practical statistics for field biology (2nd ed.) Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons
  • Hay, I. (2002). Communicating in geography and the environmental sciences (2nd ed.). Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press.
  • Ennos, R. (2007). Statistical and data handling skills in biology. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Pearsonn
  • Quinn, G.P & Keough, M.J. (2002). Experimental design and data analysis for biologists. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
  • Townend, J. (2002). Practical statistics for environmental and biological scientists. (2nd ed). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
  • Manly, B.F.J. (2000). Statistics for environmental science and management. New York, NY: Chapman & Hall/CRC Press.

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.

SCI3120|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

    Natural Sciences Project

  • Unit Code

    SCI3120

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

This unit takes the form of independent study in one of three possible modes. Firstly students may elect to complete a professional practice project involving work-based learning with a company or agency in the natural science area. Secondly, students can undertake a project in a natural sciences discipline under the direct supervision of an academic staff member. Thirdly students may participate in a structured field expedition. Not all modes will be available each semester.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Complete a project in some area of the natural sciences within designated time limits.
  2. Effectively summarise the main findings of the project to an audience.
  3. Prepare a plan for a project which clearly describes the objectives, proposed methodology, budget, risk assessment and timetable for the project.
  4. Prepare a written report which details the work undertaken in the project.

Unit Content

  1. Conduct of the project: data collection.
  2. Identification and clarification of the objective(s) of the project.
  3. Identification of information relating to the investigation.
  4. Preparation of a written report.
  5. Preparation of project proposal addressing background, rationale, significance, methods and resources, logistics, budgets, timeframes and risk assessment including health and safety considerations.
  6. Processing of data and analysis of the results.
  7. Verbal presentation of the project results and conclusions.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Regular meetings with supervisor(s), introductory lecture(s), seminars, workshops and field work.

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.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentProject Proposal10%
WorkshopSeminar20%
ReportWritten Report70%

Text References

  • Dytham, C. (2003). Choosing and using statistics: a biologist's guide (2nd ed.). London, UK: Blackwell Publishers Note: Students will be also be directed by their supervisors to significant references in their particular areas of interest .
  • Fowler, J., Cohen, L. & Jarvis, P. (1998). Practical statistics for field biology (2nd ed.) Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons
  • Hay, I. (2002). Communicating in geography and the environmental sciences (2nd ed.). Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press.
  • Ennos, R. (2007). Statistical and data handling skills in biology. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Pearsonn
  • Quinn, G.P & Keough, M.J. (2002). Experimental design and data analysis for biologists. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
  • Townend, J. (2002). Practical statistics for environmental and biological scientists. (2nd ed). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
  • Manly, B.F.J. (2000). Statistics for environmental science and management. New York, NY: Chapman & Hall/CRC Press.

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.

SCI3120|1|2