Scientific Skills and Communication
SCB100
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Level of study: What does Undergraduate Level 1 mean?
Undergraduate Level 1
EFTSL: What does EFTSL mean?
0.125
Delivery Method: What does delivery method mean?
Web Dependent
Prerequisites: What are the prerequisites?
No
Availability: What is a Study period?
For enrolment (2012): For forward planning* (2013): What is Forward Planning?- SP1
- -
- SP3
- -
Duration:
13 weeks
Government loans available:
FEE-HELP FEE-HELP
Fee: Fees (current and planned)
- Domestic student fee:
- $1,039.00 (AUD)
- International student fee:
- $1,264.00 (AUD)
Description
The study and practice of science has its own procedures and protocols as well as an oral, written and visual language. Students entering a scientific profession must be familiar with fundamental skills and knowledge so they can communicate and excel in the sciences. This unit is designed to begin that foundation. It introduces you to health and safety issues, basic computer and web skills, oral, written and visual communication. The unit will raise your awareness and knowledge of what is needed to work in the sciences, as well as teaching you practical skills that will support further study.
Learning Outcomes
At the completion of this unit students will be able to:
- state and apply the main tenets of the scientific method (hypothesis, experimental observations, analysis of data, evaluation relative to hypothesis)
- use computer applications for word-processing, spreadsheets, graphics, presentations and databases
- understand the main methods of communication used in the disciplines
- know and use common scientific information services, including library catalogues and computer-based services, e.g. databases of current literature
- conduct an experiment and write a scientific report using conventional format, including presentation in tables and graphs
- construct a critical literature review in conventional format, including location of material in recent literature, referencing and formatting
- prepare a presentation on the basis of this material using PowerPoint, including construct a laboratory report and a critical literature review
- state and apply legal requirements of regulations governing occupational health and safety in the sciences
- state and apply legal and moral responsibilities of a graduate in these disciplines.
Topics
This unit addresses the following topics.
| Number | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Scientific Methods and Practice (SMP) - Introduction |
| 2 | SMP - Data presentation |
| 3 | SMP - Referencing |
| 4 | SMP - Scientific reports |
| 5 | SMP - Literature Reviews |
| 6 | SMP - Experimental Design |
| 7 | Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) - Risk Management |
| 8 | OHS - Housekeeping |
| 9 | OHS - Glassware and Safety Signs |
| 10 | OHS - General Chemical safety controls |
| 11 | OHS - Electrical and mechanical safety |
| 12 | OHS - Ionising and Non-ionising radiations |
| 13 | OHS - Biosafety |
Study Resources
This unit is delivered using the following methods and materials:
Print based materials
- Book of Readings
Online materials
- Online Assessment
- Quizzes
- Resources and Links
Textbook information for this unit is currently being updated and will be available soon. Please check back regularly for updates. Alternatively, visit the Unibooks website and enter the unit details to search for available textbooks.
Relevant Courses
This unit is a core requirement in the following courses:
This unit is an approved elective in the following courses:
This unit may be eligible for credit towards other courses:
- Many undergraduate courses on offer through OUA include 'open elective' where any OUA unit can be credited to the course. You need to check the Award Requirements on the course page for the number of allowed open electives and any level limitations.
- In other cases, the content of this unit might be relevant to a course on offer through OUA or elsewhere. In order to receive credit for this unit in the course you will need to supply the provider institution with a copy of the Unit Profile in the approved format, which you can download here. Note that the Unit Profile is set at the start of the year, and if textbooks change this may not match the Unibooks textbook list.
If you would like to study this unit and enrol today, add it to your Study Cart. Alternatively if you are still exploring your options, you can save this unit to review later by clicking Save to Wishlist.
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