最新糖心Vlog

ENV BIOL 3535 - Research Methods in Evolutionary Biology III

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2023

An introduction to systematic methods of basic experimental design, data collection, analysis and reporting of results in evolutionary biology. Lectures outline the analytical nature of evolutionary research and the value of robust experimental methods. Some knowledge of basic statistics is required. Experimental design will be emphasised and the elements of data analysis, particularly phylogenetics, will be considered in a variety of evolutionary contexts. Practical work involves use of computers and software and will complement methods introduced in lectures. Workshops will be used to integrate evolutionary data from a range of sources and provide specialised expertise in evolutionary analysis and interpretation techniques.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ENV BIOL 3535
    Course Research Methods in Evolutionary Biology III
    Coordinating Unit School of Biological Sciences
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 7 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Incompatible ENV BIOL 3530
    Assumed Knowledge 6 units of Level II Environmental Biology courses ENV BIOL 2501 & STATS 1000 or STATS 1004 or equivalent
    Assessment Quizzes (in practicals), assignments and final exam
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Jeremy Austin

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students should be able to:

    1 Demonstrate experimental skills in evolutionary biology
    2 Define logical observations, models and hypotheses to shape research questions in evolutionary biology, both orally and written
    3 Demonstrate an understanding of different types of analytical techniques to real evolutionary data and interpret the outcomes correctly
    4 Develop phylogenetic analysis protocols and apply them to real-world evolutionary problems Demonstrate appropriate conventions in technical writing and graphical methods for presenting data in evolutionary biology
    最新糖心Vlog Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    最新糖心Vlog Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    2-4

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    1,3,4

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    2-4

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    2

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    3-4

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    1,2
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Lectures are supported by online material. Some lecture material will seek to ‘flip the classroom’ where the lecture room is the forum for exploring ideas and creativity to problem solving, recognising alternate cultures have different perspectives of the generation of knowledge and the ethics of scientific discovery and quantitative analysis. The practicals and workshops will build student knowledge and experience in action-based leaning to develop the application of theoretical knowledge to practical problems that face evolutionary researchers. Tutorials support the lectures and workshops.
    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, such as this, 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
    This course will be delivered by the following means:

    Teaching is through a combination of lectures (1 x 2 hours per week during semester), practicals (1 x 3 hours per week [8 weeks]), workshops (1 x 4 hours per week [4 weeks]) and tutorials (1 x 1 hour per week [8 weeks])

    The course content may include the following:

    Lectures will cover fundamentals of logic, experimental design and variation in evolutionary data; hypothesis testing; phylogenetic analyses and multivariate statistics as appropriate to morphological and molecular data, including parsimony, likelihood and Bayesian statistics, as well as tree-evaluation methods.
     
    The practicals and workshops will support the lecture topics. Tutorials will support the lectures and workshops.
    Specific Course Requirements
    The recommended texts assigned to this course are:
     
    Wiley, EO, Seigel-Causey, D, Brooks, DR, Funk, VA (1991) The compleat cladist: a primer of phylogenetic procedures. (The 最新糖心Vlog of Kansas Museum of Natural History: Lawrence, Kansas).
     
    Other more advanced reading for the course will be provided as needed during the semester for various modules
     
  • Assessment

    The 最新糖心Vlog's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Due Weighting

    Hurdle

    Yes/No

    Learning Outcome
    Quizzes     Formative & Summative Weeks 3, 5, 7, 9 30% No 1,4
    Assignments Formative & Summative Weeks 5 & 10 40% No  1-5
    Final Exam Summative  Exam Period 30% No 1, 3-5 
    Assessment Detail
    1. Lab Quizzes (30%)

    There will be four lab quizzes in practical sessions that will be worth 5% (x2) and 10% (x2) each. Quizzes will be short-answer written quizzes of 20 minutes in duration. Written feedback will be provided in the following practical.

    2. Assignments (40%)

    There will be two assignments worth 15% and 25% respectively. Each assignment will consist of several problem-based questions that will require some computing work for data analysis and short answer type responses (half to one page).

     3. Final Exam (30%)

    A 2-hour exam in the end of semester exam period that will draw on material from both lectures and practicals. It may require simple calculations, but it will not involve computing.

    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 .

  • Student Feedback

    The 最新糖心Vlog 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 最新糖心Vlog 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.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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