BIO4013 - Biomedical Science Skills

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Apply a broad range of laboratory-based plus computer-based competencies.
Evidence competence in numeracy, IT, data handling and data analysis.
Interpret knowledge of diseases.
Evidence competence in scientific writing, information retrieval and critical analysis skills.
Implement group working, communication and problem-solving skills that could be applied in Biomedical Science settings.
Demonstrate reflective skills for group and externally facing activities that could be applied in Biomedical Science settings.

Content:

This module will introduce students to a range of key study and practical skills that will be used throughout their Biomedical Science degree and focus on giving the skills to become an independent learner. This module will help students to develop a number of important laboratory plus generic skills, including numeracy skills, information literacy and writing skills plus essential study skills. Laboratory skills will focus on techniques that are common across the other modules on the course, safety and good laboratory practice methods plus students gaining core competencies and use of key equipment in the laboratory. Concepts of disease cohorts, bioinformatics and big data will be covered. Basic concepts from chemistry and physics relevant to biomedical sciences will be covered. Group work will also be covered and all students will engage in the University Professional Challenge which involves each student participating in 20 hours of group work with typically 6 other students from other courses in the University at the end of the module.

The content of this module has been mapped to the IBMS QAA Benchmark requirements for:
Generic and subject-specific skills including health and safety, good laboratory practice and awareness of the IBMS and HCPC.
Discipline- and subject-specific skills associated with laboratory practice
Research skills, including ethics, governance, audit, experimental design, data generation, statistical analysis, literature searching, scientific communication Key transferable skills, including communication, IT, numeracy, data analysis.
Bioinformatics and systems biology.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Students will be introduced to becoming an independent learner, time management, information gathering, data analysis, assessment planning and revision, giving a presentation plus how to use feedback will be covered in a series of 10 x 1h tutorials in semester 1. A further series of 10 x 1h tutorials will be used to cover essay topics plus group working and the Professional Challenge in semester 2. A series of 15 x 2h lecture sessions covering key biomedical science techniques, the use of physics and chemistry in biomedical science, links to common disease mechanisms, available data sets from diseased populations and their use in diagnosis plus treatment will be taught throughout the module. A total of 9 x 2h practical sessions will be used to introduce students to key laboratory techniques, with 6 practical sessions in semester 1 and 3 practical sessions in semester 2. A 1 x 2h computer practical will also be used in semester 1 to introduce students to available online artificial intelligence methods and how to use them in a scientific setting with 2 x 2h computer practical sessions in semester 2 to cover uses of databases and bioinformatics.

Lectures
Hours: 30
Intended Group Size: Full Cohort

Practical sessions
Hours: 18
Intended Group Size: Full Cohort

Computer Lab session
Hours: 6
Intended Group Size: Full Cohort

Tutorials
Hours: 20
Intended Group Size: Max 15

Guided independent study
Hours: 226

Further details relating to assessment
Post lecture, tutorial and practical session activities submitted through Moodle will facilitate ongoing formative assessment opportunities via lecturer or peer feedback.

A formative Laboratory competency test will be run Mid Semester 1 to allow students to prepare for the end of Semester 1 Laboratory competency test assessment.

The Laboratory competency test will take place in the exam weeks of Semester 1 of the module and will involve students being set a series of practical tasks, including producing a graph of results which will be marked. Skills will be assessed by staff during the tasks with marks available for specific laboratory skills detailed in a marking scheme specific for the set tasks.

The Disease data analysis will be set in Semester 1 based on students analysing some disease related data and researching the diagnosis of disease using the results of the analysis. The coursework will be submitted mid-semester 2.

All students are required to participate in the University wide Level 4 Professional Challenge. This will involve participation in 20 hours of group work with students from across the University. Participation will be monitored by completion of specified tasks and attendance of appropriate sessions. This component is a Pass/Fail component for the module and completion of the activity is compulsory.

The Professional Challenge reflection will be a written reflection on the students participation in the group activity of the Professional Challenge relating the skills learned to their Biomedical Science degree, the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) transferable skills and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) competencies. The coursework will be submitted at the end of semester 2, following completion of the challenge.

Other information
The Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) professional body requires students to achieve a pass mark in all assessment components for modules that cover the clinical laboratory sciences subject areas including this one. Since laboratory practical sessions contribute towards assessments these sessions should be considered compulsory. Condonement/compensation will not be permitted for this module, that contributes significantly to the benchmark statement and have learning outcomes that students achieve that cannot be evidenced elsewhere for the accreditation of the degree.

Assessment:

001 Laboratory competency test; 90 min; end of semester 1 40%
002 Disease data analysis; 2,000 words; mid semester 2 30%
003 Professional challenge participation; semester 1 and 2 %
004 Professional challenge reflection; 2,000 words; end of semester 2 30%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Margarita Gomez Escalada
Level - 4
Credit Value - 30
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 4YL

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