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Study information

Fundamental Skills for Medical Scientists

Module titleFundamental Skills for Medical Scientists
Module codeCSC1004
Academic year2024/5
Credits30
Module staff

Dr David MacDonald (Convenor)

Dr James Butler (Convenor)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

11

11

0

Number students taking module (anticipated)

180

Module description

Designed to help you to get the most out of your BSc Medical Sciences degree, this module will take you through your first steps in developing essential scientific and professional skills that will be useful in your future career. In this module, you will explore topics relating to safe and accurate laboratory work, statistical analysis of data, coding in health data science, communication in formal and informal environments, and employability.
You must complete the ELE (Exeter Learning Environment) module 'Academic Honesty and Plagiarism' prior to submitting your first piece of coursework and you will seek guidance from your Academic Tutor or the module lead if further advice is required.

In order to take this module you must normally have an A Level (or equivalent) in Biology.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module introduces you to the key principles of safe laboratory practice, statistical analysis of data, introductory coding skills in health data science, scientific writing and communication skills, and employability. You will gain a good working knowledge of scientific writing, critical appraisal and referencing, how to interpret and make sense of experimental data using statistical analysis, and an introduction to advanced research methods used in medical sciences. Further emphasis will be placed on personal development planning to make sure you have the transferable skills necessary to enhance your performance in all academic stages as well as to improve your Professional Training Year and your future employability prospects.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. Demonstrate knowledge of what it means to work safely in the laboratory and to gain competence in basic laboratory procedures supported by virtual on-line resources.
  • 2. Communicate effectively and with probity to expert and non-expert audiences (by written, oral and visual means)

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 3. Accurately analyse, interpret and present scientific data (data handling).
  • 4. Use on-line literature databases to gather scientific information.
  • 5. Synthesise and critically evaluate current scientific knowledge, with appropriate referencing.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 6. Manage time, workload and information effectively, both independently and as part of a team.
  • 7. Identify transferable skills acquired from academic and extra-curricular activities and apply these to future academic development and career planning through reflection and review processes.
  • 8. Conduct yourself in a professional manner

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, an example of an overall structure is as follows:

 The module is broadly divided into four competency sections.  1) Developing your laboratory and statistical analysis of data skills.  2) Working in small groups under the guidance of an expert facilitator to develop skills in literature searching, critical analysis, scientific writing and oral presentation. A series of supporting workshops will lead you step by step through this process.  3) Learning about advanced research methods and their application to contemporary research fields within medical science. 4) Learning how to enhance your employability skills through undertaking a CV and cover letter writing assessment.

Throughout the module, you will be required to engage with the Arena Seminars (clinician-scientist-patient forum) and other advertised academic and employability-focused sessions.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
902100

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching15Laboratory-based practical classes
Scheduled Learning and Teaching65 Lectures, workshops and tutorials on academic/personal skills and employability, including module induction and feedback, delivered as pre-recorded video, on-line synchronous or face-to-face as appropriate
Scheduled Learning and Teaching10Engagement with academic/employability events (e.g. Translational Science Seminars, research seminars, Arena sessions etc.)
Guided Independent Study20Virtual learning environment tasks relating to practical classes and data analysis
Guided Independent Study100Literature search and reading for literature review
Guided Independent Study60Completion of formative and summative assessments
Guided Independent Study30Workshop preparation and consolidation

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Virtual learning environment tasks4 x 1 hour1,2,5Online
Scientific literature review plan1 page2-6Written and oral
Statistics exerciseOn-line MCQ quiz2,5Online

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
80200

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Practical problem sets20Online assessments1,3,6,8Online and model answers
Statistical Analysis of Data exam201hr written exam3Written
Scientific literature review303.5 pages2,4-6,8Written
Oral presentation106 minute individual oral presentation2,4-6,8Written and oral
Job application102 page CV + 1 page cover letter 2,7-8Written
Professionalism Award10Academic Tutor professionalism report7-8Written and oral

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Practical problem sets (20%)Online assessments (20%)1,3,6,8August Ref/Def
Statistical Analysis of Data exam (20%),1 hour written examStatistical Analysis of Data exam (20%)3August Ref/Def
Scientific literature review (30%), 3.5 pages Scientific literature review (30%) 2,4-6,8August Ref/Def
Oral presentation (10%), (6 minutes) Oral presentation (10%) 2,4-6,8August Ref/Def
Job application (10%), 2 page CV + 1 page cover letter Job application (10%) 2,7-8 August Ref/Def
Professionalism Award (10%) Professionalism remediation meeting (10%) 7-8August Ref/Def

Re-assessment notes

For the summative oral presentation assessment, students will be offered either a referral or a deferral re-assessment opportunity, which can be completed in-person or live-synchronously on-line as appropriate.  No extensions will be offered for the oral presentation assessment.

In the event of you failing the professionalism award assessment component and failing the module overall, you will be required to meet with your Academic Tutor as soon as possible to remediate this failure as a referred assessment.  This will involve submitting any outstanding components required for this award, and, if necessary, undertaking any actions required by the Academic Tutor to remediate for any unprofessional behaviour. In the event of you failing the Professionalism Award component but passing the module overall, you will be required to meet with your academic tutor for an individual meeting to remediate this outcome at the beginning of the following academic year.

In the event of you failing the Academic Honesty quiz, the module will be capped at 39 until it is passed.

Please also refer to the TQA section on Referral/Deferral: http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/aph/consequenceoffailure/

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Indicative basic reading list:

Cottrell, S. The Study Skills Handbook. Palgrave

Cottrell, S. Critical Thinking Skills. Palgrave.

Boyle, J. & Ramsay, S. Writing for Science Students. Palgrave.

Harris, M., Taylor, J. & Taylor, G. Catch Up Maths & Stats: for the life and medical sciences. Scion Publishing.

Rumsey, D. J. Statistics For Dummies. For Dummies Publishing.

De Vries, A. & Meys, J. R for Dummies. For Dummies Publishing

 

Access to online versions of the reading list can be found here: CSC1004-Reading-List

 

 

 

 

 

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

All basic material required for this module will be provided on the Exeter Learning Environment (ELE), which can be accessed here: https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=9074

Key words search

Safety, laboratory skills, statistics, research skills, scientific communication, scientific writing, presentation skills, experimental design, data analysis, employability, study skills, personal development

Credit value30
Module ECTS

15

Module pre-requisites

None

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

4

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

30/03/2016

Last revision date

02/03/2023