BIOSCI 204 : Principles of Microbiology
Science
2021 Semester One (1213) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This course provides an introduction to the diversity, physiology and functions of microorganisms (prokaryotes, eukaryotes, viruses) as individuals and as communities. The fundamental roles of microorganisms in ecosystems, health and disease are considered alongside methods for their isolation and study. Microbial applications in biotechnology, food production, agriculture and industry are also discussed.
BIOSCI 204 is a required paper in the Microbiology Pathway in the Biological Sciences Major. It leads into our BIOSCI stage 3 Microbiology papers BIOSCI 347 Environmental Microbiology, BIOSCI 348 Food and Industrial Microbiology and BIOSCI 349 Biomedical Microbiology.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
| Capability 5: | Independence and Integrity |
| Capability 6: | Social and Environmental Responsibilities |
Learning Outcomes
- Gain accurate practical skills in isolation, identification, culture and handling of microorganisms. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 4)
- Use these practical skills to solve microbiology questions, such as determine which microbes colonise different local environments e.g streams, soil and food. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 4)
- Define the different structures within microbial cells and the roles of these structures. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Describe the diversity of microbial metabolism. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Describe the origins and evolution of microbial life. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Describe the roles micro-organisms play within ecosystems using examples. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Recognise the interactions between macro-organisms and micro-organisms. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Assess critically, the literature around a current microbiology topic. Communicate this information a clear, concise manner in an essay using references to support the argument. Link the microbiology topic to social and environmental responsibilities. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
- Be able to incorporate knowledge and understanding from practical and theoretical course components into discussions of microbiological concepts. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 4)
- Apply knowledge and skills gained to advance understanding of microbial life and its relationship to society and the environment. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Laboratories | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| Essay | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| Test | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| Final Exam | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| 4 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| Laboratories | ||||||||||
| Essay | ||||||||||
| Test | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
Key Topics
Special Requirements
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures, a fortnightly 3 hour practical lab, 66 hours of reading and thinking about the content and work on assignments and/or test preparation (minimum 5.5 hours per week outside of class).
If you do not attend class and use lecture recordings you need to do minimum 8.5 hours per week at home.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including seminars and tutorials will be available as recordings; lab content may not be recorded
The course will include live online events including tutorials.
Attendance on campus is required for the test and exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
A remote version of the course can be made available to students located overseas because of border restrictions, or those with an exemption to study remotely
Learning Resources
Student Feedback
During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.
At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.
Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.
While our BioSci204 laboratories have largely been very well received, to ensure we are teaching only the most up-to-date material, all six labs will be new in 2021!! We've also worked hard to ensure that, where possible, the person running the labs is the same person providing you with lectures during that week, improving your ability to interact with your lecturers and ask questions. To improve the sustainability of our course, we regret that we may no longer a full hard copy of the course guide in 2021
Digital Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
Copyright
The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.
You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.