Description
This challenging module will enable students to study a number of cutting-edge topics in Animal Behaviour, following each from its underlying theoretical concepts right through to the practical application. In particular, the module will focus on the way that recent tools, techniques, methods and technologies have revolutionised our understanding of animal behaviour, resulted in practical applications or had cross-disciplinary impacts in other fields.
The module is assessed entirely by in-course assessment and is structured around student enquiry-led or problem-based learning in four different topic areas. This means that there are relatively few lectures: these introduce each topic and enable students to get their bearings in the literature. Lecturers then guide students in developing their own learning (individually and in groups), culminating in discussion sessions with peers and lecturers. The assessments include both individual and group assessments. This will also improve student transferable skills necessary for critical analysis and successful science communication
By the end of the module students should be able to:
- Demonstrate an awareness of the research literature underpinning advances in animal behaviour, largely through independent study.
- Demonstrate an ability to reflect on your own knowledge, identify gaps and undertake appropriate measures to improve that understanding.
- Find, interpret and critically analyse information from the primary literature at an advanced level.
- Discuss subjects intelligently and argue a point of view logically, critically and coherently in the face of conflicting theories or divergent methodologies.
- Understand and be able to explain the role of new tools and technologies in elucidating mechanisms in animal behaviour, and evaluate areas of theory in which there continue to be significant shortfalls in knowledge.
- Explain science to a public audience by independently writing a piece for the news on a recent peer-reviewed study, highlight the key points, discuss where it slots into previous research and identify future research areas.
Assessment
- Press Release : Coursework (40%)
- Group Report : Presentation (50%)
- Individual Reflection : Coursework (10%)